tl;dr: Lots of fun, much learned, will go back.

Got in Friday after a 4.5 hour drive. Given I’ve been stuck getting through Cincinnati for hours, no complaint. They put me on the 4th floor; cool! I learned last year the ice makers are only on 2,4,6. Annnd, the one on four didn’t work. Oh, well. I need the exercise. Mix a drink, put proper clothes on, and head down. Everyone is still setting up. Found Holly Phillipe then had to re-find her as the Red Bull Rep seemed to think I worked for the con. So much for nicer clothes. Shortly after ran into Stephen Zimmer, a contract employee of mine. I hear he has something to do with the con, but never figured it out.

Came across Lemur Master right after. He made a quip about @CaptainV from Gab. I commented, “Yeah, too bad he’s not here.” Mr Isenberg pointed over my shoulder. “The guy with the goatee? That’s him.” Well, dang. Introductions all around. After bouncing from table to table, we finally found and founded the new Lemur Throne, becoming the social focus of our little subgroup.

The next day, Friday, started at noon. I hit the “Publicity & Marketing” panel, being older about newsletters and paid reviews. Yes, my ethics are now officially out of date; so, I’m looking at Booksprout. I wanted to go to the “Publishing Options” panel, but ended up back at the Throne, talking about a little bit of everything. @CaptainV, given name Mark, I think, didn’t give me permission to use his surname, so I won’t. While an interesting personal background and sitting on TONNES of story material, he’s one of those people who “just haven’t gotten around to it, yet.” People such as that piss me off and I laid into him, someone who could beat me to a pulp if he wanted. Sorry, I’m sick to death of that BS excuse. One of the reasons we lost the culture war was creators from our side of the river sat on their hands, and muttered, “maybe tomorrow.” I did apologize the next morning but he waved it off. Because he knows I’m right.

My panel, “St. Tay, Pray for Us,” was at 1700. Huge room, I had fifty agendas. Maybe ten showed up. I’m not sure exactly why, but as there was a similar panel the next day at 1245, I suspect that, as we live in a post-Christian, hyper-secular society, the panel name turned or scared people off. I tried to keep things bouncing from panelist to panelist, even inviting early questions from the audience. Something I do not normally do. Back to the room for another drink, or two, then to the Throne.

Saturday at 0900, “Increasing Reviews” was something of a recapitulation of the “Publicity & Marketing” I went to, earlier. I’ve done booktours before but never thought about an audio booktour for the one I have. I’ll fix that. That other AI panel (“it’s an expert system!” I shout into the wilderness, unheeded), had about twice as many. There was a brief misunderstanding about panelist seating and I’d like to go on record that Arlan Andrews is rude AF. I’d not much to say, but toward the end, a Mr Hearn asked a two pronged question about macroeconomic impacts and “where’s this all going?” Allow me to retort! I introduced myself after. A short conversation at the Thone led to a need for more whiskey; turned out, 1) his room was next to mine, and 2) he’s got better taste in whiskey than I do. We started talking stories (I had all sixteen of my books on display) which shaded over into book cover design. Clever chap and I want to stay in touch with clever people.

Up early the next morning, I was exhausted. Unlike my DayJob where I need maybe 1% of my brain, being “full on” and personable was killing me. Also, I didn’t want to get stuck in 2-3 hours of northbound Cincinnati traffic, so I left. Still tired, I had to stop at a rest area just north of that city and take a nap. Even so, within less than a mile to go, I fell asleep again, this time while in a roundabout, but for only a split second. Went home, played with the dogs, at was in bed by 1930.

In hindsight, I should have recorded those free-wheeling conversations at the Throne. We likely covered more material in those hours than any ten panels. Perhaps “Insights from the Lemur Throne” will be a panel next year? And, yes, I’ll be going back.

Deus vult.