jpskewedthrone | The Return from Boskone

So I've made it back from Boskone, and it was a long, boring drive. However, Boskone itself ROCKED! After attending cons for a while now, I have to say that Boskone is one of my favorites. Mostly because it's a nice, quiet con and it's focus is on books. Lots and lots of books. And they have interesting panels (or at least, the panels are interesting if the panelists would actually discuss the topic instead of other random frivolous things . . . but more on that later). The hotel is great as well. Many have complained about the hotel (and there are flaws) but the hotel itself--the space, the rooms, etc--are actually very nice. Relaxed. They need to add a humidifier to every room (my lips, throat, and skin completely and utterly dried out, which doesn't usually happen to me, so that's how bad it was) and there aren't a ton of places to eat within walking distance of the hotel. But we found a great place for fish and chips and chowder on Saturday night, so it's not THAT bad. I'll definitely be returning next year.

I got to meet a ton of old friends, as well as some new. Sorry,

matociquala, but I never made it back to the bar that night. I'd been steadily losing my voice all day and after talking all through dinner I ended up crashing in my room in the hopes of preserving my voice for my reading. (I failed utterly. Imagine Varis with a deep, crackling voice and booming laugh. That was my reading.) I got to meet Todd Wheeler, who's participating in the crit contest, since he came to my kaffeeklatsch, and I believe I've picked up a few more fans. Books sold anyway, which is always good. I know that Skewed Throne in paperback sold out, even the copies that I brought, so I'm a happy author. Hopefully everyone will continue on a buy books 2 and 3 (eventually). I have to thank James MacDonald for handing out the postcards during the panel I had with him. I usually just set them on the table up front, but he passed them out through the audience. Much more effective in getting my name out there, of course, but I haven't reached that plane of shamelessness when it comes to self-promotion yet.

So overall, a great con weekend. I plan on stealing a bunch of the panel topics from the program and doing my thoughts on them this week as a host of writer tips/discussions/whatever you want to call them. So watch for those. And you should check out the book group discussion of The Skewed Throne over at Empire of the Cat, hosted by

maiaarts. She's got some good, interesting questions about the book that might get you thinking or reevaluating what you thought before.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hope the voice is better. Last time I attended a con, I also came down with a similar bug. Isn't it frustrating when you go to a con to talk to like-minded writers and then you catch something that stops you doing just that - talk?

Ugh, it is SO annoying. I ignored it Friday night, which is probably why it got so worse on Saturday. Maybe if I'd not gone to that party and spent the evening shouting across the room . . .

Your voice sounded fine for the Sunday morning reading - not knowing what your "normal" voice sounds like, you were fine.

Thanks. And thanks for coming to the reading! I hope you enjoyed it. I didn't expect anyone to show, since it was at 10am and in a room that wasn't called the "conference" room as stated in the program.

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I've been to Lunacon for the past few years and rather enjoy it. Let me know if you'll be going to Lunacon. I'll be posting my schedule as soon as I get it, so hopefully you can find me somewhere at some point.

(Voice is still not good.)

Between my other plans for the weekend and studying for an actuarial exam on Tuesday, I couldn't make it across town to Boskone to say hi. Glad you had fun!

*pout* Would have been good to meet you in person. Perhaps Lunacon or Balticon?

I doubt either Lunacon or Balticon. However, I am currently planning to be at the AP Calculus reading. Hopefully I'll see you there.

I'll be at the AP Calc reading. You can (as usual) find me in the game room. Probably with a stack of books like last time. *grin*

Just to let you know, I picked up the Vacant Throne (ordered it from the bookstore instead of offline, like you asked!) and I loved it. I honestly enjoyed books 2 and 3 more than book 1, which isn't too common.

Looking forward to the next trilogy!

Are you coming to Balticon again this year?

I will definitely be at Balticon this year, where I hope readers like you help spread the word about my books. *grin* I'm glad you enjoyed them all. The general concensus seems to be that book 3 is the best, although if you'd asked me before book 3 hit the shelf I would have said book 2. But the writer can never tell how good the book is. We're just too close to it (and frustrated with it) by the end.

I spend most of my 30min lunch breaks at work at the local borders express, and have definitely been chatting people up (the employees and the security guard from work who happened to be there at the same time as I was once, in addition to friends that I always lend books to).

I'm hoping to be able to make Balticon, but my work schedule might make it hard, since I work fri/sat/sun, because I go to school during the week (I'd curse college, but you're a teacher :P). I might be able to get off for one of the days, depending on my boss' mood, but there's no way I can go to all of it this year :(

S'okay, man. Readercon?

*loff*

I won't be at Readercon this year, but I will be at Lunacon and Balticon (and a few others latet in the year). Hopefully we'll be able to catch up then.

You met Todd! Excellent.

How do you know Todd? Just wondering.

Blog buddies. It's a small blog world, after all.

The Return from Boskone

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