My first convention since lockdown was Inconjunction this past weekend (July 2-4) in Indianapolis, and it seemed to be everyone’s first event back. It was smaller and more subdued than usual, but that was all right–everyone was happy to see each other after two years apart, happy to welcome newcomers, and happy to respect one another’s social distancing and mask preferences and the guidelines laid out by the convention staff for safety. Many of us have experienced big life changes since we last saw our convention friends, and hugs were extra tight and not entirely dry-eyed.

I was a speaker on four panels: The Best Thing Ever! (What got you through 2020), Pantsing Prep (writing advice from and for those of us who write “by the seat of our pants” instead of outlining), Worldbuilding (writing tips for creating a well-built setting), and Books on Repeat (books we love to reread and why). My partners in crime the press, Per Bastet Publications, and I had a table in the vendor’s hall, as well, selling books and bookmarks.

All in all, it was a great event to come back on. The con staff are accessible, helpful, and fun to chat with, as well. I know it wasn’t easy to organize the convention this year, but they did a great job! The hotel, the Marriott East, hosts the event every year and is always pleasant, but this year the staff was over the top great. In spite of being understaffed, they went above and beyond to make sure things went smoothly for us, from the wait staff at the bar/restaurant to the cleaning staff. Shout out to all the people who worked hard so we could have fun and talk shop this weekend!

Next up is Imaginarium Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, July 9-11, and even though I’m still tired from this weekend, I can’t wait! It’s another one we attend every year and are always glad we did, and it will be in a new venue this time. This year they’re offering both an in-person and a virtual event. I’ll be a speaker on panels for both the live and the virtual shows, as well as running my third annual workshop, Crafting Cross-Genre Fiction.