ZCon

[przed]

Got back from ZCon last night, my first con as a parent. And it was utterly fabulous, though as always far too short. I think it might have felt even shorter, it being the last ZCon and the whole enterprise being shot through with just a little bit of sadness. I've only been to three ZCons, including this one, and I still found myself tearing up a bit several times during the Saturday night party.

So much for the bitter. The sweet was very sweet indeed. I'm so very glad I got to room with faramir_boromir. (She's been campaigning me to go since MediaWest, so when the Sweetie insisted he could handle parenting duties of the weekend, I just had to go.) We don't see each other nearly enough, so it was utterly fab to spend so much of the con together.

It was also great to see so many Pros friends. Finally meeting agentxpndble was a special treat, seeing as how we've got so many obsessions in common. Likewise finally meeting msmoat, though I didn't get to spend nearly enough time talking with her. (You have to send me that S/H story you're working on.) It was also great to see krisserci5 again, having met her for the first time at Escapade. She matches and exceeds my Pros obsession, making her inspirational to spend time with. Then there's justacat, my once and (hopefully) future collaborator who is always full of love for the lads. She also had dates for the next Close Quarters Pros con, (July 17-19, 2009, yay!) which I am absolutely going to.

I also got to meet Ellis Ward in person. How cool is that? She was one of four writers I adored in Blake's 7 who were waiting for me when I got to Pros. It was very nice indeed to be able to tell her in person what her writing has meant to me all these years, and especially how much I love Harlequin Airs. And also finally meeting artconserv in person was amazing. She's as gracious in person as she's always been in email and online, and my word, is she talented. She won a bucket of awards in the art show, including one for an absolutely stunning portrait of Doyle. I was in no position to bid in the auction this year, but I did get a print of that portrait because it is beautiful. (Even the Sweetie, who is often skeptical about fan art, said it was gorgeous.)

I finally got to spend a bit of quality time with Kath Moonshine and Glow. They're such great people and I always have lovely talks with them, but they never seem long enough. This time I got to go to dinner with them both on Saturday evening.

The vid show was a marathon (I bailed at 1:30 a.m. and it was still going on) but wonderful. Flamingo had pulled together a plethora of new and classic vids from a number of fandoms. I'd forgotten just how much I love Starsky & Hutch, but the vids brought it all back. And it was great to see some of Glow's classic Sentinel vids on screen. My new Pros vid seemed to go over well, and it was cool to see my one and only I Spy vid get a good reaction, even if it was freaking late and only the die hards remained in the audience.

I somehow ended up on three panels, which was nutty but fun. (I seriously had no time to even think of prepping.) Funnily enough, the one that seemed to go best and which I seemed to have the most to say (thankfully, since I'd been made mod) was the Life on Mars panels, which I thought I was going into empty. Let's hear it for winging it.

Last but not least, it was fab to spend time, but not nearly enough, with the California crew. nol4269 and nanner_buddy are always fun and welcoming and a joy to be around, and they surround themselves with people who are likewise. And I must send a big thank you to twistnboo for making the craziest butterfly afghan for Rosalind.

I'm sure there are people I'm forgetting (kiwisue! paris7am, my fellow slash mom! sithdragn!) but let me just end by saying that ZCon reminded me of all that fandom can be and why I got into it in the first place. And it got me writing again. (I got a bunch of scenes of the Pros Story That Will Not End cleaned up and finished in the hotel room and on the flight home. And new inspiration to finally get cracking on my bloody Pros novel, not too mention some UNCLE stories.)

Comments

[faramir-boromir.livejournal.com]

Yay. Just...just YAY!

[przed.livejournal.com]

Definitely YAY! for the best roommate ever.

Thanks for the con report

[towerbridge2006.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful for those of us who didn't get to the con. I'll be first in line for your Pros fic!

I want to see the Doyle art!!

Re: Thanks for the con report

[przed.livejournal.com]

The Pros fic is mostly destined for zines. Stay tuned for further developments.

As for the Doyle art, artconserv hasn't put it up on her site yet, but I'm sure she will eventually.

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

And it got me writing again. (I got a bunch of scenes of the Pros Story That Will Not End cleaned up and finished ... And new inspiration to finally get cracking on my bloody Pros novel, not too mention some UNCLE stories Yes! Yes! Yesssss! (and also Yay). Can't wait! Will they be on line?

Glad you had such a great time!

btw (for the so-far-out-of-the-loop-you-can't-see-the-loop-from-here, i.e. me) - why was this the last ZCon?

[przed.livejournal.com]

Pretty much everything is marked for zine publication, but it'll all show up online eventually. Just as it'll be written eventually.

As for ZCon, after 28 years, I think the organizers decided they'd had enough and pulled the plug. Can't blame them, really. They've been running it since I was in junior high.

[gina-stormgrant.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there are people I'm forgetting

Uh, your travel companion?

But I'm not bitter. ;-)

[przed.livejournal.com]

Oh dear god. Can I claim baby brain? And the fact that I was saving you for the end and then lost my train of thought?

BTW, I think I'm up for Shoot 'Em Up this week. Wednesday or Thursday are both good. Shall we ask Sandy?

[gina-stormgrant.livejournal.com]

Mr. Grumpy has something one night this week but I don't think that will stop me as long as the dogs get out to pee and the cat gets his insulin. So probably whatever works for Sandy.

Kewl.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm a big question mark at the moment. Rosalind's been feverish and crying all day and seems to be getting worse. (I thought it was just teething. After she nearly threw up at lunch I'm beginning to wonder.) She might be fine by tomorrow and she might not, so planning for next week might be smarter.

[gina-stormgrant.livejournal.com]

Just sent you an email. Guess I'm on my own for Stardust. Next week Shoot 'Em Up, it is.

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

I've decided it's impossible to remember everyone I had a great time with at Zcon. I read other people's reports and think, oh!, I forgot her! And feel horribly guilty. But you I remembered. ;-) My only regret is that we didn't have enough time to talk. One day. But thank you so much for being enthusiastic about the S/H story. That's what I need to get myself to finish it.

I feel guilty urging you to vid (I adore "Believe" by the way), and to write (I can't wait for the next draft for the Pros Story That Will Not End), given how little time you have. But...please? :-)

[przed.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad we did get a chance to talk, however briefly. And next time we'll definitely have to talk more. (Close Quarters, perhaps?) And I'm definitely enthusiastic about the S/H story. Sounds great, and just the sort of thing you do so well.

Definitely keep up the urging with the vidding and the writing. It'll keep me motivated. *g*

[pxr5.livejournal.com]

It was lovely to get a chance to talk to you again this con, and I quite enjoyed our Life on Mars panel.

(*off to download Believe, since I didn't have the fortitude to catch it at the vid show at zcon...I bailed out at 12:15 or so.)

[przed.livejournal.com]

I had a great time talking to you as well. And the Life on Mars panel did go well, didn't it? (Thanks again for pointing out the B7 audio. Turns out two of the stories were written by two of my favourite Who New Adventures writers. That's promising for a start.)

You might have seen Believe. It showed in the first hour of the show. I'd love to hear what you think.

[sooguy.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great time. Yay, for getting back in the writing mood.

Glad to hear the beau managed as a single parent for the weekend.

Oooh, Life on Mars panel. I still need to finish the second season.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Being in a writing mood is one thing. Having time to do anything about it quite another. (I'm sure you know all about that.)

As for Life on Mars, you totally have to finish second season so we can chat about it. And you know they're doing a sequel, yeah? I remain dubious, but at least Gene'll be back.

[kayjay206.livejournal.com]

Nice meeting you at the con -- my first, last, only Zcon. That Spies and Slashers panel and some of the songvids definitely got me interested in Pros fandom. Thanks for the Pros (finding eps) and UNCLE (zine) suggestions! I've watched Pros 1x01 thru 1x04 now, and read a couple of your fics (the Reaper one and Velvet and Silk) -- really great! I'm looking forward to reading more of your work as I find time! I friended you, hope that's okay. :-)

[przed.livejournal.com]

So glad we met at the con! And that you friended me. And that you're watching and reading Pros! (You've managed to read both my favourites amongst my own stories.)

If you're up for more zine suggestions, UNCLE or Pros, drop me a line. I've got quite the collection in both fandoms.