Bubonicon 43

Back home from Bubonicon 43 in Albuquerque, NM. Was Artist Guest of Honor there along with Stephen Leigh and Ian Tregillis. Bigtime regional sf/f literary con with as much major-league talent as any, including George R. R. Martin, Paul Cornell, Mario Acevedo, Connie Willis, Melinda Snodgrass, Daniel Abraham, Sam Sykes, Diana Gaboldon, Carrie Vaughn, Walter Jon Williams, Ty Franck, Steven Gould, Jane Lindskold, Suzy Mckee Charnas, S.M. Stirling, and more. Had quality time with friends Stephen Boucher, Janice Gelb, Parris McBride, Vincent Docherty, Anne Grey, Caroline Symcox, Harry O. Morris, and Derek Paret. Got to visit three Albuquerque eateries -- the Flying Star Cafe, Los Equipales, and the Pope Room at Buca di Beppo, where GRRM traditionally brings Bubonicon guests for a big Saturday night Italian feast. That was a great evening, and a lot of laughs.

Terrific weekend all around -- had big audiences for the 2012 A Song of Ice and Fire Calendar panel conducted by GRRM and me; for the State of the Art panel conducted by Tregillis, Abraham, Snodgrass, Acevedo, Sykes, and me; and for my Artist GoH slideshow. Bubonicon fans go all out on costumes and with Steampunk as the theme this year, there was a lot of quality in the house.

Attendance this year topped last year’s. The t-shirts featuring my artwork of their Perry Rodent mascot sold out. All of the 2012 AsoIaF Calendars in the Dealers Room sold out. Well done, Bubonicon. :)

Craig Chrissinger and Kristen Dorland were the co-chairs and they ran a terrific con. All of the pros I know have always spoken well of it. I now understand why. Was it a perfect con? No con ever is. But the measure of a good one is the energy and buzz during the events and after. This show had it in spades. Bubonicon is vibrant, vital and full of passionate people who care about sf/f books and arts. Hats off to the entire con com for a job very well done, and thanks to everyone who was there! :)