The original version of this page can be found at : http://forum.sfreader.com/default.aspx?f=23&m=78855
Posted By : MichaelEhart - 4/27/2008 9:08 PM
and boy are my arms tired.
I am worn out, but I will have a full report in a day or so.
 
In the meantime some highlights were:
 
The incredible thunderstorm Friday night, viewed through the 15 story glass lobby of the Omni hotel in Austin.
 
A two-hour BS session with Joe R. Lansdale in the bar.
 
Mike Moorcock's speech, about the struggle through the years to make SF/Fantasy respectible--- his line about the mainstream critics thinking SF geeks had slide-rules for genitals had people falling out of chairs.
 
Doing the live blog, an honor I have had before but still is a great thrill.
 
Looking down during the live blog at the entree in front of me to find a 2 pound slab of steak--- Texas, baby, Texas.
 
Spending a very pleasant couple of private hours chatting with Mike and Linda Moorcock in their room just after he arrived, about mutual friends and shared interests, and complaining about the restaurants in our respective home-towns.
 
And after the ceremony helping Joe Landsdale clear a path through the crowd so Mike and Linda could get his wheelchair through, rear guard provided by John Picacio. We made our way to the largest table in the room, and sat to chat. To my left was John Picacio, with Boxcar Sanford and Kirryn Eis-- two of Michael's friends next to him, and then across the table from me Mike. Sanford is a musician and all-around good guy and Kirryn is a high-risk armed body guard-- a real-life woman of action. To my right was Joe Lansdale's daughter, a blond stunner whose impending marriage is the source of great wailing and gnashing of teeth by heart-broken young men throughout Texas, and next to her Joe. We were soon joined by Walter Jon Williams, and shortly by Michael Chabon. At this point I realized that no one would ever believe me when I told them who I was talking about writing with (believe me, I was not doing a lot of talking, there was far too much accumulated wisdom at that table for me to waste a moment doing anything but listening---) I told John Picacio that I felt like the world was a tuxedo and I was a pair of brown shoes, and at that moment a compact fellow wearing a black leather hat appeared to congratulate Mike and shake hands all around. Steven Brust was a bonus for all, as he seldom appears at such events, and was the final straw. I kept my James Bond cool, but it was a near thing :) 
 
Breakfast lunch and dinners with many old friends and a few new ones--- Vera Nazarian, Lee Martindale, Peter Heck, Jane Jewell, Robin Baily, John Moore, Elixabeth Moon, Diane Turnchek, Sean Fodera, a very funny conversation about boxed wine labling with Joe Haldeman, and a crowd of others to be named later when I am less beat-up.
 
Keith has the first few photos up at North American, here: http://www.midamericon.org/photoarchive/08nebs00.htm


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Read me in 2008!
"Without Napier" Every Day Fiction, April 9
"Night of Shadows, Night of Knives" Magic and Mechanica, Ricasso Press, Spring 2008
"To Destroy All Flesh" Return of the Sword, Flashing Swords Press, Spring 2008
"Only His Name" Every Day Fiction, March 30
"An Exorcism Straight, Hold the Elvis" They Are Not What They Seem, Janrae Frank, ed., TBA
"The First Trial of Jermaish the King" Flashing Swords #10, May 2008
Still in print!
"The Stars by Law Forbidden" Unparalleled Journeys II, Journey Books, 2007
"Six Zombies Doing That Mick Jagger Strut" Damned in Dixie, Tenoka Press, 2007

Posted By : Lyn - 4/27/2008 9:27 PM
www.midamericon.org/photoarchive/05neb03.htm

www.midamericon.org/photoarchive/05neb02.htm

www.midamericon.org/photoarchive/05neb04.htm

Shoot, now that I pasted these pics here, I realize they're from 2005.
Oh, well. Congrats on attending this year's event anyway. :-)

Update: Ah, here's a 2008 picture of M.E. - scroll down a bit...
www.midamericon.org/photoarchive/08nebs06.htm

and here: www.midamericon.org/photoarchive/08nebs04.htm


Lyn from ResAliens
Own a copy of Strange Worlds of Lunacy - Galaxy's Silliest Antho today!


Posted By : R. L. Copple - 4/27/2008 10:29 PM
Cool, Michael!

Somehow, I missed that this was going on, being I live about one hour from Austin, I should have heard about it. But missed your thread for some reason. However, even if I had known, prior commitments would have prevented me from showing up if it were even possible. But would have been good to say hi in person.

Next time, I guess. Glad you had such a wonderful time.


R. L. Copple

blog.rlcopple.com
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Infinite Realities available at Amazon.com


Posted By : crystalwizard - 4/28/2008 12:41 AM
I managed to miss your blog event last night :( wound up working all night on an obnoxious computer instead. sounds like it was a blast and I can't wait to read the full report :)


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