My 2025 Dragon Con Schedule

The highlight of my summer is almost here. I’ll be flying to Atlanta and Dragon Con in less than three weeks! I hope you’ll join the fun – and check out my Dragon Con events:

Title: Fantasy Gather
Description: Find your new favorite books and meet the authors at the Gather. Commerce will be committed, and libations will be available at a cash bar. The Gather will the last event of the evening in the International Ballroom, so the fun can continue for hours.
Panelists: Lots!
Time: Fri 08:00 pm
Location: International Ballroom (Length: 4 Hours – or more!)

Title: Weird Facts & Stories Hiding Behind Our Tea
Description: Coffee drinkers might convince you that hot-leaf water is nothing special. But the history of the world's favorite beverage is weirder than you know. From the real Earl Grey to the creation of tea bags to the unexpected origins of some modern tea brands, the tea industry holds a lot of secrets.
Panelists: Professor Upsidasium(M), Jean Marie Ward, Jason R Merrill, Macklyn Butler
Time: Sat 01:00 pm
Location: Macon Courtland Grand (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Shifter Psychology
Description: Shifters of all types have to learn to deal with essentially two different natures, which can result in a wide range of personality traits. Our panel of authors will discuss how the shifters in their works deal with this dichotomy, and how that response affects the narratives of their stories.
Panelists: Ben Meeks, Stephanie Mirro, Jean Marie Ward, Sean Fletcher, Jasmine Walt, Lea Murphy(M)
Time: Sat 05:30 pm
Location: Chastain 1-2 Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Historical Romance: Here for the Love, Not as Much the Spice
Description: The Romance genre is not new to the book world. It's been a popular genre since the 1800s, but recently we've seen a celebration of the genre. If you're more glimpses and kisses behind closed doors than hot and spicy, our panelists will dive into what the Romance genre has for you.
Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Nancy Northcott, Valerie Willis, Kate McNeil(M)
Time: Sun 04:00 pm
Location: Augusta Courtland Grand (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Eye of Argon Continued
Description: The Eye of Argon Experience is not to be missed. Regarded by many as the worst sf ever written, our intrepid panelists (and audience) will take turns reading it and acting it out.
Panelists: Keith R.A. DeCandido, Ian Randal Strock(M), Jean Marie Ward
Time: Sun 10:00 pm
Location: Embassy AB Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Win, Lose or Draw Dragon Con Edition
Description: Traditionally the last panel of our convention, contestants attempt to get their teammates to guess what they are drawing. Jean Marie Ward once again hosts.
Panelists: Jean Marie Ward(M)
Time: Mon 01:00 pm
Location: Embassy AB Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

See you there!

#

My Preliminary Schedule for Dragon Con 2022

It’s finally starting to feel real. Dragon Con just sent my preliminary schedule for this year’s con. The panels, dates, and times may change, but my final schedule will be close to what you see here. Can’t wait! I’ve been missing my friends way too long!

Hope to see you there!

Thursday, September 1

Title: Virtual: Fact or Fiction, A&HFT 2022 Edition
Description: Our historical fiction writers will refresh your memory on major historical events and goings-on. Of course, not everyone can remember history as it truly happens. Is it fact? Is it fiction? Join our cast of unlucky souls who will determine which story is FACT and which is FICTION...
Time: 10:00 am
Location: STRM_YTTC (Length: 1 Hour)

Friday, September 2

Title: Defining SF in the Era of the Sub-Genre
Description: There are so many different definitions of sf. There are an equal number of sub-genres (military sf, space opera, etc.) Our panelists discuss how definitions have changed through the years.
Time: 11:30 am
Location: Embassy AB (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Finding Balance: Shifters & Werecreatures in UF
Description: Werecreatures & shifters of various types display a wide range of characteristics within the genre, and each deals differently with maintaining a balance between their human and non-human side. Our panel of authors will discuss their versions, as well as some of their favorites in books & media.
Time: 01:00 pm
Location: Chastain 1-2 (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Humor in SF
Description: It takes a deft hand to imbue science fiction with humor, Whether it is subtle or slapstick, our panelists talk about how this is best done and give examples.
Time: 07:00 pm
Location: Embassy AB (Length: 1 Hour)

Saturday, September 3

Title: Herstorically Speaking: Vanishing Women in History
Description: Explore the women that changed the world as we know it, both living and dead. Where would we be without these women that seem to have vanished into the mists of time and how would the world have changed if they hadn't been erased?
Time: 05:30 pm
Location: Macon (Length: 1 Hour)

Sunday, September 4

Title: Scandalous: Historical Gossip
Description: Some of our favorite authors share secrets and stories they've uncovered as they dug deep in their research. Bring the tea, because these authors will spill it as they unearth the side of history that couldn't remain hidden forever.
Time: 05:30 pm
Location: Macon (Length: 1 Hour)

Monday, September 5

Title: If I Could Do It Over Again...
Description: Every writer makes a (some? many?) mistake. Maybe this panel will help beginning writers avoid those same mistakes.
Time: 11:30 am
Location: Embassy EF (Length: 1 Hour)

Title: Win, Lose or Draw
Description: The game show where contestants have to draw various things from sf, Dragon Con itself, and fantasy. If their team guesses it in the allotted time, they win the round.
Time: 02:30 pm
Location: Embassy AB (Length: 1 Hour)

Tags: #DragonCon #conschedule #JeanMarieWard

My Dragon Con 2020 Schedule

Dragon Con is going virtual this year, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the same wild mix of media stars, writers, artists, panels, gaming, costumes, performances, music and all the rest—even the blood drive! For everything that’s been awful about 2020, the year has given folks who wouldn’t normally make it to Atlanta over Labor Day a chance to share the fun. For free!

That’s right, Dragon Con is offering three free 24/7 streaming channels of live and pre-recorded programming at https://dragoncon.tv/virtual: Main Programming, Fan Programming and Classic Programming. In addition, each of their programming tracks will be offering a selection of live and pre-recorded programs on venues ranging from Facebook to YouTube and all the social media in between. For those of us who can’t imagine Labor Day without the camaraderie of the various hotel bars, there’s even a BarCon running on Discord. And all of that is also free.

 In addition, they’ve created the best virtual art show and vendors rooms I’ve seen so far. Artists, makers and dealers have been particularly hard hit by the loss of physical conventions. This is the perfect chance to show your love and support for the people who bring so much joy to the world.

For more details, head to https://dragoncon.org. The page is phenomenally easy to navigate. There’s even a link to a pdf of the Quick Start Guide we all live by at the RL con. Links to the individual track offerings can be found on p. 23.

 Or you can check out the feeds of your favorite Dragon Con participants. You can find me several places this weekend:

Friday, 7 PM

SF Literature Track

Reading: I’ll be reading from four of my science fictions: “The Wrong Refrigerator” (which has just been translated into Chinese for Science Fiction World. Squeeeeeee!), “The Wizard of Woodrow Park” from Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens, “The Ellsberg Variations” from Lost Signals of the Terran Republic, and “Yesterday, I Will”, my shortest published work from the anthology of the same name. Check out how many times I can stumble over my own words. You’d think I’d never seen them before. Well, not for several months anyway. LOL

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/173171899402965/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn6yQUcszuJFwMw1iLMnP-w

 Saturday, 2:30 PM

Alternate and Historical Fiction Track

Fact or Fiction AFHT Edition: AFHT’s historical fiction writers will refresh your memory on major historical events and goings on. Of course, not everyone can remember history as it truly happens. Is it fact? Is it fiction? Join our cast of unlucky souls who will determine which story is FACT and which is FICTION...
Panelists: Tony Ballard-Smoot, AJ Hartley, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Michael Martinez, Tamsin Silver, Jean Marie Ward
Moderators: Liz Carpenter, Alison Helfferich, Brett Gordon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DConAlternateHistoryTrack/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzbMmPbV4bRnRdJ2zCYkPEA/featured

 Sunday, Noon

Writers Track

Mentoring Sessions: Four opportunities for me to share all the craziness I’ve experienced over a quarter century reporting on, writing for and editing in this strange business we call publishing

Sign-up Sheet: https://form.jotform.com/202435857025050

Mentoring Schedule: https://www.notion.so/Dragon-Con-Writers-Track-Mentoring-Schedule-9c72a7a124234eee9c2913e833c6c9e8

Sunday, 2:30 PM

Alternate & Historical Fiction Track

Quarantine Reads: A laid-back face-to-face with some of our favorite panelists discussing recently released and forthcoming alternate history and historical fiction books for the next year. What should you be reading to prepare for 2021?
Panelists: L. Jagi Lamplighter, Tamsin Silver, Jean Marie Ward
Moderators: Liz Carpenter, Alison Helfferich

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DConAlternateHistoryTrack/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzbMmPbV4bRnRdJ2zCYkPEA/featured

Sunday, 8 PM

Urban Fantasy Track—Live!

Gifts, Missing Mojo, and Murder: A Lucifer Fan Panel: A moderated fan-panel discussion over Season 5A of the hit show.

Panelists: Kevin Bachelder, Susan Griffith, Lisa Harrison, Wendy Hembrock, Jean Marie Ward

Moderator: Carol Malcolm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DCUrbanFantasy/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaz0h4NfjHCTTDka26gkVpA/

 

Can’t wait to see you there!

 

My Schedule for Dragon Con 2019

Where did the year go? Dragon Con is here. This week, and I’m not WORTHY—I mean READY!!! But my schedule is. Hope you’ll come and join the fun in Atlanta, August 29 – September 2. Looking forward to seeing you and your cosplay there!

Title: Killjoys: Reboot after the Loss
Time: Fri 04:00 pm Location: M302-M303 - Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)
Description: The Lady turned the world (or at least Westerly) upside down, & we'll see just how our intrepid band sort themselves out & figure out just how to wrap up this far-ranging battle from one dimension to the next.
Panelists: Kevin Bachelder, Bethany Kesler (M), Jean Marie Ward, Neisha Mulchan, Kitty Chandler

Title: The Haunting of Shirley Jackson
Description: A discussion about the works of Shirley Jackson, whose fiction ran the gamut from examinations of domestic life to chilling tales of terror.
Time: Fri 05:30 pm Location: Peachtree 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel 
(Tentative Panelists: Jonathan Maberry, Clay Gilbert, Cecilia Dominic, Amanda DeWees, Jean Marie Ward)

Title: Fighting in Space: Planning a Space Battle
Description: How do you plan a space battle? It's a whole lot more than just saying "a lot of missiles get sent to blow something up."
Time: Sat 07:00 pm Location: Embassy AB - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel 
(Tentative Panelists: David Weber, Jack Campbell, Jean Marie Ward, David Afsharirad, Michael Chatfield, Charles E. Gannon)

Title: Dragon Con Short Takes:
Description: Bite-sized readings from some of your favorite authors, featuring those you know and love—and those you haven’t discovered yet.
Time: Sat 08:30 pm Location: Kennesaw - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel 
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Gail Z. Martin, Clay Griffith, John G. Hartness, Jeanne P Adams, James Nettles, Trisha J. Wooldridge)

Title: Courtesans, Mistresses & Madams: History's Most Famous Working Women
Description: History has a lot of unsung heroes, specifically in this profession. Contrary to what you may have read, some of the most notorious and celebrated madams and ladies of ill repute have shaped and often guided our history. This survey panel showcases some you should know about.
Time: Sat 10:00 pm Location: Macon - Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Cat Rambo, Gail Z. Martin, Cecilia Dominic, Jean Marie Ward)

Title: From Purgatory and Into the Light: A Wynonna Earp Fan Panel
Description: The Earp curse was broken, Peacemaker is now a sword, and almost everyone has disappeared from Purgatory. Oh, and the fandom spent 132 days with the show on the brink of never-coming-back. It's safe to say there will be lots to talk about in this moderated fan-panel discussion.
Time: Sun 11:30 am Location: Chastain 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Kevin Bachelder, Jean Marie Ward, Lisa Manifold, Stuart Jaffe, John G. Hartness)

Title: Win, Lose, or Draw
Description: The traditional end-of-Con game show. Put your drawing & guessing talents to work for wonderful prizes.
Time: Mon 01:00 pm Location: Embassy AB - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel 
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward)

Goin' to Dragon Con, 2018 Edition

Dragon Con is almost here! I’ll be heading out Wednesday, abandoning spouse and house panther to their own devices. (They’re afraid…very afraid. ;-) ) I can’t wait to see my friends—and learn what author and Falstaff Books publisher John Hartness is planning for the threatened Virgo birthday bash. (The Westin Bar may never recover.) In addition, this will be author Joshua B. Palmatier’s first time in the Merchandise Mart as the publisher of Zombies Need Brains. Drop by and say hello if you’re going in that direction.

I hope you’ll drop by a few of my panels, too. This year I have twelve. From the subjects and the other guests, they’re sure to be grand!

-------------------
Title: Social Media as an Effective Tool for Authors
Description: Social media can launch your career--or kill it. What's effective? What isn't? Learn how to navigate the tricky waters of social media.
Time: Fri 01:00 pm Location: Embassy CD - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Tyra A Burton, Denise Baker Camacho, Michael Chatfield, Jean Marie Ward, Lee Martindale, Aleron Kong)

-------------------
Title: A Genre Is a Genre Is a Genre: The Proliferation of Genres
Description: Every time you turn around, it seems there's a new genre on the bookshelves--or a sub-genre. Whatever happened to just science fiction or just fantasy or just...any genre you'd care to name? Our panelists discuss this. Is there any end in sight?
Time: Fri 04:00 pm Location: Embassy AB - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Claire M. Eddy, Bill Fawcett, Henry Vogel, Dr. Charles E. Gannon)

-------------------
Title: Readings in Honor of Kathryn Fernquist Hinds
Description: Writers & friends celebrate the life of author, bard, poet, & teacher Kathryn Hinds with reminiscences & readings from her work.
Time: Fri 07:00 pm Location: Techwood - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Gail Z. Martin, Jeanne P Adams, James Palmer, Trisha J. Wooldridge, Catherine M. Scully)

-------------------
Title: Ahoy, Mateys! Pirates in Popular Culture
Description: The drama and adventure of pirate history have inspired imaginations for centuries. Join us for some of our favorite pirate stories, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Black Sails, Treasure Island, Treasure Planet, The Goonies - even Cutthroat Island! No, we don't know where the rum has gone.
Time: Fri 08:30 pm Location: Athens - Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Tim Powers, Darin M. Bush, Michael J. Martinez, Jean Marie Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon)

-------------------
Title: Reading Session: Jean Marie Ward
Time: Sat 01:00 pm Location: Marietta - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward)

-------------------
Title: Her-storically Speaking
Description: Well-behaved women rarely make history, as they say. So we'll be talking about some of the women who made waves, with a focus on pirates, Vikings, and detectives. History professors, writers, and all-around smart ladies talk about the stories we may not have been taught in history books.
Time: Sat 07:00 pm Location: Athens - Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Octavia Randolph, Jean Marie Ward, Leanna Renee Hieber, Nancy Holzner)

-------------------
Title: The Oldest Profession: History's Most Famous Working Women
Description: History has a lot of unsung heroes, specifically in this profession. Contrary to what you may have read, some of the most notorious and celebrated madams and working women have shaped and often guided our history. This survey panel showcases some you should know about.
Time: Sat 11:30 pm Location: Athens - Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Cecilia Dominic, Jean Marie Ward, Gail Z. Martin, Austin Sirkin, Valerie Hampton)

-------------------
Title: Oops, I Sold My Novel. Now What?
Description: Selling your novel is Step One. Presenters will discuss what happens next. How do you make your first novel the success you dreamed about?
Time: Sun 04:00 pm Location: Embassy CD - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: John L. Flynn, Lucienne Diver, Leanna Renee Hieber, Michael J. Martinez, Scott Sigler, Jean Marie Ward)

-------------------
Title: Ursula K. Le Guin: Honoring a Grand Master
Description: The field lost a great voice last year when Ursula K. Le Guin passed. We will be honoring the author of The Left Hand of Darkness and Wizard of Earthsea (among others) by discussing her work and life.
Time: Sun 05:30 pm Location: International South - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists:) Erika A. Domeika, Jean Marie Ward, Trisha Wooldridge

-------------------
Title: Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Readings
Description: Tasty bite-sized readings from some of your favorite & soon-to-be-favorite authors.
Time: Sun 07:00 pm Location: Techwood - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Gail Z. Martin, John G. Hartness, K.M. Herkes, Linda Robertson, Trisha J. Wooldridge, Jeanne P Adams, Nancy Northcott)

-------------------
Title: Win, Lose, or Draw
Description: Our annual try at getting our fellow fans to figure out what you're drawing. There will be prizes for the winning team.
Time: Mon 01:00 pm Location: Embassy AB - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward)

-------------------
Title: The Devil in the Details: A Lucifer Fan Panel
Description: A moderated fan-panel discussion of the hit show's third season
Time: Mon 02:30 pm Location: Chastain 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Kevin Bachelder, Eric R. Asher, Jean Marie Ward, Kristin Jackson, John G. Hartness)

All the cool kids posted their Dragon Con schedules last week. But I held out until I could be sure I had a reading. Thanks to John Hartness of Falstaff Books, now I do! On Saturday afternoon at one o’clock you can hear me read a teaser from “Blood and Strawberries”, the urban fantasy novella Falstaff will be publishing in 2018!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Although the con’s programming folks hope their schedules are firm and good, things can change up to the minute we start the panel. Heck, I’ve sat on panels where things continued to change even after we took our places at the table. Wild as they seem, many of the details of my story “Protective Coloring” in Gilded Dragonfly Books’ new anthology The Rise of the Phoenix were drawn straight from con life.

But enough with the shameless self-promotion. You’re here for the schedule–and a fine one it is!

The Oldest Profession: History’s Most Famous Harlots
Description: History has a lot of unsung heroes, none more surprising as its harlots. Contrary to what you may have read in the history books, our present has been shaped and often guided by some of the most notorious and celebrated madams and working women. This survey panel showcases some of the best!
Time: Fri 10:00 PM Location: Athens – Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Faith Hunter, Cherie Priest, Jean Marie Ward, Misty Massey)

Falstaff Books Reading
Description: John Hartness and the writers of Falstaff Books read from their new and forthcoming titles.
Time: Sat 1 PM Location: Piedmont – Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: John Hartness, Darin Kennedy, Jay Requard, Joelle Reizes, R.R. Virdi, Jean Marie Ward)

No Ordinary Town: A Midnight, Texas Fan Panel
Description: A moderated fan-panel discussion of the show based on the best-selling book series by Charlaine Harris
Time: Sat 05:30 PM Location: Chastain 1-2 – Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Jeri Westerson, Jean Marie Ward)

Lost Worlds: The Science Fiction of Arthur Conan Doyle
Description: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for Sherlock Holmes, but he also wrote sf. Our panelists help to shed light on these works.
Time: Sat 07:00 PM Location: Embassy AB – Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Bethany Kesler, Jaym Gates, Jean Marie Ward)

The Deviance and Depravity of Victorian England
Description: The repression of the Victorian era meant depravity of the most devious kinds behind closed doors. This panel goes over the pornography, taboos, sexuality, and gender identity of those naughty Victorians. We’ll also be including visual examples from the era for the oh so mature of audiences.
Time: Sun 01:00 AM Location: Athens – Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
(Tentative Panelists: Sara E Neathery, Jean Marie Ward, Karianne Gottschalk)

1632: The Ring of Fire Series Author Roundtable
Description: 1632 and the subsequent novels, anthologies, and sprawling speculative fiction work of Eric Flint, Charles E. Gannon, and other authors who have contributed to anthologies have expanded this 17th Century Alternate History work into a grand shared world to be enjoyed, explored, and discussed.
Time: Sun 04:00 PM Location: Augusta – Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Eric Flint, Dr. Charles E. Gannon, Griffin Barber, Toni Weisskopf)

Playing in Someone Else’s Universe
Description: The rise of indie publishing and crowdfunding has led to an increase in shared world anthologies and other projects, many in well-established fictional universes. Panelists discuss the challenges they’ve faced adapting to worlds not of their own making.
Time: Sun 05:30 PM Location: Embassy AB – Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Dr. Charles E. Gannon, Kacey Ezell, Todd McCaffrey, Griffin Barber)

Collaborations, Critique Groups and Beta Readers
Description: Today’s writers find creative help in ways writers of the past didn’t have access to. What’s right for a writer depends on many things. This panel discusses whether a collaboration, critique group or beta reader is the perfect choice–and how to find them.
Time: Sun 07:00 PM Location: Embassy CD – Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Jane Yolen, Jake Bible, David B. Coe, Mercedes Lackey, Richard Lee Byers)

Beyond Victorian: Alt. History in Other Cultures and Eras
Description: if you can’t bear the sight of one more crumpet, how about nativepunk, retrofuture, or “Amish sci fi”? There’s a multitude of cultures and eras and subgenres that are begging to be explored. Our panelists explore new lands and times into the various aspects of alternate history.
Time: Sun 08:30 PM Location: Athens – Sheraton (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Margaret S. McGraw, A. J. Hartley, Michael Bunker)

Win, Lose Or Draw
Description: Our host, Jean Marie Ward, puts contestants through their paces testing out their artistic abilities in getting teammates to guess names, places, things from science fiction and Dragon Con itself. There will be prizes!
Time: Mon 01:00 PM Location: Embassy AB – Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward)

Looking forward to seeing you there!

###

My Dragon Con 2016 Schedule

Almost forgot the promotional part of running away to join the circus that is Dragon Con—my schedule! Hope to see you there. This year’s con is sure to be more amazing than usual, since the Dragon is turning thirty. My, they grow so fast. I remember when it was just a little wyrm, too small and too young to vote... ;-)
Happy Labor Day Weekend, everyone!

Time: Fri 08:30 pm Location: Embassy CD - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Title: Social Media as a Tool--not a Trial
Description: Face it, savvy authors use social media to their advantage. But, it's a two-headed demon...Secrets of taming that beast.
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Gail Z. Martin, Jean Marie Ward, Debbie Viguie, Sheila English, Julie Kenner)

Time: Sat 02:30 pm Location: Embassy AB - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Title: Getting it Wrong and Living to Tell About It
Description: Writers aren't perfect. (I know, shocking, isn't it?) Sometimes, they get their research wrong, or publicly insert both feet in their mouths and try to run with them. Sometimes, they even change facts on purpose. Panelists talk about the times they screwed up, and how they fixed it.
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, L. M. Davis, A. J. Hartley, Milton J. Davis, Roshani Hitesh Chokshi)

Time: Sat 04:00 pm Location: Piedmont - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Title: Reading: Broad Universe
Description: The ladies & gentlemen of Broad Universe read snippets from their work.
(Tentative Panelists: Gail Z. Martin, Jean Marie Ward, Trisha J. Woldridge, John G. Hartness, Clay and Susan Griffith)

Time: Sun 08:30 pm Location: Embassy AB - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Title: Kicking You Out - What Throws You Out of a Story?
Description: You're reading a really good book, caught up in the storyline. Suddenly it happens. A factual mistake, a really bad typo, a favorite character suddenly acting totally wrong...or something else. What is it that can kick you totally out of the world the writer is presenting?
Moderator / MC for panel
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Trisha J. Woldridge, Chris A Jackson)

Time: Mon 01:00 pm Location: Embassy AB - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Title: SF Win, Lose or Draw!
Description: Compete with fellow fans in getting your team to decipher your drawings of words, phrases and items from around the SF world. The winners will receive prizes and accolades.
(Tentative Panelists: Jean Marie Ward)

Time: Mon 02:30 pm Location: Chastain DE - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
Title: The End of the Line: A Lost Girl Fan Panel
Description: A moderated fan-panel discussion of the beloved series' last season, and whether or not it provided closure and a satisfying ending.
(Tentative Panelists: Kevin Bachelder, Jean Marie Ward, Valerie Hampton, E.J. Stevens)

My Dragon Con Schedule, 2015 Edition

It's that time again--Dragon Con time. Starting this afternoon, Greg and Pumba will be on their own for the better part of a week, and I'll be working panels and catching up with friends at the world's number one summer camp for wayward adults. If you're going to be there, too, I hope you'll join me at one of my panels:

Title: And, That's the Truth!
Time: Fri 02:30 pm Location: Embassy D-F - Hyatt
Panelists: Mike Bara, Michelle Belanger, Dr. Bob Blackwood, Mike Faber, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator)
Description: How to build a career, or supplement your fiction career, writing non-fiction.

Title: Broad Universe Reading
Time: Fri 07:00 pm Location: Embassy A-B - Hyatt
Panelists: Trisha Wooldridge, Gail Martin, Kathryn Hinds, Jean Marie Ward and more
Description: The ladies of Broad Universe read snippets from their work.

Title: Navigating the Media/Online Frenzy
Time: Sat 11:30 am Location: Embassy D-F - Hyatt
Panelists: Gail Z. Martin, Tom Merritt, Michael Z. Williamson, Mike Faber, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator)
Description: What else is out there besides Facebook? How to generate "buzz" about a book to promote sales.

Title: The Source: Folklore & Mythology in UF
Time: Sun 01:00 pm Location: Chastain ED - Westin
Panelists: Alethea Kontis, Leanna Renee Hieber, Jean Marie Ward, Jonathan Maberry, Valerie Hampton, Samantha Sommersby
Description: Urban fantasy is rooted in age-old myth, legend, and folklore. Authors discuss influences.

Title: Showcase: Todd McCaffrey
Time: Sun 08:30 pm Location: Embassy A-B - Hyatt (Length: 1)
Description: Todd McCaffrey discusses his life and work with Jean Marie Ward (Moderator) and answers questions from the audience.

Title: Win, Lose, or Draw, SF Style
Time: Mon 01:00 pm Location: Embassy A-B - Hyatt (Length: 1)
MC: Jean Marie Ward
Description: The game of drawing & guessing returns to the Lit track. Prizes & glory!

But even though I'll be away from my keyboard for the next week, you can still participate the great Zombies Need Brains Kickstarter for two (count 'em) new anthologies, Alien Artifacts and Were- featuring authors like Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Phyllis Ames, Jacey Bedford, Patricia Bray, David B. Coe, David Farland/Dave Wolverton, C.S. Friedman, Walter H. Hunt, Faith Hunter, Katharine Kerr, Gini Koch, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, Gail and Larry N. Martin, Seanan McGuire, Juliet E. McKenna and me. Click here for the details on two of the best anthologies you'll read in 2016. The Kickstarter will be ending just about the time I return, so don't miss out!

My 2014 Dragon Con Schedule

Yeah, I’ve been a Bad Blogger. In my defense, I’ve been hard at work on Unconventional Fantasy, a huge anthology celebrating the fortieth anniversary of World Fantasy Con, coming up in Crystal City, Virginia, this November.
About the only thing I’ve had time for is convention appearances, and one of the biggest is coming up fast. I’m about to leave for the World’s Biggest Summer Camp for Wayward Adults: Dragon Con. We’ll be taking over downtown Atlanta, August 29 to September 1. There will be parades! Music! Gaming! Films! Puppetry (no foolin’)! And of course, panels like the these:

 -------------------
Title: Just the Facts, Ma'am...
Description: Writers of non-fiction looking for a career boost? This panel is geared toward perfecting your craft--and discovering new outlets for your work.
Time: Fri 02:30 pm
Location: Embassy D-F - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
Panelists: Jean Marie Ward (moderator), John L. Flynn, M. B. Weston, Stuart Jaffe, Anya Martin, Teresa Patterson)

 -------------------
Title: Athena’s Daughters Signing
Description: Meet the writers of Athena's Daughters at the Artists Alley table of cover artist Autumn Frederickson.
Time: Fri 04:30 pm
Location: Grand Hall West - Hyatt (Length: 1.5 Hours)
(Panelists: Autumn Frederickson, Jean Marie Ward)

 -------------------
Title: Athena’s Daughters Authors Meet and Greet
Description: Meet the talented ladies behind the popular Athena's Daughters Anthology, featuring heroines of all ages and stories for the entire family
Time: Sat 10:00 am
Location: A708 - Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)
(Panelists: Janine K. Spendlove, Gail Z. Martin, Jean Marie Ward, Diana Peterfreund)

 -------------------
Title: SciFi Spies
Description: Secret agent/spy fiction has always overlapped with SF in a big way, from futuristic gadgets to flying cars to laser cannons in space.
Time: Sat 11:30 am
Location: Embassy A-B - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
(Panelists: Van Allen Plexico, Jean Marie Ward)

 -------------------
Title: Their World Forever Changed: Chaos and Heartbreak on Lost Girl
Description: A moderated fan-panel discussion of the hit show. (Note: this is a fan panel. No cast members will be appearing on this panel.)
Time: Sat 08:30 pm
Location: Chastain ED - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
(Panelists: Jean Marie Ward)

 -------------------
Title: Who Needs Dystopias When You Have History
Description: From infant sacrifice in Carthage to the Inquisition, history offers some of the darkest times and places you NEVER want to visit in a time machine.
Time: Sat 10:00 pm
Location: Augusta 3 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
(Panelists: Jean Marie Ward (moderator), A. J. Hartley, D.B. Jackson, Katherine Kurtz, Gail Z. Martin, Kathryn Hinds)

 -------------------
Title: Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
Description: A program of bite-sized readings from some of your favorite Broad Universe authors.
Time: Sun 11:30 am
Location: Vinings - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
(Panelists: Gail Z. Martin, Janine Spendlove, Jean Marie Ward, Trisha Wooldridge)

 -------------------
Title: Lifestyles of Science Fiction
Description: Science fiction doesn't only explore scientific possibilities but also social ones.
Time: Sun 10:00 pm
Location: Embassy A-B - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
(Panelists: Diane Hughes, Jean Marie Ward)

 -------------------
Title: Victorian Technology
Description: A panel discussion of the technology of the Victorian era and how to exploit it in your stories or imagination!
Time: Mon 11:30 am
Location: Augusta 1-2 - Westin (Length: 1 Hour)
(Panelists: Jean Marie Ward, Stephanie Osborn)

 -------------------
Title: Win, Lose or Draw Description: SF style.
Description: The traditional convention-closer for the SF Literature Track. Once again, I'll be hosting a competition based on contestants ability to get others to decipher their artwork. There will be prizes, too.
Time: Mon 01:00 pm
Location: Embassy A-B - Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)
(Panelists: Jean Marie Ward)

 Looking forward to seeing you there!

Dragon Con 2013: The Good, the Bad, and the...Waffles?

A Steampunk Clark Kent reveals his
true identity at the Aether Lounge
party Aug. 29.

*Twitch*Twitch*Twitch*

Oops! You weren't supposed to see the traditional post-Dragon Con Dead Bug Routine. But this Dragon Con was so much more than usual--more people, more lines, more panels...

Did I mention MORE PEOPLE? Unofficial estimates put attendance at over 70,000 per day. There were lines for everything, including most of the writing track panels. Never saw that before! On the plus side, even the more obscure panelists played to packed rooms.

On the negative, people spent more time in line than they did at events, and at least some of it was spent in the rain--not good if you were in costume. The dealers and exhibit spaces were moved to the America's Mart, which meant that folks not in line were probably on their way to or from shopping. As a hardworking panelist, I didn't get in much shopping. If my roomie Jana Oliver and Glennis LeBlanc of The Missing Volume hadn't conspired on my behalf, I never would've been able to get a copy of Jana's new novel, Briar Rose.

The closest I got to shopping was the Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab booth on the first floor of the America's Mart. There I went to town.

Author Faith Hunter (left) and Alison,
the embodiment of her series character
Jane Yellowrock. You should hear
the holy water clank when she moves!

Did I mention I was hardworking? There were nine panels listed on my Guest badge, not including my stint as a presenter for the Parsec Awards. I wound up on two more--one as an emergency fill-in; the other because there were already eight people on the panel, and they figured one more couldn't hurt.

I also recorded eight interviews for Buzzy Mag, including Jim Butcher, and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn and Richard Epcar, two of the most distinctive voices from one of my favorite anime series, Ghost in the Shell. In the process I discovered that Faith Hunter has the best entourage. I mean, who wouldn't want to have Jane Yellowrock as their personal bodyguard? I also saw some amazing costumes.

But I must confess to a major fail in the photography department. I wasn't fast enough to photograph two women in the Hyatt's Elevator of the Damned. One had diminutive bats doing duty as pasties and a bikini bottom consisting mostly of cobwebs. Her companion had a bra of rubber chickens over a bottom of waffles. Yes, waffles.

I couldn't make this stuff up! I'm not that good!

For the rest, you can see the pictures (and a little light commentary) on my Flickr page, The interviews will follow in about six months. Then we'll be ramping up to do it all over again. I can't wait!