C4 – Central Canadian Comic-Con

I’m just back from C4 where I hung out in the Artist’s Alley and had a blast.  I sat at a table by myself with just two handouts — one listing some of the stuff I’d published (all the Pern books but many others) and another with a short list of books I recommended.

I watched Scott Dewey sell lots of fun art (including Darth Vader versus Voldemort).  We and his girlfriend, the beautifully named Samara, had a lot of fun.  I also got to chat with Carly who was helping Christopher Jones at his table.  Four year-old Aysha decided that she just had to flirt with me, nearly abducting my Todd Rambles panel with her cute antics. Afterwards I got to talk with her mother, Andrika who teaches teens at a local hospital. Eric, another fan, and I talked writing.  Patty, who is a bit older than me, reminisced over Pern and other great worlds. I encouraged everyone to consider writing (writers are readers first) and was shameless in plugging for The Writers of the Future.

The staff were great, constantly coming by and offering me a break (not really necessary as I had no merchandise to watch) and looking out for my well-being.  I was reminded repeatedly that I had access to the Green Room and happily exchanged words with Sylvester McCoy (who went to elementary school in Sandymount in Ireland), listened to words of wisdom from other Guests but restrained from pestering them aside from telling Robert Picardo how much I enjoyed his singing and MC’ing at Dragon*con a number of years back (he has an awesome voice).

On Sunday we turned my Delphic Oracle panel into the Adventures in Super Science/Fantasy panel which was supposed to have happened the night before — only it wasn’t on my schedule.  There were six of us (counting me) and the best was at the end when the final person was dropped in the final on-the-fly story, saying, “Are you on drugs?”  So I think we’ll call this the Are You on Drugs? panel in the future!

I’d like to thank Violet for having me and all the staff for taking care of me. 

Thanks, C4, I had a blast!