Do I like you? Do I really like you?

I get a ton of these comment requests, perfectly nice-looking people who want to know if I like them. I get to click yes or no. Now, being a decent sort of person, I just couldn't click No. I mean, I don't even know you. But it does beg the question: Does it matter if I like you or your picture? Would it shatter you if I was in an evil mood (maybe I just killed someone off in my book, heh heh) and clicked NO, and I shouted it out to the world, "Haaaaahhhhaaaaa, no, I don't like you at all!" [Insert evil laugh here, you pick the villain]

Would someone please explain to me the purpose of these apps? Really, I'm curious. Don't take it personally, but I don't post them. My page would be full of them. I don't mind posting some promo stuff for other artists, but posting these seems to be feeding some mass consciousness of insecurity.

But let me say for the record…I like you. You're a wonderful, divine being, no matter what your outer package looks like, no matter what your mood or personality, no matter that you hung up on your boyfriend or didn't let a car into the traffic stream the other day. Deep inside every one of you is a fabulous spirit who is here on this planet to accomplish something, which means you have the talent, drive, and whatever else is necessary to do so.

So the most important question is…do YOU like you?

 

Hi, all!

First of all, for a non-HP Lovecraft person, the name of the convention is a mouthful itself. I had never heard of this convention, which occurs annually in ....St. Petersburg.., ..Florida...., before a friend of mine recommended I go. Necro is a convention for readers and writers of science fiction, fantasy and horror. My Offspring series, having its genesis in a government program, sort of fit into the science fiction part, and I'm game to check out new conventions, so I signed on.

Necromonicon is a very reasonably priced convention, with a fee of $35 for the entire weekend. That's a fraction of other writer's conferences I've attended. I signed on for two panels, The Seven Biggest Mistakes Writers Make and SF/Fantasy Women. 

When I arrived Friday late afternoon, the first thing I noticed were people in costumes, with makeup, or at the least, gothic T-shirts and black pants. Signing in was definitely a different situation than I'd ever encountered, having to produce ID and sign a conduct waiver. Hm, could I refrain from damaging the hotel? Brandishing real weapons? Acting outside ....Pinellas.. ..County.... decency laws? I'd give it my best shot.

There were panels of workshops going on throughout the day and night, some relating to the business of writing. Besides the two that I was on, others included "You Say Self Publish Like It's a Bad Thing," Day Jobs for Writers," "You Don't Have to Be Screwed up  to be a Writer-but it Helps," and "How to Grab Your Reader" with author Patricia Briggs. An interesting one I came in at the end of was the "Medieval Martial Arts Workshop" where sword maneuvers were being taught.

There were several workshops that had nothing to do with writing, and some I had no idea what they were even about, like "Got Filk?" Others included "Amateur to Pro Game Creation," Gay Issues in Fandom," and "Intro to Meditation." Side events featured two scavenger hunts, one of which required participants to find bones that were hidden all around.

Another fun event was the midnight showing of Joss Whedon's "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" with actors playing the parts on stage and the audience singing the songs. Author Catherine Asaro put on a concert. Saturday night was a costume competition followed by the Necronomini-Prom, the theme being, "Enchantment under the Sea."

One of the best costume groups was the Zombie Girl Scouts (see picture)!

As an author who's not in the sci-fi/horror/fantasy world, there was a lot that was foreign to me. In fact, I was foreign! As a romantic urban fantasy writer, I was definitely the anomaly, as odd as the Cthulhu was to me. I enjoyed being in an entirely different kind of atmosphere, and there's something interesting about knowing hardly anyone at a con.

Having gone to many a Romantic Times convention, seeing people in costumes was nothing new. But these were pretty radical costumes, especially for the competition. The guy with the blue face who furtively slipped in, wearing black trench coat and bearing a weapon…well, if I weren't part of the con, that would have been pretty freaky, as was the guy dressed like a woman and toting his coffin around. Steampunk was popular, and so were zombie hunters. I applauded the many people who really put a lot into their costumes (see pictures).

Compared to, say, Romantic Times, the emphasis was not as much on authors or even books as it seemed to be on gaming and costuming. All the events went as planned, even if the participants didn't (for example, someone set off a smoke bomb in one of the hallways). I never saw rowdy behavior (darn). Then again, I didn't go to any of the suite parties (at the Igor/Ygor party, folks drank free beer and shouted (eye)gor or (ee)gore!

All in all, if you're in the Tampa-St. Pete area and are up for an unusual goth experience, I'd recommend Necronomicom! It's an adventure!

More photos in the Necronomicon photo group!