WisCon Writeup
Jun. 6th, 2019 04:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
catherineldfMy WisCon this year was both pleasant and undramatic, which was much needed and generally swell. The trip out was the usual frenzied pedal to the metal drive; next year, we’re going out on Thursday, dammit. I’m tired of showing up and scrambling on Friday afternoon. I forgot that I had planned to do this last year, but the Concourse smoothed over my mistake, which was much appreciated.
Anyway, so got in. Scrambled to get registered and pick up registration packets and drop off books at A Room of One’s Own and drop off art at the Art Show. But then there was tea and running into friends and hugs and good stuff. And dinner with Robyn Bennys and Kim Long-Ewing and spouse, so that was lovely. Then we stopped by the Art Show reception and a marvelous human told me they loved my work. After which, we hit the hot tub and chatted with a pleasant human there for a bit. And then went back to the room so I could write.
Saturday was the Farmer’s Market, then writing. Caroline Stevermer and I enjoyed a delightful lunch and she introduced me to Period Garden Park, a delightful little Victorian-style park a few blocks from the Concourse. There’s a fountain and statuary and flowers and little brick paths and it’s just lovely. After that, it was back to convention for the Art Show and the Dealer’s Room. I was pleasantly pleased to discover that people I’d never met before, like Gavin Grant of Small Beer Press, had heard of Queen of Swords. We chatted about the unspeakable horrors of the publishing life (a convo I also had with Timmie Duchamp from Aqueduct later that afternoon) and I wandered around and bought stuff. Saturday night was dinner and delightful catching up with Jana, Monica Valentinelli and Julia Starkey, then back to the con for parties, including Vylar Kaftan’s book release.
Anyway, so got in. Scrambled to get registered and pick up registration packets and drop off books at A Room of One’s Own and drop off art at the Art Show. But then there was tea and running into friends and hugs and good stuff. And dinner with Robyn Bennys and Kim Long-Ewing and spouse, so that was lovely. Then we stopped by the Art Show reception and a marvelous human told me they loved my work. After which, we hit the hot tub and chatted with a pleasant human there for a bit. And then went back to the room so I could write.
Saturday was the Farmer’s Market, then writing. Caroline Stevermer and I enjoyed a delightful lunch and she introduced me to Period Garden Park, a delightful little Victorian-style park a few blocks from the Concourse. There’s a fountain and statuary and flowers and little brick paths and it’s just lovely. After that, it was back to convention for the Art Show and the Dealer’s Room. I was pleasantly pleased to discover that people I’d never met before, like Gavin Grant of Small Beer Press, had heard of Queen of Swords. We chatted about the unspeakable horrors of the publishing life (a convo I also had with Timmie Duchamp from Aqueduct later that afternoon) and I wandered around and bought stuff. Saturday night was dinner and delightful catching up with Jana, Monica Valentinelli and Julia Starkey, then back to the con for parties, including Vylar Kaftan’s book release.
Sunday started out well with breakfast with some pals from Iowa, then on to my “So You Want to be a Publisher” presentation. This went pretty well - good attendance and lots of engagement. After that, I went to a delightful lunch with Alex Acks. Then came back to attend the latest iteration of the “Not Another F*cking Race Panel,” then caught part of a panel in using Twitter effectively. After that, Cecilia Isaac of F-Bom and I did a panel on effective author marketing. People enjoyed the discussion and got very engaged and she actually remembered to bring handouts!
Then it was back to our room for sandwiches, then party set up for the Queen of Swords Press Party. Alex helped us get set up and then we hung out until people started to trickle in. Overall, I think attendance was down this year, as was energy level, but it was still fun. Talked to a bunch of people and got some useful ideas for updates and changes and packed it in around 12:30 so we could go sleep. This proved to be prescient when we got stuck in the big nasty rainstorm on the drive home and got in a couple of hours later than planned. There was also pie at Norske Nook, so it wasn’t too terrible. Well, except for the driving part. But we’ll be back next year, barring unforeseen events!