WisCon General Write-up, Part the First

[catherineldf]

So…WisCon, the good parts. Elephant in the room post follows.

We got in on Friday afternoon after an uneventful journey and settled into our room. Jana got her work set up in the Art Show while I left messages for people and went down to The Gathering. It seemed a bit sparse, compared to years past, but there was more programming scheduled against it than in past years, so that wasn’t unexpected. I talked aging parents with several other folks, including my friends Caroline and Warren before heading off to the Dealer’s Room and equivalent. The evening was a blur of dinner at the surviving Nepalese restaurants, running into friends, camping out in the hot tub and hitting a few parties.

Saturday, we had our usual glorious wander through the Farmer’s Market, then the Art Show (where Jana’s boxes and journals got lots of positive attention and sales) and the Dealer’s Room. From there, it was on to lunch with a couple of lovely new writer friends, Monica and Nene, then on to more or less moderate the Unheard Voices of SF/F/H Panel. We did a lively panel on why Broad Universe, the Carl Brandon Society and Outer Alliance exist and what each organization does and how we are working together. And why we all need more members to make an impact. The resource list that I created from the Arisia version of this panel is here, for those looking for more info. After that, I was off to the Outer Alliance Reading, which was a fine, fine group reading this year. I say this as a participant, but when I want to hear more of everyone else’s work, that’s a good thing. After that, I met up with friends and headed over to 43 North, a most excellent restaurant near the Concourse. Then, there was hot tubbing and parties and sleep.

Rolled out of bed to greet the dawn and an 8:30 panel on Corporations as Character, which was quite interesting if not quite what I had in mind when I thought it up with my original co-conspirator. I went to a panel and part of a reading, which is unusual because I often don’t make it to things I’m not on. I met up with friends for lunch, then came back for more hanging out, followed by a panel on Wuxia as a Fantasy Tradition. This was most fun and excellent geekery, with film clips. J Then there was relaxation time, then dinner time, then hot tub time, followed by the GOH speeches, which were well worth listening to, and a few parties. Monday was breakfast with friends and heading back.

I went into the con completely exhausted from Mom stuff/work stuff/health stuff and if I seemed disconnected, I was, particularly on Friday and Saturday. I’m feeling a tad more recharged now. Oh yes, and I came home with a request for a nonfiction book proposal which I will commence working on shortly, about which more later. Plus some other potential nonfictional things on the horizon.

Many, many thanks to the many folks who make WisCon work well for the many things that were quite splendid about the weekend. I mention this because it needs to be said and because my follow-up post deals with the negative aspect of this year’s con.