Hey Toto, we're in Kansas! Readings and Panels at WorldCon!

It's been a crazy, busy summer with lots of travel and time with family. I've managed to do some writing. I thought I'd take a quick break from the novel by writing a short story, but the story grew (as my stories seem to do nowadays) into a novella. I'll finish revising it and return to the novel just as soon as I get back from WorldCon!

I have an early flight tomorrow, which is a good thing as I have a busy day coming up.

I'll be reading at 1:30 in room 2202
I can't wait to share a story or two live and in person.

From 5:00 - 6:00 I'll be moderating "Knock on Wood: From Squirrel Girl to Lumberjanes" (room 2207) with fellow panelists Jason Stanford, Catherine Lundoff, Adam Rakunas, and Tom Galloway.

"What the junk?! In the last couple of years we've seen the growth of comics that might superficially appear to be aimed at a YA audience, however these titles are hitting the mainstream with a vengeance. Marvel are leading the pack with Squirrel Girl, Ms Marvel and Captain Marvel, but there's also a vast amount of Indie work coming through such as Lumberjanes, Space Dumplins, Khaos Komix and Footloose. Our panel discuss why these titles are so popular, and what they have to offer both new and established audiences." 

From 6:00 - 7:00 you can find me participating in "Cleaning Up Your Prose" (room 3501B) with C.C. Finlay(!), Randy Henderson, Rob Chilson, moderated by Alan Smale.
My love of revision is no secret. I'm looking forward to a lively discussion about how writers go about improving their work once the first draft is finished!

Then on Saturday from 4:00 - 5:00 back in room 2202, I'm thrilled to participate in Flash Fiction Online's group reading. This one is going to be tons of fun. Hosted by Anna Yeatts and Chris Phillips, come by to hear stories from Sunil Patel, Kelly Sandoval, Laura Pearlman, Beth Cato, and yours truly!

You can check out my schedule and more here. Hope to see you there!

Here's my ArmadilloCon37 Schedule

I'm looking forward to a fun weekend. Look at all these amazing panelists and cool topics. I'm going to have to bring my A game!

The Armadillocon Writers' Workshop
Friday 9:00-4:00 p.m.

The Work of James Morrow
Friday 9:00-10:00 p.m., Ballroom D 
Christopher Brown, Claude Lalumiere*, N. J. Moore, Rebecca Schwarz, Jacob Weisman
Our panelists explore the humor, breadth, and impact of our Special Guest's writings.

How Would Discovery of Alien Life Affect Us?

Saturday 7:00-8:00 p.m., Ballroom F
Aaron de Orive, William Ledbetter, K. B. Rylander, Patrice Sarath, Rebecca Schwarz, Amy Sisson, Barbara Ann Wright
Do we run scared, work things out in the spirit of peaceful cooperation, or accept our new alien overlords?

SF as a Survival Guide

Saturday 10:00-11:00 p.m., Ballroom D
P. J. Hoover, Juan Manuel Perez*, Lawrence Person, Rebecca Schwarz, Lee Thomas
OK, you've read about dozens of apocalypses. How are you going to use that to survive?

Short Fiction You Should Have Read Last Year

Sunday 1:00-2:00 p.m., Southpark A
Eugene Fischer, K. B. Rylander, Amy Sisson*, Nate Southard, Rebecca Schwarz
Our panelists discuss short fiction from the last year that you need to know about.

Reading

Sunday 2:00-2:30p.m., Conference Center
Rebecca Schwarz
I'll be reading The Nephelai's Song, and one other story.

Check out the full schedule here!

My Panel Schedule for Houston’s Comicpalooza, May 22 – 25

My first time at Houston’s Comicpalooza and I’m going to be on a few panels. This comic con just started a few years ago at an Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, but has been growing by leaps and bounds. Their attendance last year was over 32 thousand! I’m super excited to check out the scene.

They have cosplay and gaming and comics and movie and TV events. This year they also have a brand new literature and writing track. So, if you’re going to be around Houston, TX for Memorial Day weekend, consider checking it out.

Here’s the link to the complete list of panels.

And here are the panels I’ll be on:

Discussing Dystopias: Fiction and Film

Friday, May 22 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Room 25 – 352C

What is it about the dreary futures of works such as The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Handmaid's Tale that captures our imagination? Come join the discussion on the popularity of dystopian novels and films.

Raymond E. Feist, Mari Mancusi, D. L. Young, P. J. Hoover, Stina Leicht, and Rebecca Schwarz,

Is Hard Science Fiction Dead?

Sunday, May 24 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Room 03 – 350B

Has the hard science fiction of Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke gone the way of the dinosaur? Have modern physics; computer science and artificial intelligence become too difficult to predict for speculative authors? Which contemporary writers offer the best hope for the future of hard science fiction?

K. S. O'Neill, Rachael Acks, Rebecca Schwarz, K. J. Russell, and E. L. Russell

Star Trek: Evolution of a Sci-fi Franchise

Sunday, May 24 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Room 03 – 350B

How did a low-rated series from the 1960s become a sci-fi phenomenon with countless spinoffs? And what is it about Star Trek that accounts for its enormous popularity? Join the discussion as our panel shares their insights, favorite episodes and films.

C.Stuart Hardwick, Rebecca Schwarz, Wayne Basta, Marshall Ryan Maresca, and Diana DruBotsford