When I posted my schedule for this event last week, I was shocked to realize that it had been five years since I last attended Capclave in person, between conflicting commitments and other “unprecedented events.” Since I live between Baltimore and Washington DC, I consider this con my other “home” convention, and I was delighted to squeeze it into my schedule this year. (I’m actually typing up this report during a bit of downtime during a second event this week, up in Toronto!)
Friday
Since the hotel where Capclave is held is in easy driving distance for me, I worked a normal day on Friday before heading down to Rockville for two evening panels.
First, I discussed the changing state of blogging and how incorporating social media has become a requirement, not a perk. I think it speaks for itself that all three panelists have had to pull back on their blogging schedules due to a combination of increased workloads elsewhere and personal burnout. The art isn’t dead, though, just changing dramatically depending on your topic and audience. The best part is any time I get to share a panel with the lovely Morgan Hazelwood!
During my break, I spent time in the con suite chatting with other con attendees. A consistent con suite feature at every event is the old man bitching about the changing state of something. That evening’s target was how he hated that publishers these days wanted character development because somehow that interfered with telling good SF/F stories, followed by how he would never go the self-publishing route because all the covers are terrible. (I will admit to a bit of trolling when I held up copies of Steel Victory and Earth and Water, asked him which book was self-published based on the covers alone, and watched his brain explode.)
Following that entertaining interlude, I was off to my second panel. I was simultaneously pleased and nervous to be assigned moderator status for “Sex and Relationships in Science Fiction in Fantasy,” with a panel description encouraging us to tackle difficult topics. To my surprise and delight, I had a fantastic hour with the other panelists discussing how speculative fiction has been used to further the breakdown of barriers on social constructs as much as technological ones.
Riding that high, I headed home with grand plans to return bright and early the next morning.
Saturday
Said grand plans were dashed when I slept until 10 AM and then spent another hour reading with my morning coffee. I did, fortunately, make it back down to Rockville in plenty of time for my third panel of the weekend. I joked to one of the con organizers that someone in programming either really likes me or really dislikes me, since I was assigned to moderate all three of my panels for the weekend!
Our discussion on the privatization of spaceflight was incredibly informative, mostly thanks to my fellow panelists and contributions from the audience. I’m just a nerd who watches rocket launches with her spouse. We ended on a bit of a pessimistic note, because let’s face it, the current combination of government and corporate space interests are kind of meh.
I cheered up afterward though, because first I spotted a few of my titles carried by the bookseller in the dealer’s room, and then people actually attended my author reading! I obviously had to fan-girl over fellow author Kel Coleman, who was in cosplay as Naomi Ngata of The Expanse. I shared the prologue of Steel Legacy, then chatted with them a bit about finishing that series and launching my self-publishing adventure in a separate genre.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t hang out much later than that. My aunt was visiting and I had to head north to Baltimore to catch dinner with her. It was lovely to see her and spend quality time discussing our shared reading interests in person rather than via text.
Sunday
The final day of Capclave, I had to be back early! Special shout-out to the lovely crew who showed up for the first presentation on the final morning of a con, there to see my presentation on “Self-Editing for Fiction Writers”! This is a new workshop in my repertoire, and I’ve been having a blast giving it to writers of all skill levels.
Last, I headed back to the dealer’s room for my signing session. Translation: My books were on a table while I spent an hour catching up with amazing author L. Marie Wood, whom I’m fortunate to call a friend.
I stayed in Rockville the rest of the afternoon, sharing lunch and a writing date with Rory Maxwell and preparing my brain to switch from the speculative fiction world to queer romance in 48 hours! As I mentioned previously, I’m now in Toronto attending the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat. Check back next week for my con report on this equally fantastic event!
Right now, I plan to attend Capclave 2025, but that will be contingent on the dates for another event the spouse wants to attend with me.
Final Haul
Clearly, I was replaced by an alien at some point during this event, because I bought literally one thing. (And then had to go back the next day to take a picture for this report because I ate it immediately.) -> Delicious, delicious chocolate pecan toffee by Danielle Ackley-McPhail. Check out her Ginger KICK!(starter) to get your hands on some of her other great creations.
One thought on “Con Report: Capclave 2024”