V-Con 40

Things are proceeding apace here in Vancouver,  at VCon 40.  I gave a five-minute (!) reading last night, an event called "Multi-author Book Launch".  It was difficult to come up with something so short, but in fact I think it was an interesting constraint.  There were a couple of dozen of us reading, and even the worst writers can't be boring in that length of time.


I'll have a proper reading today, an hour in a small room with trufen.   That will be at noon, so I'll lose a number of potential customers to lunch.  Doing panels on "Killing Off Characters" and "Caustic Soda Podcast Recording," which is not described.  I guess I'll find out when I get there.


(Curiously, they didn't put me on panels that I volunteered for – "How Did That Get on my Book Cover?" and "Science of Time Travel."  I guess they have their own favorite local writers for those.)


So I can't complain of overwork, considering that as Guest of Honour I'm getting actual Canadian money for showing up.  It's kind of funny-looking, but the local merchants accept it without question.


I am very much ready to get back in the saddle.  I've never felt more elderly at a convention.  Surrounded by kids like scurrying squirrels.  Some of them strangely resemble females of my own species, but I can tell from their lack of interest that they can't be.


Somewhere between the cruise and here I've misplaced a leather case with three fountain pens.  Only one was valuable, a $175 red Aurora that was a favorite.  Gay wrote to the cruise line asking whether the case might have been turned in, but no response yet.


Well, gird my loins and go face the frenemy.  "Where do I get my crazy ideas?  I'm glad you asked that question."  Actually, I just stumble around in the dark and run into them.

Joe