It took me a week to recover from this convention. If you were there, I just want you to know I partially blame you.
I forget which airport had this glowing lion, but I totally want it on my wall.
I wasn’t the only one that found something I loved on the wall. Check out Keffy’s soulmate:
The Holy Grail of Chest Decorations
Also, let’s laugh at him for being short:
The best part of the convention, of course, was meeting online friends I’d never met in real life before. I did get a photo with Gio Clairval, who is absolutely enchanting. She described part of Italy so beautifully that everyone listening was tempted to move there next week. Hell, some of them might already be there with the fake visas I sold them after they got too drunk to stand.
She dressed me in her feather boa. Apparently I wasn't gay enough to begin with!
I didn’t get photos with Amanda Downum or her awesome husband because apparently I am just as stupid as I am pretty. No, seriously, look how pretty I am. I got this Jerome Russell glitter that is my new favorite toiletry. This photo was taken in our hotel room.
There is an octopus just out of the frame that is way cooler than anything you can see.
So was this one. There are two lines, and a hold button. For putting people on hold while you crap. I tried to use it but it didn’t work, so I guess it’s so advanced it detected that I am not, indeed, a prosperous businessman.
Another favorite part was getting to speak with Carol Berg, who is a phenomenal writer. She will take you on a ride of violence, intrigue, and saving the world, and along the way she will turn your heart inside out. Go buy her books. Since I stupidly forgot to ask for a photo with her, too, instead you can have this shot of one of my dinosaurs on a fake panel:
Oh yes, I brought the damn things.
David Levine’s Twitter + con experience was similar to mine. I’m more convinced every day that Twitter is one of the most amazing inventions in human history. Yes, I’m comparing this little social network with the wheel, the control of fire, and the Atari 2600. If you think it’s frivolous, I pity you. (P.S. Learn to Follow users who are interesting instead of people you feel obligated to pay attention to. Your whole Internet will get better.)
</soapbox>
Anyway… One of the best parties was the release for Soulless by Gail Carriger. Several people were dressed up as the characters and spoke in character throughout the (almost too popular) party, and they had a variety of “sweetmeats” you’d expect at a Victorian tea party. Plus, there was this inexplicable and super-awesome octopus:
I must have looked so INSANE while taking this photo.
I gave Julie McGalliard a present she probably doesn’t want to talk about in public. But as you can see, I wrapped it in black velvet with red ribbon, so it can only be something Twilight related. And also? It came from my work. MWAHAHAHAHA!
Here, she doesn't hate me yet.
I also met an editor who has my manuscript on her desk. I was almost too shy to say hi to her, but it’s because I like her website and she had the best steampunk outfit and incredible hair. (Those are all much more intimidating than editorship.) I also got a chance to thank an editor who gave me a kind critique at the beginning of my forays into the publishing industry. And I got to eat awesome cheese courtesy of Jay Lake, plus some weirder foods later, like fried grasshoppers and pink-sugar-codfish from the Japanese grocery store. Paolo Bacigalupi is a saint…he was surrounded by people with sugar-codfish-breath, and he didn’t complain at all! I like that guy. Go buy his books. Here’s the other thing I got at the Japanese grocery store:
I used this to wash down the grasshoppers and codfish.
But speaking of the pink-sugar-codfish, it is sad I didn’t get any photos of people’s faces as they tasted it. Or any photos of it in Jay’s bed. Where I guess it somehow ended up.
^__^