Reading: Mary Anne Mohanraj - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm - River C (Cafe)
The SF/F Short Fiction Club Scene - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
The SF/F short fiction markets have been described by author Elizabeth Bear as a "club scene" where authors experiment and bat ideas back and forth. These SF/F professionals talk about the current state of the short fiction markets and some of the exciting things happening in the medium.
Kickstart Your Way to Self-Publishing - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm - Willow
Author Mary Anne Mohanraj, who has previously published with HarperCollins and multiple small presses, discusses why she decided to try crowd-sourcing her latest book, and how, last October, she succeeded in raising $8000 in donations in one month, meeting her pledge goal. She'll address why people donated (she took a survey afterwards!) and also talk about the budget breakdown for that book, a collection of erotic SF stories, Demimonde.
Civil Disobedience- Occupy Wall Street & the Tea Party Movement - Saturday, 02-11-2012 - 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm - Botanic Garden B (Special Events - Programming)
Over the last few years, two grassroots political movements have captured the headlines. Both stemming from the same recession and unstable economic climate, each movement has embraced opposite ends of the political spectrum. What do these movements have in common? Have both been unfairly portrayed by the media? Please join what is sure to be a lively (but respectful) debate.
Writing the Other - Sunday, 02-12-2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm - River AB (Programming - Media)
How do authors write about characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures, particularly when they are different from their own? How can writing the other contribute to science fiction and fantasy literature? What are some of the issues one can encounter and how can we approach them successfully?
I widsh I could go. Regarding the panel about Occupy and the Tea Party… My one runin with the latter was some time ago when, after my way-before-dawn workout at the gym, I got into my car and noticed a folded paper held in place by my wiper blade: it was an invitation to attend a Tea Party party. Why? The back of my vehicle showed Ben Franklin’s quote about those who give hope liberty for safety. Mind you, that quote had been there as a result of the 21st Century’s first President so their invitation highly amused me.