I'm Baaaaak--With my Schedule for Balticon too

 

Like it says on the box, I’m back on the web. JeanMarieWard.com was down for the better part of a year thanks after a someone hacked my former webmaster’s server. But a brilliant friend not only recovered most of the data from the Wayback Machine, she taught me how to navigate process of rebuilding the site. Who knew building blocks could be SO HARD?

I’m also back at Balticon–or will be momentarily. I’ll be leaving spouse and cat tomorrow to return to Baltimore’s best Memorial Day Weekend party. I have a wonderful schedule of panels too:

Friday, May 23, 7 PM, Mount Washington Room
Is it Horror or Dark Fantasy?
New sub-genres pop up all the time. Dark Fantasy is being used a lot these days. Is it horror light or something altogether different? Panelists: Carl Cipra (Moderator), David Boop, Randee Dawn, Jean Marie Ward

Saturday, May 24, 7 PM, Pride of Baltimore II Room
Humorous Fantasy Is a Serious Business
Is humorous fantasy underrated? In an era of serious narratives and grimdark stories, have humorous approaches to fantasy become less popular? Readers may not take humorous fantasy because of its…non-seriousness. Humor, absurdity, and satire are not only a reason to laugh, but can also be a vehicle for biting observations. Sir Terry Pratchett was a past master of the form. Who leads the field now? Panelists: Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), Doc Coleman, Alex Shvartsman, Martin Berman-Gorvine

Sunday, May 25, 1 PM, Mount Washington Room
Juggling POV
It’s a hallmark of SFF to provide different points of view. How many POV characters are too many? How do jump from one character to another without losing your readers? Learn from pros who have kept their readers along for the ride. Panelists: Alan Smale (Moderator), Ken Altabef, Catherine Asaro, Jean Marie Ward

Sunday, May 25, 4 PM, St. George Room
Readings
Readers: Sharon Lee and Jean Marie Ward (Editorial note: SQUEEEE!!!)

Sunday, May 25, 5:30 PM, Gibson Room
Orpheus Again?
Orpheus and Eurydice mythos have seeded the imaginations of numerous creators. From the Netflix show Kaos to Broadway’s Hadestown to the novelette “L’Esprit de L’Escalier” by Catherine Valente, why does the myth have such a resonance in modern times? What is it telling us about how we see life and love? Or is there something deeper? Panelists: Rosemary Claire Smith (Moderator), Sherri Cook, Tom Doyle, Jean Marie Ward

Sunday, May 25, 8:30 PM, Mount Washington Room
Eye of Argon Reading
Yes, we’re doing it again. We just can’t stop enjoying the absurdity of this absurdly written piece of absurd fiction. While the reading starts with our panelists, the pain often spills over into the audience. Gird your loins. Panelists: Ian Randal Strock (Moderator), A.L. Kaplan, Mary G. Thompson, Jean Marie Ward

See you there!