Au Revoir, LibertyCon
An epic HallCon
This isn’t going to be an AAR, because I ducked panels this year in favor of walking the halls collecting hugs and having conversations. It was marvelous. Attending the convention was a close decision, as in I almost turned around for home five minutes after I’d left it. That’s why I was quiet here about attending and didn’t post a schedule or suchlike.
There were adventures on the way, which I’ll leave for another time. I stayed slightly away from the con, so as I walked in on Thursday it was nostalgic and wonderful. Thursday isn’t con-official but nonetheless the con is already happening. I saw old friends and new, began the soul’s well-filling of hugs and shared conversation. Being able to catch up on their news, share my own, find out how they are doing while looking into their eyes… online conversations can’t begin to substitute for this level of reconnection.
Friday I had an hour at the autograph table, alongside friends Kelly Grayson and Rick Cartwright, both excellent writers, and we stayed busy. I got to sign some books, meet an author I’d published in one of the hunting anthologies. I was deeply touched when he told me the anthology had been published just in time for him to show his mother before her passing. Later in the con I met another author whose first-ever publication was his short story I’d selected to include in the anthology Coffee Capers. Watching the joy on their faces was immensely fulfilling. I love that I was able to facilitate their growth as writers, and give them some encouragement to continue on.
I had the honor of seeing one of my characters brought to life by a cosplayer, a first for me (I neglected to ask permission, so am not sharing that photo in public). The young lady loved my Groundskeeper books, and did a wonderful representation of Chloe. She also told me that she asked her library to buy copies of the books to give to their library volunteers (she is one! I love seeing the new generations of readers and librarians hatch). As a good friend told me later, “you’ve leveled up as an author, congratulations!”
I’d subtitled this post ‘Hall Con’ and I wish I could remember who coined that, so I could shout them out. It’s a wonderful description of what I did. Aside from the two panels I sat on (and yes, I was scheduled for four panels, but two of them I passed on to other authors who were going to be a better fit and give the audience value) I attended only one panel, because it was an extension of a conversation I was having with two or three of the panelists before it started. I was bad and heckled them during it. Ten out of ten no regrets and I know I annoyed the moderator but it was fun. I will admit to some bemusement at the spectacle of a fantasy author who apparently thinks a misfit band would be new and edgy, though.
Fourteen years had passed since my first LibertyCon, and the last time I’d made it was with my husband in 2019. He is no longer able to attend due to travel restrictions from his health, and it felt wrong being there without him. I missed him. His friends missed him, which warmed my heart and I passed on to him during our daily phone conversations. He was home with the cats and the chickens and Toast was being clingy so he wasn’t lonely! It’s going to be a while before I make it back to LibertyCon. I don’t like to leave him alone for this long, and it’s an expensive trip. I’ll wave goodbye to Chattanooga soon, and wend my way up to Kentucky for family visits before I turn my eyes towards home again.
It was nice to meet you.
I loved meeting you after all of these years reading your stuff.