Conventions and Conferences
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Planned Attendance:
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2018
SoonerCon - June 22-24 - Oklahoma City, OK FenCon - September 21-23 - Dallas/Fort Worth, TX World Fantasy - November 1-4 - Baltimore, MD 2019 WorldCon 77 - August 15-19 - Dublin, Ireland (Confirmed) FenCon - September 20-22 - Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (Confirmed) Multiverse2019 - October 18-20 - Atlanta, GA (Confirmed) World Fantasy - October 31-November 3 - Los Angeles, CA (Confirmed) |
World Fantasy 2017 - San Antonio - Nov. 2nd-5th
What can I say? I always have a great time at this convention, and the committee did a fantastic job this year. Besides scoring some great books, I spent most of my time with friends, learning from panel members who are way smarter than I am, and eating...yes eating. The food is fantastic in San Antonio, but they really need to work on their portion size. I had a wonderful evening with Peter Halasz, Tanya Gough, Jennifer Della Zanna, Rachel Robins, and Tasha Kreger at a five star restaurant where my entree was 1/2 of a quail. You read that right--half of a quail! I suppose the ambiance of the place is supposed to sustain you. Geeeesh.
An interesting find this year was Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. I ran into part of the team in the Dealer's Room, and found myself coming back to chat with them multiple times. If you love the work of Robert E. Howard, C.L. Moore Fritz Leiber and Michael Moorcock, you'll love the stories and poems Heroic Fantasy Quarterly is publishing.
From their website...
"Heroic Fantasy Quarterly is an ezine dedicated to publishing short works of heroic fantasy. More than that, through both prose and poetry we hope to hearken back to an older age of storytelling — an age when a story well told enthralled audiences. Traits of great oral storytelling survive the ages to influence treasures of literature, the pulps, radio plays, late-night game sessions, and now Heroic Fantasy Quarterly.
Our favorite storytellers, a few ancient and a few not, deliver action, reaction, and repercussion — and rarely divulge the thought processes that guide a character. These storytellers know that sometimes an audience just wants to see what happens next, that sometimes it’s more interesting to watch a person open a box than to hear about why he or she decided to open it in the first place."
Anyway, like last year, I didn't take many pictures, but you can find a few on Facebook if you are interested.
What can I say? I always have a great time at this convention, and the committee did a fantastic job this year. Besides scoring some great books, I spent most of my time with friends, learning from panel members who are way smarter than I am, and eating...yes eating. The food is fantastic in San Antonio, but they really need to work on their portion size. I had a wonderful evening with Peter Halasz, Tanya Gough, Jennifer Della Zanna, Rachel Robins, and Tasha Kreger at a five star restaurant where my entree was 1/2 of a quail. You read that right--half of a quail! I suppose the ambiance of the place is supposed to sustain you. Geeeesh.
An interesting find this year was Heroic Fantasy Quarterly. I ran into part of the team in the Dealer's Room, and found myself coming back to chat with them multiple times. If you love the work of Robert E. Howard, C.L. Moore Fritz Leiber and Michael Moorcock, you'll love the stories and poems Heroic Fantasy Quarterly is publishing.
From their website...
"Heroic Fantasy Quarterly is an ezine dedicated to publishing short works of heroic fantasy. More than that, through both prose and poetry we hope to hearken back to an older age of storytelling — an age when a story well told enthralled audiences. Traits of great oral storytelling survive the ages to influence treasures of literature, the pulps, radio plays, late-night game sessions, and now Heroic Fantasy Quarterly.
Our favorite storytellers, a few ancient and a few not, deliver action, reaction, and repercussion — and rarely divulge the thought processes that guide a character. These storytellers know that sometimes an audience just wants to see what happens next, that sometimes it’s more interesting to watch a person open a box than to hear about why he or she decided to open it in the first place."
Anyway, like last year, I didn't take many pictures, but you can find a few on Facebook if you are interested.
World Fantasy Convention 2016 - Columbus Ohio - Oct. 27th-30th
It was great to see this CON moving back in the right direction. Most of the usual suspects were there, and after all the hubub and boycotts, it actually turned into a great event. I can't say that there was no reason for the uproar, but maybe, just maybe, someone listened. I haven't uploaded the photographs...mainly because there are not that many this time. I'm afraid I spent to much time at the bar and not enough time "capturing the moments." One of the best things about this convention is the book bag. This time, I found myself roped into helping stuff those bags...and somehow, about 30 minutes into said stuffing, everyone began asking me what and where to do it. When all else fails, just look like you are in charge and know what you are doing. It turned out okay in the end, despite some "miscounting" and "misplacing." Big thanks to a lot of people for a great time.
It was great to see this CON moving back in the right direction. Most of the usual suspects were there, and after all the hubub and boycotts, it actually turned into a great event. I can't say that there was no reason for the uproar, but maybe, just maybe, someone listened. I haven't uploaded the photographs...mainly because there are not that many this time. I'm afraid I spent to much time at the bar and not enough time "capturing the moments." One of the best things about this convention is the book bag. This time, I found myself roped into helping stuff those bags...and somehow, about 30 minutes into said stuffing, everyone began asking me what and where to do it. When all else fails, just look like you are in charge and know what you are doing. It turned out okay in the end, despite some "miscounting" and "misplacing." Big thanks to a lot of people for a great time.
WORLDCON 2016 - Kansas City - Aug. 17th - 21st
No panels this year...only good times, great friends, and hours of BarCon. Enjoyed chatting over meals and catching up with Joshua Palmatier, Gerald Brandt, Steve Saffel, L.E. Modesitt, John Hemry, Bill Dietz, Cathy Oswald, Blake Hausladen, and Deanna Sjolander. The journey was highlighted by a night at G.R.R. Martin's Hugo Loser's Party (thanks to Joshua who I now owe my firstborn) and dinner with Team Red Sofa. A ton of appreciation goes out to Tex Thompson, Foz Meadows, and Eric Fischl for the warm welcome. Still amazed I'm included in such a talented group!
No panels this year...only good times, great friends, and hours of BarCon. Enjoyed chatting over meals and catching up with Joshua Palmatier, Gerald Brandt, Steve Saffel, L.E. Modesitt, John Hemry, Bill Dietz, Cathy Oswald, Blake Hausladen, and Deanna Sjolander. The journey was highlighted by a night at G.R.R. Martin's Hugo Loser's Party (thanks to Joshua who I now owe my firstborn) and dinner with Team Red Sofa. A ton of appreciation goes out to Tex Thompson, Foz Meadows, and Eric Fischl for the warm welcome. Still amazed I'm included in such a talented group!
SoonerCon 2015 - Oklahoma City - June 24th - 26th
This was one was for the family. "On, Teb, on!"
This was one was for the family. "On, Teb, on!"
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World Fantasy 2015 - Syracuse - Nov 4th - 8th
No requirements, no timelines, and a lot of fun, starting with the Carol Berg in the carpool. Along with seeing a big Seton Hill crowd that included Jason Krenkel, Jennifer Della Zanna, Jen Bigelow, Tom Connair, Judi Fleming, Carrie Miller and Deanna Sjolander (apologies to those I missed), I met some great new friends, David Mack, Tanya Gough, Brenda Carre, Joshua Palmatier and Gerald Brandt. Steve Erickson spilled my morning coffee. I might one day forgive him. Not many pictures...I'll do better next time.
No requirements, no timelines, and a lot of fun, starting with the Carol Berg in the carpool. Along with seeing a big Seton Hill crowd that included Jason Krenkel, Jennifer Della Zanna, Jen Bigelow, Tom Connair, Judi Fleming, Carrie Miller and Deanna Sjolander (apologies to those I missed), I met some great new friends, David Mack, Tanya Gough, Brenda Carre, Joshua Palmatier and Gerald Brandt. Steve Erickson spilled my morning coffee. I might one day forgive him. Not many pictures...I'll do better next time.
WORLDCON 2015 - Spokane - Aug 19th - 23rd
Three panels and two meetings make for a busy convention:
Building a Better Tomorrow: Friday 15:00 - 15:45, 302AB with Fonda Lee, Laura Anne Gilman, and Dan Wells
Stroll with the Stars: Saturday 09:00 - 09:45, Breezeway/Statue (CC) with Connie Willis, Traci Weisskopf, and Kevin J. Anderson
The Future of Back to the Future: Saturday 12:00 - 12:45, 401C (CC) with Stu Segal, and Doug Farran
Pimp My SF Ride ----cancelled
By the end of the weekend, I was exhausted, but there is nothing like a successful convention for writing motivation. A big thank you to Rachel Robins for splitting costs, and it was a pleasure to meet Jennie Goloboy from Red Sofa in person. Talked with a lot of great people, caught up with Stu and Stephan Segal, and had a great breakfast with L.E. Modesitt.
Three panels and two meetings make for a busy convention:
Building a Better Tomorrow: Friday 15:00 - 15:45, 302AB with Fonda Lee, Laura Anne Gilman, and Dan Wells
Stroll with the Stars: Saturday 09:00 - 09:45, Breezeway/Statue (CC) with Connie Willis, Traci Weisskopf, and Kevin J. Anderson
The Future of Back to the Future: Saturday 12:00 - 12:45, 401C (CC) with Stu Segal, and Doug Farran
Pimp My SF Ride ----cancelled
By the end of the weekend, I was exhausted, but there is nothing like a successful convention for writing motivation. A big thank you to Rachel Robins for splitting costs, and it was a pleasure to meet Jennie Goloboy from Red Sofa in person. Talked with a lot of great people, caught up with Stu and Stephan Segal, and had a great breakfast with L.E. Modesitt.
World Fantasy 2014 - Washington D.C. - Nov. 6th - 9th
A great convention with a huge Seton Hill turnout. A Timons Esaias presentation was thrown in for good measure. Stay away from the Finnish liquor!
A great convention with a huge Seton Hill turnout. A Timons Esaias presentation was thrown in for good measure. Stay away from the Finnish liquor!
