Lunacon Report--Day One
Mar. 20th, 2006 11:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jpskewedthroneI decided I'd better not wait too long to report on Lunacon or I'd forget everything interesting that happened and people that I met. So here's day one: Friday, AKA St. Patrick's Day.
Drove down with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jennifer_dunne. Very nice drive and had no problems finding the hotel in New Jersey. We only had to slow down once for an accident, and a few times for annoying drivers who would pass me, pull in front of me . . . and then immediately slow down. Jennifer has learned that I talk to the other drivers while I drive.
Got to the hotel . . . and found it under construction. And I mean a serious remodel. Exposed wiring in the panel rooms, stairs that could not be used, etc. The hotel room itself was great, nice beds, spacious, however when you flushed the toilet it spit water out the sides beneath the tank. A SPITTING TOILET!
I then headed down to the infamous snake panel, where I was supposed to be discussing snakes in fiction, their use, their myths, etc. At the same time, the panel was to kick off the "Search for the Snakes!" which were supposed to be hidden throughout the hotel. I get there. No there panelists are there. I wait. A few more panelists show up, but not the moderator. A con worker shows up with what I thought were the snakes to hand out as examples of what would be hidden throughout the hotel . . . and was informed that the "Search for the Snakes!" had been called off due to fear of heart attacks by people that might be afraid of snakes. That reason aside, it was probably a good idea to call it off just because of the construction going on at the hotel. So now what do we do? The moderator is not there! The snakes are not to be searched! I hadn't prepared anything for the panel except for thinking of a few books that use snakes!
In the end, I moderated the panel on the fly. It went rather well considering. Lots of interesting thoughts about how snakes represent opposite ends of the spectrum in myth--both evil and poisonous (Conan, David Eddings, etc) and medicinal and healing (Dreamsnake). We also delved into the different uses of snakes in various cultures--Caribbean, Chinese, Egyptian, etc--and then expanded the idea of snakes to worms (Dune) and dragons. In the end, I felt the panel was a success, with great audience participation.
Jennifer and I ran intoclarkesworld and S.C. Butler and decided to try to catch some food. Sam Butler was gracious enough to drive us to a diner called Bendix Diner where we got extra children. Yes, extra children. When we went into the diner, two small, small kids attached themselves to us, showing us their quarter. I only understood every fifth word or so, but the waitress said to seat ourselves and the kids followed us to the table AND THEN PULLED UP CHAIRS AND JOINED US. They borrowed one of our menus and tried to order chicken fingers. It was a little bizarre. Eventually the waitress shooed the kids away (we assume they were kids of one of the employees, possibly our waitress but perhaps not), we had an adequate meal, and went back to the con.
The other panel I was on that night was the Epic Fantasy panel. Then panel went OK, but I knew I was in trouble when I discovered the panelists consisted of 3 editors, 1 author (me), and a fan. The panel quickly became about publishing epic fantasy, why publishers love it, the pitfalls, etc, rather than about writing epic fantasy. Some of the writing got in there, but not much. Very informative, but not what I was expecting the panel to be about.
We retired to the bar (without Sam, who's first book, Reiffen's Choice, is coming out in September) for drinks. I ended up staying in the bar, chatting and drinking white russians, until 3am. It was a very good day overall. I met lots of interesting people. And I got to adopt kids for a brief period of time. Plus there was the SPITTING TOILET! I can't forget the SPITTING TOILET!
I'll update with day 2 and 3 later. Check back soon!
Drove down with
jennifer_dunne. Very nice drive and had no problems finding the hotel in New Jersey. We only had to slow down once for an accident, and a few times for annoying drivers who would pass me, pull in front of me . . . and then immediately slow down. Jennifer has learned that I talk to the other drivers while I drive.Got to the hotel . . . and found it under construction. And I mean a serious remodel. Exposed wiring in the panel rooms, stairs that could not be used, etc. The hotel room itself was great, nice beds, spacious, however when you flushed the toilet it spit water out the sides beneath the tank. A SPITTING TOILET!
I then headed down to the infamous snake panel, where I was supposed to be discussing snakes in fiction, their use, their myths, etc. At the same time, the panel was to kick off the "Search for the Snakes!" which were supposed to be hidden throughout the hotel. I get there. No there panelists are there. I wait. A few more panelists show up, but not the moderator. A con worker shows up with what I thought were the snakes to hand out as examples of what would be hidden throughout the hotel . . . and was informed that the "Search for the Snakes!" had been called off due to fear of heart attacks by people that might be afraid of snakes. That reason aside, it was probably a good idea to call it off just because of the construction going on at the hotel. So now what do we do? The moderator is not there! The snakes are not to be searched! I hadn't prepared anything for the panel except for thinking of a few books that use snakes!
In the end, I moderated the panel on the fly. It went rather well considering. Lots of interesting thoughts about how snakes represent opposite ends of the spectrum in myth--both evil and poisonous (Conan, David Eddings, etc) and medicinal and healing (Dreamsnake). We also delved into the different uses of snakes in various cultures--Caribbean, Chinese, Egyptian, etc--and then expanded the idea of snakes to worms (Dune) and dragons. In the end, I felt the panel was a success, with great audience participation.
Jennifer and I ran into
clarkesworld and S.C. Butler and decided to try to catch some food. Sam Butler was gracious enough to drive us to a diner called Bendix Diner where we got extra children. Yes, extra children. When we went into the diner, two small, small kids attached themselves to us, showing us their quarter. I only understood every fifth word or so, but the waitress said to seat ourselves and the kids followed us to the table AND THEN PULLED UP CHAIRS AND JOINED US. They borrowed one of our menus and tried to order chicken fingers. It was a little bizarre. Eventually the waitress shooed the kids away (we assume they were kids of one of the employees, possibly our waitress but perhaps not), we had an adequate meal, and went back to the con.The other panel I was on that night was the Epic Fantasy panel. Then panel went OK, but I knew I was in trouble when I discovered the panelists consisted of 3 editors, 1 author (me), and a fan. The panel quickly became about publishing epic fantasy, why publishers love it, the pitfalls, etc, rather than about writing epic fantasy. Some of the writing got in there, but not much. Very informative, but not what I was expecting the panel to be about.
We retired to the bar (without Sam, who's first book, Reiffen's Choice, is coming out in September) for drinks. I ended up staying in the bar, chatting and drinking white russians, until 3am. It was a very good day overall. I met lots of interesting people. And I got to adopt kids for a brief period of time. Plus there was the SPITTING TOILET! I can't forget the SPITTING TOILET!
I'll update with day 2 and 3 later. Check back soon!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-03-20 05:29 pm (UTC)One year was the year of the vibrating wall in our room.
Every time the people above us would shower, the pipes would shake so badly that the wall would quite literally vibrate, deeply and noisily.
Oh, and that was also the year of the toilet that loved to fill, but not drain.
And they are also the con known for having been in an escher drawn hotel for a while (where you could only get to the fourth floor by going down the hallway from the first floor... no stairs involved -- I may have the floor numbers incorrect, but the basic gist is intact).
no subject
Date: 2006-03-20 07:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 02:18 pm (UTC)Hmm . . . perhaps I should get you a ticket to Norwescon so you can accompany me?
no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 02:44 pm (UTC)Ooh! Paid vacation away from the kids? Man... sounds great! But my husband would probably say no. *pouts* I'm already making him single-dad for a week while I trip off to Detroit, soon.
Will you be at LACon? I will bring my persuasiveness!!
no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 02:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 02:55 pm (UTC)I'm not allowed to miss Albacon. *grins*
We might stop in at Balticon -- we'll be in DC about an hour away, camping that weekend. That's still up in the air.
*sighs* I miss going to more cons! That's what kids'll do to a person.
Oh, and I'm still working on that gaming weekend thing. I'm trying to find a weekend!!! Of course, that won't sell books. But it WILL involve playing games.
no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 03:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-20 08:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 02:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-20 09:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 02:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-20 10:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 02:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 02:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-03-21 02:23 pm (UTC)But the bar is generally a good place to find me. There or the game room. *grin*
I'm sure we'll catch each other at the next con. You heading to Readercon?