Worldcon wants me!
Hooray!
I was worried that I’d waited too long sending in my request to be a program participant — but nope, I just got confirmation that they want me. So happy! It’s been a few years since I’ve been on the program at a Worldcon.
Do you not know what Worldcon is? I know that my longtime readers do know, but I think I acquired a slew of new readers in the last year — at least, that’s what my sales figures suggest. (Unless some of you are buying multiple copies of the books, which would be nice, but odd…)
It’s the World Science Fiction Convention, science fiction and fantasy’s annual meet & schmooze & learn-new-stuff-about-SF&F & party & shop & greet event. It’s a blast. It’s also the event at which the Hugo Awards are given out, always exciting. Well, to me.  Some people skip the awards ceremony and just party instead.
This year it’s being held in Kansas City, Missouri, a place I have never been.  An awful lot of my travels have been centered around Worldcon.  I’ve been to Boston, Chicago, San Antonio.  Toronto, Winnipeg!  Atlanta, San Jose, Orlando, Philadelphia, Denver. And Glasgow! I missed London, alas, couldn’t be helped. Last year in Spokane, I didn’t get on the program, so I was there purely as an attendee (which did serve to remind me that it’s especially enjoyable to be at Worldcon when you have no responsibilities).
If you’ve never been, you should really try it.  And if you’re local to Kansas City, Missouri, you can pop in for a day (easier on the budget).  At least once in your lifetime, go to a Worldcon. And if it turns out that you like it — there’s one every year.
Also, people who have signed up as members get to vote on the Hugo Awards.  The finalists have been selected, and the voting starts May 15th.
You can check out the list of finalists at the Worldcon website here.
(Last year there was a certain amount of — how shall I put it — fuss and bother about the Hugo voting.  And some of that has spilled over into this year.  But the simple thing to do is read the nominated works and vote for the ones you think actually deserve an award. )
In other news: This weekend there’s a reunion of my former writer’s group, The Fabulous Genrettes.  Can’t wait!
