Speculation, Fact and Fiction

Boskone was great fun. Travel, immigration etc both ways was entirely straight-forward* and the Westin hotel was very nice. The folk I was on panels with proved to be most entertaining and friendly and interesting discussions ensued - as part of those panels and subsequently on a more informal basis with a range of folk, some of whose names I caught, some of whom I will know again but have to greet simply with a friendly 'hello, nice to see you!'.

There was a splendid art show and dealers room - offering temptations I only managed to avoid on account of flying to and fro with hand luggage only. Plus the generous hospitality of the consuite - free food and drink kept stocked and dispensed by con organisers/helpers who cannot be too highly praised. Indeed, the whole committee and their supporters deserve hearty thanks for their sterling work before, during and doubtless after the event.

I also attended on some very useful and informative panels, notably ones on foreshadowing, on YA fiction and on "Incluing". This is "how to tell folk stuff without them realising" and is both a term coined by and a particular talent of Jo Walton as superbly evidenced in her Small Change trilogy. Also panels on marketing and on the first person point of view prompted their share of the weekend's notes of stuff that will come in useful in due course. Add to that very encouraging interest in the forthcoming publication of "Irons in the Fire" and that's all the boxes ticked.

My only problem now is forward planning for next year. Coz a whole slew of people were also recommending Readercon to me, which would offer me the chance to see Boston in the summer...
( more for the curious, including that asterisk )