I just returned a little over 12 hours ago from the 2005 International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I have much to tell, and little to tell, and more to tell later.
My wife and I got in around noon on Thursday, and my presentation was at 4:00 that afternoon, so mostly I just relaxed, prepped, and tried to enjoy myself. We already had arranged to go to dinner with Ross & Perry Donaldson, as Thursday night was SRD's "night out with the boys" (Perry's words). We ate, drank, my wife and Perry demolished many crabs, and then returned to the hotel and, after a long hunt to find a microphone (I'll explain why in a bit), promptly passed out.
The next morning I had a panel discussion at 8:30, so we went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast at about 7:30, and found Ross, Perry, and SRD eating breakfast. As Ross had left his hat in our room the night before, I walked over to give it back to him, saying hello to everyone, and Steve promptly invited my wife and I to join them for breakfast. We had a nice conversation, and towards the end, he invited us to lunch with the three of them the next day, and even offered to chauffer. Although I had to ask Perry later to be sure he was intending to include us, she assured me he was.
For the record, I'm typing this calmly, and I was calm, but inside my inner fanboy was doing somersaults.
I did manage to keep him under control the entire conference, however, I'm quite proud. 
While I was doing my part in my "Year in Horror" panel discussion from 8:30am to 10:00am, he was doing his author's reading. Thus, for the first time since I've been attending, I couldn't be there. I was distraught, but I'd figured this out a couple months back when the schedule was first published, and asked (via Perry) if he would mind her recording it for me to listen to afterwards. He let me know that he didn't mind, and that if I couldn't find a microphone, he was willing to just let me have the pages he was reading from. I was thrilled, until he told me what the pages were, then I just sat stunned for a few seconds before blurting out something polite, albeit in a strangled voice.
He was going to read the first 12 pages of Fatal Revenant which, he informed me, picks up IMMEDIATELY after the end of Runes.
Ross used his laptop and the microphone I'd found to record Steve's reading for me. Unfortunately, he was using Windows Audio Recorder, which shuts off every 60 seconds, so Ross told me he spent the reading under the table, clicking on the recorder once every minute. There was also a horrible hiss (cheap microphone) and whine whicih I just (a few minutes ago) managed to wipe out of the waveform. But the recording was made, and it would be in my possession.
Friday at lunch was the banquet that everyone who registers for the conference gets to attend. My wife and I, and my co-presenter Don, sat with the Donaldson clan and Peter Straub. After lunch, he invited my wife and I to join the group going to dinner at Islamarada, a seafood place a couple blocks from the hotel. Peter Straub also accompanied us, along with a few dignitaries from the conference. It was a very interesting dinner, with much laughter and various stories told.
Saturday, we met Steve, Ross & Perry down at the entrance to the hotel, walked to the garage, and were driven to a nice little pub called "The Field" about a mile from the hotel. My wife was presenting at two, so things got a bit tight time-wise, but in the end everyone got where they needed to go in time. The one story I remember from lunch was Steve suddenly grinning and saying "Uh oh." It turns out that he had put antacids in his pocket the night before for Perry, and had left them in his coat, which was now at the laundry. We had a bit of fun imagining the "extra suds" that would most likely result.
Saturday night, I got a chance to say goodbye to Ross & Perry, and asked Perry to convey my deepest thanks to her father for his kindness in including us in their family outings all weekend. He really is a very nice man.
So now I'm home, and have just cleaned up the recording, although I haven't listened to more than the first minute yet (introduction to the reading).
The bidding for the recording starts at 1 Million U.S. Dollars. I'll see that Steve gets 75% of it.
Just kidding. But I will post a synopsis if desired, once I listen to it. -Mouseglove
Yes please post! I figured you'd be there-now if you will kindly join me in the front row when SRD is toasted as Guest of Honor at Bubonicon in August! 
It took me 2 and a half months and I thought I was being ridiculous! 
