I usually try to get my con reports written and posted by the Wednesday after the event. Unfortunately, I came down with an awful sinus infection right after attending this event, which is why my write-up of Farpoint 2024 was delayed a week. Though the resulting con crud was awful, I still had an overall excellent time at this fantastic SF/F fan convention.
Friday
Since this is a local convention where I live in Maryland, I did not take Friday off work (instead, I frantically spent my lunch break getting my books into some semblance of organization). However, I did take a friend up on her offer to split a hotel room so that I could enjoy the full con experience instead of commuting, and I’m so pleased I did. Luckily, Friday afternoon traffic in Baltimore wasn’t too terrible, and I made it to the venue in plenty of time to say hi to friends and make it to my first panel.
To say the panel on “Guilty Pleasures” was a roller coaster might be an understatement. Good moments did occur! Part of the conversation involved a lovely discussion about why revisiting familiar media is considered “guilty” (with a negative connotation) when enjoying a bowl of chicken noodle soup when you’re not feeling well is a positive pleasure. I also appreciated the major takeaway of how not being the target demographic for something can make it a guilty pleasure, while at the same time, enjoying something specifically created for your demographic but not embraced by fandom as a whole can also create guilt in the enjoyment of it. But since this is still an event in which cis, white men are the majority, I also enjoyed the dubious pleasure of being the only woman in a room during a discussion about how my fellow panelists check whether actresses they find hot have ever done nude scenes.
Luckily, I didn’t suffer too much strain from all the eye-rolling. Immediately after the panel, I found my roommate and demanded food and alcohol, in no particular order. Jessica heeded my pleas, and we found ourselves in the hotel bar for dinner. I had a lovely evening catching up with my friend, and we ended up crashing early.
Saturday
Our hotel room’s blackout curtains foiled my grand plans to get up early and get some writing done before my first commitment at noon. Apparently, I needed the sleep (I usually need the sleep). I hauled my books downstairs to set up for my first author signing, which Farpoint always kindly arranges near the lines where people can meet the bigger guests. Since Tawny Newsome‘s line was short while I was waiting to set up, I was able to pop over and thank her for being one of my favorite parts of current Star Trek. I shared that I’m currently working on a project involving the Space Force, and we shared a laugh that a canceled television show still controls the social media handles instead of the actual military branch.
I spent a lovely hour sharing my books with new fans, and I adored seeing Earth and Water officially lined up next to the Steel Empires series for the first time.
Later that afternoon, I reunited with Jessica for a panel we were on together! Jessica Crouse is a queer cosplayer, and we joined Dan Deevy of Gaaays in Spaaace for a panel on LGBTQ+ representation in popular media, hosted by drag queen D’Manda Martini. We discussed how important it was to see aspects of ourselves represented on screen, both as kids and adults, along with what current fandoms are doing right (or could do better). Yes, I talked about The Old Guard. Yes, I know that is your shocked face.
For the first time, I did not have a conflicting event for the Farpoint drag show that afternoon! D’Manda was a fantastic host (and her “naked” Lwaxana Troi number was the perfect blend of outre and referential that nerds can truly appreciate). I feel that my first drag show being at an SF/F con was very on-brand for me, and I had a blast enjoying the performances by local artists. The Barbie/Star Trek mash-up at the very end was a particular highlight.
I mostly hang out with “my people” (i.e., other authors) at these conventions, but Farpoint is the exception. I enjoyed the rest of the evening hanging out with Jessica, D’Manda, and the other drag queens. These events are important for reconnecting with my community, but I’m privileged that my “community” is so diverse in every definition.
Sunday
My final panel of Farpoint was another improvement over the first, where I got to join Dan Deevy and veteran Star Trek tie-in author Keith R.A. DeCandido to discuss the progression of diversity in Star Trek. Author Rigel Ailur did her best to moderate us, but you know it’s a good panel when the panelists are simultaneously agreeing and disagreeing with each other at the same time. We touched on the obvious representations of women, non-whites, and queer people, but I’m also glad that I got to mention seeing a woman who is not a stick on the bridge of a ship (Tilly from Discovery). I do wish we’d had more time to also discuss representations of disability, but this is certainly a panel topic that could have an entire conference dedicated to the subject.
Sunday afternoons are always slower, but I enjoyed being able to wind the weekend down with another stint at the autograph table. Afterward, I headed home for an afternoon of–
You thought I was going to say writing, didn’t you? That’s adorable. I read a fantastic new ARC I’d recently received instead. As much as I adore conventions, my brain requires me to immediately hermit afterward to recover.
Final Haul
- “Everybody Loves the D” t-shirt, Gaaays in Spaaace
- Ranger and barbarian coasters, Halcyon Designs
- Book dragon sticker, Keely Imai/Keylime Creations
Find Me Next
- ApollyCon (April 27, 2024; Washington, DC): Attending as a reader only
- Balticon 58 (May 24-27, 2024; Baltimore, MD): Attending panelist
- RomantiConn (July 26-27, 2024; Trumbull, CT): Attending as author Rory Maxwell’s PA
- Rainbow Readers Cruise (August 19-23, 2024; Celebrity Reflection): Attending blogger