The Texas Capital at twilight. The hotel lost it's vibrancy after most of the conference goers left. It was kinda sad, so Heather and I went downtown to the Bob Bullock museum and watched Superman Returns in 3-D in their omni theather. Looking down at the floor of the museum.
Earlier, while the conference was still buzzing. Heather, me, & Faith at the Cheesecake Factory.
Texas star outside of the museum.
The Howards
Had to get a picture of the Howard Awards. Me & Sharon Shinn. She too, was very nice. I got a kick out of her at the awards ceremony. I happened to be sitting a few tables behind her. As they were doing a tribute for the artist John Palencar, every time one of her book covers that he had done came up on the screen, she raised her arms in glee. It was very cute to watch her excitement.
These are two new ya fantasy writers. Tiffany Trent & Sarah Durst. We met them at the cheesecake factory. They are both really cute and both have their first novels coming out in 2007. From their readings, they sound like really good books. I'm so excited for them and hope to be in their place one day with my first novel coming out. Of course I'm not young and cute, but whatever. I'm in my prime and brilliant! Heather on the 2nd floor
Carol N Douglas
we kept running into Carol N Douglas every time we made a turn. It was funny ... and strangely wierd. Here she is showing us her $1000 shoes, which she received gratis after she mentioned the name in one of her books. Nice perk, eh? Yes, yes, I should know the designer, but since I am so not in fashion (walmart shopper here) I've forgotten. If you really want to know, pop over into Faith's blog, she knows all about what's hot in the fashion world. I really need her to take me shopping to update my look. me and Ms. Douglas. Isn't she adorable in her vintage wear? And she was such a fun, generous, pleasant person. She really has a way of making people feel comfortable. I really liked her.
Paranormal Romance at World Con
Robin Owens, Gail Dayton, Jeri Smith-Ready, and Shanna Swendson Charlaine Harris
Me and Gail Dayton
Heather getting Gail Dayton's autograph
I sat beside Gail Dayton in the fantasy crossover panel. Gail Dayton! She was so down-to-earth. She came in, I think, prepared for the paranormal romance crossover to be put down, but happily that didn’t occur at all. Just the opposite. Yay for paranormal romance in the mainstream fantasy arena! She made comments to me throughout like a regular person, but honestly I was star struck the entire time, trying not to act like it.
Me and Gail Dayton
Heather getting Gail Dayton's autograph
I sat beside Gail Dayton in the fantasy crossover panel. Gail Dayton! She was so down-to-earth. She came in, I think, prepared for the paranormal romance crossover to be put down, but happily that didn’t occur at all. Just the opposite. Yay for paranormal romance in the mainstream fantasy arena! She made comments to me throughout like a regular person, but honestly I was star struck the entire time, trying not to act like it.
Love that Elevator
Faith & Heather
Sam, from Scifi reviews L. E. Modesitt
Sam, from Scifi reviews L. E. Modesitt
Ah, yes. We found that every time we got on the elevator, we ran into someone we could be star struck over. The funniest was when we decided we just needed to take a picture of said famous elevator so we all had our cameras out and in walked L.E. Modesitt. Poor guy. Flash. Flash. Flash. On the next stop he hustled out of the elevator, asking, "is this two?" I jokingly said, as he was fleeing, "if it wasn't your stop, it is now." To that he actually stopped, turned, and said, "no, no, it really is my floor." Wasn't that so cute? I just love these writers.
Charles DeLint
Friday
I swear I am just going to hang out at the elevator. Ride it up and down, up and down, because I keep meeting the kewlest people. I am not so ditzy today, but still extremely friendly and outgoing. As Heather and I are walking down the hall from our room, two sets of couples strolled out of their room ahead of us. Being friendly, we just start talking to them, get on the elevator, and big ears me hears them talking about a con suite, so I pipe up, “what’s that?” Very kindly, this tall, sweet, hippie/rocker looking man tells us it is a suite that anyone from the convention can go to and hang out in. Follow us, we’ll show you. So we get off on the third floor with them and are chatting all along the way, names are exchanged but I just hear Charlie and not the last name, and it doesn’t matter cuz we’re all just having a great time conversing, until we get in the room. There is a very nice spread of food, but I don’t notice that because I glance down and read Charlie’s nametag: CHARLES DeLINT. Charles DeLint! Mister big time sci fi reviewer, so knowledgeable. I knew he would be here, but I also knew that even if I glimpsed him from afar, no way would I ever have approached him, cuz he would be so far above me. That’s what I had envisioned, but here we were, by a simple stroke of fate, chatting with Mr. DeLint and he couldn’t have been more personable and kind and enjoyable to talk with, and his wife is a delight, very pretty and eager to show around and welcome two newbies into the con suite and introduce us to other big huge famous people. And even though it became obvious that I didn’t know some of the big writer’s works that were there (I found out later and OMG I was in a room with greatness) yet there was no judgmental vibe coming off of him. He couldn’t have been more accepting. And what I found most charming was how he spoke of his band and how they were going to be playing that night, but he didn’t know where. His eyes lit up, just like my DH’s do when he starts talking about a gig. Unfortunately I couldn’t find where they were playing later that night. I even braved the other con suite, which was so packed and with no music coming out of the door, that I just backed out gracefully, totally out of my element in a room full of people that knew each other, and I knew none.
I swear I am just going to hang out at the elevator. Ride it up and down, up and down, because I keep meeting the kewlest people. I am not so ditzy today, but still extremely friendly and outgoing. As Heather and I are walking down the hall from our room, two sets of couples strolled out of their room ahead of us. Being friendly, we just start talking to them, get on the elevator, and big ears me hears them talking about a con suite, so I pipe up, “what’s that?” Very kindly, this tall, sweet, hippie/rocker looking man tells us it is a suite that anyone from the convention can go to and hang out in. Follow us, we’ll show you. So we get off on the third floor with them and are chatting all along the way, names are exchanged but I just hear Charlie and not the last name, and it doesn’t matter cuz we’re all just having a great time conversing, until we get in the room. There is a very nice spread of food, but I don’t notice that because I glance down and read Charlie’s nametag: CHARLES DeLINT. Charles DeLint! Mister big time sci fi reviewer, so knowledgeable. I knew he would be here, but I also knew that even if I glimpsed him from afar, no way would I ever have approached him, cuz he would be so far above me. That’s what I had envisioned, but here we were, by a simple stroke of fate, chatting with Mr. DeLint and he couldn’t have been more personable and kind and enjoyable to talk with, and his wife is a delight, very pretty and eager to show around and welcome two newbies into the con suite and introduce us to other big huge famous people. And even though it became obvious that I didn’t know some of the big writer’s works that were there (I found out later and OMG I was in a room with greatness) yet there was no judgmental vibe coming off of him. He couldn’t have been more accepting. And what I found most charming was how he spoke of his band and how they were going to be playing that night, but he didn’t know where. His eyes lit up, just like my DH’s do when he starts talking about a gig. Unfortunately I couldn’t find where they were playing later that night. I even braved the other con suite, which was so packed and with no music coming out of the door, that I just backed out gracefully, totally out of my element in a room full of people that knew each other, and I knew none.
World Fantasy Convention
Me, Marjorie Liu, & my sister Heather
I’m here at the World Con and making a total ditz out of myself. I came out of the gate strong, making a goggled-eyed impression right at the hotel reservations. There was a beautiful woman waiting behind my sister and I me with a very nice blouse on, so I complimented her on it. She smiled and said thank you then, and went to check in at the counter beside me. I overheard her say Marjorie Liu, at which point I leaned back around my sis and exclaimed. “Did you just say you are Marjorie Liu? I have your book!” Yes, I know, exactly the kind of professional air I wanted to walk in with, but come on – It was Marjorie Liu!
Her face lit up. She was so sweet and kind. Unfortunately I made a fool of myself even further when I asked for her autograph later and couldn’t stop stammering and giggling like a complete idiot.
Then I did it again when we stepped on the elevator and there was a nice lady already on and I did a quick glance at her tag, and couldn’t help blurting out, “You’re Elizabeth Moon! I’m on the elevator with Elizabeth Moon!” As though she didn’t know who she was or that she was indeed on an elevator. She gave me that kindly indulgent smile, very poised, and was quick to exit when the elevator reached her floor, probably relieved when I didn’t get off and follow after her. I have so much more to tell you about the Con, but that will have to wait for a few days. More pictures too. A lot more.
I’m here at the World Con and making a total ditz out of myself. I came out of the gate strong, making a goggled-eyed impression right at the hotel reservations. There was a beautiful woman waiting behind my sister and I me with a very nice blouse on, so I complimented her on it. She smiled and said thank you then, and went to check in at the counter beside me. I overheard her say Marjorie Liu, at which point I leaned back around my sis and exclaimed. “Did you just say you are Marjorie Liu? I have your book!” Yes, I know, exactly the kind of professional air I wanted to walk in with, but come on – It was Marjorie Liu!
Her face lit up. She was so sweet and kind. Unfortunately I made a fool of myself even further when I asked for her autograph later and couldn’t stop stammering and giggling like a complete idiot.
Then I did it again when we stepped on the elevator and there was a nice lady already on and I did a quick glance at her tag, and couldn’t help blurting out, “You’re Elizabeth Moon! I’m on the elevator with Elizabeth Moon!” As though she didn’t know who she was or that she was indeed on an elevator. She gave me that kindly indulgent smile, very poised, and was quick to exit when the elevator reached her floor, probably relieved when I didn’t get off and follow after her. I have so much more to tell you about the Con, but that will have to wait for a few days. More pictures too. A lot more.
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