The thing about AARs is that you inevitably leave something out. Heather Holo (aka H. P. Holo, aka Edie Skye) posted on her socials that she gives hugs at cons because she doesn’t do AARs, and I respect that choice. Because OMG, this weekend was a LOT.
A lot of amazingness.
A lot of people.
A lot of hugs.
A lot of fun.
A lot of nerdery.
A lot of connections.
A lot of networking.
A lot of ideas.
A lot of brainstorming.
A lot of plotting.
A lot of laughter.
A lot of attention.
A lot of work.
A lot of energy.
A lot of joy.
I could go on, but basically take the best convention experience you’ve ever had or could ever imagine, and then crank that beast up to eleven. Because from the moment we arrived in Chattanooga to the moment we got back on the plane, it was a full-blown EVENT.
Being the Mistress of Ceremonies added a new dimension to the experience as well. First and foremost, let me state for the record that LibertyCon absolutely *pampers* their Guests of Honor (of which the MC is like the junior member.) We were picked up from the airport by Her Galactic Majesty, Empress Brandy herself, and escorted straight to our room, which had been prepared with snacks and drinks and swag. At any point in the convention, if I or my family had a question or needed anything, a LibertyCon volunteer was there, ready to move mountains if necessary for us. If I try to name individual names, I know that I shall miss someone, and I don’t want to do that. So please let me say to the staff and volunteers as a whole: thank you SO MUCH for making my family’s experience so amazing, and thank you for enabling me to do the best job I could manage as your MC.
As much as I’d love to relive every amazing moment of the con, ain’t nobody got time for that, so I will just hit you with some of my personal highlights. In no particular order, these are:
- Opening ceremonies, wherein once again, I was humbled and floored by how awesome my friends are in enabling my crazy schemes. Smoooooth! 😊
- The GoH luncheon, where I had the opportunity to meet and get to know LGoH M.D. Cooper and AGoH Leia Powell. Two lovely, talented, and wicked sharp ladies, both a lot of fun!
- The banquet brunch, where I arbitrarily assigned roles to all of the guests of honor in a space opera universe that exists only in my own head. 😊 It was a lot of fun to see everyone’s reaction to my reimagining of their biographies.
- Lunch on…Saturday? I’m not actually sure, but it was when I got to hang out in the legendary LibertyCon consuite with Special Guests Jody Lynn Nye and Bill Fawcett, as well as Todd McCaffrey, David Shadoin, Melissa Olthoff, and my kiddo.
- Seeing Bill Fawcett make a big deal out of the fact that said kiddo has sold her first short story as a professional author. Watching her light up every time someone called her an author.
- Chris Kennedy moderating the “Worldbuilding in Space Opera” panel. It was a fun discussion, and he did a fantastic job. I didn’t get to hang out with him nearly as much as I would have liked, but he’s a former Master of Ceremonies himself, so he understands. Likewise with the “Story in Video Games” panel. Brian Urbanek, Justin Watson, Griffin Barber, and Tony Andarian were fantastic panelists and really carried a great discussion.
- Watching Melissa Olthoff get ducked all weekend. If you know, then you know. 😊 Hats off to Charli and Travis Cox!
- Joining the Ben Yalow Fan Club.
- Sunday night with the people I adore.
- Getting to know Shami Stovall, who is amazing.
There is more. Of course there is more. We had meals on and offsite with wonderful people. There were panels and readings and beautiful artwork (some of which came home with me!). Some of the people I love most in the world were there, and I got to spend far too little time with most of them. If I didn’t mention you, please know that it’s not because I didn’t love spending time with you. It’s simply because my brain is currently one big swirl of endorphins, exhaustion, and love. 😊
I said it in my speech, and it’s absolutely true. LibertyCon is a family, and we just had the best of reunions, from my perspective. I hope I was able to do it justice as Mistress of Ceremonies. I will be back next year, and as often as they have me. If you have an opportunity to attend LibertyCon, I highly recommend that you do. Come, join our family. 😊
Melissa Getting Ducked!