I have returned from the 2011 Eastercon (Illustrious). Held annually, this is where readers, writers, editors, agents and publishers of SF gather once a year to talk SF, catch up and drink. It’s a good place for an aspiring author (or artist for that matter) to make contact with all of the above.
My Eastercon was really split into two parts. The first, where I was basically a bag of nerves, was prior to completing my two panels (both moderating). The panels went reasonably well, thanks in large part to the excellent panel participants (including John Jarrold, Roz Kaveney, Gillian Redfearn, Chris Wooding, Liam Proven, Phil Nanson and Peter Hamilton). They were very kind to an inexperienced moderator and the audience seemed to enjoy the discussions which is all you can ask for really.
From there I relaxed and spent most of my time catching up with old friends and making some new ones. I was around to see Paul Cornell present the BSFA awards including that for Best Short Story to my friend, the talented Aliette de Bodard, for her story The Shipmaker, a handful of panels and the return of Who to the BBC for another season. But other than that I was in the bar.
A situation I am now paying for as my body struggles to settle back to an even keel. 🙂