Swancon is on this weekend. It’s nineteen years since I attended my first, back in 1986 when C.J. Cherryh was guest of honor. Although I haven’t purchased memberships to every subsequent convention, I’ve attended all of them. Twenty, counting the one coming up this weekend.

The guest of honor this year is Charles de Lint. It’s nineteen years since I first read one of his books, Yarrow. Although I don’t recall every detail of the story, I retain a great affection for the book, and fond memories of the bookstore in its pages. I’ve read 21 novels and I don’t know how many short stories of his, and feel (as readers often do) that we’ve made something of a journey together. While I’ve met most Swancon guests over the years, I have the feeling I won’t meet de Lint here. Maybe in Wisconsin. Life can be like that.