Readercon 20 was, in short, the best convention I’ve ever been to. This was due entirely to the people, as I didn’t go to much of the programming. I went to exactly one panel, more for the panelists than the topic being discussed, and while I enjoyed it, the real fun of the con came from meeting people around the hotel, in the dealer’s room, the bar, etc.

I posted some pics on Facebook, then realized that some people won’t be able to see them so I’ve reposted them below.

I don’t want to mention everyone I met, because I know I’ll end up forgetting someone, but I do want to give one particular shout-out to Tom English of Dead Letter Press who managed to throw together a signing for Bound for Evil. This was my very first signing, a big deal for any writer, to the point where I even made Simon Strantzas take a picture of me scribbling my very first autograph. I wish my wife could have been there with me, but Simon took a great picture and I’m thankful to him for that.

I really feel like I accomplished everything I set out to do at this con. I met everyone I wanted to meet, as well as some others I wasn’t expecting, which was an added bonus, and I was able to talk up “Temporary Monsters” a bit without feeling like I was selling Amway. I always feel weird “networking,” like I’m befriending people with an ulterior motive or something, but I didn’t get that feeling at all at Readercon. Everyone was talking about their work and everyone else’s work. It was the perfect combination of business and pleasure, friendly and informative.

Simon, Richard and I had a great drive down to the States and back, talking and dishing and arguing with the talking GPS, and we managed to make it back to Canada without strangling each other. I think that’s a good sign. We may be due for another convention in the future. Plans are in the works.

Some other Readercon reports:

Simon Strantzas

Paul Tremblay – Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

Caitlin R. Kiernan – Part 1 and Part 2

Orrin Grey

Jennifer Pelland

Lev Grossman from Time Magazine

and the 2008 Shirley Jackson Award winners.