Hey Everybody! We are home and recovering. Austin and Armadillo Con were fantastic but we are happy to be back in our house with our pets. We had a great time and met a lot of very nice people. Thursday night we got in and had dinner with Anne Sowards, our awesome editor at Ace. It was our first time meeting her in person, and she is so nice. Our kids were taken to eat super yummy Korean food by their Aunt Reece and had fun. Mad props to Reece for watching our kids and not letting them do crazy stuff/come to any harm. You are better with them than we are, I think. I actually asked Kid 2 (who was being a brat) on the plane yesterday if she would act like that if you were there.
The hotel was really nice, it had a hot tub and two pools! I did my “James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub” thing but nobody got it. The restaurant in the lobby was great and I looked forward to going down and having breakfast in the mornings before panels. We did a workshop on Thursday and I have to say the people whose work we critiqued were very good writers. Ilona and I look forward to seeing more from all of them, especially Kevin and Jessie. The pink plush dino worked out, but I really think that most of them did not need it. Stina Leicht did a great job running things and we got to hang out with Nancy Holzner, who writes great books and who is supercool in person.
We met the coolest people evah! Rachel Caine was as nice as she is talented. Our youngest daughter loves her Morganville Vampire series. Rachel and her husband, Cat Conrad were so much fun to hang out with. For me it is incredible that as successful as they are, they are also totally approachable. Cat, despite the fact that I told him he would look “pretty in a kimono”, was terribly gracious and showed our daughters around the art exhibit. Our kids were impressed with his stuff, but described much of the other art as a collection of “steam-punk kitties,” whatever that means. Ilona and I have decided that when and if we grow up we would like to be Rachel and Cat, but I can’t draw. Also, Cat told us an awesome story about Harlan Ellison, which we’re not sure we’re allowed to retell.
We all had a great time in the dealer’s room. There was no end of cool goodies to be had and we all got goodies. Ilona got a “decadent” kimono, I got Bobba Fett and Super-Man, Kid 2 got a naked Troll Doll and showed everybody its butt, while Kid 1 went for beautiful earrings and a very pretty tee-shirt. We all got terrific books and graphic novels. (See picture)
On Sunday we had a signing and I was honored to sit next to Steven Brust (Reece thanks again). Ilona and I are long time fans of his Vlad Taltos and the Phoenix Guard series. He was a huge influence on us when we were college students dreaming of being writers. When we first looked at the program, there was an S. Brust listed and I said to Ilona, wouldn’t that be amazing if it was really him. She did not think that it would be. On the back my name card, I had written during a panel that it was him, at the signing I got to show him. Fan boy moment.
We met a ton of great people. Mark Hoover it was a pleasure, you need to write that SF YA, it could be huge. Michael “Micky” Finn, it was cool meeting you and I am sorry that the Cheese Cake Factory dinner did not work out. On that note, Dear Cheese Cake Factory, you are the most overrated restaurant I have still not eaten at. We got there before six, waited an hour and a half to sit outside, waited another 40 minutes for the food, and then at 7:45 we knew we were not going to make our panel at 8:00. I was late as it took another 30 minutes to get our check and the food to go. I was late to the panel and the food sucked.
On the other hand, we had dinner with the Armadillo organizers and other guests at the County Line on Sunday and it was terrific. The BBQ was fantastic, and the company was better. Thank you for having us. After dinner, we waddled down to the water (we were so full) and fed the turtles in a nearby river. It was amazing, one of them had a Cross design on the back of its shell. Thank you, Uncle Jonathan for ferrying us back and forth. Ok, it wasn’t really him but Reece and I thought he looked like him.
Our only regret is that we were unable to steal Michael Bishop’s autograph. We really wanted to snag a moment of his time, but somehow we never connected.
In conclusion, thank you to the Armadillocon for inviting us to hang out with you in Texas. It was almost like being invited to a warm and welcoming family reunion and we’re deeply grateful for the experience.
Yay!!! Welcome back!! I’m glad you enjoyed your journey.
agreed. cheesecake factory is very over-hyped for whatever it is they serve. I still haven’t actually eaten there.
I will make it to one of the cons one day!
Sounds like you had a blast – the kimono looks gorgeous!
Oi! No need to apologize! That’s a story we can tell people years from now (for the folks at home, we wound up rushing back to make our panels and eating picnic style in the pool area about 9:30pm) It was exceedingly cool to meet you guys and I will start on Magic Bites after I finish the final Felix Castor novel I’m already entrenched in.
You may have been upstairs when Rachel Caine came in and showed off *her* Pan Gaia kimono. Claudia’s starting to become The Kimono Makers of the Lit Crowd or something. (She says that white and black one you tried on (and looked great in) would stop being scratchy after a few washes, if you decide you want it. Apparently it’s a limitation of the fabric, and since that cloth design only comes in that fabric…)
Seriously, it was great meeting you guys (now referred to as Team Andrews on my Twitter squawkings)…hope to cross paths again. Yell if you’re in Houston (or anywhere in Texas) and I’ll yell if I hit your neck of the woods!
Welcome back! It sounds like your entire family had a great trip.
Awesome that you got to meet so many cool people, too!
Ugh about Cheesecake Factory, I know what you mean. My family and I don’t even try to go there to eat on weekends unless we get there around 4:00 pm, LOL. The Thai Lettuce Wraps are reallllly good, though!
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You guys really had a great time! Wow. Now I feel bad I didn’t get my butt on a plane and come over. Oh well, sometime down the line. Texas throws some awesome cons and this sounds like one. Next year ya’ll come over to Dragon*Con and we’ll do just as awesome for you. But no Cheesecake Factory. We’ll head to the pub instead.
Correction: Y’all. Sheesh. They’re going to run me out of Georgia if I keep this up.
I second the motion. DragonCon next year.
Wow, I am so jealous. Look at those books:) Plus, damn, you got to hang out with some really cool peeps. It’s always neat to see you all have fanboy (and girl) moments, so I don’t feel alone when I gush.
What is the Techno Priests book I see there? That looks pretty cool.
I’m glad you all had fun!
That’s wonderful that you had a good time! But why did you get a kimono, and why were they offering them?
You didn’t really think the Cheese Cake Factory was about the food did you? You are supposed to go there so you can Tweet to your friends that’s where you are and they’ll think you’re cool. (Needless to say, I don’t get the appeal, either.)
ur probably not going to read this but for like one of the books u could have Slayer be slashing through the title of the book I know ur not in charge of that but when you got a great ideas you got to put it out there and the term fits you guys to well.
Also I know I’m being really gimme but pretty please more snippets of Magic Slays(Kate 5 if the name is still being tried out.
The cheese cake factory(or warehouse) in Seattle is pretty good but you’re right they do make you wait forever and again taking th risk into sounding bratty please more on the word meter want to know how it coming along?
Welcome home
we missed you. Glad you had fun and met cool peeps
Is it weird that I got all excited when I saw the Bloom County book you bought?
Love that series, and love that you like it as well
I think I have been a Bloom County fan since the early 80′s, and Bloom County Babylon was my “precious”. I even believe it or not, had a small record that was supposed to be by Billy and the Boingers. My hope is that like the Far Side the girls will pick it up and also like it.
I believe it because I have that record as well!
Did you know they’re re-releasing hardback editions? It’ll be the complete set. they’re on volume 1 (the 1st 2 yrs) now.
*facepalm* Yes, yes you know, because that’s it in the picture. Note to self: never post while doing 12 things at once. Assuming these are posting, I can’t see any posts here I made the last 2 days.
I so wanted to go but we took my daughter to college…y’all…my daughter to college? My daughter won but I hope you go again so I might have an opportunity to see you both!
smoooooooches. just remember… a buck or a compliment.
wow, sounds like you had a great time!!!! awesome!
LOL… the only thing special about the cheesecake factory? the cheesecake. Which you can get to go, and you really overpay.
Did you see any armadillos? :OD
Cool- will you be doing that one again? In Austin?
Welcome back! Sounds like you had an awesome time Cheesecake Factory aside!
Welcome back! Good to hear it was not bad, Illona is fine yes?
As far as I know. We have been relaxing since we got back. Taking it easy.
Good to hear
thats the way!
Oh! Here’s that Warren Ellis comic I said you have to read if you dig Ennis’s Preacher: http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=TRANSMETROPOLITAN&tag=warrenellis-20&index=blended&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325
It was great meeting you guys, too, I had a great time!
I wanted to stop by and say ‘hi.’ (I was on the shapeshifter panel with you both on Saturday. The one with the purple streak.) I’ve read your books since Magic Bites, and it was delightful to meet the faces behind some of my favorite books. (Always nice when an author (or authors) I enjoy reading turn out to be funny and articulate.)
Yes, Cheesecake factory is not a place to dine at during the weekends (and pricey), but their cheesecakes are as yummy to go.
You guys were great at the panels I attended. It was interesting learning more about how the two of you write, and I loved y’all’s stories. It was great meeting you two.
Testing. Testing. Is this thing on? I seem to not be able to post, but it’s ACTING like it’s been posting the last 2 days….
Hey Mickey, Ilona just told me that for some reason your comments got tagged as spam, sorry about that. It was not intentional and she is fixing.
It’s probably my name
Thanks! I knew it wasn’t intentional, no worries. I used to be in tech support, I figured it was a stuck piece of code.
In the process, I have some double posts going through now…you guys can delete em if you want, and this thread too!
Any pics besides the loot pics?
The girls took some pics and we posed for some photos but we ourselves were kind of running around and did not take as many pics as we would have liked. I should have gotten a pic with S. Brust. Yeah, that would have been cool.
If I happen to be in any pics (I don’t think I am), toss them my way? I’m trying to find a decent pic to use as an avatar, and I don’t photograph well. One in a hundred comes out useable, so I figure if I scour other people’s cameras….
Oi! No apologies! It was fantastic meeting you guys and that’s a story that gets told years from now (to those watching at home, we wound up having to flee the Cheese to make our panels, and ate our food 90 mins later at the indoor pool of the hotel, like a picnic).
If any of Team Andrews are in Texas again, let me know, and if I make it up there, will certainly let you know. You guys (and Anne, and Professor Steampunk and A. Lee Martinez) made the con for me. And Magic Bites will be read as soon as I finish the Felix Castor novel I’m entrenched in.
Rachel Caine also bought one of Claudia’s kimonos, and came into the pool to show it off while you were upstairs. Here’s her website, if anyone’s curious: http://www.pan-gaia.com/gallery
Oi! No apologies! It was fantastic meeting you guys and that’s a story that gets told years from now (to those watching at home, we wound up having to flee the Cheese to make our panels, and ate our food 90 mins later at the indoor pool of the hotel, like a picnic). Thank you for dinner!
If any of Team Andrews are in Texas again, let me know, and if I make it up there, will certainly let you know. You guys (and Anne, and Professor Steampunk and A. Lee Martinez) made the con for me. And Magic Bites will be read as soon as I finish the Felix Castor novel I’m entrenched in.
Rachel Caine also bought one of Claudia’s kimonos, and came into the pool to show it off while you were upstairs.
Here’s her website, if anyone’s curious: http://www.pan-gaia.com/gallery
Oi! No apologies! We had a picnic in the pool afterwards, it’s now A Con Story What To Tell Stories About At Cons.
Huh? Mickey Finn, am I on Jim’s board?
So I guess I’m the ONLY one who likes Cheesecake Factory? Yes, they can have long waits. It’s never a good place to use if you are in a hurry. And in the last couple of years they have really jacked their prices up. Still, I like their Thai style dishes and any raw Ahi dish. The problem is it’s a HUGE menu and lots of stuff on their isn’t as pecial as the price.
Yes, same person
I actually like the Cheesecake Factory, but they ARE extremely flakey in quality….you have to know what to order. And even then, I think it depends on who’s working.
Hi Gordon and Ilona… My daughter, Katie, and I had a great time meeting you both.
We really enjoyed the panels you were both on, because you love books, and love
to talk about them too.. just like we do!! I am a big fan, and cannot wait to read
Bayou Moon.
Hope to see you both at another Con.
Cheers!