Orycon Wrap-Up
Let me ’splain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
In other words, time for a Bulleted List about OryCon!
* The first panel I was on–Apocalyptic Storytelling–had both Jay Lake and Ken Scholes. Which was a very good omen. It was the first time I’d met Jay, and both of us in a room together? Is Trouble with a capital T. But such enjoyable trouble–and when you throw apocalypse into the mix, ZOMG. I’m surprised we left the hotel standing.
* If you ever get the chance to buy Steven Barnes dinner, do it. The man is charismatic, smart, profound, funny, and very decent. I could listen to him talk through a five-course meal.
* Harry Turtledove is a Class Act. I had the pleasure of being on a panel with him and my inner fangirl just about expired of glee.
* Barb and JC Hendee are awesome people. So is Devon Monk, who got a cake! And a photoshoot that was absolutely packed. (I was there, Devon! I just couldn’t get near because of the crowd!) Thanks to all three of them for making OryCon–and the Powells signing beforehand–even more wonderful. (TEAM LEESIL!)
* The Guilty Pleasures and Definitive Paranormal Romance panels were awesomely fun, since my inner geek got to come out and play hard.
* The Magical Realism and Research For Alternate History panels massaged my brain really, really hard. In particular, Steven Barnes and Eric Witchey both said a lot of things I wish there had been double the time to go into.
* A big shout out to Jeff Soesbe, who gamely listened to me babble. Jeff, I swear to God, next time we’ll actually sit down to lunch and have a long conversation.
* Thank you to all the con volunteers. You were uniformly pleasant and helpful when I had a question, and your hard work really showed all through the con experience. I am very grateful that you do what you do.
* Thank you to my fellow panelists and the fans who came! Writing is such a solitary art, it’s fun to get out and connect for a while.
* Last but not least, I received confirmation of the There’s Always One In Every Audience–the person who thinks the panel/whatever isn’t really about the stated subject or the panelists’ experience (which is the reason they’re on the fricking panel), but about THEM and THEIR LITTLE EMOTIONAL NEEDS. I’ve been to enough cons now that I want to put together a Panel Bingo.[1] Hmph. But when all is said and done, those people only get as much as the people around them are willing to put up with, and I’ve found I am singularly unwilling to put up with very much. If they’re going to be That Guy/Gal, I have no problem being the Panel Moderator of Doom. In other words, bringing out my Raving Bitch Moderator Card, slapping it on the table, and saying “Bring it.” The good thing about this is the people who thank me afterward for not letting That Guy/Gal get away with hijacking the panel. Which always happens, and always makes me feel good. Nice to know there are some constants in life.
And now…I really have to get back to wordcount. No rest for the wicked. I was still so drained this morning that I decided to forgo the treadmill in favor of shovelgloving and a long walk later in the day. I suspect the walk will do a lot to rejuvenate me, and I’ll be ready to run for a whole half-hour (ha ha) tomorrow.
But first, I’ve got to get my heroine in some more trouble. Catch you on the flip side, dear Reader.
[1] Two spaces will be taken by things I’ve actually heard so far: “Won’t someone think of the children!” and “My freedom of speech has been–” Which is when I automatically shut it off. Your freedom of speech doesn’t cover abusing panelists or hijacking everyone’s con experience. *rolls eyes* ANYWAY. Moving on.
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November 24th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I was the one who came up and thanked you for going all BitchMod on that woman at that panel. I’ll thank you again. Thank you!
And thanks for the Alternate History panel, it made my hair stand on end with excitement and I’m all itchy to write.