ANTHOCON LEFT ME SPEECHLESS and INSPIRED and The Rule of Three!

As long as I've been attending Horror/Writing conventions, SHROUD/The Four Horsemen have always been there. So when they announced they were going to host their own con, I was excited. I've felt a strong connection to these guys and now that ANTHOCON has successfully executed year two, well. It's going to be even more moby kick ass next year.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. As I often do.
ANTHOCON- 2012 has come and gone and has left me awash in two states. We drove to New Hampshire and I was feeling the beginning effects of a cold, but I'm made of hearty Irish stock so I shrugged it off. After all, this was ANTHO-FREAKIN'-CON!!! I was going to see old friends that I hadn't seen in a year and was going to meet new writers/publishers/artists, and more importantly, new friends. I was so excited. One of my writing goals was to have one of my stories in SHROUD magazine and it finally happened in the #12 issue and I was (in my mind) finally part of the SHROUD writer family.Nothing was going to stop this stubborn sway-back mule from having a great time. That was all, well and good until friday morning. I woke up and my voice was gone. Maybe I left it in Danny's room... Maybe I left it in the lobby of the hotel with. Either way I was hosed. But, once again I was damned determined to make it work. I had amazing people to talk to, panels to be on, readings to do and all that jazz. An Erb would not be denied.
Sadly...I would be.... Crap!
Yup, the voice was no where to be found. I could squeak out words here and there, but they came out in fits of desperation and pleads for understanding. Everyone was so great and tried to understand me. I applaud their effort. Poor bastards.
I soldiered on through the weekend and as I had imagined, it turned out to be an amazing experience in spite my involuntary vow of silence.
But all that aside, I sat on a panel for “New Writer Pitfalls” with Charles Day, Mandy DeGeit and Tracy Carbone and moderated, uber-efficiantly by Kevin Lucia. I really enjoyed the panel and the discussion was solid, honest and sincere. A big round of applause for those folks who attended.
The entire weekend swept by quickly and I am sitting here at our home, in upstate New York and I still feel as if we were still in New Hampshire. I cannot believe it's done. I cannot believe that after an entire year of plotting, planning, emails and “I can't wait to see you” notes have been sent. I'm sitting here in Casa De Erb and staring at the computer screen, with ANTHOCON, a memory.
The white background challenges me to write the words that tell the family I see once a year how we missed them, how it was so damned amazing to hang out and talk. But, the words do come and and they bring wide smiles and an occasional laugh, out loud. That's the beauty of this con. I don't have any bad memories or tainted moments. Nope, just pure, enjoyment and inspiration.
Inspiration- That's why I started attending writing/horror conventions. As an aspiring writer, I needed to get into the action and see what all the hubbub was about. It was a happy accident that most of the hubbub has became friends, family. I can dig that.
I did come away inspired. Re-energized and my Muse must be happy as a pig in slop because I can see the prissy bitch giving me the evil-eye from my Mother's chair in the corner of my office. She's shaking and bouncing up and down, just aching to unleash her unbridled inspiration. I have a strong feeling that once this nasty cold is gone, this humble writer-dude, is going to have his ass handed to him. In a good way. After all, I do have a YA novel to write.
I really wanted to write a long list of folks that made ANTHOCON a stellar success and a killer time. I will jot down a small list of friends that continue to bless me with their friendships and some new folks who were pretty damn cool as well. If I've forgotten you, please know you are on the list as well, my cold medicine-addled brain is doing the best it can. And feel free to add your name to the list, even in pencil, if you want. Shelly, my wife, who makes all things possible and is a far better salesman-(oops, saleswoman) of my work than I ever dreamed of being. She rocks! The Old Schoolers- Scott Cristian Carr, Andrew Wolter, James Roy Daley, Susan Scofield, Michele Mixell, Kelli Owen, Kevin Lucia
The New Crew- Folks that I may have met in passing before or just met this year, either way they rocked and having hung out with them, surely added to the enjoyment of ANTHOCON:Richard Wright, Charles Day, TG Arsenault, Tony Tremblay, Ron Dickie, Mandy DeGeit, Sandy Shelonchik, Brian Shoopman and I'm sure I'm forgetting some. Please find it in your heart to forgive this ill and tired Erb. He know's not what he forgets. (wait, does that even makes sense? Oh well. You get the gist.)
The Teachers of All Schools- Rick Hautala- Thank you so much for the constructive and inspiring words about my novella and I only wish we could have had a two-way conversation. Thank you for being so understanding and just plain cool! Next time, we shall have a great talk. You rock, Sir! Lucy Snyder- Thanks so much for signing the DBNP stuff and putting up with my inability to have a conversation. Next time. Gary Braunbeck- Your Keynote address caused tears in my eyes and passion for writing in my soul. You're task of writing that hellacious short story for Tom Picirilli left me in tears. One reason was because it was so damned funny and the other was because, even though you were dealing with such insane plot elements, you're mastery of telling a gripping, well crafted and fun story never ceases to amaze and inspire me. You sir, are the MAN!
The FOUR HORSEMEN- Guys, Tim, Mark, Danny and Johnny, Kira too, I could fill at least a twenty blogs telling of just how great you all are. But instead, I'll try and sum it all up here. If it wasn't for SHROUD Magazine, I wouldn't be here today. (in the writing sense.) I attended my first convention as a “writer” in 2008. It was at CONtext in Columbus. I had just finished my first serious writing project. A retro-zombie novel that I thought was brilliant. (more on that, in another blog.) The main reason I wanted to go was my writing hero, Brian Keene was going to be there. His books, Ghoul and The Rising were the reasons I started writing. Anyway, my daughter Talana came with me and I was so damn nervous. Out of my comfort zone. Surrounded by strangers and a world I'd never thought I'd be walking through.
Hold on. I know you're reading this and going, “Ah for Christ's sake, get to the point ERB!” Chill, I'm getting there. I promise.
So, I was scared crapless and met Brian and he was amazing, open and friendly. Good deal. The next night was the SHROUD Party. I still didn't know anyone really so I was scared to go. Yeah, I admit it. This big bear of a guy, was scared to walk into a room full of real writers and fans and didn't know what do to. Well, my daughter took the lead. She took a handful of my business cards and shoved them into my hand and said. “Dad, I want you to go into that party and don't come out until you hand out at least three of your cards to people you don't know.” She gave me that look that reminded me of both my Mom and her Step-Mom, Shelly. I knew I was screwed. So I went into the SHROUD party and grabbed a drink. I found a safe place against a wall near the make-shift bar. A big dude wearing a SHROUD t-shirt offered me a beer and told me it was okay for me to hang out there. Tim Deal was his name and he was the first person I gave my card to. That night I met all the 4 Horsemen and Sheldon and Linda Higdon. ALL whom have become my family. And I wouldn't be here today, having been in anthologies, edited anthologies, have novellas coming out, sitting on panels and working on a novel if it wasn't for SHROUD /ANTHCON and the Four Horsemen. So, yeah, the tale may have been long, but it all makes sense. That is why SHROUD and ANTHOCON mean so much to this humble writing Erb. And that's why we will attend every year, as long as they keep hosting it. Even if the con stops, we will be coming any way and knocking on Johnny, Mark, Tim and Danny's doors until one of those bastards let us in.
You see what the Horsemen dragged in? Now the Erb is here to stay!!!
Those who were missed: Sheldon and Linda Higdon, Jackie and Dan Gamber. A LOT!!!!
If you've never attended an ANTHOCON....well. Take it from me, DO IT!!!!!!