Ad Astra 2015

This weekend I went to my first Ad Astra Convention. It was only my third ever Con, and I had certain expectations based on those previous experiences. I also had some anxiety as this was going to be my first ‘fan’ Con.

So what did I picture? A bunch of authors��and publishers in little circles of clique, with roving fans of��all levels from the timid clutching an autograph book��type,��to the worrying fanatics, not only dressed��as their favourite character but ‘being’ that character to the annoyance of the rest of the world… or at least me.

Worse case scenario��had me wandering not only alone, but lonely, among excluding tribes of ‘Pros’ and swarms of ravenous ‘Fans’.

[image error]Best case scenario, getting a chance to chat a bit with people from all walks, and��maybe gain a new friend or two, and attend some good panels. That best case scenario would have been enough to bring me back for the following year.

What did I get?

Ad Astra 2015 delivered a level of high interaction, solid conversations, and��bonding to new friends. It was nearly impossible to tell the difference between the authors and the fans – why?- because at this Con there was no difference. Everyone put forth a feeling of approachability, and once you had approached, they welcomed you, talked with you, and later in the Con did more than just an token wave when they saw you.

I sat in with reading/release parties where the authors were not only engaging, but presented as just another Con goer… someone who continued interacting and talking to all, after they had done their thing. They didn’t shrink back into their clique, cutting out the rest. They put down their books and became one of the whole again.

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The vendors were fun, friendly, and even went out of their way to find me, and ask if I had enjoyed my weekend when they knew it was my first time. The panels, were fun, informative, and friendly and the volunteers were awesome. In fact, it was the volunteer crew who set the tone for the entire weekend…

I was down at the bar having a pint on the Thursday night, one of the volunteers stopped by and we had a bit of a chat. I thought that was nice of him, and he went off to his crew pre-Con party and I went��to my room. A few moments later I got a friend request from this same individual on Facebook. I immediately accepted and up sprang a message – ‘Come up to room 1072′

This blew me away.[image error]

The group, when finding out it was my first Ad Astra, all agreed I should come join them. Not only did they let me into their room��– they let me in to their gathering. They let me be a part, not just there.

And through the rest of the con, these same people, were always quick to say hi, stop for a talk if they had time, or just catch my eye and wave – despite working the register desk at the time.

The previous two cons, I spent the majority of the time in panels. Now I like panels, I find they are fun, informative, and inspirational. For Ad Astra, I had gone through the panel list, and marked all the ones that interested me. I was going to be pretty busy, if I attended them all, but what else was I going to do at this con?

Turns out I was going to spend it talking, laughing, and making friends. I did make it to a few panels, and enjoyed them – but more than I ever could have guessed, I’d find myself realizing it was already twenty minutes into��a panel I had planned��to attend. I had missed it because I wasn’t constantly watching the time; bored, with nothing to do but wait for the next panel. I missed more than one, because I was otherwise engaged – and I never felt bitter about it.

I meet up with an old friend I hadn’t seen in over a decade. I made new friends that I know I will be happy to see next years. I know it will be like a family reunion next year – because it already was this year.

So, in the end – Ad Astra 2015 was an amazing success and will be only the first of many for me.

Filed under: Book Release, Publishing, Writing Tagged: Ad Astra Con