Icon Musings...

Well Icon is over.

Or at least for me it is. And I had a blast.
I won't go into "What was my faovirte part of it" kind of ramble, as that's pretty obvious. Meeting Neil Gaiman. Nothing even comes close (though there were a lot of cool stuff, you really can't compete with that...)

Check it:


The one that's not Neil Gaiman, that's me.

I also hear two lectures by Neil, one was on his career and his writing, and the other was a Q&A, once again about his writing.

I've also patricipated in a Writing Workshop (not the one with Gaiman...), with some... interesting results, I'll post it up tomorrow...
Overall, good Con, and a good use of some much-needed vacation time.

And I got my Sandman signed. So its worth more, but you won't get it anyways. It's mine...

I need to borrow Superman...

Allright, this is long-ish so bear with me...

Next week is I-Con (the Israeli Sci-Fi, Fanatsy, Comic, Gaming convention, we basically only have one of these so everything get encompassed into one place, it's basically our Comic-Con, Wizard World, E3, etc. sans major announcements).

Every year they bring one "Guest of Honor" to the convention. Last year came Gabriel something-or-other, so not very impressive (though, they did manage to snag Orson Scott Card a couple years back, but I'm not a fan...).

Anyways rumors have been circulating as to who will come this year, and several weeks back it was confirmed - Neil Gaiman is coming. Joyness abound, as Neil is my favorite living author (Douglas Adams is my all-time favorite). So naturally, I would've sold my soul to get anywhere Neil will be (the Guest of Honor at the Con usually gives a lecture or two at the Con). So it was announced that Neil will be giving 3 "lectures". One about Dreams (the "theme" of the Con), one will be a Q&A and the last will be him reading from his own work. I got tickets for the first two (can't go to the last one due to previous obligations) early on and grinned to myself.

Then over the weekend I find about a fourth, previously unpublished activity featuring Gaiman. A writing workshop. Yep. Neil Gaiman is giving a writing workshop here in Israel. So I'm sitting on nails the entire weekend and all of today (the ticket-order center opens at 4 pm). Come 4:01, I get on the phone for 1 and half hours, straight. I can't get through. Naturally, I'm getting more and more pissed. And then It's time to call it a day and go home. 1 wasted hour of commuting. I get home and still can't get through. At 6:45 I finally manage to get through and..... no tickets left.

This sucks.

So if anyone's got Superman's number, I need to turn back time...

He's really coming...

I'm going to meet Neil Gaiman!!

O.k. let me explain why this is such a big deal... I live in Israel, which has a really small comic-book loving community. And no one really comes here because of the security situation... But Neil Gaiman is really coming here, in one month!

Every year around October the Israeli Convention of Comics, Sci-Fi and Fantasy takes place, it's called Icon. Every year there is a guest of honor - two years ago Orson Scott Card came, last year it was Tim Powers. It has been rumored that Gaiman will be coming this year, but only a short while ago it was confirmed.

And I'm so happy!!

So expect many updates on my meaning with a writing god, and mayble I'll even manage to snap a photo of me with Neil... hopefully.

Cheers!