Belated Shore Leave post

It’s Saturday night, I’m worn out and recovering in my hotel room, and it’s too soon after eating for me to lie down (I get heartburn), so I’m going to try to put together some coherent summary of the past few days.

The drive out was fortunately unremarkable. The car seemed to get pretty good mileage. My new phone clip helped a lot, making it easier to see the GPS screen, though it took some trial and error to find the best place for it. (I initially had it so the phone covered the car clock, so I moved it to the right vent. I tried using gorilla tape to hold the vent in place so it wouldn’t sag under the weight, but that tape’s stretchy, so I’m still working on that issue.) I took the most fuel-efficient route, which has a long swath in the middle of about 2 hours between rest stops, which wasn’t ideal. But the plus side was that I made it to Cousin Barb’s just before sunset, so I didn’t have to navigate a particularly tricky road in the dark. (I keep wanting to get in the left lane early for my turn, but I forget that road has a number of places where the left lane is turn-only.)

The main glitch I had was that night; I forgot my suitcase zipper had a damaged end, so the slider got stuck and I had to force the teeth open manually, making it impossible to close again. The next morning, I borrowed some scissors and cut the zipper so I could put the slider back on and close it for the trip, but the cut’s position means I can’t open it again without the slider coming loose again. I guess that suitcase is effectively a loss now. I can use it until I get home, but then I should probably replace it by next time.

I got some good news Friday morning, though. While I was doing some writing at Barb’s before going in to the con, I got an acceptance letter for a novelette I submitted a while back. I’ll talk more about that in a later post, since I like to wait until the contract’s signed. But it’s very good news. I think this is the second time I’ve gotten a story acceptance e-mail while writing at Barb’s kitchen table. I guess it’s good luck.

So I made a couple of sandwiches, ate one for lunch, and packed the other in my insulated bag of cold stuff. I figured I’d transfer it to my hotel room fridge and save it for dinner. I got into the hotel in the early afternoon, and I got my green wristband saying I confirmed my vaccination status, which everyone at the con needs. But the hotel was having computer problems and the check-in line wasn’t moving at all. I couldn’t handle the stress of being in a noisy, crowded lobby for an indefinite time, so I got out of there, walked around the grounds for a while, then went to the car and had the sandwich early, not wanting to leave it in the hot car too long even in a chilled bag. I finally went back and found the line still glacial, but at least moving a nonzero amount. I missed half my 4 PM panel because of it, but it was just talking about our new projects, so I got to do a bit of that once I showed up. I don’t have that much to talk about anyway, other than Tangent Knights and the recent Arachne duology.

Later that night, I had another panel, then the usual Meet the Pros signing event at 10 to midnight, which usually consists mostly of interacting with the fans in the first hour and mingling with other writers in the second. I had a bunch of books out to sell, lugged in a heavy double grocery bag, but I only sold two. It’s the first convention back; I guess things are slow.

I didn’t sleep well last night, because I forgot how firm the mattresses are here. I belatedly remembered my hack to fold the comforter over double and sleep atop it, for the extra cushioning. Hopefully I’ll sleep better tonight.

This morning, I had a makeshift breakfast in my room, then went across the street to the local grocery store on the theory that I could get a deli sandwich there for lunch cheaper than at the hotel cafe. It turned out that it actually cost more — oops. Well, at least I got my exercise in for the day.

I had a couple of interesting panels this afternoon, about worldbuilding and creating truly alien species. Then there was a “What’s New in Trek Literature” panel where we couldn’t really say much, because things have slowed down so much with Trek Lit these days. All I have upcoming are a few things for Star Trek Adventures. Later on, I joined a panel about what eSpec Books is doing, where we talked a bit about the Arachne duology.

In between, I got to talk to fellow writers and editors and do a bit of networking, which hopefully will lead to some new writing opportunities. So that made it a productive day.

Then there was the annual writers’ dinner, which we used to hold at Andy Nelson’s BBQ, but this time (like the last time pre-COVID), we had it catered in from there to the hotel. This was the one time I’d be in a group without my mask on, so I was hoping we’d have it outdoors for the ventilation, but stormy weather kept it inside. I know everyone there was vaccinated, so I just hope that was protection enough. Still, it was worth it for the food. And then they brought out chocolate cake for someone’s birthday, and I couldn’t pass that up despite being full and tired and wanting to call it a day. It was very good cake, but I am so stuffed now.

So that’s my past few days. Tomorrow, I’ll be signing books in the “author chimney” at the book vendor table downstairs, from 12-12:30. Then I have a 1 PM panel on Sherlock Holmes. After that, I’ll set out for home, since Cousin Barb and I agree it’s best if I don’t risk exposing her after the con. I’ll have to stay at a motel overnight, but I’ll stay masked and keep to myself.

Oh, and I don’t know yet if they sprayed my apartment for cockroaches while I was out. I guess I’ll find out once I’m home. Oh yes, and then I’ll have to see about getting a new microwave…