The last time I ran around like that on the first day of a convention was when I was chair! Luckily, all the rushing round resulted in some fabulous events and moments.

The day started stressfully – we didn't know exactly where the boxes of Winds of Change were, or if we'd get them in time for the launch. I set off for the con, biting my nails but as I drove out of Queanbeyan, I saw a TNT truck driving in. Was it them? A text ten minutes later confirmed that yes, it was. Alleluia!

Got to the con hotel, unloaded the car and set up the CSFG table. So far, only half the dealers room is set up, but it's a very colourful half. The rest should get done today.

Then it was time for my workshop. It was a version of the editing workshop that I've put in to do next year for ACT Writer's Centre. I had a great group of participants – very enthusiastic and there was lots of discussion. The points I raised seemed to resonate with lots of them and I got some great feedback after so I'm very happy.

Then it was time for rushing. I came back home and took a breath, then loaded the car with more boxes (Winds of Change!) and was on my way. First stop – Civic Library, where I've got a display of the process of how an idea turns into a book that will be there for a few weeks. check it out – for those who know the library, it's in the cabinet near The Hub.

Then it was over to Costco, to grab food for the launch and back to the convention. Copies of the anthology finally delivered, it was time to grab a drink with friend and my house guest Jo Anderton.

A bit more helping, making sure things were running smoothly. I missed most of the Angry Robot hour but was there for the opening ceremony, helping with the AV (including playing my trailer for the cookbook launch). Then more running around, setting the room up for the launch of Winds of Change.

It went brilliantly! The anthology was sponsored by CSIRO, so we invited three scientists to come and speak on some of the aspects of one of the stories in the anthology. The talks were fantastic, entertaining and informative. It made it a very different event to the usual launch, which was wonderful. There was author readings as well, a heart-felt talk from the editor Elizabeth Fitzgerald and then time for the signing.

I'm really proud of my story in Winds of Change – it really shows how far I've come as a short story writer.

After cleaning up (thanks to Robin and Shauna Shortt for your help) it was time for the erotica panel. We had a really interesting discussion about erotica versus pornography and about the process of writing erotic scenes. Then we read. All four of us (myself, Jane Virgo, Tracey O'Hara and Erica Hayes) had very different approaches and it was great to get a feel for how varied erotica and erotic writing can be.

A quick catch-up in the bar, and then it was time for Jo and I to come home. Didn't have the best night's sleep – brain was still too wired – so will be interesting to see how I go today.

Lots still to look forward to.