Back from Wiscon

[pegkerr]

The highlight of the con (and perhaps the highlight of just about any con I've ever been at) was this morning's "living room" session. I was in a room for an hour and a half, talking what it's like to be at the mid-career point with these people:

Pat Murphy
Laurie Marks
Ursula K. LeGuin
Ellen Klages
Midori Snyder
Élisabeth Vonarburg
Susan Palwick
Amy Thompson
Candas Dorsey
Kij Johnson
Karen Joy Fowler
Molly Gloss
Laurie Winter
Terri Windling
Louise Marley
Carol Emshwiller
Ellen Kushner
Christine Smith
Suzy McKee Charnas
Scott Westerfield

*dies*

Debbie Notkins was facilitating, and since some of the stuff we talked about got quite personal, she asked that what we talk about be kept confidential. But I think I can safely say that the conversation was wonderful, and it was so comforting to discover that the issues that I struggle with as a woman trying to create a writing life for myself are shared by others, including woman who I've looked up to for years, who make it look so easy.

Wiscon was GREAT! Kij drove me home, and we talked books and career and how to write books that sear the soul, and we got soppily sentimental when it came time to say goodbye.

Came home to discover the house was an utter mess. Rob was sick this weekend, too sick, poor guy, to pick up so much as a sock.

I have to go back to the day job tomorrow.

Full time.

Oy.

Cheers,
Peg

Comments

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Sounds like culture shock, going back to work tomorrow, eh? *hugs*

[misia.livejournal.com]

Jealousy, envy, jealousy, envy! How delicious a time it sounds!

(Not the coming-back-to-sick-spouse and full-time-job thing... but you knew that.)

So, SO glad you had such a glorious time. You really had one coming and I'm glad you got one!

Next year I'm gonna be there. Not nec'ly mid-career, but there nonetheless.

[lcohen]

*massive amounts of envy*

and i bet some of them were thinking how cool it was to be discussing these things with peg kerr.

it was lovely to meet you. and i absolutely promise to tell you about reading the wild swans which i look forward to and swear faithfully to do as soon as i am not crying constantly to begin with. everything i hear about it makes it sound like i will love it.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Aaack!! Ursula Le Guin was at WisCon? Last I heard, she didn't come to mid-West cons. Well, there's an opportunity to meet her I've lost. Best get out to a Potlatch one of these days real soon.

[elisem.livejournal.com]

She was.

At one point, some flyers went up on the walls of the hotel in convention space, asking members to please help Ursula enjoy the convention by not asking her to sign any more books, since she was being besieged and she had already done a big official autographing session. (It's pretty frustrating to not be able to have a conversation without every second sentence being interrupted by a nice person with another armload of books -- while it is perfectly understandable that the nice person would want to do it, if they were unaware of the effect, anyhow. Hence the sign spreading awareness.)

Shortly thereafter, a postscript appeared on the flyers saying that Ursula was great, and had scheduled one more autographing section on the following day. Seemed to me like a very generous and gracious thing for her to do.

Me, I didn't go have her sign anything. But I do have a pleased memory of the couple minutes she spent browsing my table and being amused by some necklace titles. (I think she rather liked "Next Talking Fish 500 Miles.") The other memory I pair with that one is from five or ten years back, when I was in the audience at a panel she was on, and raised my hand to ask a question, and she called on me by name, and I realized that no, my name badge was not visible, and she had actually called me by name because she knew it. I kinda dissolved into fangirl bliss for a while there, but did my best not to become a complete puddle in conspicuous ways. ("She called on me by name! Sell my clothes; I've gone to heaven!")

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Socks are heavy.

B

[alisgray.livejournal.com]

the less that you wash them
the blacker they get...


sometime I would like to meet Ellen Kushner. I understand that she went to Bryn Mawr also.

[sdn.livejournal.com]

it was super awesome to meet you. you wear your elven jewelry wonderfully well.

do not forget to email me with your address so i can send you some books!

I really enjoyed meeting you, too!

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the offer to send me books! I'm really grateful. I look forward to seeing you at future conventions, and chatting with you further on line.

(And you wear your Elise necklaces really well, too!)

Cheers,
Peg

Re: I really enjoyed meeting you, too!

[sdn.livejournal.com]

you are too nice. i worship the new necklace. i am, like, planning outfits around it.

as for the books ... so long as you guys let me know what you think of them, i'm happy!

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

Oh, Wiscon sounds wonderful.

I'm sorry that Real Life was awaiting you so mercilessly. But hey -- four-day week. :)

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a wonderful convention, and I wish I'd been there.

I was trying to think how we could get you some more money so you don't have to work full time with no writing time. I think the most sensible way is if we all go out today and buy an extra copy of The Wild Swans and then give it to someone who would like it when they have a birthday. This will not only get you some more money, slowly, but be a generally Good Thing in encouraging your publishers to want to give you an advance for the ice Palace book because your other one is still selling well. Get out there, people! Today, or if today isn't possible, at least this week.

Watch for that spike in the sales figures!

[dancingrain.livejournal.com]

Ursula leGuin! You met her! Fabulous! She's just...gah. Whenever I finish writing the "books that shaped me" meme, she's on it. A lot.