This time tomorrow I shall be at the airport here in Kuala Lumpur, waiting for an overnight flight. Yuk.

Never mind, it will be worth it.

Couple of things about two delightful people I happen to know – first, there was a bit of a mix-up about Kate Elliott’s kaffeeklatsch for the con. As a result she will have it outside the convention area in the Crown Casino at a coffee shop – read the programme in due course for details. Hey, you’ll get REAL coffee! The time is 3pm on Saturday. If you go, ask Kate about the wonderful world she has created for her new trilogy. I have read the first book, and it is fabulous. Truly. Imagine steampunk magic Phoenicians…and you’ll be halfway there.

The second person is a Malaysian. Now Malaysians at a Worldcon are as scarce as dragons, especially one who is making the trip specifically to get there. Her name is Ika Vanderkoeck, and she was born in Bandung, Indonesia… Her programme includes a reading: Friday / 10:00 am/ Room 207 and a Kaffeeklatsch: on Monday / 3:00 pm/ Room 201.

Why should you drop by her reading and her kaffeeklatsch? Well, because Ika is going places, and didn’t you always want to be able to say, “Oh, yeah, I knew X before they were in the least bit famous…”? Well, now’s your chance. Ika is 26 and she’s already had a short story published in a Tor Daw anthology. And there is other exciting possibilities going on in her writing life too, right now, which I am not at liberty to talk about. Even if nothing comes of that, it is my belief that she is going places, soon.

And she deserves it. She works hard, for a start. She has that drive we writers recognise in one another. I have read the first 40,000 words or so of the first book of her trilogy, and believe me, she is good.

I have bought a membership of Denvention, the World Science Fiction convention of 2008. My first worldcon was in Glasgow, three years back, which I went to because my daughter was then living in Glasgow.

She is now living in L.A., and Denver is somewhere between L.A. and my other daughter in Virginia, and the con is at the right time of the year [just before I take on my August-September babysitting-grandson-duties], so it seemed fated I must go…

And not long now to Easter and the Australian Natcon where I am a guest.

They will be my only two cons this year.

See you there?
And some memories from Scotland: With author extraordinaire Trudi Canavan, and Donna Hanson (who will be my room mate again in 2008).

With Paul Ewins, self, Donna, Nashii (my daughter), Trudi, in the Orkneys.

Me giving a reading.

Photos by Trudi and Paul.

It is more usual on the last day of the year to look backwards, and contemplate the year past.

I am not going to do that. I want to look forward.
To all the good things ahead.

January: Another chance to win an Aurealis Best Fantasy Novel in the coming month. (Ok, I am not really expecting that one, but well, it’s nice to have a chance. And if I don’t, Jenny Fallon might, and that’s almost as good…)

February: French version of The Aware out – my first trade paperback, from J’ai Lu. It’s called La Clairvoyante.

March: Being a guest at a sff con. First time, and in my home city. Swancon/Australian Natcon, Easter. Perth. Be there. Seeing all my Oz friends/family. And a bit of down time with Karen Miller beforehand. Nice.

March-April: Wandering off with my sister around the wild southern coast of Australia, camping out under the stars … ah. That’s food for the soul.

May 1st: Song of the Shiver Barrens out in the UK.

August: Worldcon, Denver, USA. My first US con. Sharing a room with pal Donna. First time in Colarado. Yay on all counts.

August, or maybe July. Or sometime in 2008 anyway. A very special wedding of someone close to my heart. Maybe in Hawaii.

August-September: Looking after gorgeous grandson over in Virginia.

The rest of the year is still up for grabs…but I reckon it’s looking pretty good from here.

How about you all?

Anyway, Happy 2008!!!!