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mmerriamHome from Convergence. Convergence fell the weekend after 4th Street Fantasy Convention this year, leaving me a little exhausted. Despite that, I had a great time at both conventions, though they are almost exact opposites in tone.
4th Street is small and intimate, and it was great to spend a lot of time in conversations with friends old and new. I walk away from 4th Street happy, pleased at the chance to catch up and renew friendships. There was (as is almost always the case) deep discussion about writing and reading and fantasy. There was a strong showing from MinnSpec writers, especially those of use who are early in our careers.
I moderated a panel, “It’s a Secret to Everyone” which had a lively and engaged crowd. I felt like I barely kept control of the panel, and I struggled to make sure everyone in the audience got their questions and comments in, working as I was with one malfunctioning eye. I was also on the “Novelty, Complexity, and Mass Appeal” panel. I thought this panel went really well, with all the panelist and audience bring up some great ideas.
Convergence, on the other hand, is a monster. 5000 or so attendees this year. It’s four days long, which is almost one day too many for me (the more so coming off 4th Street). I was on a lot of programming items and was drafted into a panel as well. Still, I had a good time. There was plenty of hanging out with friends, a nice venture out to dinner, and most of my programming went well enough. Seanan McGuire tried to kill me with humor a couple of times, and I got a little overwhelmed by all the (fantastic!) academic conversation on another panel. My reading was well attended, and we recorded it. We also recorded the MinnSpec group reading. I gave away lots of postcards for my two eBooks.
I might come back and talk about these conventions some more as my brain comes back online and I catch up on my rest. I’m still processing lots of stuff from both, and considering what conventions I plan to attend next year.
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Last Car to Annwn Station is available in ebook format at Carina Press, Barnes & Noble, Amazon U.S., and Amazon U.K. and in audio format at Audible.
Should We Drown in Feathered Sleep. Available in ebook format at Carina Press, Amazon, B&N, and in audio format at Audible.
4th Street is small and intimate, and it was great to spend a lot of time in conversations with friends old and new. I walk away from 4th Street happy, pleased at the chance to catch up and renew friendships. There was (as is almost always the case) deep discussion about writing and reading and fantasy. There was a strong showing from MinnSpec writers, especially those of use who are early in our careers.
I moderated a panel, “It’s a Secret to Everyone” which had a lively and engaged crowd. I felt like I barely kept control of the panel, and I struggled to make sure everyone in the audience got their questions and comments in, working as I was with one malfunctioning eye. I was also on the “Novelty, Complexity, and Mass Appeal” panel. I thought this panel went really well, with all the panelist and audience bring up some great ideas.
Convergence, on the other hand, is a monster. 5000 or so attendees this year. It’s four days long, which is almost one day too many for me (the more so coming off 4th Street). I was on a lot of programming items and was drafted into a panel as well. Still, I had a good time. There was plenty of hanging out with friends, a nice venture out to dinner, and most of my programming went well enough. Seanan McGuire tried to kill me with humor a couple of times, and I got a little overwhelmed by all the (fantastic!) academic conversation on another panel. My reading was well attended, and we recorded it. We also recorded the MinnSpec group reading. I gave away lots of postcards for my two eBooks.
I might come back and talk about these conventions some more as my brain comes back online and I catch up on my rest. I’m still processing lots of stuff from both, and considering what conventions I plan to attend next year.
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