Whatever happened to just going to cons? Oy! Met with a Firefly Fanatic yesterday to pick his brain for a panel I'm on re: Firefly - What if there'd been a 2nd Season? Terrifying the extent of dedication this dude had. Knew every episode, almost every great line from the episode and every bit guest part actor's stage and real names. If all he was was a didact I wouldn't be so worried (anyone can memorize) but this dude was way more than that. He was the fan I fear (LOL). Good thing he's a close friend. Suffice to say if you're gonna be at Worldcon and get a chance to hit up that panel you'll hear some really cool stuff (Thanks, Larry if you're reading this). Then had to secure a digital camera because in the words of our publisher "you need lots of pictures." Ok. More pre con shlepping. Still heavy into researching for the other panels, still in the midst of reading Connie Willis' Doomsday Book (close to 600 pages! - Oy!) Still doing freelance work to put food on the table. Oy!

On a positive note, got Larry Niven (yes, that was a name drop - but it happened and damned if it wasn't just about the best part of my day) to give me permission to cut down his Theory of Time Travel short story from his incredible short story collection called All The Myriad Ways (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_the_Myriad_Ways).

The part of me that realizes I could just take it all in stride (as does my brother) realizes that if that were the case we never would've gotten published. I'm the OC perfectionist, he's the too chill dude. It's my job to worry and his job to laugh at it. I'm resigned to that.

I suppose once I've done this long enough - and hopefully we'll move enough books to keep this gig going - I won't stress out nearly as much (insert: disbelieving laughter from people who know me). Until then, Sentient AI, Holographic Books, Time Travel, Firefly and a whole host of other ridiculously cool things I'll need to learn in the next few days will keep me in the Oy zone.

I should be able to knock off another post before I hit the road and then plan on posting from Worldcon. A first author's perspective of the greatest SF show on earth ("Wow, New York City! Skyscrapers and everything...just like I pictured it!").

Dani