Sunday,
February 17, 2008

And the con season begins

ConDFW is first up on the 2008 calendar, and my schedule looks to be a pip:

FRIDAY

5 PM - Reading
Melanie Fletcher and Paul Black
Working with Paul is always a delight, and as I have a half hour slot I'll either read something from SABRE DANCE or "Dash Manning: Galactic Ranger!"

6 PM - Comedy in Space! Humor in Science Fiction
Hosted by Linda Donahue, Teddy Harvia, Julia S. Mandala, Melanie Fletcher, and Rie Sheridan
Death, doom, despair – that’s easy! Writing consistently good comedy though is a rare gift. Industry pros discuss the funniest science fiction they’ve ever encountered. What makes for great comedic sci-fi anyways? Are there any worth heirs to Douglas and Pratchett writing today?

9 PM - The Yard Dog Press Road Show
Hosted by the entire Yard Dog crew. (All Yard Dog Press authors and artists welcome.)
Come join the crew from Yard Dog Press and see what they’re up to! This panel is always great fun, though it is a little dangerous to put all of them together in one room.

SATURDAY

10 AM - Little Readers, Huge Imaginations: Writing for Young Adults
Hosted by Rachel Caine, Melanie Fletcher, Gloria Oliver, K. Hutson Price and Rie Sheridan.
The young adult market is a powerful, vibrant part of fantasy publishing that all too often receives little attention. Industry pros tell you the ins and outs of the youth market. What is different about writing for children? And perhaps most importantly, what is exactly the same?

1 PM - Autographs
Donato Giancola, Tom Monteleone, Melanie Fletcher

10 PM - Making Better Dirty Books: Pornography vs. Erotica
Hosted by Melanie Fletcher, Linda Donahue, Julia Mandala, and whoever else cares to show up.
Six years. Six panels. Six chances to answer the burning question of our age: what is the difference between the elevated literary form of erotica and the base, vile, exploitative trash that is porn? Six failures. This year is year number seven. This year will be different. This year the discussion will be calm, sublime, rational and well-behaved. Yeah, right. Adults only.

SUNDAY

11 AM - Who Influenced Us?
Hosted by Rachel Caine, Rhonda Eudaly, Melanie Fletcher, Sue Sinor and Martha Wells
It has been observed that theft is the sincerest form of flattery. Industry pros discuss their own influences and who they have borrowed from the most. Who would they consider a must read for the aspiring writer?

2 PM - The Best Writers You’ve Never Heard Of
Hosted by Lou Antonelli, Melanie Fletcher, Frances May, Teresa Patterson and Richard D. Weber
Industry pros tell you about the hidden jewels that they wish got more press. Who is waiting to be discovered? Bring pen and paper to this one and walk away with a new reading list.

3 PM - It Was His Time: Killing off Characters with Style
Hosted by Lou Antonelli, Rachel Caine, Melanie Fletcher, Thomas W. Knowles and K. Hutson Price
Fans often hate it but even beloved characters sometimes have to bite it. Authors discuss what makes character death memorable. How can you kill your characters with panache? How can you make them really CARE about the fiendish fate awaiting your imaginary friends?

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