Have returned safely from the other side of the continent and my first Swancon. 

I took the opportunity on Thursday to visit my sister and her family who live in the 'burbs of Perth. When I returned to the hotel late Thursday night I found the bar closed and most people ready to head on out of there. So the con really didn't kick off for me until Friday. And I had a slow first few days, which I used mostly to catch up with old buddies including Ben, Cat, Launz (Dirk), Sean, Chris, Marianne (when she arrived), Lee, Lyn, Matt, Andy and some other former Clarion South students. I also spent time picking the brains of both Justin Ackroyd and Jonathan Strahan who have also been World Fantasy Award judges. Thanks guys. Made lots of new friends too once I started opening up and being more social.

I found the programming a little dull. I'm generally a bit more open to attending con panels than some of those jaded souls who quite happily announce 'I don't go to cons for the panels.' Swancon seems to be a bit more focussed on the panels that appeal to the fannish community - which is fine - but I would have preferred a few more panels on professional development for writers and some broader stuff on random cool and interesting topics. But I think most attendees went away pretty happy.

I was also surprised that there doesn't seem to be much of a book-buying culture at Swancon. I don't know if this is a chicken-and-egg type issue because I understand Swancon committees have taken the decision to do away with a dedicated dealer's room and have a market day instead. Some brave souls set up in a small (and dark) space and I'm told sales were pretty slow.  Again, it probably relates to having such a strong fan community in attendance.

The launches were all enjoyable. I only missed one and that was because a panel I was on was programmed against it. Regular readers will be pleased to know that the 'mystery' launch went well. It was held in the hotel carpark, which suited The Worker's Paradise particularly well. But Russell and Alisa did a good job of getting people there and attracted a crowd of 50 to 60 people. And sales were about normal for a con launch, so the promotion certainly didn't hinder people buying copies of either TWP or 2012.

The awards went well and I was particularly pleased to see Cat Sparks recognised for her writing (though the Aurealis Awards got there first). My highlight of the awards night was Russell B Farr's Best Collection win for Fantastic Wonder Stories. He tied with Jonathan Strahan and Gardner Dozois for The New Space Opera, which was kinda fitting. And it was great to see ASIM recognised across a number of categories, especially Tehani's win.

I suspect the biggest hit to come out of the convention however, will be British scriptwriter and author Rob Shearman. Rob made a big impression thanks to his intelligence, good humour and willingness to have a good old chat. And he felt so welcome at the con that he pretty much had everyone feeling they'd  personally been responsible for introducing an old friend into a wonderful new community. Hearing Rob read the story 'So Proud' from his collection Tiny Deaths was one of the highlights of the con for me. If you go here you can download an MP3 of Rob reading the story and buy a copy of the book. Go listen to it now.

Anyway, that was Swancon 2008 for me.  Bring on the Adelaide Natcon in 2009.

This is a pre-emptive rant, and something that has bugged me for a while. Anyone who is launching a book at Swancon, please go heavy on the buy-it-because-it-is-good angle and soft on the buy-it-to-support-a-small-press-angle. 

If you're launching a book of short stories tell me why these are stories I must read. Tell me which of the stories is the best urban fantasy I'll read this year. Tell me which of the authors is the new Jeffd Ford or Elizabeth Hand or Margo Lanagan. Tell me which bright new artist has set the pages alight with their internal art. Tell me... okay, you get the picture.

Don't try to guilt $25 out of me as a purchase-as-charity sale to support a small press. Yes the publisher has put lots of effort into the book and will almost certainly make a loss on the publication. But don't say you're going to bar the doors until everyone buys a book because the small press publisher deserves our support.  Small publishers deserve and get our support because they publish shit-hot stories. If you don't at least try to sell me on buying the book because of its quality then you're not doing you're job and you don't deserve a sale.

I have been to too many launches where the only call to action is "buy the book so you can support the publisher's hard work and they can do more publications."

Harper Collins won't be telling me to buy the books at their launch because Rupert Murdoch needs the money. They'll be telling me to buy the book/s because if I don't I'll be missing the hottest YA fantasy of the year or the best science fiction debut since Mary Doria Russell.

Also, I'm surprised to see one launch being promoted as a mystery, where we have to keep an eye out for clues as to when/where it will be.  Sometimes there are reasons these things aren't known a week out from the con. Often they're out of the control of the publisher. It happens. But if that's the case tell us and let us know when we can find out. Otherwise it's just as likely we won't come because we won't know when the bloody launch is on! As Kate would say on Electric Alphabet, it's not good 'platform.'