convergence –

What else happens at a con?

Glenda Larke — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 00:27:00 +0000

There are book launches
(1. Kylie, Nicole and Richard Harland; 2. Emma, Donna Hanson and Trudi Canavan)

There’s just hanging about talking
(Marianne de Pierres, Sean Williams, Darren Nash, Tim Holman, Joel Shepherd and Rob Hood)

and chicken imitations…

And generally lots of stimulating panels and talk. Lots of talk. Late into the night. There was even the experience of being at a room party threatened with police action if we didn’t break it up… Heavens, I haven’t been at one of those for years!! I felt quite young again.

So what else happens at a con?

Glenda Larke — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 06:12:00 +0000

Well, at this one, I saw my latest book for the first time in its finished state…
Held it in my hand.
Drooled.
Felt relief.

It is finally birthed and about to take its first hesitant steps into the world. Make sure it is welcomed, ok?

SONG OF THE SHIVER BARRENS

should be available sometime next month in Australia, so now is the time to order it from your friendly local bookseller.

But that wasn’t the only lovely happening.
I had a surprise in my con bag, and I couldn’t resist taking a photo of it, back and front.

I must write to the Voyager publicists and say thanks.
A real rush to find myself spoken of in the same breath as Anne Bishop and Jenny, and with Trudi making nice comments.
But then, Trudi didn’t know me when she said that.

Now she’s more likely to say Glenda, rather than Glenda’s books, is the culprit that keeps her up late.

There’s now a little matter of room parties and chocolate and talk and gin, you see…

What does one do on a cold winter’s day in Melbourne?

Glenda Larke — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 05:42:00 +0000

One goes and has an insanely decadent hot chocolate at Max Brenner’s….

Gillian, Donna, Paul and Trudi introduce me to the sins of Melbourne.

I shall never be the same again.

So, anyone out there going to Convergence2?

Glenda Larke — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:48:00 +0000

If so, please introduce yourself to me! Love to meet you…

I am a real sucker for sff (science fiction/fantasy) cons, since the very first one I attended in Perth, Western Australia. I knew no one there, and I was made so welcome and ended up making some real friends among a fabulous group of people. It was even the place that I met my publisher/editor from Harper Collins Voyager for the first time.

The second sff con I attended (Conflux in Canberra) was even better, simply because I met so many Voyager authors and people from the Purple Zone (the message board of the Voyager website where a lot of crazy writers and readers get together to discuss books and writing and science fiction versus fantasy…)

And so ever since, I have been trying to get to as many cons as I can. Last year I didn’t manage any. Happily, this year, it will be Convergence2 in Melbourne, which is the 2007 National Convention. It has the added attraction of the opportunity to meet Darren Nash from Orbit UK again, who will be publishing The Mirage Makers (first book, Heart of the Mirage, out beginning August). I met him very briefly at the Worldcon in Glasgow…

And then there’s Trudi Canavan and Karen Miller and Gillian and my room-mate and pal, Donna…

I can’t wait.