According to my records, I had not attended Confluence in 5 whole years! (Even though they have been kind enough to repeatedly invite me back.) This year, the stars aligned, and I finally was able to make the trip out to Pittsburg for this fantastic event. Friday Since I didn't have anything on my schedule … Continue reading Con Report: Confluence 2023
Con Report: StokerCon 2023
Funny story: I don't actually read horror. I can do hauntings and serial killers and a little bit of cosmic dread, but overall, being uncomfortable isn't relaxing for me. I also don't write horror (though this might eventually change since I actually come up with some pretty decent ideas). However, I do publish with a … Continue reading Con Report: StokerCon 2023
Con Report: Farpoint 2023
Last weekend I attended Farpoint, a pop culture convention local to the Baltimore area, as a panelist and presenter on the writing and fandom tracks! As I explained to a handful of authors that I met for the first time during the event, I don't generally attend conventions for the primary purpose of selling books. … Continue reading Con Report: Farpoint 2023
Con Report: FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention 2022
Sorry for the delay with this post -- the spouse and I got home very late Sunday night, and the day job is trying to eat me alive this week. But I had an amazing time at FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention 2022, and I'm happy to share some memories with you. Thursday We left … Continue reading Con Report: FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention 2022
Con Report: Balticon 56
Last weekend, I attended my sixth Balticon as a panelist. In some ways, this year was even stranger than the completely virtual conventions of the past 2 years in that programming was a mix of in-person events at the usual hotel in Baltimore's Inner Harbor and virtual panels open to participants worldwide. Due to a … Continue reading Con Report: Balticon 56
Con Report: Farpoint 2022
Last weekend, the TARDIS (my electric car) finally fulfilled the mandate for which it was originally purchased -- it drove me to a convention! Said convention was only 30 minutes away from my house, so I commuted rather than staying at the hotel, but it was absolutely awesome to attend my first in-person con in … Continue reading Con Report: Farpoint 2022
Con Report: Balticon 55
For the second year in a row, the Baltimore Science Fiction Society hosted their annual convention, Balticon, as a virtual, online event. The perk to this is enjoying panels from the comfort of my own home; the drawback is the lack of social connection I generally enjoy at in-person events. The organizers did an amazing … Continue reading Con Report: Balticon 55
Con Report: Farpoint 2021
Let's face it -- for the weird sorts of introvert like me, who can put that on hold for a certain amount of time to people it up for two or three days at a convention and then hide at home for a week afterward, a virtual event will never be the same. As much … Continue reading Con Report: Farpoint 2021
Con Report: Starbase Indy 2019
Looking for the full slide set for my "Alternate History: Creating Stories by Changing the Past" presentation? See below! Usually I try to have my convention reports posted on the Wednesday after the con, but this month I had the crazy idea that I could do two events in a row. So because I traveled … Continue reading Con Report: Starbase Indy 2019
Con Report: Capclave 2019
Note: If you are here to find a copy of my alternate history presentation, see below! I spent a lovely weekend in Rockville, Maryland, as part of Capclave 2019! Highlights included being on panels with both guests of honor (Robert Sawyer and Martha Wells) and giving my alternate history presentation to a small but participatory … Continue reading Con Report: Capclave 2019
Con Report: FanX Salt Lake City 2019
Looking for my alternate history presentation to download? Scroll down! As has become annual tradition, the spouse and I celebrated our anniversary by traveling to FanX Salt Lake City. We had a blast this year, both participating in and attending panels, and my alternate history presentation made a successful reprisal. We flew to Utah last … Continue reading Con Report: FanX Salt Lake City 2019
Con Report: Pulpfest 2019
Pulpfest, held outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is not a convention I would have attended normally, but my publisher held an event there and I wouldn't have missed that for the world. Raw Dog Screaming Press celebrated their sixteenth anniversary with readings from many of their authors, and I had a blast spending time with old … Continue reading Con Report: Pulpfest 2019
Con Report: In Your Write Mind 2019
Last weekend, I spent four wonderful days at one of my favorite places on Earth. In Your Write Mind is a writing workshop hosted by alumni of the Seton Hill University Writing Popular Fiction graduate program, of which I am part. It's the time of year when I recharge my writing batteries by surrounding myself … Continue reading Con Report: In Your Write Mind 2019
Con Report: Cleveland Concoction 2019
March means a return to one of my favorite events of the year: Cleveland ConCoction! This year, I took the Tesla on her first official road trip, which involved stopping at multiple supercharger stations. We had a blast, and I am officially never taking a long trip without navigate on autopilot ever again. FRIDAY I … Continue reading Con Report: Cleveland Concoction 2019
Con Report: Farpoint 2019
Growing up as a military brat, I always had this sense that once I left a place, I would never be back. While looking for a house in the Baltimore area before sixth grade, my family briefly stayed at a hotel, the Hunt Valley Inn. Therefor, it's always a bit bizarre to be back there … Continue reading Con Report: Farpoint 2019
Con Report: ChessieCon 2018
Going to a convention after a major holiday would be pretty crazy, but luckily this convention is local, chill, and a chance to visit with friends. So it's easy to treat it as an extension of the holiday, and I had a lovely time at ChessieCon this year. FRIDAY Friday started with how all days … Continue reading Con Report: ChessieCon 2018
Con Report: World Fantasy 2018
When a professional convention in your field is literally in your back yard (or at least 2 blocks away from where you used to work for 12 years), there's really no excuse not to go. And I'm so glad that I attended World Fantasy 2018 in Baltimore, MD! THURSDAY I worked from home on Thursday … Continue reading Con Report: World Fantasy 2018
Con Report: FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention 2018
Wow. What an absolutely amazing trip. [If you're here to find the copy of my alternate history presentation, you're in the right place! It's included below!] I'm not even going to recap last year, because this year blew it out of the water. I was honored to be invited back, and I hope to return … Continue reading Con Report: FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention 2018
Con Report: Confluence 2018
I can't believe it's been 5 years since my first visit to Confluence as a professional writer. In 2013, I was promoting a speculative fiction anthology I had edited and announcing my contract with Dog Star Books to publish my first novel the next year. Now, my fourth novel comes out next month, and Confluence … Continue reading Con Report: Confluence 2018
Con Report: In Your Write Mind 2018
I had another wonderful retreat at Hogwarts Seton Hill University this past weekend, where I originally received my Masters degree in Writing Popular Fiction. The alumni of this program wanted an excuse to keep coming back every year, so In Your Write Mind was developed. It's open to former students and the general public alike, … Continue reading Con Report: In Your Write Mind 2018