So I went to WorldCon. I had a bunch of meetings, did four panels that all went really well, recorded a live episode of the SF Squeecast that was a ton of fun.

Saw a bajillion people. Met a bajillion more. It’s WorldCon. It’s huge, and overwhelming. We never get to spend as much time as we want to with everyone. It could be 10 days long and we would be dead(er) of exhaustion and STILL not be able to see everyone.

And then we went to the Hugos.

This is what we wore.

This amazing necklace was on loan from Elise Matthesen. It was UNCANNY how well it went with my dress.

And then we won.

SF Squeecast, onstage at the Hugos. Photo credit: Tor.com

Tor.com posted this great photo of all of us to Facebook. It kinda looks like how it feels to record every time.

Photo by Michael D. Thomas

Afterwards, we had LOTS of photos taken of us. And went to some parties. One of the amazing things is that when you walk around with one of these things, people stop you every 3 feet to shake your hand and congratulate you. It’s kind of overwhelming. In a good way.

At some point, Mary Robinette Kowal and I admired each others’ dresses.

And then we brought it home.

I cannot begin to express how truly humbled I am to have been honored with this Hugo.

Since I know there were problems with UStream, here is the transcript of my bit of the thank yous:

Wow. Talk about a twitter conversation getting out of hand. I really just wanted to make Paul say dirty words on a podcast.
I’d like to thank:

Webmaster Dmitri Zagidulin, our original technical producer Carole Brown, our current tech producer David McHone-Chase, Jeff
Bohnhoff at Mystic Fig Studios for the instrumentals of music by
Seanan McGuire, Katy Shuttleworth, who made our ROCKING logo, and
my wonderful husband, Michael D. Thomas for general administrative support, without whom any of this is possible.

Plus… Special Guests Jim C. Hines, George R.R. Martin.

CONvergence and Chicon 7 for letting us record Live Episodes

Thank you to the other Podcasts and podcasters that both inspired us and helped us along: Galactic Suburbia (Alisa, Alex and Tansy), Radio Free Skaro
(Warren, Steven, and Chris), and Two-Minute Time Lord (Chip). You have gone above and beyond, and I’m proud to be part of this community.

The other nominees in this category also deserve a round of applause: their hard work, thought, and care means that voters were spoiled for choice, and I’m humbled to be up here. I hope that this category continues so that we can showcase the awesome in this format for many years to come.

Thanks to our friends, our family (hi Caitlin!) , and my colleagues at Northern Illinois University. Y’all rock, and your support means the world to me.

And of course, ALL OF OUR LISTENERS!!! Thank you.

Oh, and SQUEE!

While Apex did not win for Best Semiprozine, we were THRILLED to come in second place, which is a really strong showing for a first nomination.

BTW, given that much of the Hugo is made of glass, we were advised to carry it around rocket-down whenever possible.

…which makes it look like a really pretty glass double-headed battle axe +2 of awesomeness. I’m sure pics of me holding it that way will turn up at some point.

Because, you know, that only adds to the awesome.

Once again, thank you. Thank you to everyone who voted. I am just…speechless.

And now I will go collapse for a while.