As I write this, I am sitting in my hotel room on the last day of World Con. As always, these events are exhausting but satisfying. This Con in particular is filled with creators and fans of the written word, which sets it apart from the pop-culture focused events and makes it a bit more intellectually engaging.

We fans of sci-fi and fantasy, and all the sub-categories in between, are drawn to the genre not only because it sparks our imagination, but because we can explore real issues from the safety and distance of another planet, or from a parallel universe, or with superpowers. We can cheer the heroes who fight the darkness, slay the dragons of our nightmares, and build a world with a place for us all. Our fandom affords us the chance to do that in community.

I write science fiction for the same reason I watch and read it. First, because it appeals to my imagination on a deep level, and second, because I can explore heroes and worlds of my own creation. I can put my characters through hell, wage wars, build and destroy entire governments, design worlds. I can exercise my demons on the page. For me, the satisfaction of creating these stories is very similar to the enthusiasm I have for other people’s stories. And having fans is as much fun as being a fan!

Cons are places where fans can interact with artists, and where people who find joy in a good story come to celebrate that story, whether it’s found on a screen, in a comic, or in a novel. If we met at World Con this weekend, it was a pleasure. If you came to one of my panels or workshops, I hope you found something interesting to take away. If you bought my books, thank you for the support, and I hope you’ll stay in touch!