There's no way I can say I was intimidated by meeting Jim as I'd already met him at a "little" convention he was at last year, Dragoncon. I was able to go out to eat with him, Shannon, several other guests and various con staff members (for I am a con staffer) at a local Longhorn Steakhouse. After he'd had a long, sorta rough flight, when asked about what and where for dinner, Jim simply replied, "BEEF OR CHICKEN!!" with no other preference than that....
I was able to attend his Dresden Files panel on Friday night but, alas, didn't take notes. One should ask him his proposed titles for DF novels that didn't make it past his editors. "Holy Sheet" was one of them.
Also attended his one-on-one Q&A session with Nth Degree fanzine writer (owner?) Mike Pederson. There were pretty good questions until he got to his "10 questions" which were off the wall. '
Got my books (including the pre-release) White Night signed by him on Saturday afternoon. There was a pretty good turnout for a signing that wasn't advertised other than word of mouth Friday night. And maybe Saturday AM, as I mentioned it to a few people. He held the signing at the Buzzy Multimedia booth after politely declining the offer of the autograph table provided for the guests to use. Presumably due to it being an unofficial signing session. The official one was scheduled for late Sunday morning as he had to leave after it to head to the airport.
All in all, both he and Shannon had a great time at the con! I even floored Shannon by being the only one to have her book for her to sign.
Never mind that Jim was coming off a cold and taking medicine and mixing that with BURN! a new energy drink.....
He didn't want the "hard questions" Friday night to occur until the drink kicked in... (questions like the lack of the Blue Beetle that became more humorous than serious, it seemed....) I don't think anyone was serious in asking the "hard questions" after that comment about waiting on the BURN to kick in..... we were having TOO MUCH FUN in that panel!!!
Fred Hicks was pretty cool although I didn't get to see him much....
Highlander: were you the person I saw who got SIX or SEVEN copies signed on Saturday?? If so, no wonder why the books sold out quickly.....
Corbin: glad you got to go and have fun.