I will be attending Philcon again this year as a guest. I am always grateful to be asked to participate. Schedules were recently announced. A number of my friends have posted their schedules already, but I held off just a little. I’m still adjusting to the idea of what I signed up to do…
Fri 6:00 PM in Plaza II (Two) (1 hour)
INTRO TO URBAN FANTASY (3632)
[Panelists: Vikki Ciaffone (mod), Eric Hardenbrook, Elektra Hammond,
Bruce Dykes, Michael Hanson]
Contemporary Fantasy, Portal Fiction, and yes, Paranormal Romance-
what makes this genre distinct from other kinds of fantasy? What
books make the best entry point into the various subgenres
Fri 10:00 PM in Plaza III (Three) (1 hour)
CROSSING THE STREAMS (3619)
[Panelists: Aaron Feldman (mod), Eric Hardenbrook, Joseph Haughey]
The old policy of fan artists and writers carefully avoiding any
contact with The Powers That Be is becoming untenable in the age of
Social Media, where actors routinely retweet fanfic and fanart of
their characters and more professional authors are going public
about their history as fanfic writers. But some boundaries are still
useful to maintain. How can fans and professionals coexist in this
new status quo
Sat 11:00 AM in Crystal Ballroom Three (1 hour)
HOW DOES A READER DISCOVER NEW AUTHORS? (3492)
[Panelists: Elektra Hammond (mod), Timothy Pratt, Elyse Rosenstein,
Mary Spila, Eric Hardenbrook, Phil Giunta]
In a world where people are more likely to order new releases by
their favorites off of Amazon than drive to a bookstore and browse,
how do readers find authors they hadn’t previously heard of
Sun 10:00 AM in Crystal Ballroom Two (1 hour)
ROSIE OR THE ROOMBA? (3678)
[Panelists: Eric Hardenbrook (mod)]
Modern science fiction frequently depicts advances for the spaces we
live in as dependent on the technology inside of them. What are
some advances in the technology of the actual buildings around us
today?
It’s the last one that caused me to hesitate. You read it right – that panel is all me. I have the hour all to myself. IF it all goes wrong, it’s all on me. So I’m going to start digging in and getting my program ready.
Hopefully I’ll see you there!