Home from Capclave

[ellen_datlow]

I had a wonderful time, thanks to the wonderful committee headed by Colleen Cahill and to everyone who attended. Jeff Ford and I hung out (he talks about it here):
Jeff Ford's blog

Hung out and gossiped with Andy Duncan, who I hadn't seen in awhile, and who read his wonderful story from Eclipse, Jonathan Strahan's forthcoming original anthology.

I heard Jeff read "The Bedroom Light" from Inferno and realized that although it's mysterious and creepy, it's also very funny at times. I also went to Michael Swanwick's reading of his and Eileen Gunn's new story--and that was very amusing.

I was on a bunch of panels and enjoyed them all--the convention has a relaxing feel to it and so I wasn't nervous at all. The dealer's room was chock full of book dealers and apparently over $600 was raised at the silent auction for the SFWA Emergency Fund.

Although the hotel was in the middle of renovations, there was a hardworking bartender in the informally set up lounge who was great (and who found the glass I left after he closed down Saturday at 1:30 am--a drinking glass with pictures of dodos on it that Jeff and I were given). He not only put it safely behind the bar for me--but washed it :-).

Jeff also mentions the room party with about 30 bottles of different single malts. I only tried two, and they were two I'd never heard of before (even after traveling with Eileen Gunn through the wilds of Scotland after Glasgow a couple of years ago)...One was Old Pulteney and the other was I think Strathmill. They were both peaty Islays, the kind I especially like...And the best thing is that as my big gift for being Editor GOH, I was given a bottle of Bunnahabhain--one that Eileen and I DID sample (because of the name--bunnies, you know?) and loved.

The weather was gorgeous and sunny (although I rarely went out).

I'll probably think of more but I got home a few hours ago and have to finish unpacking and have a bite for late dinner.

Here are my photos:
Ellen's Capclave photos

and here are Scott Edelman's:
Capclave

Comments

[fastfwd.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear you had a good time. What did they give you as a gift?

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

A bottle of Bunnahabhain, and two glasses with my name and Capclave GOH and a dodo engraved on them.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Hi there - I found your blog b/c I was searching for a post on Capclave. I thought I'd let you know I enjoyed your "interview" with Jeff on Friday. It was pretty fun. Thanks for being a guest. :)

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Hey there. Well, thank you so much. Jeff and I have worked together and blabbed together so long that it kind of felt like being in a giant living room. Glad we came across well.
You're very welcome.
Photos will be posted tomorrow (probably).

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the photos! They're great. :)

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. Next up...WFC and I'll be taking lots of photos there, I hope.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Excellent! The Chair of our convention (Lee Whiteside) will be there, as well as, I think, our hotel liason, so I hope to get a report from them as well. I wish I could have gone!

P.S. Mind if I friend you so I can see updates?

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Of course, you can.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Sounds lovely. Congrats again on the GoH honor.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

It was. It's a great convention. They're trying to be the Readercon of the (relative) south :-)

[birdhousefrog.livejournal.com]

I am pleased to hear that after diligent searching and much persistent questioning of hotel staff that your Dodo glass reappeared (clean, no less!) and you have it back in hand.

Very nice to have met you. From my perspective, a small con where one can actually speak with the GoH's is a mighty fine con indeed!

Oz

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Hi Oz,
Yes, I left. Multiple dodos in-hand. :-)

It was very nice meeting you, too.

I hear...

[themadblonde]

you were the TOAST of Capclave, in fact. ;-)

30 different single malts? Oh, they would have had to wheel me out of that room. If they could ever get me to leave....

Re: I hear...

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

By the time I got to the single malt room, I'd already been drinking awhile, was very tired and so didn't do the most masterful job at tasting...should have started earlier and had smaller tastes...ah well. Another time, another place.

[(Anonymous)]

"Although the hotel was in the middle of reservations"

I HATE it when they take reservations!

(Uh, maybe renovations?)

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Yup, and fixed :-) (at least the word, if not the hotel)