Thursday, October 29, 2009, is the opening of the World Fantasy Convention in San Jose, California. Representing the BVC are Laura Anne and I along with Nancy Jane Moore, Madeleine Robins, Deborah J. Ross, Seanan McGuire, and Maya Kaathyrn Bohnhoff. We are planning on arriving at various times today and tomorrow. If I’ve forgotten someone like Kit Kerr, please forgive me, the lists keeps changing.

This convention is not like your average SF/F con. This one is geared toward the business of writing. 90% of the attendees are pro writers, agents, editors, or publishers. This is the place where the projects are pitched and deals made. Costumes are strongly discouraged, even if it is Halloween. Being writers used to exercising our imagination, we will have stealth costumes. The game is to see if we can spot the ordinary clothes that are really something more, and then figuring out what they are.

The energy is high already. I’ve fielded phone calls from from friends for days. Emails clog my server, all of them regarding meetings, shared meals, schedules, and who will have a car to go to the grocery store. There will be panel discussions and readings, but most of the action will be in the bar.

Borderlands Books of San Francisco will have a presence in the dealers room. They have also arranged for group autograph sessions in their store on Wednesday evening before the con and Sunday evening after the festivities. Friday night will be a mass autograph session at the con. The Book View Cafe plans to celebrate our growing membership and the launch of our first anthology, Rocket Boy and the Geek Girls, which has an official release date of October 31 in multiple ebook formats. Check the BVC website for details.

You can bet that we’ll be promoting both RBGG and Shadow Conspiracy. I plan to read from my steampunk story “Shadow Dancer” at 4:30 Thursday afternoon. Maya said she planned to read from “Accumulating Man.” All BVC members present are planning on sitting together at the autograph session and having a party. Rumor has it, there might be cake. Hush, don’t tell anyone. It’s a big secret.

So if you will be at the con, flag one us down and say “Hi!” and join the fun.