jmward14 | Entries tagged with ravencon

The 2019 con season has arrived, and my opener is a great one: RavenCon. Come join us in Williamsburg, Virginia, April 5-7, for panels, gaming, music, art and a great Masquerade. And if you decide to check out a few of my panels, I won’t object. Heck, I’ll make it easier by listing them all. Hope to see you there!

Friday

8 - 8:50 PM Reading Room 4
Valerie J. Mikles, Jean Marie Ward

10 PM (Panel) Alt-History with a Fantastical Flair / Room 8
Alternate history often has a military basis and a near-future, SF flavor… but it doesn’t have to be that way. Our panel considers alt-history that leans to the fantastic. Panelists: Doc Coleman (Moderator), Cass Morris, Jean Marie Ward, John C. Wright

11 PM (Panel) This Is Halloween / Room L
All Hallow's Eve, Samhain, All Souls' Day, Dia de los Muertos, Mischief Night… Whatever you want to call it, we’ll discuss the history of Halloween, its various traditions, and how it’s influenced our favorite books and movies. Panelists: Richard Groller (M), Jeanne Adams, Syrinx, Jean Marie Ward

Midnight (Panel) Dream Narratives / Room 8
From William Shakespeare to Lewis Carroll to Neil Gaiman, ambitious authors are addicted to dreams as a narrative device. What's going on when we're asleep that is so terribly compelling to fantasy writers? Panelists: Jeanne Adams (M), Emily Lavin Leverett, Pat O’Keefe, Jean Marie Ward

Saturday

2 PM - 4 PM (Reading) Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading / Room F / Moderator
Join members of Broad Universe—an organization dedicated to women in genre fiction—for a whole bunch of really short readings crammed into one panel. Jean Marie Ward (M), Jeanne Adams, Margaret L. Carter, Paige L. Christie, Jason Gilbert, Laurel Anne Hill, Amy Kaplan, Dina Leacock, Emily Lavin Leverett, Gail Z. Martin, Melissa McArthur, Margaret S. McGraw, Nancy Northcott, Jennifer R. Povey, Leann Rettell, Joan Wendland, Leona Wisoker

6 PM (Panel) Writing Ancient Cultures / Room F
We weren’t there, but we want to make our readers feel like they are. How do we manage to accurately and adequately set the stage? Learn how much research is necessary, how much is too much, and where to go to get the best sources. James P. Nettles (M), Cass Morris, Jean Marie Ward, Robert Waters

7 PM Female Friendship in SFF / Room 8
In attempting to write strong female characters, many authors strip these characters of close personal relationships and supportive friendships. How can authors address this and who is getting it right? Panelists: Nancy Northcott (M), Paige L. Christie, Cass Morris, Jean Marie Ward

9 PM (Panel) Crime and Fantasy / Room 8 / Moderator
From vampire assassins to wizard private eyes to undead thugs, crime has been mixing it up with fantasy for years. What is it about crime, noir, and the paranormal that's so appealing? Also, what are some really good titles? Panelists: Jean Marie Ward (M), R.S. Belcher, John C. Wright

Current Mood: excited
Current Location: home

If it’s April, it must be RavenCon, Richmond’s home-grown con. Yours truly will be on the program again this year—as will lots of my favorite people. What you see here is only the smallest part of the whole.

Friday, April 24

5 PM (Panel) Urban Fantasy in the Real World
Room G
Panelists discuss using real-world places and historical figures in your writing. What can you do and what will get you in trouble? How do you keep a place real enough to be recognizable to people who have visited or lived there, but still make it suit your fiction needs?
R.S. Belcher, J. T. Glover, Kurrie Hoyt, Gail Martin, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator)

7 PM Opening Ceremonies
Rooms E & F

11 PM (Event) CJ Henderson Memorial
Bon Air
Friends and fans of CJ Henderson gather together to remember this iconic author and frequent guest of RavenCon.
Danielle Ackley-McPhail (Moderator), Heidi Hooper, Mike McPhail, Michael Ventrella, Jean Marie Ward

Saturday, April 25

4 PM (Presentation/Workshop) Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
Chesterfield
Bite-sized readings from seven of your favorite authors.
Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Meriah Crawford, Nicole Givens Kurtz, Gail Martin, KT Pinto, Jennifer Povey, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator)

7 PM (Panel) Weird Westerns
York
What is it about the west that attracts speculative fiction writers? Firefly, The Dark Tower, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, and The Wild Wild West; film, television, anime, and commercial fiction use the west as a setting and place for magic to happen. Why do we love this sub-genre? Where is it going next?
Danielle Ackley-McPhail, R.S. Belcher, Doc Coleman, Nicole Givens Kurtz (Moderator), Jean Marie Ward

10 PM (Panel) The Villain's Journey
Anna
We all know about the Hero’s Journey. But is there a corresponding Villain’s Journey? Panelists will discuss the arc villains (or antagonists) can and should take through novels and other media.
Emily Lavin Leverett, Kate Paulk, D. Alexander Ward, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator)

Hope to see you at the con and at the book launch parties being hosted by my good friends Gail Z. Martin (Saturday, 11 PM—I love her so much I may actually crawl out of my coffin before noon to attend) and the folks at Double Dragon Publishing (Friday, 6 PM—by far a saner hour). ‘Til Friday!

Current Mood: excited
Current Location: home
Current Music: snoring cat

Originally published at Jean Marie Ward. You can comment here or there.

I’m back, with a first look at Ben Fogletto’s amazing cover art for Hellfire Lounge 4: Reflections of Evil, coming in August to a bricks-and-mortar and online bookseller near you.

And if that weren’t enough, Edd Coutts has done a stunning job of capturing the moment when Eddie Woodhouse meets the Luftwaffe on the Hindenburg. Yep, “Glass Transit”, my contribution to the anthology, features Eddie and Ducky “Duke D’Or” Orr, everybody’s favorite hard luck sorcerers, on Nazi Germany’s biggest flying bomb. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

And I’ve posted pictures of RavenCon! The short version can be found in my Thursday Thirteen for Beyond the Veil. But there’s more, lots more, on my Flickr page. Enjoy!

Originally published at Jean Marie Ward. You can comment here or there.

Between deadlines and conventions, 2013 is shaping up as a wonderfully busy year.
For those of you who missed it, I was one of the guests of honor at James Madison University’s Madicon the first weekend in March. I had a great time with old friends and new, and as usual, I have the pictures to prove it.
This weekend will find me in Richmond at RavenCon. This year’s writing guests of honor are Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta. The artist guest of honor is The Devil’s Panties creator Jennie Breeden. I’m looking forward to all their panels, but I confess, I’m especially looking forward to Jennie’s. Her web videos are laugh-so-loud-you-scare-the-cat funny, even when she’s hawking merchandise.
I can only hope to compete on my five panels. Yeah, you know what’s coming–my RavenCon schedule:

Friday

3 p.m., Room F
Steampowered–the Rage of the New Victorians
From werewolves to anti-zombie airship pilots, the Empire has struck back. 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?
Carl Cipra (Moderator), Laura Anne Hill, Jean Marie Ward, Susan Zee

11 p.m., York Room
Yes, But is it Funny? Comedy in Science Fiction
…And presumably everything else. This is the late night panel. You really think we’re going to stay on topic? Mwahahaha!
Jim Bernheimer, Bud Sparhawk, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), Joan Wendland

Saturday

2 p.m., Anna Room
Judging a Book by its Cover
What are the latest trends in science fiction, fantasy and horror covers? What do you love–and hate–about book covers? And what are the latest trends?
Betty Cross, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), J. Andrew World

4 p.m., Room E
Beyond Steampunk
Gaslight fantasy. Weird west. Dieselpunk. Cyberpunk. Explore the punked-out fictions that are not set in a British Victorian or Edwardian past.
Betty Cross, Laura Anne Hill, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), Susan Zee

Sunday

1 p.m., Room E
The Discreet Charm of the Historical Fantasy
What prompts otherwise sane writers to spend years researching Imperial Japan, the Silk Road, or the Ripper’s London. How do they know when they’ve gotten it right?
Day Al-Mohamed, Maggie Allen, KT Pinto, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator)

Hope to see you there!

Originally published at Jean Marie Ward. You can comment here or there.

RavenCon is this weekend! I can’t wait, and when you see the schedule they’ve given me, you’ll know why. And this is only the tip of their programming iceberg. Glen Cook and Matthew Stewart are the writer and artist guests of honor, respectively. This year the con hosts its first media guest, Battlestar Galactica’s Nicki Clyne. Not to mention an all-new Masquerade and a concert by Bella Morte, whose lead singer Andy Deane is also a writer and on the program.

And so am I:

Friday, April 14

4 p.m.
Space Cowboys and Fantasy Noir: From Shadowrun to the Garret Files to Priest, mixing genres can result in some interesting stories. What genres mix well?
John Betancourt Glen Cook, S. Reesa Herberth, Stuart Jaffe, Michelle Moore, Jean Marie Ward

5 p.m.
Creating a Timeline: How carefully should an author keep track of what happens, when, and where? What are some techniques to make this easier?
Day Al-Mohamed (m), Pamela K. Kinney, Bud Sparhawk, Jean Marie Ward, Robert E. Waters, Steve White

Saturday, April 15

2 p.m.
Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading: Tasty, bite-sized readings from the authors of Broad Universe, an international organization dedicated to promoting science fiction, fantasy and horror written by women.
Danielle Ackley McPhail, KT Pinto, Gail Z. Martin, Jean Marie Ward, Leona Wisoker (m)

3 p.m.
Design a Superhero: What makes a superhero great? Panelists describe what they think makes a memorable superhero.
Butch Allen, Billy Flynn, CJ Henderson, Patrick A. Vanner, Jean Marie Ward

5 p.m.
Modern Fairy Tales: Lost Girl, Grimm, and Once Upon a Time all bring fairy tales to the TV screen. What makes some shows work, and others not?
Butch Allen, Flynnstress, Warren Rochelle, Suzanne Rosin, Michelle D. Sonnier, Jean Marie Ward

Sunday, April 16

11 a.m.
Are Panels About Vampires Played Out? Every year, we have a panel asking if vampires are passé. Are panels asking if vampires are passé…passé?
Scott M. Baker, Keith R.A. DeCandido, KT Pinto, Jim Stratton, Jean Marie Ward, Robert E. Waters

2 p.m.
Military Science Fiction and Fantasy: Panelists discuss the various subgenres of military SF and fantasy, from Star Trek to Battlestar Galactica to Black Company.
Glen Cook, Mike McPhail, Tony Ruggerio, Janine K. Spendlove, Patrick A. Vanner, Jean Marie Ward (m)

Originally published at Jean Marie Ward. You can comment here or there.

Our beloved Feline Overlord is ailing, and last weekend was devoted to him. But I’m back this week, with a little nonfiction in honor of RavenCon, where I’ll be next weekend–the story of my first RavenCon in 2007:

The email from RavenCon’s assistant director of programming was polite but not encouraging:

“Right now our guest list is full, but I will put you on our short list if a guest cancels…”

A lot of writers will take that as a hint. In other words: “Stay home, little girl, you’re not big enough/you’re the wrong genre to play in our sandbox.” But I’m evil and wise in the ways of science fiction/fantasy conventions. And I had a cunning plan.

If you want to read more about my first RavenCon, you can find the full story here.

Finally finished my April con reports on RavenCon, the Library of Congress, Turn the Page Bookstore Cafe's 2010 mega-signing and the Washington Romance Writers Retreat. The results, plus twelve occasions for blackmail--er, photos are now live at Beyond the Veil. That means if you want to know what Roxanne St. Claire and Charlaine Harris are doing with those sugar packets, you'll just have to click the link. Mwahahahahahaha!

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Location: home
Current Music: may breezes

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the more fun I’m having away from the keyboard, the less likely I am to blog. Guess who’s been having way too much fun this month. We’ll draw a veil over the household’s Easter/Oster celebrations. Suffice it to say much chocolate was consumed—necessary fuel for what was to follow.

Next came RavenCon, which this year featured two of my favorite people, Rachel Caine and her husband R. Cat, as Writer and Artist Guests of Honor, respectively. And that’s not even counting the great people who run the convention. If you’re interested in a visual tour of the fun, my April 9 and 10 photos can be found here. Sunday, April 11, I was too busy to shoot. Honest!

The very next day, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Sarah Avery, Christine Norris and I upheld the honor of Broad Universe at the Library of Congress. We didn’t get any photos of the Rapid Fire Reading itself, but if you want to see the unusual suspects, click here.

On April 16, it was off to Turn the Page Bookstore Café in Boonsboro, Maryland, for the annual mega-signing with Nora Roberts and the featured guests of the Washington Romance Writers annual conference, “In the Company of Writers”, then the conference itself. The Retreat, as it’s called, is always a highlight of my year. I just wish the love came through in the photos. The subjects are so much lovelier than their photos.

I’ll write a longer report for my monthly Beyond the Veil blog on May 8. But until then, I leave you with this. Enjoy!

(Left to right) authors Charlaine Harris, Diane Whiteside and Ginjer Buchanan, Ace/Roc editor-in-chief at the WRW Retreat, April 17.

Jean Marie

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Location: home
Current Music: Ancient Aliens

RavenCon 2010 makes Richmond, Virginia, the place to be this weekend, April 9-11. The con features Rachel Caine, author of the best selling Weather Warden and Morganville Vampire series, her multi-talented artist husband R. Cat and gaming guru Steve Long as guests of honor, as well as lots of other talented writers, artists, gamers and costumers you really want to meet.

With a guest list like that, you know I couldn’t stay away. Not only that, I even strong-armed—ahem, persuaded the con committee to let me play on some panels. My schedule follows. I hope you’ll join me there!

Friday

7 p.m.: Two Way Street
Writers and artists often feed each other muses. Artists talk about the writers who inspired them and vice versa.
Panelists: R. Cat (Artist Guest of Honor), James Enge, Heidi Hooper, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), J. Andrew World

10 p.m.: Where Have All the Female Vampires Gone?
Help us find out.
Panelists: Jim Blanton, Rob Floyd, Kalayna Price (Moderator), Jean Marie Ward

Saturday

11 p.m.: Ghost Hunting—New Trend or Passing Fad
There's a lot of stuff on TV and in literature—but is anyone still pursuing this at home? What makes or breaks the hunt for a ghost and how long will it continue?
Panelists: Pam Kinney, Cheralyn Lambeth, Laura Underwood (Moderator), Jean Marie Ward

Sunday

10:30 a.m.: Jean Marie’s Koffee Klatsch
Come rescue me from talking to myself for a half hour after wrestling ghosts ‘til the wee hours of the morning. I will have chocolate…

Noon: That’s Bull
We all agree it's fiction but there are times when even authors take too much liberty. Panelists discuss what they have read and perhaps their own forays across the line of believability. How far will a reader be willing to go to suspend disbelief? Does a writer lose credibility or are they just pushing the envelope?
Panelists: Laura Cory-Haywood, Sarah Harvey (Moderator), Larry Hodges, Jean Marie Ward

1 p.m.: Leyaks Don’t Get No Respect
World mythology is full of weird and wondrous beings who've yet to make their mark on the fiction bestseller lists. Writers and artists talk about their favorite obscure creatures and why they deserve their time to shine…or darkly glow, as the case may be.
Panelists: Iver Cooper, Kalayna Price, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), Leona Wisoker

2 p.m.: Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
Four first-rate authors read exciting, bite-sized excerpts of their work that will leave you hungry for more. (Check out the flyer if you want to know more about the writers.)
Panelists: Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Debra Killeen, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), Diane Whiteside

Current Mood: content
Current Location: home
Current Music: Law & Order CI

My 2009 conference season starts off with a bang this Friday at Richmond’s RavenCon. If you’re in the neighborhood of the Crowne Plaza West, drop by and say hello--and hang around for the festivities. Mary Shelley’s going to be making a return engagement, and this time I think I can get the hair right. As for the rest, I think they’re going to get their money’s worth...

Friday

5 p.m.: Twice-Told Tales
Some of the most popular adult and young adult fantasy in today’s market are retellings of classic fairy tales and myths. What’s the allure? How do writers find something new to say about the stories we all know?
Panelists: Marcia Collette, Edmund Schubert (moderator), Jean Marie Ward, John C. Wright

7 p.m.: Writing 411: (Not Necessarily) The Usual Suspects (90-minute literary workshop)
Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, Jack Bauer, Reno—chances are the thing you like best and remember longest about your favorite stories are the characters. This session will discuss the importance of characters in the creation of plot.
Panelists: Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Jean Marie Ward, Allen Wold (moderator), John C. Wright

10 p.m.: Urban Fantasy 101
Werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters—these used to be classic “horror” elements. What defines Urban Fantasy and how does it differ from classic horror?
Panelists: Danny Birt, Marcia Colette, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Hildy Silverman, Jean Marie Ward (moderator)

Saturday

3 p.m.: Dead Authors Society
Four authors channel the spirits of their favorite dead authors for the duration. Talk to William Morris, David Gemmel, Louie L’Amour and Mary Shelley live…sort of.Panelists: Lyn Gardner, Laurel Anne Hill, Peter Prellwitz, Tony Ruggiero (moderator), Jean Marie Ward

6 p.m.: Books on TV
Several new series are popping up on TV based on popular novels--TrueBlood and Legend of the Seeker, for example. How closely do these TV shows follow their inspiration and will book fans follow them to television?
Panelists: James Fulbright, Jean Marie Ward

10 p.m.: Love at First Bite
What is it about vampires? From TrueBlood to Twilight, vampires seem to be taking over. What makes them fun to read and watch? Oh… and do they deserve “human rights” or are they “monsters”?
Panelists: Paul Bibeau, Marcia Collette, Tony Ruggiero (moderator), Jean Marie Ward

Sunday

Noon: Does Blood Smell?
A panel about some of the more “icky” aspects of writing and research.
Panelists: Laurel Anne Hill, Gail Martin, Tony Ruggiero (moderator), Maggie Stiefvater, Jean Marie Ward

Current Location: home
Current Music: The Colbert Report

As in jazzing up the program. And I need help.
One of my major failings as a writer is the direct result of working for the Fed too long. I think like a bureaucrat. Yes, it's true. A nightcrawling fan girl bureaucrat, but a bureaucrat just the same. Which means my descriptions for entries in to program books can be a bit pedantic. Ordinarily, I just deal, but this time I'm a little stumped. So I was hoping the brighter sparks on this list could help.
Every year, Allen Wold leads a hand-picked group of RavenCon's writing guests in a first rate writing seminar composed of four parts:

- Character Building: what makes them real, distinctions between heroes and villains, depth and development versus action.
- The Hook: the all-important first paragraph of the story.
- Plotting: the basics and what to do when you get stuck.
- Editing: either a hands-on review of a pre-selected work or a critique of something the participants bring in.

They've been calling it "Fundamentals of Writing", but Programming Director Tera Fulbright thinks that's a little blah. New guests and participants change the seminar mix every year. Why shouldn't the description change too?
Since RavenCon is E.A. Poe, mystery and horror friendly, I was thinking of going with a break-out on the order of:

- Unusual Suspects
- The Hook
- The Twist
- The Final Cut

Thoughts? Suggestions? Any ideas to jazz up "Fundamentals of Writing" would be welcome too. Thanks!

Current Mood: cheerful
Current Location: home
Current Music: wind

It took me a long time, but thanks to the lovely and talented Carolan Ivey, I finally posted my 2008 RavenCon photos at Beyond the Veil. Thanks again, Carolan!
Now, all that's left to do is email the blackmail photos...er, share some of my image files with my esteemed colleagues before settling back down to writing. I do love cons.
Cheers and evil grins,
Jean Marie

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Location: home
Current Music: purring computer, sleeping cat

Thought you might like to see firsthand what REALLY goes on behind the scenes at RavenCon.

( Read more... )

Why yes, I have been into the port. Need you ask? ;-)
Cheers!

Current Mood: content
Current Location: Crowne Plaza, Richmond VA
Current Music: 'puter hum

Roomie Jana Oliver and I arrived safe and sound, and ate at a fabulous seafood joint, Croaker's Spot, in one of Richmond's more historic neighborhoods. I never realized how much Richmond architecture resembles New Orleans'. Hope to do some touring tomorrow in the Shockoe Bottom district to see if it's a general trend. Meanwhile, I thought I'd post my RavenCon schedule in case anyone can make it.

Friday, April 25

6 p.m. Reinventing Paranormal: Making Love to an Alien, Fairy or Werewolf. For my sins, I'm moderating this one. There are only three--count 'em three--listed victims...er, participants, and I happen to know one of my co-panelists,

jer_bear711, is taking a train that isn't scheduled to arrive in Richmond until 4:45 p.m. It's gonna be close, folks. Plus, the panel's supposed to be about injecting new life into the tropes of paranormal romance. This one should be really interesting. Hmm, wonder if it's too early to bring rum.

8 p.m. Opening Ceremonies. Not much for me to do there except stand around looking harmless. Another challenge. Guess I have to forego the rum. Dang!

Saturday, April 26

9 a.m. The Best Little Series You Never Saw. Yes, you read that right--A.M. Needless to say, I've written up copious notes on all the TV shows I loved which never made it past their first or second season, and brought toothpicks to prop my eyelids open so I could read them.

Noon. Blogging for the Modern Day Writer. It's a craft panel discussing the utility of blogs for new and established writers. I'm moderating this one too, but a host of people are on the guest list, so there should be a lot of opinions to choose from.

7-10 p.m. Book Launch/Pre-Publication Party. With dessert! And liquid-type stuff (for which we may need to card)! In honor of Jeri's Wicked Game (first in a new series, pub. May 13) and Jana's Madman's Dance (third in her Time Rovers series, pub. September), we'll be opening the suite to friends, relatives and anyone who will consent to take home a bookmark and promise faithfully to buy...er, express interest in the books, including With Nine You Get Vanyr. (Hey, I'm sharing the room too!)

9 p.m. Le Bad Anime. I'm gonna miss part of my own party! Wah! But at least I'll be able to dis my least favorite anime in the fashion they deserve.

Sunday, April 27

9 a.m. Urban Fantasy. Yes, another day for the toothpicks. I think the programming director hates me. And she doesn't even know me! *sob* The description of this panel poses the musical question: "Why are there werewolves, vampires and ghosts in a world that should be primarily fey?" That buzzing you hear is my next attack of Devil's Advocate coming on strong.

2 p.m. The Popularity of Parnormal in Both Nonfiction and Fiction. The juxtaposition of both should give this panel a nice twist.

Hope to see you there!

Current Mood: excited
Current Location: Crowne Plaza, Richmond VA
Current Music: air conditioner hum

The good kind--conventions where you get to attend panels and hang out with your friends and (if you're on the program) hopefully entertain other people doing the same. So far, my 2008 schedule looks like this:

April 25-27, RavenCon, Richmond, VA
I expect to go a little wild at this one. I'm rooming with

jer_bear711and

cymreiges, both of whom have fabulous new books coming out this year and want to celebrate the arrival of same. They're actually contemplating letting me loose in a room party. Heh heh. And, oh yeah, there will be great programming too. ;-)

May 17-18, Philadelphia Book Festival, Philadelphia, PA
This one's a little unusual for me. It's a book fair sponsored by the Free Library of Philadelphia. Samhain Publishing has reserved a booth, and I volunteered to help out with sales, etc. I've never worked a sales table before, but with everything that's going on at the fair, it's got to be a win/win/win situation. I get to promote a good product, maybe even sign a book or two (yes, Virginia, turns out my mother-in-law's square apple pie recipe really is in The Write Ingredients--go us!), and after it's over I can visit family and friends in the area.

May 23-26, Balticon, Baltimore, MD
No roomie for this one yet. (I think I'm on probation after getting a little too enthusiastic about the whole room party idea.) But lots of wonderful programming and fabulous guests--besides me, that is. One of the things I especially like about Balticon is you always catch folks with fabulous new books you never would've known about otherwise. It doesn't hurt that the conventon celebrates new authors, either. (Go Compton Crook Awards!)

August 28-September 1, DragonCon, Atlanta, GA
Oh yeah. My favorite summer camp for wayward adults.

cymreigeswill be there.

hundakleptisiswill be there. Carole Nelson Douglas... DragonCon qualifies as a highlight of any year. It's pure madness, but how can you not love a con with a parade, concerts and the Ms. Klingon Universe pageant?

October 31-November 2, World Fantasy Con, Alberta, Canada
I don't think I'll be playing on any panels for this one, but I'm definitely going. This will be my first time attending a WFC where I haven't been running ragged trying to nail down interviews for Crescent Blues. I get to be a fan. And what a line-up!

Capclave, the local DC sf/fantasy convention is always on my to-do list. But after the last couple of Octobers, I'm not making any plans just yet. Of course, this means I may have to attend it as a fan too. Oh, twist my arm! :-)
Now to get back to what I should've been doing this afternoon--working on a short story involving a hapless interstellar transport gate repair person and a dragon who resembles my mother to an alarming degree. It's ironic, I spent years trying to keep her from overwhelming me, now I'm trying to channel her for dialogue and it's hard.
I also need to get this info on Wardsmith.com. I've let the site slide for far too long. Oh well, now that the dh has put the finishing touches on the new and improved Hail Dubyus, our new webmaster will definitely have more time. Once he's recovered, that is... Mwahahahaha!
Cheers,
Jean Marie

Current Mood: content
Current Location: home
Current Music: purring computer, sleeping cat

Three cons and two book signings in two weeks. Yes, I’m crazy. You had to ask?

Not only that, I'm crazy enough to post about all three. With pics! (At last, you say.)

Technically, RavenCon, Richmond VA’s very new science fiction/fantasy con, ran from April 20-22. But unlike a lot of local sf/fantasy/horror organizations who sit around wringing their hands about where the next generation of fans are coming from, the organizers have mounted a real outreach program. One that goes out into the local school system and…

( Pics and lots more text behind the cut.) )

Now it’s on to the next challenges. First there’s the final polish on my ghost cat article, then it’s the beta read of a friend’s first novel. Part of me is thrilled. It’s always exciting when someone takes their first writing plunge, but I never know what to say. It’s all about the sensation of fraud I mentioned earlier. How can I pretend to be an expert when I know so little?

Fake it. As usual. LOL

Current Mood: content
Current Location: home
Current Music: The Colbert Report

RavenCon was a wonderful, wonderful con. Big thanks to Jana Oliver and Tee Morris for letting me play in their sandbox. Ditto for the con organizers who did such a superb job. RavenCon is turning into the little con that could, growing from 450 to over 700 attendees in just two years. Can't wait to see what they do next year.
It was such a great con I came home with the dreaded Con Crud, so a detailed report--complete with the infamous Strawberry Pic from the equally infamous "Shaken, Not Stirred--Sex in SF & Fantasy Films" panel will have to wait. But there's a teaser to be found on the Samhain Blog (it's my turn today), and as always there are some great articles on the Fantasy & Enchantment Blog. With regards to the F&E blog, though, start with the second one from the top. The April 25 writer is just showing off. ;)

Current Mood: sleepy
Current Location: home

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Page Summary

My 2019 RavenCon Schedule
My RavenCon Schedule, Version 2015
Picturespicturespictures!
Heading to RavenCon
RavenCon Schedule
Six Sentence Sunday: “Stealth Guest, or How to Succeed at Cons with a Cunning Plan”
Con Catch-up
RavenCon, Retreat and the Library of Congress--with photo links!
RavenCon Anon
Going to RavenCon
RavenCon Jazz
T13: RavenCon Photos
Because I'm Ebil...
We have achieved Richmond
Cons, Cons, Cons
The Infamous Strawberry Pic and More!
Post RavenCon Hello

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Jean Marie Ward's Live Journal

Entries tagged with ravencon

My 2019 RavenCon Schedule

My RavenCon Schedule, Version 2015

Picturespicturespictures!

Heading to RavenCon

RavenCon Schedule

Six Sentence Sunday: “Stealth Guest, or How to Succeed at Cons with a Cunning Plan”

Con Catch-up

RavenCon, Retreat and the Library of Congress--with photo links!

RavenCon Anon

Going to RavenCon

RavenCon Jazz

T13: RavenCon Photos

Because I'm Ebil...

We have achieved Richmond

Cons, Cons, Cons

The Infamous Strawberry Pic and More!

Post RavenCon Hello

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May 2022

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