Last week, I was feeling particularly burned out. Reality felt like an iron blanket, holding me down, suffocating me. Things at work were stressful, I wasn’t enjoying writing as much as I felt I should be, and my own brain had turned into my enemy, fixating on things that I just needed to vacate my mind. In the midst of all of this, my friend Jamie texted me, asking if I would PLEASE go to NerdCon: Stories with her.
I had all sorts of excuses not to go. Writing, plans with friends, the four hour drive to her house…but in the end, it didn’t take much convincing. I needed distance from many things, both mental AND physical. So I bought a ticket, took off work, threw a mousetrap in my laundry closet for my house guest, and headed north.
More explanation on my current semi-hiatus from social media later, but for now, enjoy these pictures of some of the things I’ve been up to 🙂
Cotton candy sky on the way into the city.
Ready to nerd out
NERDCON: STORIES
The excitement was palpable.
Oh hey, Hank Green.
Who said it: Trump or Kanye?
Celebrity Artemis led by Pat Rothfuss
John Scalzi, Maureen Johnson, John Green on adapting novels into alternate media.
Holly Black
The ceiling of the rotating conference rooms.
Holly Black, Stephanie Perkins, Lev Grossman, Nalo Hopkinson, and Paolo Bacigalupi on Honing Your Craft
I met Maggie Stiefvater!
Pretty cool view from the hotel…when we finally got to the right one. That’s a story for another time.
Ready to take on Day 2!
John Green!
Rainbow Rowell!
Giant Squid!
This is what my backpack looked like all weekend. Books books books.
Scalzi makes an entrance
After the cartwheel
Social media panel. Maureen Johnson, Hank Green, Maggie Stiefvater, John Scalzi, John Moe.
Just a portion of the passionate lines for Hank Green and Rainbow Rowell.
Panel on serials. (No talk of cereal, unfortunately.)
Maureen Johnson’s signing
There was a dragon there.
I MET MAUREEN JOHNSON!!!
Have always wanted one of these stickers. Maureen Johnson IS my friend from the internet!
The sun sets on a beautiful couple of days.
Goodnight NerdCon.
We are made of stories. What’s your story?
Rena Olsen 
Someone just recommended Rainbow Rowell to me last week!
She’s great! Highly recommend.
OMG HOLLY BLACK WAS THERE I LOVE HOLLY BLACK SHE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES I LOVE HER BOOKS I AM SO JEALOUS NOW.
You should come next year! Pretty much just come live here mmk?
Pingback: Back to the heart | Rena Olsen