07 Oct 2008, Posted by Cat in News, 30 Comments. Tagged conventions, writing

conflux again

I do like the Conflux series of cons. They’re writer and reader focused rather than fan focused, which appeals to me a lot. Call me a snob, but I’m getting too old for the scruffy fannish end of the game. I recall approaching a Swancon hotel lobby a couple of years ago and pausing to gawp at a group of appallingly dressed folks sprawled like bloated seals across the sofas. The trackie pants, bum bags and food stained Babylon 5-shirts were bad enough, but it was the headgear that really shat me off. Akubra hats and baseball caps festooned with badges and pins and clip on aliens and koalas… fuck knows what else and it all looked utterly ridiculous on a bunch of fat bearded people in their late forties. yeah, OK, so I’ve definitely become a grouchy old cow in recent years, but the thing is that I love spec fic utterly and completely and I’d give anything to see it taken seriously as an art form rather than dismissed by the general population at large as some sort of mental illness thing.

Over the pre-con dinner last Thursday night, conversation with guest Tor editor Liz Gorinsky gradually unveiled the horrifying realisation that we had both managed to purchase identical 1920s dresses from an online store called American Vintage. I mean, come on — what are the odds of that? We don’t even live in the same country. Not only that, but we’d both originally chosen another frock, only to be told it wasn’t in stock & been offered 2 alternative dresses instead. We then both went on to select the black tango dress over the raspberry…

The prohibition banquet was fab. Many people either ‘frocked’ or ‘hatted’ up and the dinner itself featured four deserts, which is about the right amount as far as I’m concerned. Kudos to fellow guest Gillian Polack who designed the super stylish menu.
The highlight of the con for me overall was probably the paneling I participated in. I’ve had a variety of panel experiences over the years. Without exception, all of mine at this con were staffed with savvy folks who shared the floor knew what they were talking about and attended by intelligent, interested audiences who seemed to ge getting a lot out of the experience. I got a lot out of the experience myself, managing to pick up a few hot tips from the veteran novelists in the room [waves to Trudi & Karen]. The panels were also well chaired, which makes a big difference I reckon. The best of them was the one on the theme of making the jump from short to long fiction. It felt more like a fascinating dinner party conversation than a panel — and none of us were even drinking!
I did bugger all book selling. girliejones  did most of the work. We have come to the mutual agreement that she shall be me from now on, seeing as she still has youth, beauty and enthusiasm on her side… I hereby officially pass the small press sceptre across into her court. Agog! Press shall take a bow and engage in dignified retirement so that her captain can spend more time with her unfinished manuscripts.
It was great fun being a guest, and a great honour. We’ve already bought our tickets to Conflux 6. Rock on October 2009, I say!

ps… the other highlight was the opportunity to screen my iphoto portrait slide show. Watch out for future incarnations… I think I’ve developed a bug for big screen projection photography

con photos here.