[Writer Post] ArmadilloCon Convention Report
ArmadilloCon33 was odd this year, but in the best most awesome ways. Held only a week after WorldCon in Reno, I think there may have been some fear that attendance and/or spending might be down. And if that happened – well, everyone seemed to make up for whatever perceived lack with energy and enthusiasm – and odd timing. Timing which began when three of the Four Redheads of the Apocalypse and Yard Dog Press author, Frank Summers – plus friends/family – all pulled into the Czech Stop in West, Texas for bathroom/kolache breaks at the very same moment. Something NO ONE could have planned if we’d tried.
This year, Jimmy and I stayed with our friend, Renee, instead of the hotel. This isn’t typical of us, but necessary this year. I don’t usually recommend NOT being in the convention hotel, but this year… she was kind enough to help up out – to the anger and frustration of her cats. We appreciate their sacrifice on our behalf.
I didn’t have programming on Friday – and due to having an excellent dinner at Antonio’s – missed the Epic Opening Ceremonies antics by Mark Finn, but around that, I can’t believe how many people I talked with on Friday alone! I saw old friends, colleagues, and even met new ones. Paolo Bacigalupi was very amenable to being accosted on the dealer’s room floor – especially if you began your introduction with, “Hey, I just finished reading Ship Breakers…” And I don’t know HOW many people told him Austin’s (nay TEXAS as a whole) summer this year totally got them into the setting of Windup Girl.
Met Bruce Sterling completely by accident about FenCon stuff, and TOTALLY want his bubble app for my iPhone. But that’s some of the best parts of any convention. You never know who you’ll end up talking to “accidentally”. After the Pro/Artist reception, we headed up to the ConSuite – because Melissa Tolliver ROCKS the ConSuite – and there were no other parties, so we made our own with Scott Cup, Joe Lansdale, Kasey Lansdale, and Mark Finn. Keep an eye on Kasey Lansdale y’all – she’s going to be an entertainment industry force to be reckoned with!
Saturday kicked my butt. I had FIVE programming items. I moderated the Time Travel Literature panel consisting of Carrie Richardson, Bill Crider, Scott Cupp, and Howard Waldrop. I gave my camera to someone – and I don’t know what happened, but the pictures aren’t there. Don’t know if they’ll show up in the future or the past! Signing went well. I had THE BEST TIME as Captain of the Fan Team on Fannish Feud, even though this was the weird year where the Pros actually won. Sigh. It’s tons of fun being the host, but Mark did a bang up job, and I loved being a contestant this year. The Next Movement in Texas Literature panel was interesting (really glad it wasn’t one I was moderating), and there were TONS more people at the “Attracting and Growing Your Audience” panel at 9 p.m. on Saturday. The parties ROCKED. Didn’t get out of the hotel until after 1 a.m.
Sunday I had back to back programming at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. I moderated the “Geek Media in the Mainstream” or something like that – geeks on tv and pop culture panel. We had a fun conversation about television that was kind of a free-for-all because, come on, 10 a.m. Sunday… then I went straight into my joint reading with Mark Finn. Why you might ask, would I have a joint reading with the Toastmaster? Well, we introduced the collaborative project we’ve been working on (on/off) and I’ve made him PROMISE (twice) in front of witnesses that we’ll finish in less than two years. It was really well received, but come on, it has chupacabras…what’s not to like?
I was added to a challenge that was issued on Friday night to write a story (and try to get it sold) by ArmadilloCon 34 based on a piece of pulp art. It’s got apes and zepplins. But when Joe Lansdale says something along the lines of “hey, you should do this…” to a writer of my level, ya do it. Seriously, if you’ve never had the opportunity to hang with the masters of Texas Weird, you are SO MISSING OUT. The stories may MESS YOU UP, but the people are FANTASTIC. And that’s what I LOVE about ArmadilloCon. It’s a slightly different group of people from the other regional conventions – which means a slightly different audience for what *I* write – and a totally different perspective on some things – but they are GOOD PEOPLE. Really, really GOOD PEOPLE. I’m so glad they’ve asked me to participate over the last few years and hope they continue to ask me to participate.