Nebula Awards Weekend - Should I Go?
The big question is, now that I'm a Nebula Finalist, should I actually attend the 2007 Nebula Awards Weekend in Austin, TX?
I already asked this question in my SFF Net Newsgroup and got many valuable responses, but I think I'll ask it here also...
The PROs:
1) Excellent schmoozing opportunity with agents and editors -- for the first time I am going as a "somebody" so maybe I can get some good career-moving business accomplished? (Such as, get my novel-in-progress Cobweb Bride sold from a partial? Currently it stands at over 50K words but I had to pause writing last year when all the medical hell started happening with my mother, and then the rest of it... and now my father died, etc.)
2) As worthy reason as any to go is to get out of the state and attend a "real" convention -- haven't done any for years now (not counting the local LosCon).
3) Miss you guys, an opportunity to see some of you in person again after so many years. Not to mention, I really need a break of getting away from here, from the daily hell...
4) Get to enjoy the long sweet illusion of possibly winning, and walking around like a pumped-up super-chicken with a Nebula pin and a swelled head, up to the moment of the banquet announcement. *grin*
The CONs:
1) It costs money for airfare and hotel, and I am CRAZY to even think of getting away now.
2) Somewhat worried about leaving my poor mom for the first time truly all alone for the whole weekend.
3) Did I mention, money?
4) Will be using up precious time I could be using instead to work on growing my Norilana Books business, getting back to writing, etc.
5) Oh yeah, MONEY???
What do you all think?
I already asked this question in my SFF Net Newsgroup and got many valuable responses, but I think I'll ask it here also...
The PROs:
1) Excellent schmoozing opportunity with agents and editors -- for the first time I am going as a "somebody" so maybe I can get some good career-moving business accomplished? (Such as, get my novel-in-progress Cobweb Bride sold from a partial? Currently it stands at over 50K words but I had to pause writing last year when all the medical hell started happening with my mother, and then the rest of it... and now my father died, etc.)
2) As worthy reason as any to go is to get out of the state and attend a "real" convention -- haven't done any for years now (not counting the local LosCon).
3) Miss you guys, an opportunity to see some of you in person again after so many years. Not to mention, I really need a break of getting away from here, from the daily hell...
4) Get to enjoy the long sweet illusion of possibly winning, and walking around like a pumped-up super-chicken with a Nebula pin and a swelled head, up to the moment of the banquet announcement. *grin*
The CONs:
1) It costs money for airfare and hotel, and I am CRAZY to even think of getting away now.
2) Somewhat worried about leaving my poor mom for the first time truly all alone for the whole weekend.
3) Did I mention, money?
4) Will be using up precious time I could be using instead to work on growing my Norilana Books business, getting back to writing, etc.
5) Oh yeah, MONEY???
What do you all think?