RinCon Roundup & Other Fun Facts

As my Hook Me Up! subscribers already know, as promised, and as the title declares, my somewhat overdue RinCon 10 update is finally coming to you. I know, jump back with excitement, right?

Well, it WAS exciting. I had a great time. This was a gaming con, and the first I'd ever attended. Made me want to go to many more. Both the attendees and the staff were great -- fun, welcoming, and interesting. I played several games (none all that well, but hey, it was still fun), but not as many as I wanted to. Why? Because I had panels and signings to go to!

I got to be on panels and visit with some awesome authors. In no particular order of awesomeness, I spent all or part of the weekend with (oh, minds OUT of the gutter, people!): Marsheila Rockwell, Michael Stackpole, Weston Ochse, Yvonne Navarro, and Jeff Mariotte. In addition, the wonderful Maryelizabeth Hart from Mysterious Galaxy (http://www.mystgalaxy.com/) was there, too. Shout outs to coordinators extraordinaire Lee and Nadine Whiteside, and awesome show-runner Bo Radakovich and his merry band of uber-staff who made it a great experience for all.

Got to hang with some of the Alien Collective and eat fab Spanish and Mexican food, and also an extremely delish and exotic PB&J, and in general have a really great working weekend.

Fun facts: Both Michael Stackpole and Jeff Mariotte have over 40 books published. Each. I'm in awe. And they're both really generous with their advice, both for aspiring and newer authors. Great dudes, get their books...with close to 100 between them, really, don't ask for a recommendation, just trot out and grab. Okay, okay, one recommendation from Jeff's list -- I came home with a copy of the Angel Omnibus, written by him and some others. Yes, it's a big, thick book of Angel comics. LOVING it (especially the sections Jeff wrote).

Marcy Rockwell's "Legacy of Wolves" is still available from her directly, and she gave me the happy word that her next novel should be coming out in a year or so. Love her writing, get LoW if you can, get the next one no matter what.

Got to see the lovely cover for Yvonne Navarro's newest, "Highborn", in person. Book looks amazingly awesome. Yvonne has over 20 books published, but I have to say, "Highborn" sort of screams "tell everyone to buy ME 'cause I'm so cool", so, um go get it 'cause it's so cool. (Hey, I do what the covers tell me to do.)

Also got to see my fave clandestine ops zombie author, Weston Ochse. Check out his blog...you'll find a pic of the two of us at RinCon (you shouldn't have to search all that hard, either, LOL). Weston's "Empire of Salt" is literally sold out in the U.S. If you can get a copy, do so -- great zombie book (and we do know the Collective likes zombies, don't we?). Copies ARE still available in Europe, and it's worth hunting for; a little clandestine birdy tells me that Amazon.uk is the easiest place to find and order from.

For all the Swag Hounds out there, I have bad news, though. The only swag I came home with is staying with me. ('Cause Bo gave said swag to ME, that's why! MY preciouses!) Call me selfish, I'll just cackle as I play with my cute little stuffed germ microbes. (Erm, don't ask.)

Speaking of drifts and all that, we have some more updates from the Alien Collective. Tale a look at the lovely blog re-do and what books Absorbed in a Book is waiting on, and then check out the overall SF/F/SFR roundup at Literary Escapism. Finally, head over to Queen of the Frozen North and see what books she thinks would make great movies.

Is there more? Oh, I'm sure there is. But that's what Friday and the weekend are for, right? Of course right!

Love,
Gini