Conventions: summer 2018 edition · 8:38am May 10th, 2018
I'm working on a State of the Horizon post, but in the meantime, a few quick con-related things:
— Worldcon: This annual sci-fi/fantasy writing convention is, for once, happening within driving distance of me! It'll be in San Jose, California, USA in August, and I'm not going to miss that opportunity. It's pricey as conventions go, but it's attended by the biggest names in the field and a great chance to start making some professional publishing contacts. My question is: Who else here is going?
I ask because I'd love to see y'all there, but also for more pragmatic reasons. I'm running into a problem booking a hotel room; namely, that nothing within walking distance is available. If anyone already has a room for Worldcon weekend at one of the convention center hotels and is looking for roommates, I'm still trying to figure out housing. If anyone else is in the same boat, my Plan A is teaming up with Xepher and getting a room at a cheap extended-stay hotel a few miles away (in a decent neighborhood and along the light rail line); daily commuting and/or public transit and/or Uber to the con isn't great but it beats not being there.
— Bronycon: The odds of me attending were pretty low this year, but with other events and family visits crowding in I'm now at the point where I can't wrangle the vacation time. So unfortunately BC18 is no longer in the cards for me. :( I'll make a point of returning in 2019 (assuming a Season 9).
If you ARE going, though, check out Morning Sun's blog post: it's your chance to request features for the author-hangout Quills and Sofas room.
— EFNW: I'm unfortunately also not attending this year, due to a combination of it being several states away and back-to-back with BLFC in my backyard. If you're at BLFC, though, I'll see you there!
— Burning Man: I'm not attending, but I mention it because I'm actually not terribly far from Black Rock City, all things considered (half an hour from Truckee on Interstate 80). If you're driving to the playa from points westward, and you want to make a pit stop on your way in or out of the event, let me know and I'd be happy to be hospitable!
It's funny. You know how sometimes you look back at something and then realise you totally misread it?
This is kinda like that, but usually I can tell what I misread. But for some reason, I could swear it said "I need a hug." somewhere on your blog, but I can't tell where.
That doesn't mean i'm not following up on it, tho'.
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--Sweetie Belle
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Silly SweetAI Belle, that's a changeling!
Aw man, I was hoping to meet you this year. It'll be my first time going to Bronycon this year.
Welp, I guess this confirms that I need to make it to BC19 and shouldn't worry about not being able to make it to BC18. I'm starting to run out of "one of these years"es for that, though.
Maybe see you in 2019 then!
My con dance card is full to its maximum of two with Galacon and MileHiCon this year.
It'll be unfortunate to miss you at BronyCon.
I can’t make it to EFNW this year either. Here’s to 2019!
You should clearly join us at Galacon instead.
There's a group, Convention Planning, which I made so that even people who don't have a thousand followers can tell people which conventions they're going to, and arrange to meet up or share cars or rooms. If anybody thinks they can promote it and wants to be an admin of it, tell me.
Those are sad words. Burning Man is so much better if you can drive in and take a bunch of stuff with you. Ironic, since the ideological point of it is against stuff, but sitting out in the desert with not much stuff made me realize that stuff is great and more of it is better, and the people who say they want to abolish private property and share their stuff with everybody will not actually loan you a bicycle or let you shower in their camper.
But I realize it's very hard to get a ticket for Burning Man even if you want to go.
FWIW, I live about 15 minutes from Pennsic, the biggest yearly medieval... thing... in the world. Likewise, I can accomodate visitors.
Man, so many people I'm gonna miss seeing at EFNW this year :( you better come next year so I can give you all the hugs you're gonna miss this year!
I'll be there... look for the guy who looks like Richard Attenborough's thuggish brother.
EFNW, very argh that I can't go.
Maybe she… thought you were dying of thirst?
I'd love to go to WorldCon, but it's definitely outside my price range and August will be all sorts of crazy…
The light rail should give you some good options, hotel-wise.