So it's nice to be back in my house and getting back into
a normal pattern. We're getting a kitten soon. I'm kind of happy because yay,
kitten! and kind of sad because it feels like I'm really saying goodbye to
Pumpernickel forever and replacing him, even if I know that's not even remotely
the case. I can't help it. I'm a soft touch. I started crying driving home the
other day because a butterfly got caught in my windshield wipers >_< I
blame my mother. I know I get it from her. DAMN IT MOTHER.
Baaaack on topic. Rainbow Con. More fun than I thought it
was going to be, given various reasons I can't really make public. The best
part hands down was meeting a whole bunch of awesome people. Isabella Carter
had us laughing hysterically for 80% of the con (the other 20% was spent
working at panels or "working" at the LT3 table). Angel Martinez was
the poor soul stuck next to the LT3 table, but she endured our shenanigans and
occasionally joined in ^__^ I bought her book Brimstone and got her to sign it, whee!
I also got a book signed by Shira Anthony, who was also
made of awesomesauce. I should have stolen a copy of Alpha Trine and made Lexi Ander sign it, cause I heart that book
and I heart her. Other totally awesome peeps I met whose names I can currently
recall: Tami Veldura, Ann Anderson, Elizabeth
Noble, Grace Duncan, Augusta Li, Kathleen Tudor, Anastasia Vitsky, Leta Blake ...
and I'm already blanking again, I'm terrible human being. I blame still being
tired. But everyone was lovely.
There were a few rough spots. The worst was one of the
con managers acting inappropriately toward one of my employees. Another manager later apologized for the first one, but it shouldn't have happened in the first place.
The panels were not as smoothly run as they could have
been. My biggest complaint there was the lack of communication right from the
start. Randomly one day the schedule was posted to the author/publisher group,
and only then did some people (those who follow the group) find out they were
hosting panels. It's one thing to sign up to be on panels, quite another to
host one. It would have been a lot more responsible of the managers to contact
people ahead of time and ask them if they were comfortable doing that. Some
people didn't know they were hosting until they arrived, which is also poor
form. It's not hard to email people; that should have been done.
I had five panels, Sasha had all three of her panels in a
row, and I heard a lot of similar complaints all weekend from many sources. And
for one of Sam's, the host didn't even show up and one of the other panelists
had to take over. Another frequent complaint was people being put on panels
they hadn't signed up for.
But it was the first RainbowCon, so I'm sure everything
will be smoother next time (I do not envy them managing 138-ish panels, which
was the last count I heard :3 ).
Most of my panels went well, I think. The Taboos in
Romance was a hell of a lot of fun, definitely my favorite of the lot. I think
the only one that disappointed me was the one about Writing Polyamory in
Fiction. That panel felt like it was hijacked by people who were more
interested in talking about their personal lives. Whenever the rest of us tried
to get it back to writing, they stole it again. Frustrating because I had
really looked forward to that one.
The hotel was beautiful. Definitely loved the happy hour
at the end of the day to sit and chill. Staff was great, room as great. Am sad Rainbow
Con won't be there again, though it's still in the air whether or not LT3 will return.
And I'm definitely not going to put up with doing five panels again -_- I was
seriously frazzled by the end of it all. I am not an extrovert. I don't enjoy
talking in front of people. Three would have been more than enough.
The people I got to meet and hang out with really were
the best part, followed by how happy people seemed by what LT3 had to say at
our spotlight. Never done one of those, it was very x_x but I like to think I
will only get better.
Did not do any of the evening events (past my Taboos panel,
which was at 10 PM, ugh) but I never do. By the time the day ends, I'm too
wrung out to keep socializing ^^ But those who went seemed to have fun.
The raffle was ... weird. Never saw the baskets. Never
saw a list of what was in the baskets. Sasha asked somebody and was told 'one
has tea and chocolate or something'. Which did not compel me to spend money. To
be fair, one manager (the only one who seemed to be around and reliable) said
that would change next year.
I think the only other thing that sort of gives me pause
is the way the con managers seem to be using the con for personal matters. The
theme/charity next year is focused on cats, which I guess it's their con, their
choice, but we're an LGBTQ crowd and it seems like we should be doing something
to help that community. I feel their pain. I lost my cat not long after they
lost their kitten. But it seems inappropriate to use the con that way.
I'm also kind of annoyed that authors and other attendees
got surveys but publishers did not.
But enough bitching from me. Overall it wasn't bad and I
hope it flourishes in the future.
-----
Because my editors hate me, I have gotten back a pile of
editing all at once. I've been so busy with the con, LT3, and editing that I
haven't written in what feels like forever :( But I am going to spend the
weekend writing, and the rest will just have to fucking wait until Monday.
Editing wise, I am beating into shape:
In Despair
Looking for More
The Broken Forest
Rabbit Season
And I should also be getting Lukos Heat back soon. Ideally that will come out in October. LFM
will come out whenever I manage it (that's a self-pub). Broken Forest is part of Damsels in Distress and comes out in
February. Christ I have too many releases, people must be getting sick of me.
I'm also still waiting on Pack, and when that comes out I
have no idea. Will keep you posted.
On the writing front, I really need to get cracking on my
Mistletoe story. Am also working on The
Harem Master, The High King's Golden
Tongue, Clan Mordred, and The Painted Crown (which will follow Harem Master as a serial, don't expect
it any time soon).
Oh, and A Suitable
Replacement finishes running in August, so you get In Despair in July and Suitable
in August. Because I have no life, apparently. Or just suck at scheduling.
Possibly both.
I'm just saying, there are reasons we buy the beer at
Costco.
---
Have seen Winter
Soldier twice now, plan to go see it again today, or over the weekend if
tomorrow doesn't work out for reasons :3
SPEAKING OF POLY, this goes live the beginning of May:
If you've been waiting for a good excuse to stop doing
everything and write a poly story, well, you're waiting is over. And we've got
lots of other cool calls coming.
Now I think I have harassed everyone enough for one day.
I hope you have a fabulous Friday and a fantastic weekend, lovelies <3 o:p="">
