Charlottesville, VA (with Kim Harrison)

I’m so glad we chose to attend this. My wife and I went solely to meet Hugh Howey, but what surprised me was just how much I enjoyed the panel discussion. The panel was made up of four authors with very different writing and publishing experiences, resulting in points of view that, although they were entirely valid for each individual, were at times distinctly at odds with one another. It was a fascinating glimpse into an industry in flux, how that impacts writers at different stages of their careers, and how they respond to it.

And of course, Hugh was the life of the panel. He’s a natural-born public speaker. Charismatic, funny, engaging, insightful. He also instigated most of the banter among the panelists (especially with Kim Harrison, who was also a hoot). And to think, that charming young man would be puking in a hotel toilet less than 24 hours later. (“Stars! They’re just like us!”)

Sorry, Hugh, I don’t mean to be unsympathetic. Stomach bugs are the absolute worst. In fact, after shaking your hand, I was planning to never wash my hand again… but now you can better believe I’m scrubbing obsessively. Get better soon. And thanks for making the stop in a small town.