Worldcon: Two Days In
And it’s all happening! Yesterday, August 2, was registration and the grand opening of AussieCon 4, the 68th World Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention. After the opening it was straight into kaffeeklatsches, readings and panels, which flowed on into today, Friday 3—together with all the fun of meeting fellow writers such as Trudi Canavan, Juliet Marillier, Ian Irvine, Charles Stross, and Alison Croggan, and seeing others, such as China Mieville, John Scalzi, and George RR Martin, “across the crowded concourse”. I have also been meeting up with my publishers for The Heir of Night—that’s Eos (HarperCollins) in the States and Orbit in the UK and AU/NZ—which is fantastic after so long communicating via email. Not to mention the fun of catching up with fellow Supernatural Underground authors, Tracey O’Hara and Nicole Murphy, as well as Mary Victoria, author of Tymon’s Flight, whom I interviewed recently on Women on Air, Plains 96.9 FM.
Did I mention being a complete fan girl at the Dealer’s Room table of Phil & Kaja Foglio, the creators of the stupendous Girl Genius Online, which is probably my favourite graphic novel series? Also getting to meet some wonderful Australian booksellers, such as Mark and Sofia from Galaxy in Sydney, and Louise from Dymocks.
I had a wonderful panel this afternoon with Alison Croggan, Laurie Mann, and Rose-Marie Lillian on Eowyn and Sam: Underappreciated Heroes in The Lord of the Rings. We had great audience participation, too. But perhaps the best moment of all so far has been seeing The Heir of Night, with the fabulous red and black AU/NZ cover, in print and on sale for the very first time in the Dealer’s Hall: the culmination of a journey that began eleven years ago when I first put the handwritten beginnings of several manuscripts out on the kitchen table and told myself—ok, now pick one and finish it!
Seeing that cover must have been a great moment! And, on a more sombre note, I hope everything’s OK for you back home.
Lawks Helen I just found out about the quake in ChCh – this is what comes of being internet deprived! When I spoke to you on the phone this evening I didn’t know yet – was wondering what weather had brought your chimney down. 😉
Anyway it’s been amazing to catch up with you and looking forward to our chat/panel on Monday morning.
best, m
PS. Harper dinner sorted out – finally caught up with Nat!
Sounds awesome Helen!
Thanks, Rae.