Until Midnight (& Sometimes Later)

Darkovercon 36 (the very last Darkovercon ever) is this weekend.

Here’s where you’ll find me:

FRIDAY, 29 November
6pm – Greenspring Ballroom 3 -5
The Romance Invasion
[Panelists: Elektra Hammond(mod), Margaret L. Carter, Stephanie Dray, Katherine Kurtz, Rosemary Edghill]
How has the “Romance” genre affected the F&SF genres? What Romance themes or motifs have become a part of F&SF art and literature? Has this inclusion changed, spoiled, or widened the possibilities for the F&SF genres? If so, how?

7pm – Board Room
Kaffeeklatch – Rosemary Edghill
I’ll be a non-participatory attendee, with a large selection of Rosemary’s rare and out-of-print books available for a small donation to the convention. Rosemary has generously donated these books from her personal stock.

9pm – Atrium
Don Sakers & Thomas Atkinson get married in Maryland

SATURDAY, 30 November
11am – Greenspring Ballroom 3 -5
Looking for [X] in All the Wrong Places
[Panelists: Carl Cipra(mod), Danielle Ackley-McPhail, D.H. Aire, Elektra Hammond, Melissa Scott, Leona Wisoker]
Writers and artists discuss the concept of “research” for their creations. Discussion will include: why research is important; typical and/or unusual sources they’ve used; sources they recommend for different types of creations; sources to avoid; etc.

1pm – Greenspring Ballroom 3 -5
Author Guest of Honor Speech
[Panelist: Rosemary Edghill]
I’ll likely be in the back of the room, listening to my mentor, the amazingly awesome Rosemary Edghill, with a large selection of her rare and out-of-print books available for a small donation to the convention. Rosemary has generously donated these books from her personal stock.

3pm – Chesapeake 3 -5
Stick a Gear on it and call it Steampunk
[Panelists: Elektra Hammond(mod), Rosemary Edghill, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Michelle Sonnier, Jonah Knight]
A discussion by writers of cross-genre mixes of Steampunk with, well, everything. Romance, Lovecraftian horror, science fiction, mystery, westerns.

4pm – Greenspring Ballroom 3 -5
Mass Autographing Session
I’ll be with our Author Guest of Honor, Rosemary Edghill, with a large selection of her rare and out-of-print books available for a small donation to the convention. Rosemary has generously donated these books from her personal stock.

5pm – Chesapeake 3 -5
Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
[Panelists: Sarah Pinsker(mod), Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Margaret Carter, Meriah Crawford, Elektra Hammond, Kelly A. Harmon, Erika Satifka, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Leona Wisoker]
Short readings from a selection of authors, all members of Broad Universe. I’ll be reading from my story “In the Form of a Question,” to be published by Fortress Publishing Inc. in parody anthology TV Gods in May 2014.

SUNDAY, 1 December
noon – Timonium Room
Reading – Rosemary Edghill
I’ll be a non-participatory attendee, listening to Rosemary read, with a large selection of her rare and out-of-print books available for a small donation to the convention. Rosemary has generously donated these books from her personal stock.

1pm – Chesapeake 3 -5
Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction: New Stuff, Good Stuff
[Panelists: Don Sakers(mod), Vonnie Winslow Crist, Elektra Hammond, Mike McPhail]
Panelists discuss what’s new in the world of YA (Young Adult) F&SF and make recommendations of their favorites (past and present).

2pm – Greenspring Ballroom 3 -5
Q&A for Authors
[Panelists: Jennifer Heise(mod), Rosemary Edghill, Don Sakers, Warren Rochelle, Margaret L. Carter, Melissa Scott, Leona Wisoker, D.H. Aire, Scott MacMillan, Stephanie Dray, Alanna Morland, Erica Satifka, Katherine Kurtz, C.S. Friedman, Meriah L. Crawford, Heather Rose Jones, Sarah Pinsker]
Is there something you’ve really wanted to ask one of the attending authors but haven’t had a chance to ask yet? Well, here’s your chance to ask!
Again–I’ll likely be in the back of the room, listening to the panel, offering a last chance for anyone to pick up rare and out-of-print books by Rosemary Edghill (for a small donation to the convention). Rosemary has generously donated these books from her personal stock.

The DarkoverCon memorial book, honoring our late con chair Jaelle of Armida aka Judy Gerjuoy, is now available on amazon.

A number of Jaelle’s friends wrote remembrances of her and/or stories. It contains my short (flash) story “Come Now to War.” Copies will be available at the convention, and all proceeds go to support DarkoverCon.

Philcon is weekend after next, but programming isn’t out yet. Darkovercon is my “home” con, and I’ve got my schedule, so I’ll post it now so you’all will know where to find me. I will also be at SMOFcon, likely day tripping. Darkovercon is November 23-25 (Thanksgiving weekend). I’ll be down in Timonium starting Thursday . . .

Here’s where you can find me:

FRIDAY, 23 November
6pm
Alternate Programming
Out of Control Characters
[Panelists: Elektra Hammond, Alanna Morland, Warren Rochelle, Jan Whiteley (M)]
What to do when your characters start acting like real people, and won’t do what you want them to do.

7pm
Main Programming
Sign of the Times
[Panelists: Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Elektra Hammond, Debra Killeen, Diana Bastine (M)]
This past year has seen a lot of harsh novels written in seemingly-hopeless post-apocalyptic worlds. Is this a trend, a cycle or a reflection of difficult and depressing times?

SATURDAY, 24 November
4pm
Main Programming
Autograph Session
[Panelists: All Guests]
Not really sure what I’ll do here . . . .

5pm
Alternate Programming
The SF or Fantasy movie I’d like to see made
[Panelists: Elektra Hammond, Tim Liebe, Don Sakers, Debra Killeen (M)]
Lord of the Rings and the Star Wars movies have shown us that we now have the technical ability to make most Fantasy and Science Fiction books into a movie. Our authors discuss what they would like to see made, and why.

6pm
Alternate Programming
What Comes After Zombies?
[Panelists: Meriah L. Crawford, Scott MacMillan, Mike McPhail, Elektra Hammond (M)]
First it was werewolves, then vampires, and now zombies, as the cool monster to be. What is the next up and coming monster?

SUNDAY, 25 November
10am
Main Programming
The Romance of Steampunk
[Panelists: Diana Bastine, Elektra Hammond, Kevin M. Houghton, Tim Liebe, Melissa Scott, Carl Cipra (M)]
What is it about this genre and time period that is so appealing? Is it the machinery? The celebration of intellect? Or is it the clothes?

1pm
Alternate Programming
Small Print Press
[Panelists: D.H. Aire, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Elektra Hammond, Debra Killeen, Don Sakers (M)]

2pm
Main Programming
Questions and Answers
[Panelists: Everyone, Jennifer Heise (M)]
Come and ask questions of your favorite authors who are here this year.

I am now the “official” book reviewer for the TICA Trend (the official magazine of The International Cat Association). I’ll be reviewing both fiction and non-fiction, the only requirement being that the books be relevant for the Trend’s audience–the Cat Fancy. So look for books about cats, and books where cats are prominent characters.

Once the reviews have been published, I’ll also be posting them here as well. From time to time I will also be posting reviews of books by this year’s guests at Darkovercon, to help get people excited about the con. And possibly other books that strike my fancy.