(Title from Steely Dan’s “Reeling in the Years”)
Before we get to the week, let’s get back to Con-Gregate. Winston-Salem is less than 90 minutes away, it was a smooth drive and I found a spot in the parking garage very close to the entrance to the hotel. On the downside, parking cost around $40 for the weekend; it may be a good thing if they switch hotels next year.
(The view from my hotel room)
Because the “author’s alley” tables for selling books were all bought up, I had to settle for a table in the dealer’s room. That was less than ideal as they cost more and have shorter hours. I did, however, want to sell more than I was able to at Ravencon, and that wasn’t going to happen without some sort of table. So … and it paid off, covering the cost of the space and a little more.
I’m always fascinated by how some books click at different cons more than others. There’s no pattern to it I can see, unless it’s something in the way I display them. This time I sold five copies of Atlas Shagged. One of them because one of the audience at my reading Sunday liked Dark Satanic Mills so much. That’s very flattering.
I also sold three copies of Questionable Minds, three of Undead Sexist Cliches, and two each of Atoms for Peace, Ceaseless Way and Sex for Dinner, Death for Breakfast. Links available at my Behold the Book page. This time I was professional and figured in sales tax ahead of time — otherwise I’d be going “Oh, I’ll eat the tax, don’t worry about it” rather than figuring it out.
I only had three panels: one on fashion in fiction, one on fae in fantasy (I plugged Southern Discomfort mightily) and one on mad science in movies (I brought up some Dr. Jekyll, of course). The rest of the time, I sat at my table. Which was fine except I kept worrying when I left to get food or tea that I’d miss another sale — and yes, I’m small-fry enough that every sale matters. As guesting comes with a free second membership I’m thinking about inviting someone along to help — though they’d still be stuck paying for hotel rooms (I really value having a room to myself and I can’t afford two). Food for thought.
I still managed to chat with several friends and bought $60 of tea from Moments in Tea, a dealer who’s found cons supplement their online business well (I’ve bought from them before so I knew they were worth it). Then a smooth drive home.
Then the week. I took Monday off to recover but rather than rest it was the third type of day off — attending to assorted tasks that had accumulated. A couple of issues with my insurance (resolved), one with pet insurance (still up in the air), various other odds and ends. Necessary, and glad they’re out the way, but not relaxing.
Tuesday I spent mostly working on Local Reporter update articles on Tropical Depression Chantal. One about the impact on local businesses, one about ways to donate to help. Then, Tuesday evening TYG was running a quick errand and wound up with a staple in the right rear tire. The big heavy kind, not the paperwork kind. Fortunately she got home safe on the donut, once AAA changed it for us, but I spent Wednesday afternoon at the tire place getting a replacement. And that after a Wednesday morning spent at a doctor’s office, one of those routine “let’s check that possible problem to make sure it’s not a problem” appointments. That chopped up the working day to the point I got zippo done.
Yesterday? Cleaners came in, which didn’t use to be a big deal. Now I spend a couple of hours upstairs with Snowdrop and Wisp – we lock them in so they don’t panic and rush out with strangers in the house. This is surprisingly brain deadening so I budget it into my time … but as the cleaners came first thing in the morning, that meant most of the day deadened. Probably worse because I think I have a low level of “con crud” — nothing disabling, just a general sense of dragginess. This morning I overslept by about two hours which is way abnormal for me. If that’s the worst it gets, though, I’ll consider myself lucky.
So a little bit of work on Savage Adventures, a little bit on Jekyll and Hyde. Nothing else. And this weekend we take Snowdrop to the vet for his annual physical. Pray for us.
All rights to images remain with current holders.
—and 
I also sold at least one copy of every one of Behold the Book’s books, with
— and three copies of 
I also did several panels, got to catch up with multiple authors I know (though sitting and selling books reduced my hanging-out time) and generally had a fantastic time (not having to deal with 
I got some more work done on my Doc Savage nonfiction book, including rereading The Red Skull; despite the relatively low stakes (land containing valuable deposits) it’s a dynamic, action-packed adventure and a pleasure to reread. There are no scenes as cool as the James Bama cover though.
Over at Atomic Junkshop I look at 
The big distractions came Tuesday. Snowdrop had peed on the couch the night TYG kept him indoors and she could still smell it. We had someone come in to clean the couch off, after which we and the dogs had to stay off it for several hours while it dried.
would have expired. That turned into a much larger expedition as I also wound up getting Trixie’s prescription food from the vet, plus food shopping done, plus picking up a prescription. TYG is away this weekend at an alumni event out of town — she left mid-morning — so I’ll be sticking home with the dogs and not going out. That saves me having to crate Plushie — he gets up to mischief otherwise – or the slight possibility something happens to me while driving and then there’s no-one here for the dogs until Monday.
This is a big step for him, though I still had to keep the back door open to keep him happy. And I do wish it had been TYG’s lap because she loves Snowdrop so much. Still, it’s very cool. But not conducive to sleep.
The Savage Year came out at 
#SFWApro. All rights to image remain with current holder.
We usually adjust to their wishes. So I’d wake up, go down and make tea, come back up and drink it in bed while I read. Then I’d do some work for a couple of hours. Then we go down and begin the morning dog routines and walkies.
Oh, plus I got paid for the upcoming reprint of Happiest Place on Earth, plus one book sales of 
I go into these cliches in more detail in Undead Sexist Cliches, available as a 
