DTW’s 2011 Great CONvergence Adventure

First day, Thursday, June 30: Show up around 2 PM and get my wife Roz registered, something we should have done a lot earlier because it would have been cheaper. After which we walk around like confused ducklings for a while before driving home again up Highway 100.

Later, we go back for the Opening Ceremony because Brian Keene said so on Twitter. After the ceremony, BK hands me his card and tells me to call him. That BK is a busy Guest of Honor at these things is apparent immediately.

Second day, July 1, it’s Friday but feels like Saturday for some odd reason. Show up early for 12:30 eBook panel, because I always show up early for everything. And I’m glad I did because parking looks like it’s going to be a bitch. This is my first panel anywhere—ever--so am somewhat nervous at first but the good questions and interesting eBook chat soon warm me up to the proceedings. Someone I actually know from Internet Interaction, Rich Ristow, could not make the con, but I did meet Anya Bast, Michael Merriam and Michael Zecca. At the end, I hand out some Smashwords codes for a free copy of Living After Midnight to make Craig Clarke a happy camper. Chat with a few audience members. I don’t have another panel until 3:30 so decide to sit in the audience for 2:00’s Essential Elements of Horror Literature. They have an open chair because of Ristow’s absence so BK calls me up to fill in. How cool is that? A great discussion ensues and I meet other panelists Roy C. Booth (whom I also know from the Internet), Tim Lieder and Joel Arnold. After that, it’s Ask a Writer at 3:30, where I’m surrounded by interesting and informative authors: Anya Bast, Kelly McCullough, Dana Baird, Michael Merriam and GoH Seanan McGuire, who, before the panel begins, states she really likes my publisher, Permuted Press. Questions about agents leave me silent because, well, I don’t have one. Roz shows up to watch this panel and she has a good time. After it’s over, we walk around the con awhile and then head home.

Third day, July 2, it’s Saturday and I have an 11 AM book signing with Dr. Kakalios. Before the signing, we chat with BK and Mary Sangiovanni; BK invites me to sit in on a podcast interview with him and Mary later on. At this first signing, I sign zero books. Bummer, but I hear it happens to the best of them. Whatever. Next up at 12:30 PM, it’s Happy Writers and Fast Writers and I’m on a panel with most of the folks I’ve met previously in other panels except for local freelance author David Walbridge whom, as it turns out, we’ve met previously. 2 PM and I’m entertained by the one-on-one with BK and moderator C. Robert Cargill. After that, it’s the podcast interview where I meet Taylor Kent and his wife. Mary, BK and I are pleasantly grilled on all things horror and then for me it’s time to go home and rest because later that night there’s a panel on zombies. So we jump ahead to 10 PM and the panel consists of me, BK, Erik Pakieser, GoH Edward Douglas (really nice guy) and Cynthia Booth. I notice these later audiences include folks who may have been consuming numerous alcoholic beverages. A great time is had, then it’s off for a couple drinks of my own with BK, Mary and entourage in the hotel bar. Midnight and I go home or else it’s pumpkin time.

Last day, July 3, Sunday. In and out for a signing with Anya Bast, who is a real sweetheart—go buy her books, paranormal romance fans! I sign a lot of books this time, maybe because the table has been moved to a more prominent position, facing the lobby (not off to the side like the first time). I chat with a bunch of fine readers and hope they enjoy the books! After the signing’s over, Roz and I are out of there.

Summing up, it was pretty much as I expected. I warmed up to doing panels but think there’s room for improvement, because isn’t there always? Enjoyed chatting with con-goers, meeting people who like what I like! Confirmed what I already knew from Internet Interaction: that Brian Keene is a great guy. (And Mary is a great guy too!). And that con folks like to dress funny and drink—a lot; as Roz says, there are geeks and then there are GEEKS. But it’s all good. The best part for me was meeting other writers and chatting with them; that’s called networking and this con was good for that.

 Suggestion for CONvergence committee: How about a mass book signing next year? We'll talk...