Radcon 5 Blast

When we arrived at the hotel we asked about the Dragon Dronet dinner presentation.  Good thing, because I would have hated to miss it.  I can't talk about most of what we saw (shh, it's a secret) but Fight Club is a done deal, so I think (hope!) it's okay to show this pic of C.S. "I'll never wash this hand again" Cole with Dragon and one of his props.  He talked about the necessity of plastics science to provide the movie industry with things like super-light bricks that look like the real thing and don't bounce.  His son, btw, helped test the bricks at one point by throwing one at a friend's windshield as he pulled up into the driveway.  Apparently that was a chase to remember.

Without plastics, he said, there would be no movie props industry.  I doubt that's an exaggeration.  There's only so much that latex and silicone can do.

During Opening Ceremonies we were treated to John "No Middle Name" Dalmas singing hit songs from the 1920's, 30's, and 40's.  He's a fine singer and an even better showman.  I wish I could have taken better pictures but it was difficult to get my flash to reach without making a nuisance of myself.  As it stands I fear that Alexander Adams was about ready to pummel me for flashing through his head during most of the ceremony, a ceremony which included belly dancers and a Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired skit.

Fast forward to the most fun I've had at a con party in a long time.  The small press party packed the suite and it looked like everyone was having a good time.  Here's Deborah Layne of Wheatland Press with I.N.K.er C.S. Cole.  I bought both of the two books I got at the con from Wheatland--Polyphony 5 and David Levine's Space Magic.  I often dread reading because it's hard for me to turn my editor's brain off, especially when I'm deep in a novel project (when am I not in one, lately?) but I'm looking forward to these.

Speaking of David, I get to see Hugo Award winning author David Levine (in purple) at the infamous Lucky Labs meetings, but we don't often get to actually talk, so it was great to have dinner and drinks with him.

Behind him, up-and-comer Mary Hobson chats it up with another guest.  

Jim Fiscus looks dashing in his blue coat.  He and I had some of my favorite wine and talked politics and photography at the party.  The night didn't lack for interest, and all I can say about a certain incident is that the hotel staff doesn't get paid nearly enough to deal with some of the idiots who need no excuse to drink too much.  The cherry pie was good, but the fool who didn't know when to call it a night spoiled an otherwise perfect evening.

Anyway, I also got to chat a tiny bit with the amazing Lizzy Shannon (she made this dress herself--wow!)  I really wish she was still doing the agent thing, but I can understand the desire to escape from a field that you don't enjoy when there are so many other things calling your name.  Although she didn't want to talk up Willamette Writers because she's on the board, she encouraged me to go to events where I can pitch directly to agents.  This brought up my still-pathetic skills at the whole pitch thing.  I haven't summed up Masks into a few clear sentences that I've memorized, and that's a bad thing.  I'm not sure that a face-to-face pitch would give Masks that much of a better chance (though it would be out of the slush pile in the strictest sense when I sent it in,) but in some ways going to an event where there will be agents and publishers may be a sensible thing to do, despite the considerable cost of said events.  Because they're so expensive, I'd want to be more than prepared.  I don't know if writers can develop the Eye of the Tiger, but I'll give it my best shot.

 I'll sum up some of the panels in later posts, but for now I'll just mention that I had a wonderful time watching panels and paneling with Harold Gross and Patty Briggs (pictured here,) Alexander Adams, Dr. Harry Turtledove, Renee Stern, Bruce Taylor and many, many others.  I want to mention everyone right now, but my brain is too small and this post is getting too big, I'm afraid.  I'll be sure to mention them in the posts on the panels themselves.  

I beg forgiveness of those that I pestered, express my gratitude to those who encouraged me, and overall, I have to say that of all conventions I've attended so far, Radcon was the most hospitable.  I feel like a traitor to my own beloved OryCon for saying that, but then there are things that OryCon is better at, and I refuse to give in to the 'who's the favorite child' thing.  They're all my favorites, and they all employ their unique talents to throw a convention that's all their own.  Thanks for a great time, Radcon.  I'll hopefully see you next year, maybe as a published author this time.