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From the (Wagged-Clean) Desk of Risa Wolf/Killerpuppytails

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October 27, 2024

A Day at the World Fantasy Convention

In which I wax rhapsodic about writer friends and autumn color

A wide shot of a turbulent river with many waves. Across the river, many trees in the initial stages of changing for fall are visible. To the right are a few tall buildings peeking over the trees, including a tower that has a donut-shaped observation deck on top.
A wide shot of the Niagara River, with the Canadian observation tower in view.

Hey Hi Hellooooo

I managed to get to World Fantasy! Just one day but STILL! AAAA!

Why so excited?

I have not been able to go to a writers convention in person for over 7 years* for various reasons, so I was delighted to go to the World Fantasy Convention in Niagara Falls, NY for a day to see some folks and go to a few readings. I wasn’t able to stay overnight - drove there and back the same day - but it was still well worth it.

The most amazing part was meeting two members of my writing group for the first time. I had such a fantastic time with these folks in person, and I couldn’t have asked for better con buddies. I really regret I couldn’t stay longer and hang out with them more.

I also met some other writer friends from Codex who I’ve only known online, and got to catch up with folks I met at the Ithaca Spring Writes festival. I didn’t get to attend a few things I’d hoped to, due to my inability to walk too much, but it was still really satisfying.

Saw some great art in the Conference Center Lobby, too.

Two abstract art pieces hang on a wall, the tops well above the photographer's head. The art is composed of wavy light lines on a dark background, looking somewhat like shells and trilobites.
Two large vertical panels of art based on fractals. From the Fields of Energy Series by Brenda Molloy.

While it wasn’t the best to drive there and back, I gotta say the weather was spectacular for it, and the moon was GLORIOUS throughout most of the drive. I tried to get photos but none of them worked out so well.

What else ya got?

It’s been a tough month. When your family gets older and they live far apart, it’s not easy to negotiate things. However, the leaves have been gorgeous and all of the driving we’re doing means we’ve had some amazing views.

It’s even beautiful close to home.

A photo of a backlit maple tree changing from green to fiery orange. Under the maple tree is a sidewalk slightly off-center, with a lawn-like space to the left covered in orange leaves and a three-lane road to the right. Skyscrapers can just barely be seen between the sidewalk and the tree's branches.
A backlit maple tree changing from green to fiery orange.

Between family, still negotiating some illnesses on my own, and a continuation of the 2024 rejection wave, October has not been my friend.

I admire it from afar, tho. ;)

And?

And yes, there’s more! Here’s a puppy, from yesterday’s trip to Baltimore:

Kizu, a short-haired fawn dog with short pointed ears, is seen from the back on a grassy space. Across a lawn-like space bordered in green and brown tall grasses, there are two deer in shadow underneath a red-leafed tree. Kizu and the deer are looking at each other.
Kizu spotting some deer across the gully from my FIL’s place

With love and weirdness,

~Risa

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* When I say 7 years, that's since I've been trying to publish. I used to go to SFF conventions back before 2010, so if you count that it's been over 15 years.

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