There, All About The Place and Back Again (Supanova Brisbane 2019)

Sorry it's taken so long but this post has been a nightmare to compile!

Day 1

GRIFFITH

I’ll admit I didn’t get to see much of Griffith. As is usually the case, even though it was only a few hours of driving, I was pretty exhausted when we arrived. I blame the weather. Departing in the rain, it literally tailed me all the way and in many ways it was a good thing. It may have made me a little wearier, but when Griffith appeared in a cloud of dust I had hoped that it wouldn’t be too long before the rains washed it all away and I was not disappointed. Eating, resting and hiding out, a short trip into the shopping district to find people thankful for the sudden arrival of the rain that quashed the dust was all that was managed before the stores closed and I was relieved. Weary from the storms, dust and rain, I put my head to the pillow and drifted off to the sounds of rain running from the roof of the lodge.

Day 2&3

DUBBO

“Waking up at 2.30am, I heard the Roar of Lions and smiled before drifting off to sleep once more.”

Reaching the Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, the first Scheduled stop on the drive to Brisbane for this year’s Supanova, the adventure began.

Staying in the Savannah Cabins on the edge of the zoo for two nights I was devastated that it was raining upon my arrival. However, having driven through a dust storm to get here, I am so glad that it did rain so well and for so many hours. It is said so often that it’s possible no one truly understands it anymore, but the farmers out this way NEED it. (And didn’t the animals LOVE IT!!)

Kangaroos on the meagre lawns that surrounded the cabins were there to welcome us upon arrival and the cabins themselves…? A touch of luxury in a place where you’d least expect to find it. Two big bedrooms, each with their own bathroom, and all the amenities you would find in a self contained cabin; including a dishwasher. Large windows to view the giraffes and zebras in their enclosures in the distance, it could have only been better if I were parked in a tent IN the enclosure with them.

I tend to wake regularly through the night, roll over and go back to sleep and so I know it rained constantly but the animals didn’t seem to mind. Waking up at 2.30am, I heard the Roar of Lions and smiled before drifting off to sleep once more to find the rain quitting at about 4am. I have to admit I was relieved. Rainy days at the zoo can be fun, but with such a big week coming up, I didn’t want to risk catching a cold and not be at my best for Supanova.

I have been to many zoos. It’s kinda my thing. Whenever I go somewhere, if there’s a zoo, I make an effort to have a look but this one was different to any of the others I’ve been to, even the other open plain zoos, in that you drive your own car around between the enclosures. You can hire bikes, or electric buggies, but I had my car and opted to use it. The track is long, 6kms which would have been impractical for me to walk given my time restraints and also my current fitness level LOL! And don’t get me started on my lack of fondness for bike riding! If it had been warmer, I may have hired a buggy, but the day started out a little chilly and driving my own car gave me more comfort, time and energy to spend watching the animals. Young giraffes playing, frolicking even, in the cooler climes and the still damp dirt from the 20+mm of rain that they’d not seen the likes of in I don’t even know how long. The cool temperatures encouraged their behaviour but as the day wore on, the muggy heat curbed their enthusiasm. The Lions basked in the shade, the Tigers and Cheetahs were likewise chill and the hippos would not come out of their pool but the Lemurs made up for it and George the Peacock (all the peacocks are called George ;) ) put on some pretty spectacular displays.

The food in the cafe was good—but I ate too much of it—and when the day was over, I was pleased with just how much had been packed in without the feeling of exhaustion that usually accompanies such an adventure. As I settled down to sleep again, before the BIG drive to Brisbane, I heard the rain return.

Day 4

BRISBANE

The drive was so LONG! Next time I’ll be sure to space my stops. Goondiwindi looked like a lovely little town, maybe taking an extra day there would have been wiser. Live and Learn, they say… Somewhere between Toowoomba and Ipswich, a power line came down amidst yet MORE dust storms as the winds here shamed the ones seen earlier. Perhaps a hundred cars were backed up on the A2 when we saw the flames. Luckily, the locals led the way around the interruption, adding only a small detour that really didn’t affect travel time on a path that led through some of the regions farms. Corn, predominantly, the crops look healthy though still only young.

Now, I can say that I’m not a fan of city driving. A country girl through and through, the one way streets, traffic lights that only one car at a time can get through and the serious lack of parking in ANY city does my head in, Brisbane seemed to be well thought out in most respects… until peak hour. Silly me thought I’d do a quick trip down to the supermarket, just 1km away, to pick up a few groceries and something for dinner. HA! 2 hours later I had discovered that the supermarket had no parking, that the city was, in fact, a city, and that there was an IGA on the corner RIGHT NEXT DOOR to my Apartment. L City Failure #1. My navigation system, who I fondly call Kenny (unless I’m talking directly to HER which is usually in tones that are anything BUT fond ((I know, HER name is KENNY??—don’t ask))) led me on a merry old drive around. New constructions confounded her and the one way roads and rivers had her thinking we were in locations that we were not for a time, but she got me back to the apartment regardless of how I spoke to her ;) I then WALKED to the IGA, got what I needed and called a halt to the day that had already gone on for FAR too long.

From the apartment’s balcony, I can see the Wheel of Brisbane and the Exhibition Centre is just around the corner so Supanova should be easy enough to get to, even for Kenny, the poor, country navigator. But first, I need to find a KMART to get some supplies for my display. Wish me luck!!

Day 5

Still BRISBANE

SHOPPING!! I don’t love shopping, and after the ordeal of navigating the city yesterday I was not looking forward to setting out again, but Kenny (bless her) didn’t disappoint today, or perhaps I was just more on the ball. No missed turns, no unexpected one way streets, she executed her tasks masterfully to get me to the local KMART. Supplies were got, as were a number of new ensembles to wear on the weekend ;) and all the dietary supplies that might be required for nourishment while at Supanova; and then it was time for Siesta. Unfortunately Siesta lasted well into night and so ended the day — but tomorrow we will begin setting up for the Convention and then it all begins… <3

Day 6

Yet more BRISBANE

“Perfect for Mangoes on the Balcony…”

Setting up for Supanova. Well, things didn’t go entirely to plan. The day was beautiful! Sunny, not too windy, not too hot – perfect for Mangoes on the Balcony for Brunch (when in Queensland, right?). After the long drive and the impromptu tour of the city when Kenny and I had our minor falling out, and the day of shopping that followed, it was a day of relative confinement in anticipation of the evening. Setting up for Supanova is simple. After the first year, carting HUNDREDS upon HUNDREDS of books into the con, in one go, I’ve managed to refine my methods and narrowed it down to just a couple of boxes (with the rest in reserve to be brought in as needed) so the process usually takes half an hour. Set up was scheduled for 4pm so my “get in get out” mentality took over and we were arriving on the exhibition floor at a little after 4 to find that the build had not been completed. Row upon row of tables and chairs waited for the shells (walls or booths if you prefer) to be raised. An hour and a half, perhaps 2 hours later we learned that the setup was running 12 hours behind! Three hours later, we learned that the delivery of the shells had been insufficient and that they didn’t have what they needed to finish the job. Half of those who waited would be sent away without being able to arrange their wares. Luckily my stand was not one of them (PHEW!) At about 8pm the boys finished the row and within 20 mins (as predicted) the Fickle Frog Productions Publishing table was COMPLETE! All the waiting gave me the opportunity to chat with the other vendors and artists in my area and listening to their stories helped pass the time but I would be lying if I said that I preferred that social exploit to the quick setup I was expecting. Just another little glimpse into one aspect of the nature of mankind and the dominance of ego that I may one day be able to draw on in my writing to illustrate the despicable, base behaviours of “The Narcissist”. Looks like it might not be long before I start writing another book. The prose is becoming impossible to deny :D

Day 7

1st Day of SUPANOVA BRISBANE

It’s difficult to believe it’s day 7, but here we are, Day 1 of Supanova. It was a bit of a bust, if I’m to be honest. I was expecting more foot traffic but given John Travolta was entertaining what masses there were for most of the afternoon/evening, there really wasn’t much interest being shown in the Artists Alley. I have been assured that the next two days will see an increase in potential business so I remain optimistic. Again I was disappointed in my fellow stall holders as I was bombarded by people who “knew better” than me. It’s one of my pet peeves when people who know nothing about me — who I am, where I come from, what I do, what my level of education is, what my experiences have been, how old I am, even how many conventions I’ve been to before — start to tell me things that they think I’m ignorant of only to show me how little THEY actually know about it. I cannot claim to know everything, and I am pleased to learn new things, but when I am being force-fed misinformation and not being listened to when I try to explain to THEM the truth of the matter I tend to get a bit stroppy. Surrounded by such people, the day was LOOOOONG. Hopefully tomorrow will be better on that front also. Were it not for my new friend Tobias and HIS friend whose name I did not catch—grilling me about becoming a writer and what kinds of methods I use—I might have fallen asleep! Wherever you are, Tobias and Friend, I wish you all the best in your future writing endeavours.

Day 8

2nd Day of SUPANOVA BRISBANE

I’m still not seeing the kind of activity I would like to see at Supanova. It’s been so quiet! Perhaps the fires further North and the ones to the South have people on edge. It’s a fairly worrisome time here. Shrouded in Haze, the city did not reach the temperatures of the previous days and the BCEC was quite cool. While not as busy as I would have hoped, I did meet some interesting people and lots of budding novelists. If they remain true to their passion, in another 10 years or so we should be seeing some new talents emerging and I am looking forward to it! The same situations as yesterday arose (with my being spoken to as though I was a child) but the bright side seemed to be that the comments and “conversations” were fewer. Perhaps my subtle silence was actually observed. Tomorrow will tell.

Day 9

3rd and FINAL day of SUPANOVA BRISBANE

Has it really been 9 days already? The final day at Supanova was a little busier again, but still, I had expected to see swarms of people in the aisles. Stock wise, I sold out of Breeder of Warriors, Book One of The Dorean Line: The First Book in The Dragonbone Legacy. That’s has never happened before so I was indeed, impressed. With a little artful talking, I managed to convince a few people to buy the second book and take advantage of the perpetually free copies of Breeder on Kobo ( https://www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/breeder-of-warriors ). It also helped that the prices of the series had received their final “all stock must go” markdown. Gambling on what was essentially a two for one deal at a reduced price was a much more appealing option than risking it all on an author they’d never heard of and paying full price for just ONE book! ;) Overall assessment? The convention wasn’t as fruitful as I would have expected, but the results can’t be accurately determined until I’ve given the business cards and Free Short Stories a chance to do their work and produce some online sales. I should know how effective it was by Christmas. Until then all I have to say is that the three day Supanovas are HARD. WORK. (Oh, and my subtle silence was observed, though it resulted in a minor conflict, the outcome was a more favourable almost complete lack of interaction LOL!)

Day 10

Last Full Day in BRISBANE

The air is thick with smoke. I had grand intentions of doing some sight-seeing, riding the Brisbane Wheel, going to Streets Beach among other things but breathability is not optimal. My sinus’ are showing their lack of appreciation for the situation and my heart goes out to the residents in the thick of the bushfires that the smoke has originated from. Sealed inside to avoid the respiratory distress, I have settled in with my tea, Tim-Tams and TV to chill with a movie or two. Packing is as complete as it can be in anticipation of tomorrow’s departure and it is with mixed feeling that I leave this city. I would have liked to see more, but I don’t know how much more there would have been TO see. If I’m ever headed this way again, I think I’ll aim for a mid-year, winter trip to avoid the potential for fires. After all, it’s never truly winter in Brisbane!

Day 11

IN TRANSIT

The trip home was long. With every intention to take a couple of days in Coffs Harbor, relaxing by the beach, we set off early, leaving behind Brisbane and the last Supanova of 2019. As we travelled south, stopping at the obligatory McDonalds for a quick breakfast, or second breakfast in my case ;) we made good time headed down the highway. It wasn’t until I got a phone call from the accommodations I had booked that I realized things weren’t going to be quite so easy. The bushfires had seen the evacuation of the holiday village we were booked in to — so the scramble began. Listening to the coverage of the fires on the radio, we soon learned (and may have misinterpreted) that the highway was closed past Grafton so we tried to find an alternate route but the only other road that would get us past the trouble was also closed. With no alternative, we stopped at Grafton for the night. The smoke was thick in the area and, not knowing exactly where Grafton was in relation to the fires around us, I was relieved to discover that at about 11.30pm - when I looked out the window - our hotel was filled with emergency service vehicles. Sleepy fire-fighters had viewed our hotel as safe enough to take respite at so I slept a little easier after that.

DAY 12

Still IN TRANSIT

Up and out of Grafton in the early hours, again, partaking in the standard McMuffin, we set off for Tamworth. I had planned the route, listed the places we would go through, I THOUGHT I had it all sorted… until we came upon a fire raging out of control just outside of Bendemeer. Again, the highway was closed and we began to seek an alternate route. Thankfully, the firies knew of a road that would get us to Tamworth, but it was rough. For 50kms we drove through winding hills and unsealed tracks that were the car equivalent of goat tracks, filled with the cattle farms of Garthowen, to reach Attunga. From there it was a straight shot with clear skies, to Tamworth. I’ve done a lot of driving in my time and I can honestly say that that lack of progress on this return trip has truly done my head in. Every road was bad, every passage was rerouted… If everything had gone according to plan, I would have been preparing for my arrival in Sydney tomorrow but alas, Sydney remains one of those places that I have never been that I cannot get to. Perhaps next year I might have to make an effort to get there for Supanova. Tamworth seems like a nice place too. It’s a shame I’m too tired and frazzled to do anything other than eat and sleep.

DAY 13

Still IN TRANSIT

From Tamworth to West Wyalong. With the fires now firmly behind us, all that remains ahead is the hours and hours of farming land that we saw on the way TO Brisbane. The drive to West Wyalong was uneventful, aside from a few little detours as we tried to find food in Dubbo (and ended up going back to the Zoo Café) I was surprised not to find a fish’n’chip shop or any kind of takeaway that looked appealing. After several days of rubbish food, I was hoping to get an actual MEAL but sandwiches had to suffice. I was pretty happy to reach West Wyalong, knowing that it was the last stop before home. I’m pooped and will welcome the more familiar comforts of my own house, my own bed, and my fridge. LOL!

DAY 14

HOME!!!

We left on Saturday and have returned on Friday and this would have to be the first time I am truly relieved to be home. I missed catching up with one of my dearest friends in Sydney, but with no way in to the city, I had no choice but to abandon the reunion. I missed seeing some of the sights in Brisbane and I missed my two days at the beach in Coffs Harbor, but I am still here. My home is still here as is my beautiful garden (a section of which is pictured to the left) and though I only caught a glimpse of the severity of the fires that pushed us west, my heart goes out to all the people who have lost their homes and their loved ones in this horrendous fire season. The worst part of it all is that it’s only just begun so to everyone, everywhere in this scorched land, stay safe xoxo

A few more pics can be found below, some from the zoo (love how the pair of cheetas are lounging in a heart shaped shadow), the Wheel of Brisbane, my setup at Supanova (gotta do it) and the best Cosplay I saw at the con. Dwarves!!