LibertyCon 2025 After Actions Report (AAR)

"And a good time was had by all."

This was my third time attending LibertyCon, and my second time as a “guest” (pro). All in all, I had more fun this year, even with the ups and downs.

If you write, you have to “hang your heart out over the edge” where anyone can take pot shots at it. 😔

In my Notes, I mentioned events as I experienced them, so I’m going to focus on the friends I met, old and new.

The first people I ran into on Thursday evening were Alpha Mercs. I met Sam Robb , Douglas Goodall , Jesse A Barrett , and Richard Cartwright, Author, and we had a good, long talk about things we’d been working on and some potential projects.

I had a great talk with John Holmes, Cannon’s publisher, on Thursday night. Their company is one of only a few that I would choose to work with because of the quality of their product and the professionalism of their business dealings. I tried to make the Cannon panel but a last minute conflict dragged me off. 🤬 Sorry, John. Next year. 🤞🍀🧧

The rest of the weekend, I would catch folks here and there but quickly pass on to somewhere I “had” to be. 🤦‍♂️

On Friday, I caught Ms. Mary (maryh10000)—be sure to check out her Substack—reading through her schedule; she did a panel on Sunday about large space craft versus smaller ones. I enjoyed the panel, but the description didn’t match what it was. I expected a “science” panel, but it was basically a discussion of the Fleet subgenre of Military SF. Still, I came away with quite a few story ideas. Anyway, I also had a chance to meet Nathan Balyeat in person after interacting with him on online forums for over a year. His work in progress (WIP) sounded fascinating.

I finally caught up Jamie Henson, AKA Omicron Prime , the founder of the feast that is the Alpha Mercs writing group, in person. I had dinner with him and his lovely wife at a local sushi bar, where I met JT Araille, who soon after joined the Alpha Mercs. We also dragged along Jesse James Fain , an awesome writer, and his lovely lady, Mallory. Good food and fascinating discussion.

I also caught Zane Voss —glad to see you make it this year, Zane—and 2/3rds of his kidlets. We had a fun discussion about painting miniatures and why pink is an awesome color for a bat-winged creature, per young miss Voss. 🙂 Throughout the rest of the weekend, I would catch glimpses of him except for sharing almost an hour together on the Weird Western panel. I would’ve talked with him more during that panel, but Sam Robb is such a taskmaster that we had to pay attention to the audience. 😉

I met Dorothy Grant on Friday. Ms. Dorothy is a great writer who has been really helpful as I navigate the writing craft and care for the Feline-muse. I really enjoyed Saturday’s Self-publishing panel that she and her husband, Peter Grant, one of my all-time favorite writers, have run for over a dozen years. I couldn’t make it through the whole panel because I had to sprint, yet again, to make it to the Weird Western panel. 🫤 I had a great time at the Weird Western panel, so it came out even.

I saw BeckyJ47 a few times, even getting a glance at her books in Authors Alley. Becky’s a pistol, so I always end up having a great time.

Saw RK and Mikado of Regan’s Substack as I was sprinting from one end of the con to the other. Had a short talk with them at the bar on Sunday.

Actually got outside of the convention center on Saturday morning on a walk with Toni Weisskopf, Baen’s publisher, and other energetic folks.

But it wasn’t so much a walk for me as an “amble.” 😁 I had a lot of ideation to do during the two laps we took around the convention center. I also ran into Bjorn Hasseler, a great writer and knowledgeable guy, who, along with Bethanne Kim, is keeping the 1632 Magazine still firing on all cylinders after Eric Flint’s passing. Lots of great stories in that magazine, and, from what I heard, more coming this year. 👍

I’d met both Bjorn and Bethanne at the What’s new in the 1632 universe panel the previous day, and they were awesome about sharing details on how to submit to the 1632 Magazine. I sat an alt-history panel with Bjorn on Saturday evening, for which I was woefully unprepared. Mr. Daniel Allan Butler, a knowledgeable historian, and Mark Huston, of 1632 fame, are brilliant folks, and they left me in the dust when it came to what I thought was one of my favorite genres. 🫤 Oh, well, I thrive on a challenge. Next year, I’ll come better prepared for genre panels. 🤞

I caught up with several folks at their readings, starting with DJ Butler, a massively talented man. Have you read his “Witchy Eye” tale about a fantastical early 19th Century America? He’s also a senior editor at a new publishing company, Ark Press. Go check out his Gopher Wood Lounge YouTube channel for more info. Anyway, DJ read from a horror version of Winnie the Pooh that had me alternately laughing and creeped out from moment to moment.

Dr. Robert E. Hampson AKA “Speaker to Lab Animals” hooked me with two stories that leaped to the top of my “to be read” (TBR) pile once they’re published. I spoke to him for a moment before we each headed off in different directions.

I didn’t have much time because I was sprinting off to Monalisa Foster’s reading. I’d read bits of her current WIP on her Substack but hearing her explaining the background enhanced the experience. Plus, I got to talk with her a bit before sprinting off to the What’s New in Raconteur panel.

Frankly, with all the sprinting I was doing, I’m sure I would’ve burnt out a FitBit. 😁

I caught Lawdog, of The Bugscuffle Gazette Substack, publisher of Raconteur Press, and a great guy all around. A couple times I would see a Hawaiian-shirted blur sprinting the other way. 😁

I caught Nick, a fouding Alpha Merc, the original Intern Steve, and now editor for Raconteur, a few times. He was showing off some awesome shirts, including a Whataburger one that totally rocked. I also ran into Lisa, a great lady and highly skilled editor at Raconteur, and Jonna, “She who Keeps the Schedule” at Raconteur. She was moving at just under the speed of sound, and you don’t get between her and a deadline.

At the Raconteur Press panel, I ran into Jonathan Koan, whos YouTube channel I really enjoy:

Jonathan Koan's YouTube channel

Jonathan even interviewed a couple friends of mine, J. Kenton Pierce, who has a novel out. Seriously, I’ve already mentioned it a dozen times. Why haven’t you bought it, yet? 😉

Well, Pierce and I had some great conversations when we caught each other from time to time. And I was able to make it to his reading, too. Darn good snippet, and Pierce has a good speaking voice.

Jonathan also interviewed another friend of mine, Charli Cox . She’s an awesome writer and now a member of the Alpha Mercs. Jonathan interviewed her and several other members of Cannon publishing about Fae Wars.

Charli's interview

And back to Pierce.

Why, yes. I do ramble. Thank you. 😉

Pierce shared his reading time with another friend, Joe Salem, who read from a thriller novel that reminded me favorably of “Red Storm Rising.”

After their reading, my stomach started growling. Not just an “I’m pretty hungry” growl but a full-throated “Feed me or suffer, mortal!” roar. So I was in fear for my life if I tried to attend Zane Voss’s and K Anders ‘s readings. Sorry, guys. I was there in spirit.

Earlier on Saturday, I finally met Rick Cutler in person. I’d known him ever since I joined the WriterDojo Facebook group almost three years ago. The man is a true gent, and I’m always on the lookout for more of his Colt Ostergaard weird westerns. I need to find his links to share with all y’all.

Sunday I ran into John Van Stry and Karl Gallagher, two of my favorite authors. John’s SF totally rocks, and Karl’s hard SF always leaves me both entertained and smarter. I have two of his books staring at me right now.

Seriously, books, stop it. That’s really distracting.

😉

Anyway, I had such a great time that I forgot about the dehydration, the minor hunger pangs, and sore feet. Did I mention I did a lot of walking that weekend?

Sunday morning I had a reading scheduled at the same time as the Kaffeeklatsch. I mentioned my feelings in a previous Note, but it was a useful experience. I learned that I could change my badge name to match my pen name. 🤦‍♂️ I usually don’t take the time to type in my pen names because every July I fight through the “ebay sniper alley” that occurs with the mad rush to buy tickets before others can. And this year, I’ll be out of state at another con, trying to make hotel wifi work.

And a photo with proof I was there, ready to give a reading, though I ended up editing a short story instead that has been kicking my butt since April.

The knuckles in the photo are a reflection. There really weren’t hands reaching for me from the computer screen. Though … that would make an awesome horror tale. The selfies that swapped places with the picture taker? 😳

Anyway, despite the one disappointing moment at my reading, I know LibertyCon worth all the fuss. I get to meet friends I won’t see for most of the year and make new ones. So, it’s a win-win situation. 🙂

After the Con ended, I went to the hotel bar to talk with folks, but the volume of conversation quickly overwhelmed me. I was reminded that tinnitus is not your friend several times at the Con, beside the bar. I could barely hear the people in the Ark Press room party, which was a shame because DJ Butler had so much good info he was passing on. 🫤

When the bar got too loud, I found a quiet corner and got to work on a short story that had been kicking my butt until that point. I realized that the protagonist had lost agency in the scenes leading to the climactic moment. 💡

Since then, I’ve been hammering at the scenes to give the protag more agency, ticking off the character’s leadership in the process. Which, come to think of it, may be the story of my own career in the Air Force. 😉

Drove home on Monday. Ideating the whole way. Weather was good, so I didn’t have to worry about much as the story and panel ideas flowed. If I manage a ticket for next year’s LibertyCon, I will definitely push for some panels that fit my experinces better and on topics I’d like to see in the spotlight.

So that was my report for this month’s convention. I have another con next month, a military wargaming convention up in PA that I’m really looking forward to. 🙂

Have a blessed day, folks.

👋