The Waiting Room in Purgatory
Chair pads of crushed red velvet,
singed;
stained by unknown liquids
over
countless centuries.
Ornate, carved wood backs darkened
with
age, gleaming from layers
of wax,
gouged by nails and claws
and
teeth
and
desperation.
The air is thick
with fetid breath,
and
smoke
and
dire need.
For eons, my tired eyes
have
traced, ev’ry thread; ev’ry
hole and
stain on the moth-eaten
tapestry that reads:
Neither here nor there.
© Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, 2014
I’m thrilled to be on programming at Boskone once again this year! Here is my schedule:
I’m moderating–VIRTUAL: Representation of Women in Horror. Fri 4:00 PM.
Description Horror can transcend the trope of women as victims and express women’s ability to deal with trauma, both physical and emotional. Ellen Ripley in Alien achieves iconic status as a strong female character in the horror genre as does Melanie in the film The Girl with All of the Gifts. So, why do so many horror stories inevitably present females as victims and their bodies as a symbolic space in which atrocities take place? What do stories like Carrie (1974), films like Raw (2015), and series like Stranger Things (2022) tell us about females in our society, and maybe about humanity itself?
Fellow panelists: Tlotlo Pearl Tsamaase, Jeanne Cavelos
I’m moderating–Bookstores and Attrition of Brick and Mortar. Sat 10:00 AM.
Description: Despite surges in online and ebook sales, at least for now, bookstores are here to stay. Our panelists share their favorite stories about the palaces of the printed. Why they love them. How to support them. And what continued life they’re finding in today’s publishing world. How can we make better use of our physical bookstores? What purpose do they serve for authors, publishers, and readers? If they ever disappear, whatever will we do?
Fellow panelists: James Willis, R.W.W. Greene, Cathy Green, Lyndsay Ely
The Non-United States of America. Sat 1:00 PM.
Description: America has existed as a sovereign nation for close to 250 years. Over time, the idea of individual states or groups of states going it alone has found appeal, like the Confederate States. Why do some Americans romanticize the idea of American breakup, and how do speculative fiction authors use this trope? How does cultural polarization in the United States reflect or contrast with these ideas? This session may raise sensitive issues. Courtesy is expected and required.
Fellow panelists: Alexander Jablokov (mod.), Jeff Warner, Dr. Stephen P. Kelner, Catherine Grant
Group Reading: Horror on Saturday. Sat 5:30 PM.
With: Nicholas Kaufmann (mod.), Max Martelli, F. Brett Cox, Bracken MacLeod
Horror and the Happy Ending. Sun 1:00 PM.
Description: Horror hurts. It bleeds. It keeps us coming back, desperate to know more in the vain hope that the characters might be able to turn things around and survive. Even with the dark and dangerous stories we tell, read, and watch, part of us yearns for a peaceful resolution. While not all endings are horrific, is it horror if it has a happy ending? And what qualifies as “happy” when dealing with horror?
Fellow panelists: Mike Allen (mod), Zin E. Rocklyn, Bracken MacLeod, Errick Nunnally
I’m thrilled to be on programming at Arisia once again! Come find me Fri.–Sat. at my panels, the Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading, or at the Broad Universe table in the Dealer’s Room.
Expression and Oppression in the SFF Universe
Censorship, repression, and governmental or religious control over the free dissemination of ideas are common themes in SFF, especially dystopian literature. Share your recommendations for the best classic and new fiction on this topic, as well as the degree to which these stories reflect (or have predicted) contemporary issues around freedom of expression.
Marina Ballroom 1 Friday, January 13, 2023, 5:30 PM
Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
Come discover your new favorite writer as members of Broad Universe read short excerpts from their work. Each writer has just a few minutes to show you what we’re capable of! We offer chocolate and the chance to win prizes. Broad Universe is an international organization that supports women and other non-privileged gender writers, editors, and publishers. NOTE: Not all authors may be in attendance for the entire time slot. Other members of Broad Universe not listed may be reading.
Alcott Saturday, January 14, 2023, 5:30 PM EST
Cancel Culture in Sci-Fi and Fantasy Spaces
When and why does accountability go wrong, especially in our efforts to build inclusivity, diversity, belonging, and community? What are the impacts on creatives and fan communities? Our panelists will start beyond the critique of cancel culture, discussing the effects and impact of it.
Marina Ballroom 4 Sunday, January 15, 2023, 11:30 AM EST
I’ll have some books for sale… and some special stickers I made 🙂
I’m happy to share I’ll be a panelist at Boskone in Boston Feb. 18-20! It will have both in-person and virtual options this year. (I will be there in-person.) It’s a fun, friendly, smart scifi/fantasy/science con with some cool horror content too! I’ll also be reading from one of my horror short stories and running a Tarot for Writers workshop–see below!
John Wick: A Fantasy Universe?
Format: Panel
18 Feb 2022, Friday 3:00 – 3:50pm, Marina I (Westin)
Panelists: Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert (Moderator) , Jennifer Williams , Jennifer Pelland
Hitmen. Guns. Dead puppies. Not exactly typical fantasy fare. But tilt the prism right and you may see a rich world full of magical realism, with John Wick as the unwilling hero (a wizard with a gun … or a pencil) dragged back down the rabbit hole. As in any good fantasy universe, there are villains, lore, and the hint of a rebellion brewing. What other elements make the series more a fantasy than just a glossy neo-noir?
Is Science Losing? Improving Science Communication
Format: Panel
19 Feb 2022, Saturday 6:00 – 6:50pm, Marina II (Westin)
Panelists: Allen M. Steele , Andrea Kriz , Tom Easton , Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert (Moderator)
Though it’s needed more than ever, our world may actually be backsliding in terms of science literacy, as well as in communicating scientific truths — and their implications — to the public. What’s causing these problems? How can professionals and educated citizens become effective science communicators? How can society as a whole improve its scientific literacy?
Group Reading (Horror): F. Brett Cox and Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert
Format: Reading
19 Feb 2022, Saturday 8:00 – 8:50pm, Griffin (Westin)
Using the Tarot for Creativity
Format: Workshop
led by Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert
20 Feb 2022, Sunday 1:00 – 1:50pm, Carlton (Westin)
The random aspect of Tarot, the diversity of decks, the spiritual splendor and, above all, the power of the oracle make it a useful tool for writers. Tarot can serve as inspiration for characters, bring solutions to dead ends in challenging plots, show that a story can hold more enigmas than seemed to exist. Let’s dive into this world full of stunning images and good ideas for new stories. [Limited to six members. Bring your own Tarot/Oracle deck(s) to work with, although some extras will be available during the workshop.]
Coming this Tuesday, March 9 at 4 PM EST – Elizabeth Black, Sara Marks, and I will be guests on Marsha Casper Cook ‘s Blog Talk Radio show about the anthology we were published in, WICKED WOMEN. Tune in and give a listen—it’s going to be a blast! Archive will be available after the show. #horrorwriters
