I’m in the lobby of the Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale, California, during the lunch break between morning and evening sessions. Yesterday, Larisa and I drove down from Seattle with our friends Jessie and Rob, who form part of my real-life writing group. Actually, Jessie and Rob did most of the driving. I got a ticket for going 90 mph in a 65-mph zone, after which they didn’t let me drive any more.

Potlatch has Books of Honor, rather than guests of honor, and the Books of Honor this year are Always Coming Home by Ursula K. LeGuin and Growing Up Weightless by John C. Maxwell. As I mentioned a few days ago, Always Coming Home is one of my favorite novels, and getting to be here to discuss the book and meet LeGuin was one of my major reasons for coming. So far, it’s been completely justified. During last night’s discussion of Always Coming Home we heard some great comments, and I raised a point that elicited response from LeGuin herself. (She wasn’t actually on the panel, by her own wishes, but she spoke from the audience.) Afterwards I was able to talk to her for a few minutes at the con suite, where I did not actually pee my pants and squeal like a fanboy. I said a few things which may even have included complete sentences! And I got a good answer to my question, and learned something I didn’t know.

Most surprising thing about LeGuin: she’s light-hearted and jocular. (And not as old as I thought she was–only turning eighty this year.)