Believe it or not, I did not know that such things as Cons existed until my thirties. Insert joke here ( ).
But when I got more involved with the writing community, I discovered the thrill of Cons. The first time I went to a Con was back in 2000. A friend took me to a small NJ convention called DevilCon. It’s not longer around, but I still remember the awe of listening to writers and fans talk about books, and gawking at the few who dressed up as their favorite characters.
Then I was off to Horrorfind, World Horror, NeCon, LunaCon, and PhilCon, one of my favorites. And that was before the Munchkin arrived. Going to Cons is a rarity these days. I’m often pulled in other directions in attempts to be a responsible adult. But every once in a while, you just have to escape.
And PhilCon this year was a great escape from the stressors of my humdrum hamster ball life.
I loved seeing friends that I may see once every four of five years. Listening to writers and readers speak about the political nature of science fiction was thought provoking, and hearing Seanan McGuire speak about breaking the rules of writing was inspiring. Then there were the costumes, the dealer’s room’s wares, and the art.
But the best part of being there was….well being there. There is something about being a writer and surrounding yourself with other writers. The atmosphere was soothing to everyday woes. I felt I was with my peeps, as my students would say.
So here’s a few pics of my day:
Happy writing!
JMonell
Meandering Through Midlife 
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