Part 1: Safe Today had cute pictures of me and pictures of critters as I set out for my first Eastercon. Part Two is about achievements unlocked, including getting home with only a single whasset.
If I was supposed to contact you about something, I hope you’ll reach out to me.
Now that I think of it, I did manage to lose another business card, for a nice man who attends a LOT of conventions. I met him at the post-con Fandom First Thursday Drinks. Hopefully, when I have a few moments to look more closely, it will turn out that I took a picture of his contact information with my phone, which would be an excellent reason to not be able to find a small slip of paper with his contact information on it.
If I do find it, I’ll have to try and recall what, exactly, I was going to contact him about. I’m sure it was about my book, other Adams-related information, or perhaps I was just being my usual welcoming self and inviting him for a visit when he’s in the states. That rings a bell.
Eastercon
Reclamation 2022, the 72nd Eastercon was such fun that I never had time to pull out my phone and take pictures. So fun that it may be my new way to celebrate the Easter Holidays going forward. I visited with friends old and new, moderated four panels, and added to my achievements unlocked by taking a shift as a Guest of Honor Liaison for the ever-delightful Mary Robinette Kowal.
Volunteering at this kind of convention turns out to be super special because, in addition to being taught how to distinguish between regular and posh crisps in the volunteer lounge, they provide “groats” or vouchers, which can be used at the bar. They also provide a drink to each panelist and moderator.
Wanting to keep my wits about me, I generally saved up my “moderator drinks” until after panels so that I could celebrate having had all my wits about me. It turns out that British SF Fans are on the whole polite, thoughtful, and without reculver.
It was a moderator’s dream job and I enjoyed it, especially one tense moment when a slightly long-winded panelist that I had interrupted during his monologues approached me after the panel. While I was sitting at the bar, he and a friend sat down across from me. When he saw me, he said, “You did an excellent job of managing me. Thank You! Let me buy you a drink.” Talk about achievements unlocked!
Between the groats and the vouchers and the general generosity, I managed to try all of the ciders that were on offer over the course of the weekend.
The Hitchhiker’s Panel
One of Douglas Adams’ biographers, M.J. Simpson, attended my Hitchhiker’s panel. I say “mine” because I had the idea for it, wrote the panel description, and moderated it, so I’m taking some credit even if I wasn’t one of the actual panelists.
I asked him to stay after the panel to sign my copy of his book. I also asked him why there wasn’t an audiobook and could I please make one? For one Altairian Dollar, he sold me the English audiobook rights.
So I’ll be producing the Douglas Adams Biography Hitchhiker as an audiobook this summer. Proof you should always ask for what you want in life. You might just get it.
There’s more amazing news to come over the next few weeks, so stay tuned!
What do you think?