Thursday, March 11, 2010

EPICON2010

I'm back from NOLA, actually been here for several days catching up on email. Had a great time and spent most of my time visiting with people. First of all, compliments to Holly Jacobs. She's a funny lady and a fellow person of Irish descent. Though my ancestory is more of a mongrel nature having English, Welsh, German and American Indian in the mix. Bought her book though she kept telling me I didn't have to. Is that a way to sell books? Read it and though I'm not into the contemporary genre at the present time, though always subject to change, enjoyed the book. Brought back some memories since I have an adopted daughter who had a baby at a young age.
Then there's Marilyn and Hap. Have known them since the first EPICON in Omaha and still remember the Persian restaurant plus other adventures we've shared. Virginia Beach and the restaurant across the street from the hotel. Las Vegas and the cold that wasn't really cold to me.
Brenna is next and this time she appeared with a sling. Didn't try psychic healing this time though I considered doing just that. Congratulations to her after finaling for many years, she is the proud owner of an EPIC E award. Nicely done.
Jolie, one beautiful woman and one who thought she was superwoman. This aging lady stepped in to give her a hand on the decorations for the banquet which turned out to be lovely and like our own Mardi Gras. Kudos to her and may she keep writing.
Then there's Dan, from Mundania, one of my publishers. This is one funny man. He hosted the awards and kept me laughing. I did harrass him a bit about my book I'm awaiting release. Also one my grandson is dying for. He's re-reading the first in the series -- Flight. To me this was a tribute and also to my publisher for letting it into ebook and print.
Then there was Zetta and Jim, two I met in Las Vegan. He has the great accent. I've always been a sucker for a brogue. Also kilts are interesting. Zetta is a funny lady and I enjoyed our chats and showing off pictures of my grandchildren.
Lorna and Larry and also friends who are now writing mysteries as well as other things. They're savvy people. Lorna and I competed as to who laughed the most at Dan's brief monologues.
Fantasy writers Kathy and Gloria are acquaintances and I've read some of their books. Good ones. Gloria's has dragons and I'm a sucker for dragons. Trees are interesting, too.
Rick Reed was another from Las Vegan to arrive in NOLA for EPICON. He cleans up nice. And he allowed me to post a silliness on his blog.
I won't forget Kin who won the Children's YA last year and is collecting donations to be auctioned off for her local zoo. I bought her book for my granddaughter and she presented me with a cute little lamb.
Met a lot of new people and at my age it takes several cons before I remember names.
Of course there's Charlotte who did a bang up job with organizing the conference and making our stay wonderful.
Linda McLaughlin and Janet Quinn who I've known for several years and are always glad to talk about people we know.
Marcis, her husband and mother and her sort of shy daughter who is a real cutie were with us on the boat cruise.
Can't forget Carol who last year ran herself ragged being president and running the conference. This year she's facing a boatload of releases. Running ragged in a different way.
Lisa and Sean who oversees the treasury, More poser to him. Lisa has come up with bids for Williamsburg for next year. Can't wait. She had a pair of dresses for the banquet and was a real quick change artist.
Then there's Debi Sullivan, a woman with a sexy voice and a strong sense of advocacy for New Voices.
These are the names I really remember and ones I spent some time with. There were some new faces and hopefully next year I'll have the names to the faces. New Orleans is a lovely place and I did have some time speaking to natives and hearing of their experiences and their hopes. Looking forward to seeing everyone next year