How am I enjoying my first Worldcon – very much so is the answer. It seems very low-key to me, quite relaxed – not sure if that’s the size of the venue (which is HUGE!) or everyone’s keyed into the Aussie way, but it’s not at all scary which I thought it would be.
That said, my involvement is only really ramping up. This morning I have my first panel, so we’ll see how that goes.
So Thursday was about signing at Rendezvous Books (weren’t able to get stock in unfortunately, but met Carrie Vaughn and the lovely girls at the shop – love talking romance with people who love it); the launch of Baggage (which is apparently selling ‘phenomenally’ according to editor Gillian); the opening ceremony and a HarperCollins talk and chatfest on epublishing and the company’s plans (fabulous food). I was then good girl and went back to my room to finish the proofs of Power Unbound – only took a couple of hours and I’m now free to enjoy the con.
Friday consisted of watching Galactic Suburbia be recorded live, the launch of Dead Sea Fruit and Girl With No Hands by two lovely ladies, Kaaron Warren and Angela Slatter, then I had my Worldcon signing. I was gratified that someone was waiting for me, Secret Ones in hand. I signed first! Signed a few autograph books and part of the Worldcon quilt. Then got a lesson in where the career could go – China Mieville was signing after us. After getting all teacherly and telling the volunteers how to organise five people into a space that normally has four when one would be popular, I then watched the line start to build. By the time I left, there were already about 40 people there.
A quick lunch with Russell Kirkpatrick and Kylie Seluka (the BLT for the cafe at the Hilton – YUMMY!) we went to listen to Glenda Larke read. I’m ashamed that as much as I know, like and admire Glenda and keep meaning to buy and read her books, I’m yet to do so. I shall make up for that by doing so today and getting her to sign it :)
Then I was doing CSFG desk duty – trying to convince people to buy the pile of books that we’ve got. If you’ve not got any yet, come by and check them out. I can particularly recommend The Outcast, edited by yours truly :) Hubby arrived around four – we did his membership transfer (thank you Beth Moursund) and then it was over to the Voyager party, where my feet got incredibly sore and they had fabulous Voyager purple cocktails and there were lots of people and it was announced Voyager was going global, which is an exciting and interesting development.
Then on the way to Donna’s room for tea, she and Glenda and I bumped in Gail Carriger and Fran Myman and they ended up joining us. This was a bit of a moment for me – I’ve heard so much about Gail’s books and been wanting to read them and if she’d turned out to be horrible, I would have been devastated. Luckily, both she and Fran were absolutely lovely and we had a great natter fest.
Then to the Nightmare Ball, where my lack of costume caused much consternation – I’m sorry! There was drinking, and dancing, and more chatting. Then Donna Hanson, Simon Petrie and I went over to the CSFG party, where I presented Simon with his Sir Julius Vogel award for best new talent with all the pomp and ceremony I could muster, in order to at least give him an impression of the experience had he been in Wellington last weekend. The fact it also embarrassed him was, admittedly, another important reason for doing it that way.
Tumbled into bed at 12.30, glad for a tiring but fun day. Woke up this morning, realised there’s still THREE DAYS of Worldcon to go and wondered if I’d make it through. Stay tuned.