Libertycon 37

After Action Report

This was my second Libertycon and also my second as a pro. I didn’t go to cons until I had published something and writer friends recommended it.

Attending Panels

Husband went to the STEM space panels. I tried to go to Round One of the First Timers, but discovered that I was going to have hearing problems. I need an upgrade on my hearing aids. This was a consistent problem for the whole con. But I did attend parts of several panels, including Round One of Meet the First Timers, Your Military SF Alien Isn’t an Alien [Hi

Monalisa Foster

, we just had time to shake hands in the elevator], and The Future of Kinetic Weapons.

Being on a Panel

I was one of the panelists on the “Big Target or Big Capability” panel¹, and was confused about the focus. Once I understood the context of answering in terms of how military sci-fi / fantasy fiction may deal with the concept, I came more back on topic. Next year, if I do anything like this, I’ll spend more time communicating with the moderator ahead of time.

Or maybe even reading their pdf about how to be on a panel. Says she who is a great proponent of RTFM!

Selling Stuff and Promoting my Substack

This year, I had a table in author’s alley for one hour. Since I haven’t published anything new since the last con, but I have posted dozens of reviews, essays, and fictional snippets and short stories on my substack, I displayed my substack homepage on my table in addition to displaying copies of my novellas “Cloak and Stola,” which is historical fiction, not sci-fi or fantasy, and “Down Pad”, which is near-future sci-fi. I didn’t sell anything, but I did get another follower for this substack.

I did sell one copy of “Cloak and Stola” at my reading, even though the story I read was “Domestic Disturbance,” my short story in the “But Not Broken” anthology. I’m good at reading, and I read all my fiction out-loud during the writing process anyway.

Meeting People

I tagged up with people I know from Hoyt’s Huns, many of whom I was able to see in person for the second time. I renewed acquaintance with on-line friends I’d met at last year’s con: Hi

Back Porch Writer

,

Sam Robb

,

Sarah A. Hoyt

and

Spearman Burke

. Some of you I didn’t get a chance to say “hi” to again:

James Copley

and LawDog. Some I got to talk to for the first time:

Tales from the Ornery Dragon

,

Jesse James Fain

. I’m sure I left out some folks. Husband reminds me next year I need to write more stuff down.

I was late for the Kaffeeklatsch on Sunday morning due to going to Mass, and it was so crowded and loud, I only lasted about five minutes on my first try. Sat down with another on-line friend [Thanks Randy!] for a few minutes and then steeled myself to go back in, and was able to get some one-on-one time with Sarah.

Going Home

Last year, husband and I had to leave early, because his mother was sick. We got back in time so that she had both her children, their wives, her grandchild and her great grandchild at her bedside before she passed. This year, we were able to stop by and pray at her graveside on the way home.

1. Discussion on whether large, expensive, manned systems are a capability or a liability. Are giant spaceships feasible anymore, or do single ships, unmanned systems and AI dominate the future?