MileHiCon Gift
What a Night!
MileHiCon was a hoot again this year. My goal was as usual at a Con: attend some panels, talk with a few folks, and learn as much as possible. This year turned to be a Con in spades! And it all happened for me at the end—the very last day—when I expected simply to go home.
Friday started nicely enough with a few smart panels, and the ever-cool “Networking with Writers in the Bar” event annually hosted by James Van Pelt. Jim is the best. If you ever get a chance to chat with him at an event, do it. He’s a great guy, super knowledgeable and always approachable. Jim’s first novel was just released on the heels of several anthologies. He’s “that veteran” writer more than a few steps ahead of us newbies, but none-the-less easy to talk it up with.
At the Networking event, I chatted with Carrie Vaughn and others—all fun and open to questions. I missed most of Saturday due to baby duties, and the ever-important Ohio State Buckeye football game, which I could not miss. My Bucks are Number One this year, afterall. A Phenom for us fans still quaking in the aftermath of the Cooper years. Plus, I had to attend a Halloween party near Wash Park, replete with my kickball team buddies. But I digress.
Sunday, I returned to the Con with the hopes of chatting with Rob Sawyer and Eric James Stone, two authors who amaze and empower me. Eric found me right after the “An Hour with Robert J. Sawyer” panel. What a terrific guy! Eric and I marched up to the Con Suite for munchies, and he chatted openly with me for an hour about writing and our experiences, and I can’t thank him enough for his openness.
Eric not only achieved published finalist in 2004 for Writers of the Future, but was an outright Winner again in 2005. That’s a two-time workshop attendee for those of you counting. I’d like to call him a lucky dog, but those of you in-the-know know he earned the honor both times! And stupid me, I forgot my anthology for an autograph. I really think my brain was in remission this weekend. Ughh.
I was about to leave for the weekend. Time to get home. It had been a great Con, but late afternoon was closing in, calling me back to the real world. It was over for another year, or so I thought.
I passed Jim on the second concourse and asked how the Con went. He said great, and that the dealer room had sold all but one of his debut novel copies. I remarked how nice that was, and said I wanted to go buy the last one—and could I get him to sign it for my Mom? My Mom, Kathy Rolsen, is a better SF fan than anyone I know, and she loves, LOVES, her first editions. Signed ones are even better.
I went and purchased the novel and met him in the bar, where he did indeed provide a kind inscription. Mom, if you are reading this, Merry Christmas—early.
Again, I was about to leave, but Jim asked me about my favorite panel. I told him that I’d just left the “An Hour with Robert J. Sawyer” panel, and that it had been the best. I noted what a great and open speaker Rob is, and proffered that Rob’s comments resonated very deeply for me. Jim mentioned that he had yet to spend time with Rob, so we headed downstairs so I could show him where Rob was being interviewed. We decided to wait, and I was glad to delay my departure from the Con for a few minutes to yap with Jim.
So we talked and talked. It was great for me, especially for a newbie who so very much respects Jim for his contributions to science fiction, and all that he has achieved.
After Rob was done with his interview, he came over to sit with us. I expected to excuse myself so they could talk, but that wasn’t necessary. They included me like old friends. Only in SF can this happen, methinks.
It was so cool. I mostly spent the time in awe, adding a meager comment here and there. We sat there for half an hour. I tell you, the conversation eclipsed everything else I’d heard or witnessed at the whole Convention! The candor was uncanny! And the insights blasted any panel forum!
When Jim got up to leave, so did I. Why not?
I expected that Rob would want to get on with more important Con-ending tasks, but he didn’t! He stayed, and so I plopped down in Jim’s seat and Rob and I chatted some more. We talked about the genre, themes, repeated themes, his novels and his aspirations. It was like two regular blokes hanging out.
Keep in mind. This is the man who owns SF today as far as I’m concerned.
I wanted to proffer my meager writing resume and hollar, “Hey, talking to me isn’t a waste of your time! I won an international science fiction contest. And, I’m a quarter finalist in WOTF on a regular basis!”
The truth is… it didn’t matter. Rob was glad just to stay and hang out. Can you imagine that?
—Well, I can’t.
So I sat and talked with arguably the greatest Science Fiction writer of our time for another 30 minutes—not because I cornered him or because he felt some life-long obligation to yapping it up with a MAYBE-MIGHT-BE, but because he is that kind of guy.
So I blog tonight because I’m humbled.
Not because of Rob’s greatness, or his award-winning stature, or his multi-novel legacy.
But simply because he spoke to me—like a regular guy.
MileHiCon had been over. I was on my way home. The real Con began in that last ninety minutes.
Thank you Rob—
—For the gift.
MileHiCon was a hoot again this year. My goal was as usual at a Con: attend some panels, talk with a few folks, and learn as much as possible. This year turned to be a Con in spades! And it all happened for me at the end—the very last day—when I expected simply to go home.
Friday started nicely enough with a few smart panels, and the ever-cool “Networking with Writers in the Bar” event annually hosted by James Van Pelt. Jim is the best. If you ever get a chance to chat with him at an event, do it. He’s a great guy, super knowledgeable and always approachable. Jim’s first novel was just released on the heels of several anthologies. He’s “that veteran” writer more than a few steps ahead of us newbies, but none-the-less easy to talk it up with.
At the Networking event, I chatted with Carrie Vaughn and others—all fun and open to questions. I missed most of Saturday due to baby duties, and the ever-important Ohio State Buckeye football game, which I could not miss. My Bucks are Number One this year, afterall. A Phenom for us fans still quaking in the aftermath of the Cooper years. Plus, I had to attend a Halloween party near Wash Park, replete with my kickball team buddies. But I digress.
Sunday, I returned to the Con with the hopes of chatting with Rob Sawyer and Eric James Stone, two authors who amaze and empower me. Eric found me right after the “An Hour with Robert J. Sawyer” panel. What a terrific guy! Eric and I marched up to the Con Suite for munchies, and he chatted openly with me for an hour about writing and our experiences, and I can’t thank him enough for his openness.
Eric not only achieved published finalist in 2004 for Writers of the Future, but was an outright Winner again in 2005. That’s a two-time workshop attendee for those of you counting. I’d like to call him a lucky dog, but those of you in-the-know know he earned the honor both times! And stupid me, I forgot my anthology for an autograph. I really think my brain was in remission this weekend. Ughh.
I was about to leave for the weekend. Time to get home. It had been a great Con, but late afternoon was closing in, calling me back to the real world. It was over for another year, or so I thought.
I passed Jim on the second concourse and asked how the Con went. He said great, and that the dealer room had sold all but one of his debut novel copies. I remarked how nice that was, and said I wanted to go buy the last one—and could I get him to sign it for my Mom? My Mom, Kathy Rolsen, is a better SF fan than anyone I know, and she loves, LOVES, her first editions. Signed ones are even better.
I went and purchased the novel and met him in the bar, where he did indeed provide a kind inscription. Mom, if you are reading this, Merry Christmas—early.
Again, I was about to leave, but Jim asked me about my favorite panel. I told him that I’d just left the “An Hour with Robert J. Sawyer” panel, and that it had been the best. I noted what a great and open speaker Rob is, and proffered that Rob’s comments resonated very deeply for me. Jim mentioned that he had yet to spend time with Rob, so we headed downstairs so I could show him where Rob was being interviewed. We decided to wait, and I was glad to delay my departure from the Con for a few minutes to yap with Jim.
So we talked and talked. It was great for me, especially for a newbie who so very much respects Jim for his contributions to science fiction, and all that he has achieved.
After Rob was done with his interview, he came over to sit with us. I expected to excuse myself so they could talk, but that wasn’t necessary. They included me like old friends. Only in SF can this happen, methinks.
It was so cool. I mostly spent the time in awe, adding a meager comment here and there. We sat there for half an hour. I tell you, the conversation eclipsed everything else I’d heard or witnessed at the whole Convention! The candor was uncanny! And the insights blasted any panel forum!
When Jim got up to leave, so did I. Why not?
I expected that Rob would want to get on with more important Con-ending tasks, but he didn’t! He stayed, and so I plopped down in Jim’s seat and Rob and I chatted some more. We talked about the genre, themes, repeated themes, his novels and his aspirations. It was like two regular blokes hanging out.
Keep in mind. This is the man who owns SF today as far as I’m concerned.
I wanted to proffer my meager writing resume and hollar, “Hey, talking to me isn’t a waste of your time! I won an international science fiction contest. And, I’m a quarter finalist in WOTF on a regular basis!”
The truth is… it didn’t matter. Rob was glad just to stay and hang out. Can you imagine that?
—Well, I can’t.
So I sat and talked with arguably the greatest Science Fiction writer of our time for another 30 minutes—not because I cornered him or because he felt some life-long obligation to yapping it up with a MAYBE-MIGHT-BE, but because he is that kind of guy.
So I blog tonight because I’m humbled.
Not because of Rob’s greatness, or his award-winning stature, or his multi-novel legacy.
But simply because he spoke to me—like a regular guy.
MileHiCon had been over. I was on my way home. The real Con began in that last ninety minutes.
Thank you Rob—
—For the gift.
posted by Scott A. Rolsen at 1:03 PM
36 comments
