That right there is my brand new logo, designed by the fabulous Lee Dunning. What do you think? Folks on my mailing list got a first look at it last week in the newsletter, and I’m still pretty dang excited about it.
Trying to restrain myself from putting it on everything, but we all know that’s a losing battle, right?
Anyway! It’s September, and while I could write multiple paragraphs on how and why and what and whyyyyy, I won't.
So instead, I'm taking stock of where I am and what's next for the rest of 2021. This week I submitted two more short stories – that’s #7 and #8 for the year. Next up, Kacey and I will be finishing Ally, I’ll wrap up Salt in the Wound, and then…
Then! It’s time to get to work on Hit World: Valkyries, a top secret fantasy project, a science fiction novel in a shared universe you’ve seen me in before, and (rumor has it) the sequel to Night Song with Mark Wandrey.
I’m pretty pumped about the rest of the year, but between me and more novels is one huge, amazing, wild-times event: DragonCon!
It’ll be my ninth DragonCon, but my FIRST in-person DragonCon as an attending professional. I’m pumped about my panel schedule – check it out:
Friday:
1:00 pm: My First Science Fiction Book, Embassy AB – Hyatt Description: When you write Fantasy but decide you want to write Science Fiction. Our panelists discuss the differences they found when doing so.
2:30 pm: Deep Meanings in Fantasy and the Challenging Moments We Connect With, Embassy CD – Hyatt Description: One or the greatest tools is using Fantasy to help us express ourselves & to help people heal. But how do they do this, & what challenges have they faced in making these healing moments for readers to identify with?
5:00 pm: STREAMING - (Virtual) One True Pairing - Improv Shipping!, STRM_CH2 Description: Love is in the air! Join us for this super-interactive panel where we’ll argue which characters would make the best romantic parings from all different fandoms. We’ll also use audience suggestions for characters & have you guys help us decide the best OTP!
7:00 pm: YA and Chill, A707 - Marriott Description: There's increasingly more YA making its way onto the small screen. What's lost & what's gained? We'll discuss "I Am Not Okay with This," "To All the Boys," "Love, Simon," & more!
10:00 pm: Sinful Sci-Fi: An Improv Comedy After-Dark Special, Galleria 7 - Hilton Description: What goes perfectly with Dragon Con? Sex! We’ll get a sexy Sci-Fi title suggestion from the audience & then create a fun, innuendo-filled tale right on the spot, working in plenty of audience contributions along the way. It’s the most fun you’ll have at Dragon Con with your clothes on!
Saturday:
11:30 am: Crazy about Pern, Embassy AB – Hyatt Description: Pern fans talk about the books, Anne McCaffrey, & how they feel about them.
2:30 pm: One True Pairing! Ridiculous Ships at Their Best!, M302-M303 – Marriott Description: Love is in the air! Join us for this super-interactive panel where we’ll argue which characters would make the best romantic parings from all different fandoms. We’ll also use audience suggestions for characters & have you guys help us decide the best OTP!
4:00 pm: It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)…, Chastain F-H – Westin Description: The audience shares their favorite apocalyptic scenarios: Zombies? Plague? Aliens? Volcanoes? Mega-Streisand? Giant Meteor of Death? Then our panel of apocalyptic experts will craft a story of what it would be like & the aftermath.
7:00 pm: Thrills and Chills in YA, A707 - Marriott Description: YA can be suspenseful & even terrify you. Whether knife-wielding killers, pandemics & plagues, or werewolves & vampires, come hear about what gives us chills.
8:30 pm: Aliens vs. Zombies: The Return, Chastain F-H – Westin Description: They're back! Our hilarious panelists from last year's hit virtual panel return for another round of that most ancient of debates, Aliens vs. Zombies. Our panelists will be given a randomly generated apocalyptic scenario, put their fighting gloves on, & debate who would be victorious.
Sunday
1:00 pm: Favorite YA Tropes & How to Use Them, A707 - Marriott Description: Let's talk about our favorite tropes in YA & how to use them in writing your own!
2:30 pm: Dames, Damsels, & Dynamite: Blowing the Lid Off the Patriarchy, Embassy CD - Hyatt Description: Women of literature are seldom "well-behaved." What empowers these women, the secrets to their success? Surely is it more than just dynamite or lacing up combat boots? We have gathered authors who can tell us what makes these women explode out of our pages and into our hearts.
4:00 pm: Science Fantasy: Because Space is the Place, Embassy CD - Hyatt Description: What do you do when hand-waving science just isn't enough? You spice it up and paste over things with Fantasy! The Force? Space Furies? Maybe it's all just magic!
Monday
11:30 am: What We're Reading! A707 - Marriott Description: You love book recommendations, & we love you, so come join us for as many book recommendations as we can cram into an hour! We'll have recommendations based on books you already know, introduce you to new favorites you haven't met yet, & you can share your recent faves with us!
These of course might shift during the convention itself - best bet is always to check the app. SO many fun things to talk about! That’s not even counting the panels I want to show up and listen to! And the people I want to catch up with! And the food I have to eat!
It’s a wild year and everyone’s doing the best they can to take care of themselves and each other. A lot of my con family won’t be there this year, but I’ll be toasting them and looking forward to seeing them in the hopefully near future.
Will you be at DragonCon? If so, what are you most looking forward to? If not, I’ll add you to my toast list, and will hope our paths cross soon.
Stay safe and sane out there, folks. Catch you on the flip side.
