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

EPICON 2009 Part One

Was going to post this later but was informed my granddaughter age 5 will be spending the evening and she believes when she is here I am hers. So now to begin.

March 5 at 5 AM. I am not a morning person but I arise before the sun to leave for the shuttle to Newark with my carry-on bag and the monster purse I bought to carry stuff. No problem on the shuttle but I know it is coming. The dreaded security check. I have two titanium knees. I set of bells and whistles.
I arrive at the airport and get into the long line checking in. Amazes me how many people are fleeing the east coast, hopefully all for warmer climes. It was 17 degrees out and I was wearing my spring coat since warmer weather was promised for the return. I approach the gate, having shed my shoes and all my other stuff. "I'm going to set off the alarms," I said.
"Step ahead." The alarms go off. "Step in there. Someone will arrive to check you." I wait fifteen minutes. The guard smiles. "A woman must check you."
MY mind begins to click. Why a woman? I am old and the wand never touches your body. Perhaps my knees aren't titanium and are really a device to cause trouble. That is a dumb idea. I have no thoughts of self-destruction.
A second thought appears. Perhaps these young men who check you in are afraid of their own impulses. Or have they heard I occasionally write very spicy love-scenes and are afraid I will attact them. Finally a woman arrives and in all of two minutes I am ready to go to the waiting area.
Here, I find a chair. Every three minutes, the following announcement is heard.
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR BAGS OR PERSONAL EFFECTS ALONE FOR ANY TIME. IF YOU DO THEY MAY BE TAKEN AND OR DESTROYED.
So I clutch my purse and keep my eyes on my carry-on. I watch for my roommate who is meeting me at the airport. She is late but does arrive in time for boarding. We did miss the opportunity of trading our tickets for a first class seat on the noon plane plus a 4oo dollar voucher. The plane takes off and somewhere in the heavens I lose three hours but I don't worry because they will be returned when I come back.
We arrive in Las Vegas. That airport is big and spreadout. We walk a mile past slot machines to get a tram that takes us to another part of the airport where we walk a mile to get to the outside. There we find a cab to take us to the resort. Do not ask the price. I thought taxis in New York City were pricey but I learned a new truth. Once we arrived at the resort, we settled in and went to find lunch. I'll tell more tomorrow.