Category: Arisia

Will I see you at Arisia ’23?

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 🙂

 

Virtual Appearance at Arisia ’21 (Jan. 15-16)

I’m excited to be a virual program participant for this year’s Arisia Convention!

My schedule is:

FRIDAY 1/15 8:30 pm”Pandemic Fiction: Before and After” I’ll be on this panel with Ken Schneyer, Rachel A. Brune, Lisa Batya Feld, Mark “Justin” Waks.

Living through an actual pandemic is bound to have an impact both on how pandemic fiction is written, as well as how pre-COVID-19 fiction is read. In this panel, we’ll discuss what we, as readers, think pre-existing fiction got right and what it got wrong, and how future pandemic fiction could change because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SATURDAY 1/16 2:30 pm”Surviving the Apocalypse Emotionally” Joining me on this panel is Bhadrika Love, LB Lee, Gordon Linzner, Bey Woodward.

Most discussions about surviving the apocalypse (be it zombie, climate, or alien) focus on the skills necessary for physical survival. But we are emotional creatures, and coping with the stress and grief is just as important as building a fire. What do healthy emotions and healthy relationships look like after the world ends? What genre stories have tackled these questions well, and what advice can they give us for our own non-apocalyptic trauma?

SATURDAY 1/16 4:00 pm”The Octavia Butler Future is Now” I’m on this one with Gillian Daniels, Andrea Hairston, Rob Cameron, Sam Schreiber.

In her Earthseed series, Octavia Butler gave us a vision of the 2020s that is disturbingly close to our reality, including storms, and droughts brought on by climate change; escapism through addictive pharmaceuticals and games, and perhaps most chillingly a far-right US President backed by extremist evangelical Christians. This panel will review the highlights of these books and discuss the influences on Butler’s writing as well as the influence these novels have had since their publication.

 

Acceptances and Coming Appearances

Poetry Acceptances

Somehow, Thanksgiving is almost here and the end of the 2010’s is looming. Writer-wise, I was largely inactive during 2019. I wasn’t feeling compelled to write by the time March rolled around, and then by May discovered painting. I’ve just recently begun to write a new short story.

The one piece of writing I completed before my hiatus was a horror-themed poem that was accepted into Horror Writers Association (HWA) annual poetry showcase. (The kindle version has just been released and hardcovers should follow in a few days or so.) That poem, “It is Forever Stalking You,” was written as I was experiencing a depressive episode and chronicles what that feels like.

HWA Poetry Showcase Vol. VI Cover

I’ve also just received word that my space-themed poem “Reincarnation” was accepted into the charity anthology Beneath Strange Stars by TL;DR Press. The proceeds from this collection of short stories and poetry will benefit the UK-based Association for Science Education. (Science education–a cause near and dear to my heart!) This collection will be available to purchase in January 2020.

Beneath Strange Stars charity anthology

Upcoming Appearances

I plan to attend Boskone in Boston in February 2020 (where I’ll be a panelist) and should be attending at least part of Arisia in January. When not on panels at either of these conventions, you can find me at the Broad Universe table in the Dealer’s Room.

A Final Note…

I appeared at Stillwater Books in Pawtucket, RI, with three other women horror writers in October. They have a few of my books on consignment, so check them out if you’re in the area!

Reading and afterpanel at Stillwater Books–from left to right: Christine Lajewski, Doungjai Gam Bepko, Jessica Levai, me

 

Come Hear Several Scifi/Fantasy Authors Read Their Work (or, What’s a Rapid Fire Reading?)

This Saturday at 10am at Arisia in Boston, several members of Broad Universe will be reading selections from their works. Each author has anywhere from 3-7 minutes, depending on the number of participants.

These types of author readings are called “Rapid-Fire Readings” (RFRs)–each author reads from one of their works for the allotted time, introduces the next reader, and so on.

These readings fly by, and are a great way to hear or discover your next favorite writer!

The RFRs by Broad Universe are particularly fun, since we have chocolate and other treats available, and give away free books and other swag.

Check out this year’s list of readers below. Hope to see you there! (I think I’ll be reading from a fantasy/horror story in progress.)

Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
 

My 2018 Arisia Schedule

I’ll be attending and panellng at Arisia Boston again. This year, Arisia (large scifi/genre/lifestyle conference) takes place January 12–15.

My schedule is light this year.

Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading, Saturday 10am in Adams

Join me and  other members of Broad Universe for snippets of each writer’s work–we each get several minutes to dazzle the audience with our words, and we always have free chocolate, book giveaways, and lots of swag and other freebies. Always a fun time! Readers will include: Morven Westfield (moderator), Victoria Sandbrook, LJ Cohen, Larissa Glasser, Julie C. Day, Dianna Sanchez,  Randee Dawn, Trisha J. Wooldridge, Anna Erishkigal, Heather Albano, and me! We typically have last-minute additions as well.

 

Feminism Today, Sunday 2:30pm in Marina 4

Description: “Feminism has had “waves” – our feminism is different from our parents, and their parent’s. What are the differences? How has the current social climate changed feminism and our experience of it? Let’s examine how it influences everything from science fiction awards to our everyday interactions.”

Panelists: Me (moderator), Jacqui B., David Larochelle, Rose H., Mikki Kendall (Arisia GOH)

 

The Power of Teen Movies, Sunday 5:30pm in Adams

Description: “The teenager, as a concept, is a relatively recent invention. And attitudes and beliefs about this transitional period between childhood and adulthood have changed over the years. What’s the best way to understand how the way in which we think about teenagers has shifted? Teen movies, of course. From Rebel Without a Cause to The Breakfast Club to Mean Girls, we’ll look at the impact of teen movies and what they say about being a teenager.”

Panelists: Me (moderator), Robin B., Gabriel V., Danny Miller

 

What would you like us to discuss on the panels? Please comment below. 

Arisia Was Awesome :-)

I wanted to offer up my belated Arisia report. (Why belated? I was playing catch-up after a bacterial infection and then Arisia… and then I came down with the flu, which I’m still suffering from.) I know I’m not alone when saying this has been one crap winter, health-wise.

The hotel and venue were great, as usual. My panels were awesome (more on that below.) This was my first “dry” Arisia–I usually indulge in a drink after my panels are done, and also usually attend Barfleet and other parties. But this year I was on antibiotics, so I didn’t drink and got lots of rest.

One of the best photos I took… “Baby Jayne Hat.”

The family joined me, as they have the last few years. I was unfortunately unable to see many of the science panels that I love at Arisia. My husband did, and he witnessed–on not one but TWO panels–the extremely smart and dynamic astrophysicist Pamela Gay being mansplained to by audience members. As he told it, she got comments from the audience as a panelist that no man ever would have received.

On a related note, I had an interesting experience on my Feminism panel. A middle-aged, white gentleman asked us “why do you keep talking about women?” I think we were dead silent for about three seconds. Why were we talking about women? Because women still earn less than men, are judged differently in schools and workplaces alike, and under constant threat from sexual assault and intimate partner violence. To name a few.

Some of my books for sale at the Broad Universe table

And although we did talk about women a lot, all of us panelists were “intersectional” feminists (including the one male) so we also spoke about how feminism includes issues of race, class, gender, ableness, sexual orientation, etc. But there’s always “that guy” in the audience, looking for ways to cry about how women get too much attention. Or men don’t get enough. Or something. My fellow panelists were all excellent, as were the panelists (with some crossover) on the “Shame on Slut-Shaming” panel that I moderated.

My favorite panel (as a panelist) was “Mad Max & Melissa McCarthy—Genre Film Feminism.” I moderated this one, and fellow panelists were among the most intelligent, thoughtful women I’ve ever paneled with. We had a great discussion, and partly because we were not all in lock-step with each other. But everyone listened, everyone had a chance to talk, and it was very respectful.

I participated in the Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading with a group of talented women authors. I read from Fluff, my novella-in-progress (which is also suffering from neglect due to my illnesses.) I also had fun hanging out with my fellow Broads at the Broad Universe table in the Dealer’s Room. Plus, I sold as many books as I ever had at a con!

“Womaning” the Broad Universe table

Kudos to the Arisia staff, who handled registration beautifully after some snafus last year, and who continue to do an excellent job with programming and tending to the safety of con-goers.

Finally, thanks to all who stopped me in the halls of the hotel to tell me they appreciated my panels! That is so gratifying. Being a good panelist is important to me.

Until next year…

p.s. I was planning to be at Boskone this coming month, but I may be busy playing catching-up, so stay posted for info. on my appearance there.