So all is said and done for today, my first real day, hours from home at a real con. I have to says I really feel like I’m my own element and while people have found it puzzling I also am a little surprised at how welcomed and included I’ve felt.

Deb Kuhn and I left from Louisville about 11 am. We talked nonstop for the whole trip, and didn’t even begin to exhaust our conversation. Really she is such a sweetie. I can see why we don’t have many SF/F/H writers in Louisville, we lucked out to get Deb.

We arrived about three. The hotel is a mess because there’s construction going on. Yay! Like a fool I caught some caution tape in the zipper of my suitcase and didn’t notice until I strated dragging the poles the tapes was attached to with me. Brilliant Michele. And how did I manage to, out of the whole suitcase, get the tape into the zipper?

The room is great. I should get some pictures of it, because it’s one the nicer rooms I’ve stayed in. I have a king sized bed, a desk, couch, chair and free wireless. Okay, so I had to ask someone else how to work the wireless, but here I am.

We actually got here early so after ditching our stuff Deb and I headed into the bar to get something on our stomach (I’d had two doughnuts. Deb said she hadn’t had anything.) So, guess who was in the bar, and guess who recognized me (by name at least) Brian Keene and his entourage (which included JF Gonzalaz and the gorgeous Alethea Kontis). We all had lunch together at the bar.

After foodination we went up and registered for the con (yay I got a free copy of Dead Sea!) Then we went over to see if Jason Sizemore was setting up the Apex booth yet. He was, and I was his first customer, buying a shot glass and a copy of Momma’s Boy (because the two electronic copies aren’t enough… unless I want Fran to sign my computer.) While hanging out there I met Michael Knost (whose little girl is absolute adorable! I got to see pictures!) and Brian Hatcher, and just as I was set to wander off Fran came up and I got hugs and damn does she smell good.

I went to my first panel at 7pm, one on Urban Fantasy.

I had been getting wrried that UF was reaching a glut, but Linda Robertson, Tanya Huff and Paula Guran gave a pretty positive and entertaining chat on the genre. I will try to post notes later, because it was a blast.

Next I went to a panel with the Dead Body Guy, who is hilarious. apparently he also had a bit part in an upcoming movie called Thankskilling where a demon turkey gets revenge on town. The good news is the movie is supposed to be tongue in cheek.

I went back to the Dealer room after that, to check on poor lonely Jason Sizemore. As it turned out the room was closing so we headed over to get free con food together. During the conversation I got to meet the gorgeous new editor for Clarkesworld Magazine. Jason had a panel at 10pm with Juno editor Paula Guran so I tailed a long for that.

The Rise of the Medium Press panel. I think Jason was a little flattered that he was put on this panel. I didn’t really learn anything new, but it was fun, and by that point I was a familiar face to both of them (having asked a lot of questions at the UF panel).

Neither one of us was ready to go back to being alone yet, so we headed down to the bar to see if we could find Deb. She was indeed there. So were a lot of people. I mean, people introduced themselves to me! And gods I’m bad with names but I had a nice conversation with Skippy Carl and an Odarker (I am horrible for not remembering your name, but I’m tired and my brain is starting to fail me. Case and point, I typed “Brian” three times right there.)

And you know know what’s worse than me mispronouncing like everyone’s names today? I think Kealan Patrick Burke said a cheerful enthusastic hi to me in the bar and I wasn’t sure if it was him or not, and cowardly me (I was on the way out the door) I didn’t go back to find out. I’ll kick myself if it was him and I missed my chance to hug him and get a picture.

We went over to a book release party (because the wine and grub was free. Oddly, I didn’t have either.) there I got to chat with Maurice Broaddus, Jason, Deb and more people whose names escape me because I’ve only met them once.

I am so exhausted. I want to say more. I want to make this a fabulous post and make myself sound much smoother than I was, but I feel like I’ve been blundering through this con. I also feel like I don’t care if i make a fool of myself. I love it!

And you know what… I have met so many great people and had such a great time so far, but I’ve gotten no pictures with me and anyone.