Whirlwind Past Two Days

[lydamorehouse]

First of all, the GLBT reading at Intermedia Arts was... "interesting," as we say here in Minnesota. Hanging out with the literary types often reminds me why I tend to identify as geek first and queer second. But, I'll get to that.

If you've never been to Intermedia Arts it's a rather strange, consciously URBAN place. It's on Lyndale, a very busy street, on the edge of Uptown (the sort of high-end part of town that has aspirations of "grittiness.") To wit, the Intermedia Arts building is very industrial looking, which they highlight by allowing graffitti artists a venue to do their thing in on the walls that surround the parking lot. The interior is also less than welcoming. There's an art gallery to on side and a sort of empty, open space from which there are a number of doors that lead to the poetry library, the public bathrooms, the performance space, and a small reception area that's far from the door in a corner. Nothing about the building says, "Hey, come on in, have a seat, enjoy the show!" In fact, unless you've been there before, it's kind of hard to figure out where you're supposed to go for the performance.

Plus, it always looks closed.

Every time I have a reading at Intermedia Arts I find myself pulling into the lot thinking, "Is this the right place?"

I ran into a couple of people I knew right away 'Becca and her girlfriend, whose name I just lost, and my former SASE/Intermedia Arts mentee April. That was nice. I wasn't expecting to see anyone I knew. I no longer make Shawn go to these things, if only because that way we save on babysitting fees, but also she's heard me read so many times. Then, just as we were about to start my dear friends Gerriann and Barb came in -- which I wasn't expecting at all, which was a whole lot of awesome.

The other reader with me was Elizabeth Di Grazia, a memorist, who writes primarily about raising two adopted children as a lesbian mom. She was a good reader and I found a lot to relate to in her writing.

Then there's me. I read a very short excerpt from "ishtartu," which appears in PERIPHERY: EROTIC LESBIAN FUTURES. It's science fiction, and, more to the point, it's *my* science fiction so it's weird and kind of humorous and... nothing at all like the sort of things I think people read at the GLBT series. Plus, during the somewhat awkward Q&A section (what? There's a quiz???) it became clear that some people in the audience had never HEARD of science fiction, much less read any. I shouldn't be surprised. But, you know, I try to insulate myself from mundanes.

It's not like anyone was rude or said anything particularly agregious, but it was just one of those moments when I remember that day all those summers ago when I found myself at a lesbian potluck thinking, "What do I have in common with these women -- other than things that are really rather private? I'd much rather find a bunch of fellow geeks at a convention and argue about the latest Battlestar Galatica episode than sit here pretending I LIKE eating tofu pups."

But it was all made better by coffee afterwards with Ger and Barb.

Then, yesterday morning it was off to the Public Library Association Conference where RWA had a booth in the trade show's "dealer's room." Unlike most of the other vendors, RWA had FREE books for give-away. I must have signed the entire box of DEAD SEXY in about fifteen minutes. I wrote a little bit about my experience at PLA over at Tates' blog under the title, "Never Yell 'FREE BOOKS' at a Library Conference."

Last night was Wyrdsmiths. I was disappointed that we had to switch venues (Black Dog had a fundraiser), and Eleanor Arnason couldn't make it. She's just finished one of her fabulous BIG MAMA stories and this one involved a darling, feathered arctic allosaur named "Alfred." I drew her a picture of him on her critique. I may actually have to scan it before I give it to her, because Alfred ended up having a cute expression in my doodle.

Now, I can breathe for a little while. Tonight I have no plans, other than to catch up on EastEnders and Dexter with Shawn. I may even do a little writing, but I finally found out that Tate's deadline isn't until June 1. So, I have a little time to just sit before I have to freak out about the fact that I should really be finishing that up soon.

Comments

[technocracygirl.livejournal.com]

To be fair, I don't think you could yell "Free books!" at an SF con and not have them vanish rapidly as well. I love the fact that Norwescon is big enough that publishers give them books for the swag bags.

[lydamorehouse]

I KNOW. That was such a shock the first Norwescon I went to! I was all, "What do they think this is, a Romance convention??" All that free stuff! You do know that the rest of the SF world doesn't get that stuff, don't you??

[technocracygirl.livejournal.com]

They don't? I remember when it was new; the first time I remember getting a book was the year Jim Baen was there, and everyone got a copy of Retief!. I thought that it was something that happened at all cons when they got big enough --- publishers would figure that if they gave away a cheap first book, they could hook a good chunk of the con-goers into buying the rest of the series or looking more seriously at the publisher. And a big SF con -- where else are you going to find as receptive an audience?

You mean this sort of thing doesn't happen at Arisia and the other big cons? Wow.

I will note that there was a postcard advertising Tate's most recent book in this year's swag bag as well.

[lydamorehouse]

Yep! I sent almost 3,000 postcards to Norwescon.

I should say that I don't know for CERTAIN that no other con gets the kind of swag that Norwescon does. World Fantasy and World Con might. In fact, I remember bringing home a "goody bag" from World Fantasy. WisCON will sometimes give away bits and pieces in their bags, which has, on ocassion, featured a free book.

But, romance cons (though they call them conferences or workshops) *always* have goody bags with free books, postcards, pens, and other swag in them.

[jenwrites.livejournal.com]

it became clear that some people in the audience had never HEARD of science fiction, much less read any

I've gotta know, what kinds of questions did you get?

[lydamorehouse]

It was funny. You know how straight people will start with, "I'm not gay, but..." when they're talking at a panel about queer issues? Well, all the people in the audience at Intermedia Arts apparently felt a similar need to out themselves as mundanes. "I don't read scifi, but..." Maybe they thought exposure to my writing would make them have a sudden fondness for t-shirts with the periodic table of elements on it or electrical tape on their glasses.

*sigh*

[shenjanno.livejournal.com]

I always got the same thing for critiques in the other Loft classes I taken: "Normally, I would never read something like this in a million years, but..."

Ah... thanks... nice to know you enjoyed it despite being forced to participate... I guess.

Wish I had been there

[muneraven.livejournal.com]

I wish we had gone to this reading. Tambyrd did a mentee thing with Barrie Jean Borrich through Intermedia Arts so we even know where that place is. We would have liked your story, I'm sure. Because we DO read science fiction. :-)

Don't get me started on the lesbian thing. Suffice to say I'm not eating tofu hotdogs. Not ever.

I hope my sister ran into Tate at the library conference thing. She works for several interlibrary agencies and was attending for work; she would have enjoyed seeing Tate there. :-)

Re: Wish I had been there

[lydamorehouse]

I only ran into one person I knew -- Melissa. But, there were several people who had me sign books for sisters and friends, so maybe....

Actually, you know, it was a blur. I loved it. I felt like Steven King or Neil Gaiman... people lined up for my book?! Cool!

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

hm. if the 'becca in question is tall, dark, butch, and skinny, and the girlfriend in question is shorter, rounder, and a redhead, her name is colleen. (if it's some other 'becca, it's likely some other girlfriend with some other name. ;)

[lydamorehouse]

Hmmm, did this 'Becca used to date Jules?

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

that's the very one! i have now known her for over half my life, which kinda makes me feel all old and stuff.

[rarelylynne.livejournal.com]

So very with you on the geek-before-queer thing.

So very, very much.

And I LOATHE tofu pups.

[lydamorehouse]

*grin*

You know, I didn't really hate the tofu pups as badly as I hated talking about 401Ks and other "professional" lesbian things. I decided shortly after that particular potluck that not only was I a geek first and queer later, but also I was definiatly an "ameteur lesbian" as opposed to that title you'd often see in classifieds, "professional lesbian seeks similar."

[shenjanno.livejournal.com]

Plus, like a million jokes ran through my head involving fake hot dogs and lesbians...

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

I think you've hit the nail on the head in terms of the geek identity trumping the queer identity for social interactions. I mean, a lot of my friends are queer, but all of them are geeks...

[lydamorehouse]

Amen, sister!