Happy Father's Day

To all the fathers out there have a wonderful day

Sunday Small Talk

First, I wanted to say Happy Alban Hefin (or Litha or Summer Solstice, take your pick) to everyone.



For me this means fall is on its way. It's the only way I can get through the summer. I do not get along with heat.

I have the galley proof for Snowbound that I need to get to reading and I've gotten to a spot in Blood Red Roulette where I'm hopelessly jammed up. Fun times.

But today's talk is a sad one for me. I've come to the realization that I can not go to Rainbow Con this year like I planned. I've had too many unexpected and expected expenses.
1. New TV, several hundred dollars
2. back brakes @ 200$
3. Work conference that cost in excess of 2,500$.
4. 12% pay cut that transitions next month to a 7% pay cut.

And I figured out the cost of the con without food.
Airfare - @ 460$
Hotel - @ 350$ if I figured the tax right. If not, then even more
Boarding the cat - 75$
Paying to park the car - 60$

So 945$ and I haven't even eaten.

Mom offered up some money but I weighed the pros and cons. I knew I couldn't commit so it's not like I have a signing opportunity (though I did offer to help with the Queer Sci Fi table) and even if I did, I only have one novel out. My next novel won't be out until a month after the con.

My website is in the process of being done but it won't be ready in time either. That means I can't print out any business cards or postcards or other swag.

I would either have to take two days off the summer session (which is like missing two weeks of class in a normal semester) or miss at least one day of the con and have to leave a day early just to keep costs down.

So other than getting my face out there a little and having some fun, I think it would be a better bet to wait til next year. ESPECIALLY since I have no contract for this fall. I have NO idea what my pay will be so having to occur another thousand dollar bill to pay would be pretty foolish.

Next year I'll have at least two books, a website, swag, and I may take the summer off teaching again to have more minor surgery so I could come the whole time and drive (I have friends and relatives on the way). Heck Mom might even come and I can drop her off at a friend's house in FL.

So here's looking toward the future. However, I do have a friend, K. Dillon who will be there over the weekend so I told her to look for some of you guys and to tell them Jana sent her.