Wow. Just … wow. And I could probably end this post there, but that wouldn’t give the details, and you really, really need the details here.
RavenCon has been around for a few years–I remember, vaguely, attending the first one (and being sooooo sick that most of it was a blur). I also remember that the first one, even through a haze of fever, impressed me as being uncommonly well organized and planned. I started off attending as a fan; later, I began attending as a chair massage therapist, and at that point was even more impressed with the behind the scenes planning and care-of-guests that RavenCon offered. Now I’m attending (for the second time) as a writer guest, and … well … I’m back to “wow”.
Brandon Blackmoor, the Programming Coordinator, put together an amazing and comprehensive lineup of panels this time around; rearranged heaven and earth at the last minute more than once to make the various guests happy; and wore himself to the bone running to every single panel to check that everyone was happy and that all problems were taken care of. Rene, the Hotel Liaison, worked as tirelessly to coordinate events with the host hotel; Crystal Ritchie as Guest Liaison worked just as diligently pre-con to set up a stellar lineup of guests. I could go on–every single member of the RavenCon staff, from Doris Manning to Michael Pederson, deserve a standing ovation for their work this time around. But then I wouldn’t have room to mention the panels.
Ah, the panels. Fourteen hours, if I recall correctly, on my schedule alone. I’ve never been so heavily scheduled at a convention before, and at first I thought about asking to drop out of a few of the panels. But honestly, they all looked so dang interesting I couldn’t make myself squeak about the load.
And I’m so glad I went with it, because the panels were all just freaking fabulous. Starting off with “The author as persona” on Friday afternoon, which I moderated *gulp*– Matthew Warner and Patrick Vanner — that panel was sparsely attended, more because of the early time (3 pm) than anything else, but lots of fun, as Matthew and Patrick were both great speakers. Then it was off to prepare for a signing at 5 pm — early in the convention, and I was nervous that nobody would show up; but luck put me on the table next to Phillipa Ballantine, and right across from a vendor of divine fudge and saltwater taffies, so there was quite a crowd the whole time. And Phillipa couldn’t have been nicer–I’ll gladly hang out at a signing table with her–or share a panel, for that matter–any time. She’s just plain fun to be around, and again, a great speaker. I even signed a couple of my own books, thanks to Danielle Ackley-McPhail, whose booth was right next to the aforementioned fudge vendor and who was selling my books (along with Creatures & Crooks, a local indie bookstore recently gone e-vendor).
The opening ceremonies were fun, but I had the feeling that with eighty some guests on the schedule this time around, most of the folks who actually showed up to the OC were the guests themselves and their direct supporters… so that was a bit odd. Still, there were plenty of laughs…and it was great to see each guest introduced, so I had some chance to match names with faces.
My final panel on Friday night was “Writing sex in SF/F”…not a panel I ever would have expected to be on, to be honest. But after meeting Helen Madden a few conventions back, and after finding that my own writing is slowly veering in an increasingly explicit direction, I’ve started attending and sitting on this sort of panel more and more often. And you know what? They’re always really fun, and interesting, and not grotty-icky at all. This time around the panel hosted Phillipa Ballantine, Stuart Jaffe, KT Pinto, and Diane Whiteside, as well as myself; and of course Helen Madden was in the audience, prodding the conversation along with her devil’s-advocacy and a wicked grin.
I went facedown shortly thereafter, and hauled myself awake in time for Allen Wold’s Writing Workshop (always a high point of any convention for me)–which was, as always, two hours of excellent discussion, writing samples, and meeting promising new writers. (The followup on Sunday morning was just as wonderful, if a bit too early for most folks to tolerate civilly. But I understand that’s been remedied for next year.) The next workshop, “Character, Setting, and Plot” was very ably run by Peter Prellwitz, with Allen Wold, Gail Z. Martin, John Betancourt, and myself supporting. I definitely look forward to attending and hopefully being a part of that one again in the future! It also had a wonderful followup on Sunday morning.
My book launch party for Guardians of the Desert Saturday afternoon was … well, we’re back to that ubiquitious “wow” again. I am still utterly stunned at how many people showed up, and how friendly and helpful everyone was with setup and breakdown. The boardroom was completely filled. A BIG thank you goes out to everyone who showed up, signed the guest book, bought books, and enjoyed the coffee. I must offer a sincere bow of gratitude here for the RavenCon staff who got me special dispensation to offer gourmet coffee at the launch party, and just as much to the hotel for allowing me that leeway. I am honored by the trust shown by both entities, and I truly hope that the room was left in good order once we skedaddled out of Phillipa Ballantine’s way. (And special thanks to Phillipa and Tee Morris for being so gracious about our running just a touch late on clearing out of the room!)
Oh, but I wasn’t done yet, oh no. I still had a 7 pm panel, “Networking for Beginners”, with Stuart Jaffe–and I have to say this was probably my favorite panel of the lot (although that’s a really close call!). Stuart is very friendly and well-spoken, and explained in blunt but amiable terms how networking works and why it’s essential for beginning writers to understand. And then I stayed in the same room to moderate the 8 pm panel “Introduction to Social Media”, which hosted Christiana Ellis, Paul Fischer, Gail Z. Martin, and Heather Welliver.
Sunday was easy by comparison. I only had four things to juggle: the followup to the two Saturday writing workshops, a panel with John C. Wright titled “Would You Like Elves With That?”, and my reading slot at 2 pm. The panel with John was interesting, if a little chaotic; one of those where I walked in thinking the panel had been his idea and he walked in thinking it was mine… but we had some great conversations all the same. The reading slot was well-attended, and the readings themselves well-received. I read an excerpt from “Duck, Duck…Goose!”, my first “pro” short story sale (to Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine); a flash-short, “Mind Games”, that appeared in Alienskin (an online zine which is now, sadly, defunct); and excerpts from both Secrets of the Sands and Guardians of the Desert. I even sold a couple of books at the reading, which was highly gratifying.
In-between all the panels, I talked with dozens of friends and supporters and new friends and vendors and authors and artists…I do not think I have ever been so busy at a convention, nor have I ever enjoyed myself so thoroughly. Once again, I must reiterate that a truly great convention is due largely to the work of the fanatically hard-working staff and volunteers, and bow to them for creating what was an exceptionally well-run experience. I also gathered over a dozen new blog post topic ideas….so I have plenty to occupy me over the next few weeks!
And now… I think it’s time for a nap. Or ten. And then for a snooze…and from thence to sleep. 
Like this:
One blogger likes this post.
