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.

Character Assassination for Fun and Profit (Boskone)

This is the first of the writerly discussions that I'm stealing from the Boskone program. Because, yes, I am a thief. I was actually on this panel at Boskone and I thought it was a great title for a panel and the description very interesting. Unfortunately, I don't think we got to half of what could be discussed on this panel due to . . . sidetracking, let's call it. So I figured I'd have my say here, on my LJ, where no one can hijack sideline the panel in favor of, oh, I don't know, stories about their children. Or interesting ways to die that make me not want to eat lunch after the panel.

I'll give the panel description according to Boskone, and then just talk about whatever that description inspires in me. I'm hoping that everyone else here has their own opinions and/or comments and will comment heavily.

The Description: The death of a major character often proves upsetting for involved readers. How does it feel to the writer? What genre works have killed off their own most memorably? Does it always help the story? Which writers have a special gift for this dark art?

( What I Think )