SJ Longthorne

I started to get (this comes up a lot in these stories) "icky vibes," so I thanked him for the talk and tried to leave.

He grabbed me and kissed me. Literally grabbed my shoulders so hard that I had bruises. In the middle of a hall, at a con, with people everywhere.

I shoved him off. None of the people walking by stopped, no one said anything, no one checked to see what had happened.

I was so shaken I left the con and called a friend. He asked if I wanted help; he'd take off work so he could go with me the next two days. I said no.

I went back the next day but could only make it through half a day. I skipped the final day and flew home.

I told my (then-boyfriend, now-husband), almost in tears, afraid he'd think I cheated on him (of course he didn't; he's a good dude). He was livid. I was broken.

When I got my first game writing contract, it took me weeks to decide whether it was worth it. If that kind of treatment was all I had to look forward to.

Thankfully, it's not. I've made some of my best friends in this industry. I've loved people, survived the trenches with them, published work I'm proud of.