GenCon '99 was phenomenal. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth and said "hi." There were entire days that I wasn't able to leave the booth at all. The freebies I mentioned in last month's newsletter were some limited edition Carson the Muskrat Button Men. Most of them were given away before Saturday. In fact, I didn't even have any left to take to San Diego (apologies to all there who stopped by and knew the secret password).

The big sellers at the convention were the brand-new T-Shirts: The DORK TOWER World Tour 1999 shirt ("Will Game for Food") and the "Collect Call of Cthulhu" shirts sold wonderfully. But sales of the "Sith Park" T-shirts were phenomenal. We sold out by Friday, taking dozens of orders Saturday and Sunday. (All T-shirts are now in stock at the (www.kovalic.com/sales/sales.html) Dork Store). And of course we sold hundreds and hundreds of comic books.

HAH! I say "of course" as if this happens every day. Bottom line: I was overwhelmed.

It was a great, great time, despite more hotel hassles: the front-desk clerk at my favorite Milwaukee inn confused me for another guest, and I returned Thursday night to find myself "checked out," with my bags packed by the maid and sitting behind the front desk! Huge apologies (but no discount or free night) were forthcoming from the manager.

Getting very little chance to escape from the booth, I felt as if I missed most of GenCon proper, which was a bit of a shame. But if I ever take DORK TOWER's popularity for granted, please feel free to whack me upside the head. It was an unbelievable show, and even the lovely and talented Judith had to come and help out at the booth Sunday.