I had never been to SF Contario before, but it was really neat. I did a reading and got to sit on 4 panels, with some very high level conversation–very interesting. Also attended really enjoyable and thought-provoking panels.
Very cool to be working with new novelists
I have eight students in my year-long novel writing course, most of whom are doing speculative fiction. My section is one of three the Alexandra Centre is running this year–they had an explosion of people signing up. My students are very talented, and a collegial group, and very dedicated to setting deadlines for themselves. I’ll tell you, the two and an half hours each evening zip by!
Chicon was great
And, the day after I got home from the motorcycle trip to Washington, I hopped a plane for Chicago. Chicon was wonderful. I got my “Analog Mafia” pin, and was there to congratulate Stan on his retirement and Trevor on his new position. Got to meet the author I work with as an editor for Edge, in person. Sat on two panels (moderated one) and had a reading and a workshop–some good stories, there. Met new people and explored a bit of downtown Chicago, the edge of Lake Michigan and the Chicago Institute of Art with old friends. Good times!
Some surprises just work
It was a year in the planning, but we were able to surprise Don for his birthday. Yes, we did it AGAIN. What helped was holding the party at my sister’s house (which is absolutely gorgeous, about 8 km south of Golden, perched on a height of land overlooking the Columbia river). On the way home from our motorcycle trip, I just casually said, “Hey, why don’t we visit my sister on the way home?” and Don said, “Okay.” So we stopped in for a cup of tea and had a surprise birthday party instead, with all our family, as well as his siblings from Ontario! Bingo.
Back on the road
If one holiday wasn’t enough–I got a second! We left right after WWC for a motorcycle trip around the Olympic peninsula (Washington State) and down into Oregon. Beautiful country. The highlight for me was camping at Ozette Lake (we were very lucky to get a campsite–there were only fifteen, but we arrived on a Sunday evening and actually had a choice of 3-4 sites). We hiked the 3 miles to the beach, the 3 miles along the beach and the 3 miles back on the triangular path through the rainforest. Very inspiring. And–as a prairie girl, I never get to see/smell/feel/hear the ocean, so that was a real treat. And–so much to tell! The twisty roads our motorcycle ate up, great food, wonderful camping, friendly people. Very relaxing.