ConCarolinas in review and Half-blood artwork teaser
Finally, my ConCarolinas wrap up – I’m sorry I took so long on it. As usual, life got in the way.
Let me start out by saying what a wonderful experience it was not just to return to this con as a guest, but as the Fan Guest of Honor.
I was absolutely thrilled and surprised when they asked me to be Fan GoH, and of course, the experience was wonderful.
Here’s the thing though – aside from them providing for my room (thank you!) I wasn’t treated any better, or more special, as a GoH as I was as a previous “regular” guest. ConCarolinas treats ALL their guests as special, and wonderful. Oh, and for that matter, they treat all the attendees to the con as special and wonderful.
ConCarolinas is truly a haven for genre fans, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.
2004 was the first time I was a guest at a con (podcasting guest with my husband and Rich Sigfrit), and we were treated like we were a part of the family. Ever since then, ConCarolinas always feels like I’m going home. Many thanks and hugs to everyone who puts ConCarolinas on, but most especially to Jada, Ron, & Stephanie, whose constant friendship & support has meant so much to me and my family.
Love you guys.
At my first ConCarolinas this little gal was an infant wearing the teeny tiny baby Jedi robes I made her. Time keeps passing and I don’t feel any older… But here is proof that I am!
Checking in & who did I see? One of my very dear friends, the supremely talented professional costumer (she most recently worked on The Hunger Games) and fellow author, Cheralyn Lambeth.
I don’t normally wear costumes to conventions these days anymore (time/mobility reasons, and for the sake of people being able to recognize me when looking for me), but given that I was the FAN Guest of Honor, I felt I needed to wear a simple costume or two, and given that MiB3 had just come out (it was fantastic, BTW)…
Just look into this light right here… It was just a weather balloon. Nothing happened.
Another friend and fellow author of the Black Knight Chronicles (hilarious! I love them!), John Hartness, was at the con, and though I didn’t get to spend much time with him, I was happy enough to pick up a signed copy of “Knight Moves.” Also, just last week John had his home broken into and burglarized. His laptop, among many things was stolen. He’s a writer, so you see how this is a problem. If you have a spare buck, or maybe 5, would you consider either buying one of his books or donating to help him replace his computer? Thank you!
One of the best costumes I saw at the Con. Man I still miss Firefly!
Original Zoe Washburne (in another outfit) from Firefly.
Dear friends Kathy and Cami – man I love these two ladies!
The twins were in tow, of course. 🙂 Sadly Al couldn’t make it. 🙁
BitBit decided to be me on my next panel, The Hunger Games books.
Where I met these awesome guys, the L4gMast3Rz (Eddie Mansius, Maddie Moore, Nick Rhyne)! They’re rising seniors from Charlotte, NC area & they are so bright, intelligent, and enthusiastic! They made a fantastic Hunger Games FanFilm, and you can see their Catching Fire fan film trailer embedded below. Be sure to subscribe to their channel on YouTube (they have nearly 3 million views!) and like them on FB/follow them on twitter. These guys have talent and are definitely going somewhere!
Here is their ConCarolinas post – aren’t they adorable? Also around 3:40 they gave me the most amazing shout out that I certainly don’t think I deserved. Thanks guys! I loved meeting these guys. 🙂
Here’s their Catching Fire trailer:
A VERY wonderfully done Katniss who was thrilled to run into my little Rue. 🙂
I was super excited to Gail Z. Martin as well, and of course came home with a couple of her books. Can’t wait to read them!
I loved this Dr Facilier from Princess & the Frog. Well done!
Jada’s wonderful daughter in her very creative super fun costume!
Since Albin couldn’t attend, and Ron is a former 501st Legion XO, he essentially acted as Al, and attended his panels for him. By all accounts he did a good job too (the only one I was on with him was the sporting one).
There was a pet pig outside, and it was ADORABLE!
Me & Jim Bernheimer at our table. I love this guy – you need to check out his book Confessions of a D-List Supervillain!
I also need to mention fantastic writer Stuart Jaffe was also there (wish I’d snagged a pic of us together). I’ll be guest blogging on his blog this week I think, so be sure to check it out on Tuesday. http://www.stuartjaffe.com/
It was also great to see authors Allen Wold, Stephen, Zimmer, Betty Cross, & Nathan P. Butler again, and wonderful to meet & chat with author Guest of Honor Jack McDevitt, actor Amber Chaney (she the Avox in The Hunger Games), as well. I’m sure I’ve left out several people, and if I have, please forgive me.
10 and his, I mean HER 3 lovely companions.
Their costumes were AMAZING!
The youngling as Rapunzel & my dear friend Jess, dressed as a fantastic Flynn.
My 2nd day at the con I ran around as Katniss (super comfy) and BAM there was Effie! 😀
BitBit with Conley in her fantastic Bernadette from Big Bang Theory costume.
Lulu LOVES Rapunzel, so she was VERY excited when she met Flynn. 😀
Bernadette, Amy Farrah Fowler, and “Sheldon”
The most adorable “Ginger” Doctor!
Sold out! A good problem to have.
LOL!
Look! It’s the United States Soccer Team!
Me on one of my panels.
In closing, ConCarolinas was wonderful, and if you’d like to listen to a great podcast about it, check out Stephen Euin Cobb’s, The Future and You, ConCarolinas episode. I’ve got an interview there about 6 minutes in.
Can’t wait for next year!
Now onto my next subject, my friend (and cover artist for my next novel “A Truth Universally Acknowledged”), Mark Dos Santos, is putting together a book of his original artwork. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/44582565/mark-dos-santos-art-book
Yeah, that’s the caliber of stuff he draws. To get his book off the ground he’s doing a Kickstarter where you can donate any amount, BUT if you donate at least $30 you get a signed copy of the book! I mean, that’s totally worth it right there!
So you should go to his KICKSTARTER RIGHT NOW and donate! Tell your friends, this is absolutely worth it. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/44582565/mark-dos-santos-art-book
In case you missed it, Songs of the Seasons: White Flag is now out. It’s a short story that takes place in the War of the Seasons universe and is the back story of a few of the side characters. Also, it’s got the exclusive preview for my next novel, due out later this month, War of the Seasons, book 2: The Half-blood, sequel to the best selling War of the Seasons, book 1: The Human. You can buy it from Amazon here and from Barnes & Noble here.
Bestselling, you ask? Why yes! On the first day of June, thanks to all of you and your fantastic “word spreading” to all your friends and family about War of the Seasons, The Human – was the #3 downloaded YA Fantasy kindle book on Amazon (it was #8 in general fantasy) for a couple days. It dropped off the next day, but I don’t care. It was a bestseller, and that was a dream come true! A dream you all helped me achieve, so thank you.
And hey, if you want to help some more, I’d love to see your reviews on goodreads, amazon, and well, pretty much anywhere you can think to post them!
And here’s a sneak peak at the cover art for War of the Seasons: The Half-blood… it’ll be out at the end of this month!
Lastly, need a copy of my books? As it happens you can buy them here.