Roberson's Interminable Ramble

ArmadillCon is lingering a bit for me this year, I suppose, since I'll be having lunch with Sharyn November later today, but either way I can say with confidence that the con was, as always, a terrific time. Renee Babcock did a hell of a job running the show, AT Campbell's map of the dealer's room was a revelation, and Kimm Antell did a splendid job with the programming, which took on an even lighter tone and more tongue-in-cheek attitude than normal. When I first started attending ArmadilloCon regularly a few years back, there wasn't much of a bar culture at the show, with the only lushes hanging out in the hotel bar being one or two pros who weren't regulars at the show. I can't take all the credit (or blame), but in the five or so years since, that's changed, and now there's always a healthy crowd of folks malingering in the hotel bar from the moment the doors open until last call. The writers workshop on Friday went without a hitch on Friday, for which Patrice Sarath should be commended (and for which Jayme Blaschke gets no credit at all), and I won't be surprised to see some of the novels and stories workshopped in my group ending up on shelves in the not-too-distant future.

It was great seeing all of the local writing folks, some of whom hadn't been to the con before, and it was nice seeing a few new attending pros from outside the area, as well. Really one of the best and best run ArmadilloCons in years, from what I saw. Looking forward to next year!