This weekend I had the most wonderful experience of participating in the first ever SFContario http://sfcontario.ca/ here in Toronto. Small, it still brought in more people than I expected for a first SFContario, but still there was a strong community feel to it. I did not feel overwhelmed by numbers, but rather I was give the opportunity to really get to speak with con-goers, con-com and other wonderful authors. It is a memory that will be with me forever and I can't wait until next year when I'm sure there will be even more folks attending.

Before I go into regaling you about my time there I need to thank the Con-Com at SFContario. They did an amazing job for their first con. With everything there is always room for improvement but from my adventures there really wasn't a lot. The only thing I request...don't start panels at 10am on Sunday morning. LOL

I also want to thank Erik Buchanan, author of 'Small Magics' and 'Cold Magics' http://www.erikbuchanan.ca for allowing me to use half of the Dragon Moon Press table with him since a) I'm not with Dragon Moon, but rather Dark Dragon and b)I missed out on getting a table. We had a lot of fun helping each other sell each others books. It was also lovely meeting his friend Katrina where we figured out that we had met each other before at a mutual friend's wedding! Small world!

Friday I arrived to a strange experience. I was carrying my trolley of books, etc, towards the dealers room when a lady coming the other way pointed at me and announced 'You're Karen Dales!' I was surprised, looked around, and continued walking while I indicated that yes I was. I was then accused of giving the woman (who I later figured out was the dealer's liaison) the idea of creating an author's alley (or some such thing, I forget exactly) where authors and publishers can have 1/2 tables. I smiled, glad to have been able to spark another's imagination.

When I arrived at the Dealer's Room I received another surprise, my author friend Stephen Pearl http://www.stephenpearl.com and his wife were on the other side of me. When Erik arrived he dubbed our corner of the room the 'Happy Area,' and we were.:)

Friday was lovely. One of the main highlights was seeing my friend and fellow author, Violette Malan http://www.violettemalan.com and her husband. After my reading we went and had drinks with their friend (and now mine)Fiona Patton and other mutual friends. I believe I made it home just before midnight.:)

Saturday was long and a lot of fun. It started with being at a panel for 10am, which isn't so bad except that I had to take the TTC and drop my son off at his Uncles'. Since it was on writing and time management I was surprised that I made it five minutes early! The rest of the day flew by! I did an autograph session which went very well. The highlight was getting to know authors Eric Choi http://www.aerospacewriter.ca and Derwin Mak http://www.derwinmaksf.com better. Lovely wonderful folk!

Sunday was

I also was very happy to see other author friends/acquaintances Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, Jo Walton, and J.M. Frey http://www.jmfrey.net. (Thanks Jess for doing a Timmy's run! You're awesome.) I also had the opportunity to get to know author Douglas Smith http://www.smithwriter.com. It was a delight being on a panel with you, though I won't hold it against you that you were the one informing me that I was the moderator.;) It was also very nice to see Rob Sawyer http://sfwriter.com, albeit briefly as I was leaving. Hopefully at the next place we're both at we'll be able to exchange more than a 'hi' and a 'bye'.:)

If I forgot someone, I'm sorry. The weekend went amazingly well and it is still a wonderful blur of happy memories. I can't wait until next year.

Wishing all my fellow con-going authors a happy holidays and happy new year as the Ontario Con circuit comes to a close for the season. Can't wait to see you all again at AdAstra's 30th http://www.ad-astra.org where plans are in the works to do the launch party for my next book, 'Shadow of Death: Book Two of the Chosen''s release.