You might try reading some blogs. John Scalzi's Whatever and Making Light by Teresa Neilsen Hayden and Patrick Nielsen Hayden for instance. But are you feeling like a noob in your reading? Or in industry stuff? For reading, maybe try looking at some of the review blogs like Fantasy Book Critic, Scifi Chick and Pat's fantasy hotlist (I can give you urls if you want). Industry stuff means looking at writer blogs and agent blogs and what have you.

I've only been to one Worldcon and it was huge and it was not in America. Which means Denvention is going to be much bigger probably. There's so much going on, so much rushing about and so on, it's going to be a case of picking and choosing and just enjoying the whole experience. Look for Carol Berg. She's a good friend and very welcoming. Plus her books rock if you've not read them. I'm wishing I could make it there, but chances are not. Bummer.

Di