Here is another late post about my visit to Anthocon 2012!
It has been about a week since I returned from the second annual Anthocon held in Portsmouth, NH. Unfortunately, I did not attend its inaugural event, but after the experience I had last weekend, another will not be missed!
It had been about 10 years since my first convention (World Horror Convention) in Seattle, 2001, since military life sometimes made it difficult to attend such events, so I was WAY overdue to get my Con fix, and it was well worth the 8 hour drive from Rochester, NY!
Throughout the drive, my nerves were a little on the fray as I thought about what to expect, the new people I would meet, and the virtual friends I'd known for a few years but never met in person. At heart, I am an introvert, sort of uncomfortable in situations where more than a few people are together. But beer fixes many things
As usual, it turned out that I didn't need to be nervous at all. Walking into the hotel and meeting just a few writers waiting for the events to begin, I was quick to feel the very welcoming atmosphere that such conventions bring to those who attend. Writers, editors, publishers, artists, gamers, or a combination of all with a shared love for the horror genre.
Although smaller than others, I couldn't ask for a better convention. A blast from start to finish, much laughter...to the point I thought my eyes would fall out (thanks Mandy DeGeit), partying, the meeting of new friends I had only met online (Tony Tremblay, Tom Erb, Andrew Walter, Richard Wright, Ron Dickie, Kelli Owen, Mark Wholley, Tim Deal, and more), and more...err...partying. What fun!
The only drawback I had was being unable to attend some of the panels since I was manning my own table and sold a good number of copies of BLEEDING THE VEIN. But I did get to see Gary Braunbeck's opening keynote speech and got to hang out with him every now and again. Another highlight was meeting one of my writing heroes since high school, fellow Maine horror writer, NY Times Best Seller, and recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in horror, Rick Hautala. What a genuine, down-to-earth nice guy. He and his wife, writer Holly Newstein, are such great people and a pleasure to chat with!
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