Special Report - ConCarolinas 2010
(source: ConCarolinas 2010, 06-07-10)

Well, Fanworks fans, ConCarolinas 2010 is over. As is our tradition, we now present a post-con report on our "home con." (Be aware that the convention was plenty hectic again this year, and this report is written by Fanworks founder/operator Nathan P. Butler includes his point of view. Other participants in CC '10 are invited to submit their own post-con reports. Just send them along.)

ConCarolinas was held at the Hilton Charlotte University Place (for the second year in a row) in Charlotte, North Carolina, on June 4 - 6 this year. This year's con was combined with Deep South Con 48 to create a larger, yet somewhat more writing-oriented experience.

For fans of Star Wars fan audio, this year marked: the usual yearly return of Rich Sigfrit (who is rarely involved in Star Wars fan audio anymore but a mainstay at the convention) and Nathan P. Butler (who has attended since 2004, minus 2008 due to illness); the return of Andrew Gilbertson, Sarah Gilbertson, and Joe Harrison for their second ConCarolinas experience; and the first-ever ConCarolinas visit from Christopher Walker (who had previously represented Fanworks on a fan audio panel at Dragon*Con 2004).

This year's con featued: Writer Guest of Honor Jerry Pournelle; Special Writer Guest John Ringo; Artist Guest of Honor Ed Beard, Jr.; Music Guests of Honor Bill and Brenda Sutton; Media Guest of Honor Richard Hatch; Fan Guest of Honor Albin Johnson; Special Paranormal Guests Supernatural Encounters Radio; and Special Media Guests Bill Blair and Claudia Christian.

Friday began with Nathan joining in a Book Launch panel to promote Greater Good and his upcoming WARS novella(s), which was immediately followed by Butler's participation in a panel on writing collaboratively.

On Saturday, the Star Wars Fandom panel kicked things off with Nathan joining Cheralyn Lambeth, Mandalorian Mercs founder Tom Hutchens, and 501st founder Albin Johnson on the panel. Nathan then joined Davey Bauchamp and others on a panel dealing with the end of Lost. Nathan then had the chance to meet with fan audio listener Matt before heading to a panel on podcasting (featuring Nathan, Rich, and Steven Euin Cobb, as per usual). That was followed-up with a live presentation of Mister Adventure, hosted by the show's co-creator Rich Sigfrit and featuring Nathan, Joe, Andrew, and Chris among the live cast.

Officially, that marked the end of scheduled Fanworks participation, but the gang continued to join in panels, discussions, and just general amusement as the day wrapped up. After a final panel on acting on Sunday, hosted by Richard Hatch, the Fanworks contingent departed to go their separate ways on long journeys home.

Overall, it was another great convention this year, perhaps even better than the previous years for Fanworks participants.

You'll be able to hear a special recording of the Star Wars Fandom panel from the convention in The Butlerniverse: Episode 68, which is available now.