Conflux 5, 2008: Day 3

Day 3: more fun, more panel sessions, more additions to the specfic library at home

• Book launches were a major feature in the afternoon, starting with Margo Lanagan’s novel tender morsels, then a set of 4 books from small presses, including a collection of stories inspired by Canterbury Tales and an unusual one recipe book created as a fundraiser for writer Paul Haines. Full/nearly-full rooms for both events, with Jack Dann adding his own plugged-into-a-current energy. Bought copies of all of them;
• Panel sessions I went to included: editing stories; creativity processes for text and screen work -done as a duo of Jack D. and Mark Shireffs, who worked as writer for the acclaimed  ‘Jasper Morello’ animation feature; a panel on ‘achieving the dream’ -various authors recounting experiences of becoming a full-time writer/making their early significant breakthroughs. The Dreaming Again panel session brought together at least half of the contributors to the anthology, plus editor (Jack D) and publisher from the Voyager imprint,  for a light-heated chat about what went into making the book.
• Some more time and $ spent in the buyers’ room;
• Met a few more new people and had a chat;
• Realised during the day that I’m becoming more and more attached to speculative fiction as a reader and aspiring writer and appreciate the fun and generally casual atmosphere at the conventions, as well as gaining considerable interest value from the stories and discussions.  Maybe it is this, and not so much Literary fiction that I’m really most ‘at home’ with after all.

The last big day tomorrow!