Happy Thanksgiving!

Normally, Melissa and I would be at home, overeating on a day like this. I would have prepared a ham with a fantastic glaze, a sweet potato puff that is basically heaven in a glass pan, and there would have been some other sides that are pretty good but not nearly as good as the things I just mentioned. Maybe there’d be some stuffing, I don’t know.

Tonight, we had a couple of greasy cheeseburgers from the bistro near the lobby of the Hilton at LAX. They were honestly pretty good. Probably because it was the first real food we’ve had all day.

We woke at 5AM this morning so we could catch our 6:30AM train. Melissa never traveled by train before, and this was going to be a real treat.

The train was nice, but we were a little bit unlucky. We had to share our table with someone who wasn’t quite all there. He didn’t follow social queues, he mumbled a lot, and he wanted to talk about Tennessee, God, Hell, and giraffes. He said some very provocative things, either because he was crazy, or because he was trying to get a reaction from me.

With the train full and bringing in more passengers with every stop, Melissa and I didn’t have an opportunity to change seats. I was a captive audience, and I listened to this weird guy with as much understanding and compassion as I could. He really did try to get some kind of negative reaction out of me, and I did not take any of the bait.

I wanted to write and focus on other things. Our weird travel companion foiled me on that front.

At Bakersfield, the end of the line, we transferred to a bus. By 3PM, we were checking into the hotel. Not a bad travel day. Better than flying, for sure.

Now that we’re here, checked in, and have the lay of the land, let’s talk about my Loscon schedule. My schedule list will include my thoughts on the panels and the ways in which I can contribute. If you want the abbreviated details, you can click this link and click my name.

Name	When	Where	About
Autograph Session	Friday, 5PM	Dealer’s Room	I love doing these! I have reasonable expectations for how this will go, though. We won’t have very many of my books on stock until Sunday, so there won’t be much for me to do. But I’ll enjoy doing it, just the same.
Not Lazarus Long? Things You Need to do Before Dying	Friday, 8PM	La Jolla A	The description of his panel is pretty sobering. What do you need to do to make sure your loved ones are taken care of when you’re gone? I was excited to see this panel because I’ve read tons of Heinlein, and Lazarus Long was one of my favorite characters. What I actually have to offer on this panel is that I’ve worked in Life Insurance, and I’ve survived the loss of parents.
Urban Fantasy: Magic in the Modern World	Saturday, 10AM	Los Angeles C	I’m excited for this one. Given that I write urban fantasy, I can talk about this and the various considerations and thoughts that go into blending fantasy with a contemporary setting.
Villains in SF and Fantasy: Crafting Compelling Antagonists	Saturday, 2:30PM	Los Angeles C	I have lots of thoughts about villains and antagonists. The reality is that none of the antagonists in the stories I’ve released are particularly exemplary. This is the first panel I’ll be moderating this weekend.
Stephen King’s On Writing, 20 Years Later	Sunday, 1PM	Los Angeles B	On Writing has helped and inspired writers for over 20 years. I’m one of them. During this panel, we’ll talk about the advice, how it holds up, and maybe what is missing. I suggested this panel, I’m moderating it, and it’s the one I’ve been preparing for it for days.
The Greatest Writing Advice I’ve Ever Received	Sunday, 4PM	La Jolla B	This one should be relatively light and fun. Since it’s towards the end of the convention, I’m not sure how seriously people will take it. Again, I’m moderating, and I hope it is well attended and received.

When I’m not in panels, I’ll most likely be in the dealer’s room. Unfortunately, most of my books won’t be here until Sunday, which is a tremendous bummer. I have some copies of The Repossessed Ghost and hardbacks of One for the Road, but none of The Psychic on the Jury.

So far, I like what I see of this event. If you’re in Los Angeles this weekend, consider coming to visit me at the Hilton near LAX.