I just got back from ConClave 32, a science fiction convention held in Romulus, Michigan. The highlight of the weekend? Getting an interview with one of my favorite authors, Kim Harrison.
Kim Harrison and Chris Lester

The interview should be appearing soon on I Should Be Writing — Mur agreed that it would be a good thing for her listeners to hear — and I’ll be dropping a version of it into the Metamor City feed, as well. For now, though, let me just say that it was an honor and an absolute blast to sit down and chat with Kim about the business and craft of writing. Thanks for making time for me, Kim!

Other highlights of the weekend:

- A 1-hour coffee klatch with Kim and about 20 other fans;

- The Sanctuary Press Writers’ Workshop, where I and several other authors had stories (or novel excerpts) reviewed and critiqued by editors and authors. I got a lot of great feedback that I think is really going to help me polish up the first Metamor City novel, Making the Cut, and make it all that I want it to be.

- Scoring about half-a-dozen free books from a memorial giveaway. A young SF/Fantasy fan had, sadly, passed away earlier this year, and his family decided that the best things to do with the books was circulate them back into the fandom. I empathize with them for their loss, and I think it’s really cool of them to pass on their son’s books to people who will continue to enjoy them.

- Meeting all of my fellow aspiring authors in the writers’ workshop. I got the chance to connect with several other writers on roughly the same skill level as myself, and I’m looking forward to continuing to communicate with them and help each other to improve and grow in our craft.

- The ecumenical prayer circle that I was invited to on Sunday morning. Only three of us showed up — me, my fellow workshop writer Christie Devlin, and her partner Catherine — but it was really satisfying to get together first thing in the morning to pray together, read the Bible, and discuss a little of how each of us came to the faith. It was a very positive, joyous experience, and I was really grateful for the opportunity to meet them.

It was a great weekend, all the way around, and I don’t regret a penny of what it cost me. I’m looking forward to next year’s Balticon even more than I was before.

Keep it on the bright side!

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