Maybe the wife wanted to slap the poor socially awkward* woman because she had the temerity to not know who her husband was.

*(I loved the part where he said he LOVES socially awkward people...except, of course, the ones who don't kiss his ass.)

Less gross? That's all you've got?

ita said it better:

I mean, there is so clearly a way (myriad ways!) to tell that story and make stupid lady seem stupid without also painting himself an ass.

The meat of the encounter—regarding self-publishing and its merits in relation to traditional publishing—would make for an interesting discussion, but the way he characterized the woman is appalling.

I gather he's well-known in more than his own mind? My limited SFF reading hinders me here.

He self-published Wool on Amazon, and then it was picked up by Simon & Schuster to print an omnibus edition, and film rights were sold to 20th Century Fox, so it's kind of a big deal. But I wouldn't have recognized his name on his badge either.

The meat of the encounter—regarding self-publishing and its merits in relation to traditional publishing—would make for an interesting discussion, but the way he characterized the woman is appalling

Yeah. There's an ongoing discussion in the SFF community regarding "traditional" vs. self-publishing (Scalzi has talked about it at length), but there's no reason to be so horrible about it. Dude got a good deal--but there's no guarantee he wouldn't have been as successful with the backing of a major publishing house. Some people aren't going to make it whatever they do, because they're not good enough. And for some people self-publishing makes sense because they have the talent, the persistence, and the time to put into writing & marketing.

And some people are wrong and/or self-aggrandizing without being "crazy bitches."

There's an ongoing discussion in the SFF community regarding "traditional" vs. self-publishing

The same argument is going on in a lot of other writers' circles, too, and has been for a few years now. I know a couple romance writers who had their rights reverted are doing really well reissuing their own backlists.

I loved the part where he said he LOVES socially awkward people...except, of course, the ones who don't kiss his ass.

I loved the part where he said he loves to interact anonymously with people, and then calls this woman a crazy bitch for not knowing she's speaking to a Very Important Published Author.

If rolling one's eyes at a self-important stranger was a slapping offense, I'd be slapped several times a week.

Sounds like he wants to interact anonymously because he wants the ego boost when someone recognizes him. And he can be the Humble Professional Writer. Or whatever.

I have a feeling it plays out in his head. He'll be anonymously walking around Worldcon and get in a discussion with someone. And then he'll see the comprehension move across her face like the sun at dawn. She bites her lip, unsure how to continued, does she acknowledge this Great Writer in her presence? Does pretend he's just someone Humble?

So he smiles, benevolently, letting her know that he knows that she knows. And that it's okay. She can acknowledge him. The woman's hand flies to her face as she gasps, and then she steels herself. "Oh! You're (whatever his name is)! You wrote WOOL! I can't believe I didn't recongize you sooner. I'm sure you get recognized all the time! Wool is just... it was a life changer. And your personal story. Going from self publishing to having the film rights of your story sold. You must be ....It must be amazing for you. Please, impart your wisdom to me about self publishing and life."

And so the Humble Writer, humbled at being recognized with no name tag or announmencet of who is imparts his wisdom on to this woman knowing that this will be one of those stories she tells and retells of when she met a Great Writer Who was Humble.

t applause

Oh! You're (whatever his name is)!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA, perfect.