Desert Words

That was a fun weekend, but I think after 3 consecutive years of not staying in the convention hotel, I’m going to remedy that situation next year by registering early enough to get a room in the same hotel as the events.

It wasn’t as bad this year as the previous two… this year I was only a 5 minute or so walk away (3 blocks, uphill, in the cold). Last year I was a 10 minute drive away, and the year before I was a half-hour train ride away. All the data points to me getting closer, so next year I have to either be in the same hotel, or next door to it.

It was great to finally meet Matt Stover, and Scott Bakker, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Bob Urell again, since I had no idea he was going to be there. There’s something to be said for sitting at a table at a bar with Stover, Bakker, Urell and feeling like you haven’t read enough history or philosophy to even hope to keep up with them, even after they’d been drinking for several hours.

Jason and Jeremy of Night Shade are always a hoot, and I finally met Sean Wallace from Prime Books… and he introduced me to Catherynne M. Valente, who signed my copies of “Book of Dreams” (both the red and blue versions, which I picked up there). I also finally met Gavin Grant and Jeff VanderMeer, and yes, we’ll get Jeff on “Cover to Cover” soon. I also discovered a used book dealer who’s located not far from here, in Tempe, so I’ll be paying him a visit very soon.

I recorded a few panels, and a reading by Carol Emshwiller, and missed out on recording an awesome Star Wars discussion between Matt Stover, John C. Wright, and Glenn Yeffeth of BenBella Books during the book signing event… I got there about 5 minutes too late, but it was the funniest and most fun argument I’d heard in a long time. So of course I had to tell them about TD0013’s latest theory about who really killed Owen and Beru Lars (listen to Wingin’ It Show #34 to hear what I’m talking about). Matt loved it, and Glenn cracked up. I found out later that BenBella’s coming out with a Star Wars On Trial compilation, and I’m so there on that one. I also can’t wait to get my hands on their Harry Potter compilation, which should be out soon.

I did get to meet a few other publicists and publishers who I’d only exchanged emails with or talked to on the phone, so it was a real pleasure to put faces with those names, and talk about upcoming releases.

Now if only I could have the same good fortune with the publicists and agents for tv and movie people so I can get more interviews for Slice of SciFi…