World Con (AussieCon 4) Day 4 & Day 5

World Con (AussieCon 4)

Day 4:  Sunday 5/09/10

Sunday was busy with a Kaffeelatsche with Ducan Lay and then Glenda Larke signings. I got some cool pictures with both Glenda and Mary Victoria, who was there as well.

More panels filled my day; I was racing around like a mad hatter trying to see everything.

At 4 Mary Victoria was doing a reading and I needed to go to that. Mary has a wonderful reading voice! She actually does voices for her characters (not sure if she was actively trying to do so) It was wonderful!

After that I had something to eat and then left for the day.

World Con (AussieCon 4)

Day 5:  Monday 6/09/10

 

At last we come to the last day of my AussieCon 4 adventure. By this time I was very tired and my brain was a little mushy. I still maintain it was the dreaded stairs that made me so tired haha.

On Monday I went to Writing strange lands: other cultures in YA speculative fiction. That was fascinating.  I met some of the Voyager Staff, Stephanie Smith and Natalie Costa Bir after that panel and they were two very lovely people.

Then I lined up once again for another signing: Shaun Tan. He was younger than I thought he would be and such a magnificent artist. Not only was he signing, he was drawing in peoples books, posters, shirts and my bookplates.

Then there were more great panels that were really fun. Then came the closing ceremony and bam it was over. Five days of awesomeness, meeting lots of new people, catching up with old friends and learning many new things.

I will defiantly be going again to another Australian Con! I love it, but I must say it was so very good to go home again.

World Con (AussieCon 4) Day 3

World Con (AussieCon 4)

Day 3:  Saturday 4/09/10

By this stage I am feeling it. Days of constantly running around and walking up and down those monstrous steps! (I caved and got on the escalators, I just did not look over the edge and had a death grip on the side)

Another full day was planned; to start with I went to the Duncan Lay signing. Now this is a man who knows how to engage his audience! His series is Dragon Sword Histories and the first book is ‘Wounded Guardian’ it is fantastic!! I loved every moment of it.

I got him to sign my bookplates (I didn’t bring my books, there are wayyyyyyy to many of them) We chatted for the rest of the hour and then I got once more into a line for signings. This time it was for Fiona McIntosh, Michael Pryor. Both are brilliant authors and fantastic funny people. Michael writes the series Laws of Magic, of which ‘Blaze of Glory’ is the first one! And Fiona, well Fiona has too many series to list. Her latest one is the Valisar series, of which; Kings Wrath is the first and last.

Then I went and caught the end of the George R R Martin reading. Yes my friends he too was there!

I then rushed just before the masses and made it to the signing hall. Right after his reading, George R R Martin was doing a signing and I had scored myself a place proberly 6^th in line. Not only was George signing but Jennifer Fallon  (who is awesome lady who has her own Seal Stamp), Jean Johnson and Jay Lake.

I spent the rest of that hour getting pictures and getting signatures. I did make it to the last ten minutes of a panel called Pitching the Novel, and that was fascinating.

I swear this day was the day for signings! I practically lived in the signings room. After the panel I went back and had to wait again, yes you know it, in a line for Gail Carriger who writes the PARASOL PROTECTORATE series. The third Blameless was released for the Con!

Then Lunch. At 3 I had a kaffeelatsche with Mary Victoria. That was great! Met some really nice people around that table.  Then the next stop was a panel called Thinking in Trilogies, with Trudi Canavan, Fiona McIntosh, Glenda Larke and Russell Fitzpatrick.

Then I wondered about taking in all the interesting costumes and people. It wasn’t long before I had to leave for the day.

World Con (AussieCon 4) Day 2

World Con (AussieCon 4)

Day 2: Friday 3/09/10

A pretty full on day this one was. It started uneventfully until I burned my arm with scalding hot water. That was fun times, and then I got to the convention centre a little late due to said arm.
I rushed to sign up for a Kaffeeklatsche with Jean Johnson. (For those that don’t know what a Kaffeeklatsche is, it is a small group discussion with authors and you have coffee.)

Then I rushed up stairs, yes I took the stairs because I am afraid of heights hence escalators freak me out, and that nearly killed me.
                                                                            

There were MANY MANY stairs, huffing and out of breath I rushed to the signing Mary Victoria was doing at that moment. If you have not read Mary’s book THEN DO SO NOW! It is fantastic, it is called ‘Tymon’s Flight’ and is set in a massive World Tree the size of the Himalayas.
I spent the rest of the hour talking to this great lady, whose airline had left her luggage in Wellington. For the next hour I got into line for the Juliet Marillier signing, then rushed off to my Kaffeeklatsche with Jean Johnson.




Jean Johnson writes paranormal/urban romance. Her series is called ‘Sons of Destiny’ and the first one is ‘The Sword’

After that was done, my next stop was the panel – The Hero’s Journey and the rites of passage. Joining me straight from the plane was Kim Falconer who writes her fantastic series ‘Quantum Enchantment’ and has a new book out called ‘Path of the Stray’ which is the first book in her prequel series ‘Quantum Encryption’
Kim was sick with the dreaded flu, and had to leave the panel and the Con early. I hope she is feeling much better now!!

Then it was time for lunch as my stomach kept reminding me. Getting quite tried at this point so I got myself a Mocha and sat down till 3, when the Mary Victoria reading was meant to happen. Unfortunately it got moved to another time slot and no one knew. Went to a different panel and mooched about till the Mapmaking for Fantasy Authors with Russell Kirkpatrick started. This panel went for two hours and was fantastic!!! Russell was very funny and brilliant with maps. His books are filled with detailed maps he draws himself. His Trilogies are Fire of Heaven and Husk Trilogy

                                            
Then it was time to go.

World Con (AussieCon 4) Day 1

World Con (AussieCon 4)

Day 1:  Thursday 2/09/10

There was a lot of waiting on day one. I got to the convention centre quite early because my friend had to work and so I ate my sandwich (which was meant for lunch) and did a bit of reading till about 8.30.  Then I noticed a lot of people with badges, shiny blue badges with their names on it. Unbeknownst to me, people had started to come into the convention centre and were lining up to register. So I hightailed it to the registration desk and got MY shiny blue badge with my name on it.

 I oohhed and ahhed over it and took a picture of it.

Then there was more waiting..... Convention did not start until 2pm. 

 I wandered around, took a picture of my Mocha cup and napkin tray.

 The program kit was delayed so I could not see what I wanted to do so I picked up my book and started reading again. This is why one must always carry a book in their bag >.<

I sat down on one of the many comfy couches and started to read, but my concentration was shot, I was soo excited.

 I put said book away and took some pictures of the outside of the Convention Centre.

As I was sitting there I thought to myself; self this is a wonderful opportunity to go do some shopping. There was a lady with a map sitting right next to me and a gentleman with his family standing next to her. I asked her, did the map show where the DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) was. In the end a group of around ten of us decided to go together and find it. To our shock and horror all the shops were closed: at 9.00am.

So we wandered around till 10am window shopping; remember we did not have to be back until 1:30pm at the latest.

After a bit of shopping I found myself alone again and wandered back to the convention centre where I met up with the lady that had the map. Her name was Barbara, and she was lovely. We kept each other company till the programs were released. We got our Voyager bags and opened them up and found all sorts of goodies inside.

Barbara and I went to lunch with her daughter and then our table expanded as other Aussie Con goers saw our badges and asked to sit with us. All in all, it was a great lunch everyone was really nice.

 Now the fun began, it was 2pm and the opening ceremony was taking place

I got some funky photos this is my favourite

Then after that I went to the dealers room and looked around. There was so much going on, I decided to go to some panels and they were great!

One of my favourites for that day was Magic Mean Streets: The city as a fantasy location. Trudi Canavan, Ellen Kushner and Carol Ryles were the panel for this one.

 Then my friend came to pick me up and that was the end of the first day of Aussie Con 4. I had a ball!

AussieCon 4

Well people World Con aka Aussie Con4 is starting on Thursday!! So the blog will be a little quiet for a bit as I make my way to Melbourne. Don't despair I will be updating it as I go!! Be prepared for pictures, pictures and you guessed it MORE pictures!!! Also all the goss that I find out :D

AussieCon4 (World Con)

2nd September to the 6th September is when all the greats in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal will be gracing our shores. Who is going you ask? Well here is a list of authors who are attending  AussieCon4 Attendance.

It is the 68th World Science Fiction Convention and it is being held in Melbourne, Australia.Some Guests of Honor are Hugo-winning author Kim Stanley Robinson, award-winning Melbourne artist Shaun Tan, and dedicated fan Robin Johnson.

If you are interested in going check out the main page AussieCon4! If you already have your tickets then are you excited to be going? Are you going in a group or by yourself? Who are you most interested in meeting? Lastly do you have enough space in your suitcase for the return trip home?

The Nightmare Ball sounds exciting and I can't wait to see some of the costumes people come up with!



So if you have not got your tickets yet, then you better hurry up! Don't miss out on the chance to meet your favourite authors!