#01 Neil Clarke - when I went to test our new subs email, I had recently submitted to the mag. And so, as I typed in 'submissions', I didn't see that Mail helpfully completed it with Neil's inbox. And thus I send Neil Clarke a submission of "lsdkfgsdfhj". #TellThemNow

No big deal, right? He'll figure it out? What ensued was a lovely conversation about short fiction pay rates and industry culture (that changed some of my ensuing approach), despite the fact that some rando had cold-subbed him "lsdkfgsdfhj". 🙂 // #TellThemNow

#02 Joe from the glasses store, who said I was beautiful and that he would find glasses that would highlight my gorgeous gray-green eyes. And then when I put on one pair he had suggested, shouted NO! TAKE THEM OFF and swept them behind his computer, muttering. #TellThemNow

Then Chris was (thoughtfully) explaining how the different lens options added cost, while I was asking Joe what they did. When Chris left to check the parking meter, Joe said, "His look good too. I see he's got those good Dolces." "Yes he does," I agreed. Our eyes met. 😉 // #TellThemNow

#03 Sarah Hans and I met sharing a signing table several years ago, but we bonded when she said the truest thing in existence: "You're wearing a Garbage shirt so I already know I like you." My guess? she's got serious miles on Homogenic and When the Pawn too. 😄 // #TellThemNow

#04 Deborah Reilly - Even though my raid group had fallen apart, I was on a mission to get my Pandaria legendary cloak. Problem is, I'm a wimpy healer (now in a ghost guild) and I couldn't quite get the last fight on my own. A night elf offers to help. I get my cloak! #TellThemNow

Her name's similar to my WIP MC. I mention this. She asks more. Deborah then becomes a loyal reader, and a cheerleader. She gives me perhaps the best writing advice I've ever had: Stop showing your unpublished work to family who don't get it and will reroute it or discourage you. #TellThemNow

Over the years, she checks in. Asks how I'm doing. She sends me lengthy emails, about her life, her challenges, unrealized dreams. She is a constant anchor, a source of comfort in a tumultuous world. Then, I hear less. Deborah is currently facing serious difficulties. It is hard. #TellThemNow

I've told her what she means to me, but if you could, spare some healing thoughts, wishes for joy, and happy memories of the sea to Deborah in Texas today. A fellow night elf who helped me get my legendary cloak in the heart of the Timeless Isle. 🥰 // #TellThemNow

#05 I've not met Amal El-Mohtar in person (one of these days!) but I've really grown to appreciate her deep respect for storytelling, even when the cameras are off, if you will. This year, her gentle, empathic D&D character has had a journey with a Sauron-worshipping orc. #TellThemNow

We've had some fun with this in Twitch chat, from pokes at classic D&D framing, to Uk'ghash's sensitive side, to Arvan continuing to inadvertently describe the orc as somewhere between a crooning musician and a hot protector (look, he can't help it). Amal gets all of this. #TellThemNow

Even more, seeing us chuckling and writing our fan-fic in chat, Amal pauses the session, and improvises for us this lovely moment where The River describes a new, profound and complicated perspective, found from her interactions with Uk'ghash. I mean, this is gaming at its peak. #TellThemNow

So thank you, Amal, for honoring our audience fan fiction while artistically weaving it into a tapestry that spans friendship, fun, and the profound perspectives we find when exploring it. You are absolutely amazing. 🤩 // #TellThemNow

#06 - Roscoe Orman - I met him at a small Comic Con, so, I get it. He's used to this. I think I'm going to keep it cool, but then I get up there and say, "I was about to turn 7..." and then get all teary eyed. He nods, and says, "Mr. Hooper." #TellThemNow

I nod and choke out the thing I'd been practicing saying without losing it: "I wanted to thank you for telling us the truth about Mr. Hooper." I say how it's affected my views on death, helped me cope, ever since. He said that they worked really hard on that episode, he's glad. #TellThemNow

He asks if he can give me a hug. And I get a -real hug-, like the hug from an actor who also knows he was a lot of people's dad. Then, I ask if he'll sign my Gordon Little People figure. He hesitates and says, I'm not sure that's going to come out well. #TellThemNow

I say, I'm not worried about that. It's just for me. He shrugs and takes my Sharpie. Then he waves over to Bob, hey did you have one of these? Bob walks over. Actual. Bob. Bob Bob. Now Roscoe is sort of bragging that there was a Mr. Hooper, a Susan, and a Gordon, but no Bob. #TellThemNow

Anyway, he signs it, and I realize he did not sign "Roscoe Orman" - he signed "Gordon". Perfection. Just for me; he gets it. Then, on the way out, he saw me in the hallway and called out something like, "You take care of that; that's one-of-a-kind." (This impressed Chris.) To Roscoe, thanks for being our dad. Thanks for telling us the truth about Mr. Hooper. Thanks for signing my doll. 🌞 // #TellThemNow

#07 - Steve Drew was getting a shield signed for a charity auction, and asked if I'd signed it. I hesitated; I wasn't a GCWS Guest and was pretty unknown, yet Steve knew I was a writer. He looked at me, nodded, and said "You're a writer. You can sign it." 🙂 // #TellThemNow

#08 - I'm walking out back of the convention, tired and aching and rolling my big tub, and as I'm shifting in the traffic, someone shifts toward me, and I come face-to-face with Wallace Shawn. My tired brain says "you know this person" so I grin/nod "Hey." and swerve around. #TellThemNow

Basically I greet him like he's one of the regulars in the Artist Alley. He gives me, well, somewhere between tired/nervous eye-look but I'm already past him. Walk like ten steps in silence, and then hear Chris say, "Yeah, that happened." 🤔 // #TellThemNow

#09 - You think I'm going to get through this without mentioning that Sienna Tristen told me they wanted to shout out "You're hot!" during my Can*Con speech? Ok, fine, this one might also be bragging. 😘 // #TellThemNow

#10 - I have had many lovely moments with Minerva Cerridwen but I'll never forget that when I told my Gen Con airwall fart story, everyone else hard-averted their eyes, and Minerva responded that now everyone will go to Indiana just to try this and then put it in xyr blog. 🥳 // #TellThemNow

#11 - For Stewart Baker I'd have to mention the time that we thought an email was funny, joked we should write a short story inspired by it, and then ended up with a co-written novel. (Currently submitted for consideration to four presses; watch us do it!) 😀 // #TellThemNow

#12 - Today, thinking of gratitude, I've got to mention Tad Williams. He's read to us weekly since the pandemic started, and sure, he says it's for him (I get that) but it helps us tadfriends a lot too. He also says hi to everyone. Every week. As for the story piece, when I was in the middle of my mental breakdown I asked him for advice. In retrospect, I sounded (and was) really unstable and I'm sure he was nervous. #TellThemNow