alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Default)
alfreda89 ([personal profile] alfreda89) wrote2008-05-11 12:51 am
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Well, what to say about the Nebula weekend...

Mostly, I worked. I hauled boxes of free books, tried to be useful in the hospitality suite, misplaced a Ziploc with pill cases and burbur drops in it (still looking, let me know if it surfaces!) and got to have a few good conversations here and there. We honored Ardath Mayhar and Michael Moorcock, Texans who deserve all the attention they can get. Ardath was named Author Emeritus, and Moorcock an SFWA grand master. [livejournal.com profile] bevhale and I made the flourless chocolate cake, we all wore salwar kameez and sarees, and a little bit of makeup not only makes me look human again, I got a few compliments. After looking like something the cat dragged in for much too long, a compliment or two was cheering.

[livejournal.com profile] 1minnesotagirl may be sold on salwar kameez; we'll see for me. So far, I've had to send my measurements to the Indian firm four times. Currently not sanguine about the Indian clothing being made. I'm trying one salwar kameez and one art saree. It's the SK problem -- first they damaged the last of the bolt, and I had to pick another cloth/style. Then, they were out of that style & material and didn't plan to reorder. So I just picked material and ordered piecemeal. These things work for [livejournal.com profile] bevhale and Theresa Hayden Nielsen; it would be nice if they worked for me!

Did dinner in the bar with [livejournal.com profile] skzbrust and his lady Risa, and several other interesting authors who I may have met before briefly, but did and do not remember at this moment. I hate my disease. Dinner was good, then we did the awards. It did not occur to me that Steve Gould and I were awarding the screenplay Nebula, and to double-check the pronunciation of all the names. So of course PAN'S LABYRINTH won. I could not remember the Spanish or Italian for the double ll, grabbed the French, and then Connie Willis came up to accept the geode and said his name correctly, thankfully.

Later on when I saw Connie she told me not to sweat it -- she had to ask the MC repeatedly how to pronounce it, and double-checked right before the announcement. I am slightly mollified, but will ask for a pronunciation guide if there's ever a next time.

Got to meet writer Cynthia Felice [livejournal.com profile] moon_happy, a tall, elegant woman whose posts are always illuminating. Seems to me she and Connie were spiriting off somewhere, and looked to be having a great time. This was one of my Live Journal connect-disconnects -- When I introduced myself, Cynthia smiled graciously and extended her hand. I saw her badge and added: "I'm Alfreda89." Her smile widened and she gently embraced me.

It's always fun to meet LJers! I hope the books start moving faster, because I'd like to do a convention in a new part of the country, like Colorado. W would love to go there.

Best part of the convention? Well...I must not jinx this, so we will be vague, but a tall, slender young woman rushed up to me and said how excited she was to meet me, because she loved the Alfreda books so much. I tried to do the good writer to fan thing, thanked her and told her I was writing a third book. I said I was going to look for a publisher for it and the first two, and before I knew it, I discovered she was an editor at a New York publishing house. She slid into the cocked head, "How can I do this?" pose of a working editor, and I mentioned we were thinking about going after the YA-adult market with them. I did remember to tell her who my agent was, and she gave me a card.

So...Jon should have mailed her a packet by now. Will something come of it? Cannot guess -- I have had so many hopes dashed in the past decade. But it's worth trying, and it would be fun to work with someone who was a fan of the stories. (I tried very hard not to guess how old she was when she read the books. Could have been adult, could have been a young adult.) But her book line is professional and popular -- I'd be delighted to join it.

And that's your snip of hope for the topic!

Neb's

[identity profile] karenmtx.livejournal.com 2008-05-11 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks again for your work at the Neb's.

I really hope your connection with the NY editor is a success.

Re: Neb's

[identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com 2008-05-12 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
If I can, I will always help -- you throw wonderful conventions! (If I can't help, I'll just lure lots of people here.) ;^)

[identity profile] moon-happy.livejournal.com 2008-05-12 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
It was a lovely event, wasn't it? Thanks for identifying your LJ self; I'm so glad to attach a real person to the name. Next time let's set up dinner BEFORE we arrive so we can get a true visit in. MileHiCon in Denver is a great one, though I sure would enjoy coming back to Austin, too.

[identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com 2008-05-12 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
I was a nice convention, wasn't it? We now know that no matter where we gather, we must send up the flare: "Will any LJers be there? Can we do a meal or a cup?" I know you've been busy with family health -- I hope that is now excellent, and that you can write if inspired.

We should finish a couple of books this year. What do you think?

Of course, I simply need to get back to reading Live Journals, much less posting in them. Very odd four weeks.