Good Times at WonderCon

WonderCon Building Worlds with Words Panel, March 25, 2016. L to r: Cecil Castellucci, Aditi Khorana, Margaret Stohl, Victoria Schwab, Lisa Yee, Gretchen McNeil, and Caragh O’Brien. Photo: Julia Hart

Approaching the Games area

WonderCon was a blast, as expected. I arrived at the L.A. Convention Center last Friday with ample time to sit in on a couple of other presentations and wander the floor. I liked how the visitors in costume totally owned the conference, like when a couple of Spidermans encountered a J. Jonah Jameson (Peter Parker’s boss) and yelled at each other in character for a while before they said, “Hey, can we be in a picture together?”

Caragh O’Brien and Aditi Khorana

Meeting Aditi Khorana and sharing a table with her for a signing (her first ever!) was definitely a highlight. Aditi’s debut YA novel Mirror in the Sky comes out this June from Razorbill, and the first few chapters set up a compelling story. Aditi is as nice as they come, so it was great to make a new friend.

Afterward, Aditi and I joined Cecil Castellucci (Tin Star), Margaret Stohl (Black Widow Forever Red), Victoria/V.E. Schwab (A Gathering of Shadows), Lisa Yee (Wonder Woman at Super Hero High), and Gretchen McNeil (Relic) for the Building Worlds with Words panel. Cecil lightly captained our rowdy ship through a funny conversation. We writers have different approaches to writing, and I was shocked at how many of the others already know the ends of their books before they start. At one point, I asked people who were writers to raise their hands, and I swear the ENTIRE audience raised their hands. It was very cool. I had much fun, and I was super inspired, too.

I’m so thankful to Cecil for inviting me to be on the panel. Thanks, Cecil!

Hanging with Julia

Afterward, I had a chance to talk more quietly with a few people about writing, which I relish, and I hung out with my wonderful niece, Julia, who basically scatters starlight wherever she goes.

WonderCon is a lively, wacky experience, and if you haven’t been before, I hope you get a chance to go.

The panel in action: (l. to r.) Cecil Castellucci, Aditi Khorana, Margaret Stohl, Victoria Schwab, Lisa Yee, Gretchen McNeil, and Caragh O’Brien. Photo: Nicole Naito