Outlantacon was, as always, a fabulous time. Met Amber Benson, who is a complete sweetheart, and managed to not dissolve into utter fangirl incoherence. Got to meet in actual person—not just pixels—JoSelle Vanderhooft; finally got to hang with the lovely and talented Shae Connor, who helps keep me sane at Dragon*Con with her invaluable assistance on the Daily Dragon but who I never get to see elsewhere; and even managed to exchange sallies with Steve Berman, who I haven’t talked to in years. Also caught up with Lee Martindale and Davey Beauchamp, as well as all the many other convention-family-types who, despite my best intentions otherwise, I only seem to encounter at these sorts of events.
An excellent reminder that there’s much to commend in having a low-key, laid-back convention schedule.
Other good weekendness:
• Sold a reprint of one of my favorite stories, “The Bunny of Vengeance and the Bear of Death,” to Deb Hoag’s Women Writing the Weird anthology.
• The 2011 Prix Aurora Awards final ballot has been announced, with two major squeeworthy nominees:
- My dear friend and fellow DC2K writers group peep, Suzanne Church, is a finalist in the Best English Short Story category for her marvelous “Destiny Lives in the Tattoo’s Needle” (go read it, yo!) and
- The Dragon and the Stars anthology (with my “Mortal Clay, Stone Heart”) is also on the ballot in the Best English Related Works category!
The Aurora is presented by the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association, nominated and voted on by attendees of the annual Canvention convention. *squee squee squee*
Congratulations on the sale and the other good news.