DragonCon Debrief

The Bunny who wasn’t me.

After seven panels (thank you 

and Nancy!) and an autographing session (someone actually wanted me to sign her book—and I didn’t even know her!) it’s a small miracle I didn’t.  Not that I would’ve cared too much.  I had a blast as usual.

For me, DragonCon 2007 offered a wonderful combination of old friends and serendipitous discoveries.  For example, I expected to have a great time when I learned Josepha Sherman was on the “Effective Tools for Making That First Sale” panel with me.  But I never expected sharing a panel with a military SF writer like John Ringo would be such a hoot.  If you’re ever a con where he’s speaking don’t walk, run to his panels.  He’ll be the guy in the kilt.  Word.

Star Roberts and the media liaison staff touched my heart by setting up a memorial to 

in the Press Room.  As Mel Boros said when we raised a glass of Apple Pie in her honor Sunday night, “Teri wasn’t the center of attention, but she was central.”  And sorely missed.  

On a much happier note, “the Press Room Gang” also included me in their costume nights.  The Bunnies came out to play on Friday night.  Saturday night, we transformed doctors and nurses (and somehow neglected to get photos).  Sunday night, we were pirates.  And good thing too—we probably couldn’t have gotten into the Pirate Gathering or the Secret Room Pirate Rave if we weren’t.

Dorie (right) and me Sunday night in the Hyatt Lobby.

Then there was the music.  Emerald Rose and the Lost Boys set the perfect “Pre-Con” tone with their exuberant sets Thursday night.  Voltaire is a DragonCon favorite for his Goth presence and gloriously geeky lyrics, but his shows always made me twitch.  It’s hard to dance to a solo troubadour.  This year, however, he brought a band and Friday night, as he promised, he rocked the house.  Caught a little bit of Ghoultown and a whole lot of Lost Boys on Saturday night—and went away with even more CDs to load on my iPod.

Voltaire (center, in vest) rocked the Hyatt’s Centennial Ballroom Friday night, August 31.

The Sunday night Cruxshadows capped their current tour and was the last show for Rachel McDonnell, their awesome violinist.  The show ran nearly two hours…and it wasn’t nearly long enough.

Rogue, lead singer for the Cruxshadows.

I didn’t spend as much time as I would’ve liked in the Art Show, which seemed smaller than it had in years past.  Was it really?  I don’t know.  The Grand Hall at the Hyatt feels smaller than the Marriott Marquis’ Imperial Ballroom.  But some things were definitely bigger—the smiles on everyone’s faces when we learned DragonCon regular Laura Reynolds won the 2007 Chesley Award for best 3-D work.  WTG, Laura!