This weekend I attended Confusion, an SF/F convention where I got to hang out with an insane number of cool people.

I got the twins a room of their own, and they were very impressed. Thalia climbed right into her hotel bed (I watch big TV, dad?).

I spent a great deal of time hanging out in the lobby near the bar with an every-changing variety of friends. Like Kristine Smith and Jim Hines. Why is Jim holding a pair of extra small pink panties? That’s his story to tell. All I can say is that it involved John Scalzi and a D&D game, and leave it at that.

Dave Klecha and I wrote a story for Clarkesworld that was picked up for the Year’s Best SF, a first for both of us. We celebrated with champagne.

Calli enjoyed salad while there, which surprised us. She requested it. Can’t argue with a two and a half year old asking for salad.

The bar was a great place to hang out with writers of all sorts. I even got to meet Robin Hobb (I’ve enjoyed her liveships novels, not a lot of maritime SF/F out there, I try to read it all!)

Em and I let the kids bring their Halloween costumes and wear them again. They were utterly chuffed. This picture was taken by Patrick Wolohan’s wife (who’s name escapes me right now), also known by many as Yeti Stomper (science fiction reviewer):

Random highlights included toasting Saladin Ahmed on entering the club of writers, as well as Myke Cole (who I got to catch up with). I got to meet Brent Weeks and his wonderful wife Kristi, though I think I may have thrown my lower back out from reclining oddly on a hotel bed while chatting.

I licked and signed one of John Scalzi’s books.

I got to meet Joe Abercrombie briefly.

Caught up with Doselle Young and talked his ear off. Caught up with Pat Rothfuss and chatted about parenting.

Met Amy Sundberg, who I’ve linked to from this blog before.

And of course, chatted on panels, met many old friends and quite a few readers (thanks to everyone who came to my reading of Arctic Rising. I wasn’t at my most energetic at 10am on a Sunday, but we all made it through!), and got to meet and chat with Justin from Staffer’s Musings as well as Pat from Stomping on Yeti.

Wished I’d talked longer and more to others, wished I’d slept a bit more. Wished I hadn’t been recovering from being horrible sick the week before, as I was easily worn out.

But all in all, it was a fantastic time.

Mirrored from Tobias Buckell Online.