Bob Greenberger

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November 09, 2004

And the Seasonal Fun Begins

Since I was boasting about Kate the other day, let me also share the news that Robbie passed his driver’s test yesterday on the first try. Not only is he pleased with this personal accomplishment but he is thrilled that he did something that took both his mother and father two attempts to pass.

Meantime, last night was the Science Fiction Writers of America holiday reception, which always kicks off the social season. I’ve been going to this as a guest for some time and was pleased to arrive with my name on the list and a nametag ready to wear.

The SFWA event, known to most as the Mill & Swill, is a terrific mixing ground for writers, editors, artists, agents and publishers to visit. There are some in this business that I only get to see at the event, so we both look forward to this annual visit. For others, it’s an extra visit beyond our once-a-week lunches. I like that people are willing to travel from Boston and Philly to be here for the four or five hours of the event.

Before hand, I enjoyed dinner with Michael Burstein, John Ordover, Kathleen David, Charles Adair and Michael’s sort of cousin Lisa Feld. Most of us knew one another through some connection of someone else at the table so it was fun. Lisa recently won an award for the best short story under 55 words so we made her recite it which she did. And by sheer coincidence, not knowing Charles was joining us, I was in the process of reading the first two offerings from his Hard Case imprint, which is single-handedly bringing back hardboiled crime fiction.

During the event, I visited with friends old and new, made some new acquaintances and suffered Mike Friedman interrupting conversations to praise how well put together I looked. It was beginning to give me a complex. On the other hand, I did pick everything out myself proving something to someone.

Many see the Mill & Swill as a networking opportunity and there’s some of that although I didn’t work hard at it. I did circulate, preferring the social aspects to the business possibilities. I left in time for a 10:22 train and crawled into bed just after midnight. And tonight is the final Baseball book discussion so I’ll be out again. Fun but tiring.

Posted by Bob Greenberger at November 9, 2004 04:50 PM

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Comments

Posted by: Michael A. Burstein at November 9, 2004 09:13 PM

Posted by: Andrew Holman at November 10, 2004 03:24 PM