I know, it’s more than 2 weeks now, after the event? Yet right after (besides fighting a cold), all sorts of things seemed to come together, needing dealing with. Let’s get into it!

FIRST: Rah! Thanks a bunch to everyone who stopped by me booth and expressed support and/or bought books. It was great meeting and hearing from all of you. For this Wondercon, I’d moved up to a Small Press booth and scored a very good corner location. I think that with *2* paper books to showcase, my display had improved. That, me in a riding hat, and intriguing titles on the table all came together for a successful show. And I don’t say that lightly. For the first time, I went into the black on Friday, with Saturday also proving to be very busy.

Ze Auteur, Friday of Wondercon 2013, pic by Michael D. Hamersky!

Darn photo-bombing water bottle!

Me with the Doctor (Bret Lonsway!)

I think this Wondercon lucked out with really nice Anaheim weather. Sure, we’re all inside huge halls and don’t get to see the sky, but I think that improves the mood of the attendees. I don’t know what the turnout was like, what the overall mood of the show was, or whether people genuinely had fun. I liked it that this year around people wanted to spend money and spend it at my table, so that kept me busy.

The LAYOUT of the event was very good this time, I felt there was excellent flow to traffic—Artist Alley was at the very opposite end of the Hall from where I was and with my corner booth near the exit/entry doors, I benefited from the upstreaming and downstreaming. I would say that this Wondercon felt more manageable, crowd-wise, than the behemoth that is San Diego Comic Con, where things become so overwhelming there’s a ‘zombie’ effect (talking about the attendees, not me). I didn’t get a sense of lethargy/disinterest/burnout from the crowds at this Wondercon.

There was a kind of mercenary attitude among some, especially early on Saturday. Those attendees had game faces on and ran about, I think to score those event specials, promos, one-of-a-kinds—oh wait, got it, ‘Con Exclusives’. They were a little intense (and maybe lost, since they ended up in Small Press). And when I say ‘running’, I mean grown men running. It had a Black Friday Walmart feel, which I don’t consider a positive. As long as no one resorts to pepper spray in the future, I think we’re all good.

Another Doctor! Gorgeous outfit and Tardis motif.

Geez, must all my pics be blurry??

Evil Steampunk came to visit! Hail!

More Steampunks!

Boy, I take the worse (iPod) pics!

Recollections:

On Friday, a young, drunk Wonder Woman (I don’t know where she got the booze), had a cell phone convo near my booth, and I rather hoped that no one thought I was the one tippling.

Saturday, a gracious attendee recognised the WASP wings on my chest (among the other wings and Steampunk airship badges I wear). WASP stands for Womens Airforce Service Pilots, who flew during WWII. I get a thrill still, just thinking about it. His mother was a WASP. And they’re becoming fewer and fewer, though I understand some are still living and near me. So I need to find out about airshows or appearances.

At one moment there was a bit of surreality. Two goth chicks approached, one in big dark glasses (I think, because I can’t remember being able to see her eyes), with very thickly drawn eyebrows. After a conversation about Bats Day the girl with eyebrows made a comment, rather clearly and with finality, and then put a cigarette stem between her lips and blew. But she blew to the side, the smoke rising like a small thick cloud that rapidly dissipated. And while I was fascinated by the cloud, the two girls hastened away.

It was an awesome performance gesture, like illusion work. The brows distract, the smoke fascinates. It was very Wonderland Caterpillar. I can’t even say if it was true cigarette smoke, it was heavy with particles. Those two could have walked away with the entire table, I wouldn’t have cared.

Hooo are yoooo.

More later, as there’s LA TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS, this weekend!!!! end end end. I will be at Booth #953 with other authors of GLAWS (Greater Los Angeles Writers Society), so come by!

http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/

AND we’ve a GIVEAWAY (yes, another), at the steampunk review blog, Gnostalgia, for paperback RISEN and BONES. So go and enter, ’tis easy!: https://gnostalgia.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/interview-and-giveaway-elizabeth-watasin/

All the best,

~~eeee