Convergence

The time machine travels all the way back to July 4th weekend, to Convergence, which I did the weekend after 4th Street. I've been attending Convergence often, more often than 4th Street, and I love the convention. This year, actually, Convergence had more writer programming than Wiscon (how weird is that?), so I got a lot of bang for my writer buck. AND more of my writing life happened at Convergence than it usually does. Usually this is the con where I let my geek flag fly, but there were writer opportunities. And so it goes.

***

First of all, Michael Underwood and I had lunch. Michael had posted on Codex that the manuscript acquisitions editor for Angry Robot was looking for completed manuscripts. So, largely thanks to Michael, I managed to get a complete manuscript to that nice man, and Michael and I had a fantastic chat about writing. If you have a chance to hang out with Michael, do. He's a writer, but he's also a salesman, and he knows the industry inside out. Also, Michael knows comics, so if you're me, that's a bonus. Anyway, thanks, Michael, for the cool lunch and introducing me to writers and Phil.

***

Julia Rios, editor of Strange Horizons and good friend from Viable Paradise, also came to the convention. So, we had breakfast and it was again a good time. I love seeing her and hearing her intelligent opinions on everything, and we caught up on loads of stuff. Another shot of cool kept me moving on.

***
I did manage to see Caroline Stevermer for two weekends in a row. That was awesome. Mind, I had to cancel our dinner for an emergency room run. Yes, that pesky reflux pretending to be a heart attack again. Still not a heart attack. So, Carolyn and I toodled over to Good Harvest for breakfast on Sunday. I'd never been, even though I'm a frequent visitor to Minneapolis. If you're looking for tasty, healthy food, this'd be a terrific venue for you. I hadn't realized it until this moment, but yes, I guess I have been going through Caroline Stevermer withdrawal.

***

My usual Convergence experience is pretty much due to my good friends. Aric, Kim, Dan, Lisa, and of course my spectacular husband essentially let me good off and be myself. Yay! More of my writer life spilled into the convention, but we still had time to have fun and be goofy.

***

And some surprise writers were there. For the first time in a long time I saw Rachel and Michael Swirsky. Why? Because Lynn and Michael Thomas were having a vow renewal ceremony. What kind of a geek do you have to be to do something like that in costume? What do you mean you have pictures of Bryon and me in 1987, getting married in our Starfire and Nightwing suits in Kansas City? Nevermind, then. Nothing to see here. Mary Robinette Kowal was also around, so there was a quick hello there.

***

Convergence does have one strike against it, and that's it's TERRIBLE hotel situation. I know 8 people who signed up for the convention who entered the hotel lottery for a room in one of the main hotels, and one of us got a room. As The Hunger Games teaches us, this can happen, but you know, I can't help but think that the early bird outta catch the worm here. Comic Con is a nightmare with its early calling, BUT what if you had a chance to book the hotel as you signed up? It would incentivize early registration. Bah. No one cares what I think. I wish they cared...

At any rate, I recommend Convergence, although I recommend having a back up housing plan. I mean, we always have Aric and Kim. But this is a fun, if a croded experience.

Mirrored from Writer Tamago.