Category: Conventions

My first ever BayCon! You’d think that, after living in the Bay Area all of these years, I would have gone before now. But, um, no. I was told that it was smaller than in previous years, but I had no previous experience from which to measure that. It...

Here is a convenient list of all of my reports from WorldCon 2018: WorldCon 2018 Report: WorldCon, Here I Come! WorldCon 2018 Report: Day One — Getting Started in the Dealer Room WorldCon 2018 Report: Day One — Creating a Book Cover: Part 1 WorldCon 2018 Report: Day Two...

Monday is typically a slow day at WorldCon. For many people, it is a travel day back to wherever they came from. Dealers tend to start packing up early to avoid the crunch at the close of the convention. When WorldCon was (is?) held on Labor Day weekend, it...

I waited in line for an hour and a half. I met some new people — and met up again with a few people from the line on Friday. Shortly after I arrived in line, I was informed by a staff member that I was the last person probably...

Lee will present the illustration to Elliott and Heather. While working through any small requested changes, they’ll contemplate type and line design of the book. Type, design, focus, the spine, and readability on the web will all be discussed. Panel: Elliott Kay, Lee Moyer, Heather McDougal This was largely...

The publishing market continues to evolve with new technology, new business models, and an ever-changing ecosystem of publishers, booksellers, and distributors. Professional writers looking to profit from their work have more choices than ever. How do you choose between pursuing an indie career or a traditional one? What are...

The road to publication has splintered into many twisty paths. Options have never been greater for aspiring authors, but navigating the choices has never been murkier. Where do you start? Indie, traditional publishers or small presses? What about Amazon and Kindle Unlimited? A panel of authors from indie to...

Harlan Ellison thrived on controversy, and left his mark on the professional and fannish sides of the community, for better and for worse. Join friends of Harlan in remembering this cantankerous, strange figure who even in death evokes strong feelings. Panel: Tom Whitmore, Robert Silverberg, David Gerrold, Chris M....

Celibacy and Asexuality in Spider Robinson’s Callahan and Stardancer Books Sexual diversity is one of the strengths of Spider Robinson’s works. His characters engage in a variety of types of romantic relationships and sexual encounters, particularly at Lady Sally’s Place. At one point, Lady Sally indicates that celibacy is...

Imposter syndrome can often feel like being a side character in a horror movie: you know the monster is gonna get you, but you don’t know when. Many authors–from just starting out to long-time pros–experience imposter syndrome, especially people who are marginalized. We wonder if we “really” belong; we...