Last week, Gallifrey One announced their first block of guests for next February’s convention. Obviously, the headliners are yet to come, but the fact that they started out with Alex Kingston (aka River Song), Lalla Ward (Romana II), and Whittaker-era composer Segun Akinola bodes well. It’s especially nice that they were finally able to book Kingston again after she had to cancel her 2015 appearance at the last minute.
However, thinking ahead to the next Gally has reminded me of the blog’s planned obsolescence, which is causing me to experience some mixed feelings. I was less than a year into my blogging career when I first heard about Gallifrey One and decided that it sounded like a cool thing to try. When the call for panelists came, and I threw my hat in the ring, I was extremely gratified that my credentials as a blogger were enough to help them decide to let me sit on a panel. I even made ribbons—at my first con!
I have never attended Gally when I wasn’t an active blogger. It has been my habit for over a decade to slip out of my hotel room in the morning (time zones are such a pain in the ass) to sit in the Lobby with my Starbucks breakfast and type out a blog post about the preceding day. It serves as much as a diary for me as it does as a way to share the con experience with my readers, but it’s also kind of a grounding ritual. Sitting quietly and reviewing the awesome things I experienced the previous day helps me stay in the present moment of Gally.
The prospect of a Gally without a blog is… perplexing. On one hand—as I’ve alluded to above—who am I at Gallifrey One if not a blogger, a journal-er, a reporter of my experiences? On the other hand, the prospect of being free from that obligation, of having one less task hanging over my head, buoys my spirit more than I had realized it would. I’m simultaneously sad at the thought of no longer having that record and relieved that I can just relax and enjoy the con.
Maybe that’s natural, though. Change is generally hard for humans, and transitions are particularly difficult for those of us with some kind of neurodivergence. So I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that I’m finding the prospect of doing something differently at Gally to be challenging. I just have to embrace the novelty, and celebrate a new chapter. Even without my readers.
More than two years ago, I shared that I was to have a part in a project that let me explore a different angle on a Classic story. I’m pleased to announce that Outside In Regenerates, in which I have an essay, is now available for pre-order at ATB Publishing. Fittingly, it is due to be released on 23 November 2023, the 60th anniversary of the first broadcast of Doctor Who.
The essay is in no way perfect—among other things, I could probably have gone on longer about the somewhat controversial premise I was arguing if I’d had the space—but I hope that at the least, it gives readers something different to think about. I hope you will consider supporting ATB in both this and its other wonderful publications.
You’d better have mixed feelings because you will be missed. Hopefully you will be willing to reconsider. As far as Gallifrey One goes, you are my only source of actual information at the convention. And there are so many new stories that will be rolling out that you will need to express your thoughts on as well. 🙂
Oh no! I can’t handle the guilt! 😅 Perhaps I will compromise by posting to my Facebook page? (Do you have access to that page?)
I’m so glad that you have enjoyed the blog. That makes it worth all the stress that has gone into continuing to date. 🙂 It’s just become one obligation too many, and since I don’t feel like I have much new to offer these days, either, I’ve made the tough decision to end on what is hopefully a high note.