Join me at Capclave

 

Heading to the DC area this weekend? Have I got the event for you! Capclave, the con where reading is not extinct, will take over the Hilton Executive Conference Center in Rockville, Maryland, September 19-21. There will be panels and guests galore, to say nothing of great programming.

We’ll also be doing The Eye of Argon, but don’t let that deter you. Check out my other panels:

Friday, 9 PM, Washington Theater
Fractured Fairy Tales (Ends at: 9:55 PM)
Participants: Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Jim Freund, Michael Swanwick, Jean Marie Ward (M)
From Disney to Alix Harrow to T. Kingfisher, people have twisted fairy tales into new works with new interpretations. What’s the appeal of reinterpreting Snow White and her peers? How can adaptation reinterpret traditional stories to provide new perspectives for new audiences and new times? What variants work and which ones have not? Is this a case of authors being lazy, relying on what others have done? Or is this using the power of fairy tales, and our connection to them forged in childhood, to make a greater statement?

Friday, 10 PM, Washington Theater
Eye of Argon (Ends at: 10:55 pm)
Participants: Íde Hennessy, Ian Randal Strock, Jean Marie Ward
The Eye of Argon is a story so bad it’s good. Legend has it that no one can read more than a page without exploding in laughter (or tears). Our bold assembly will attempt to read the story and act it out. Can they survive the reading? 

Saturday, Noon, Adams
Author Reading — Jean Marie Ward (Ends at: 12:25 pm)
Author Jean Marie Ward reads from recent and upcoming work.

Saturday, 3 PM, Jackson
Book Promotion (Ends at: 3:55 pm)
Participants: Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Michael Capobianco, Jim Freund, Nate Hoffelder, Michael J. Walsh, Jean Marie Ward (M)
What do writers really need to know about marketing? Podcasts, e-radio, BookTube, Kickstarter, Patron, and discount book sites are some of the ways you can promote your book. How can new writers tap into these options? What are some dos and don’ts? How much should writers invest in promotion and how do they measure results? 

Saturday, 7 PM (Ends 8:55 PM)
Mass Signing and Award Ceremony
(Everyone is invited to participate in the Mass signing.  Participants should grab a name tent and pile any books for sale on a table. Everyone can bring books to be signed (or make our dealers happy and buy them here).  Then stay to learn the winner of the WSFA Small Press Award. 

Sunday, 2 PM, Monroe
Point of View (Ends at: 2:55 pm)
Participants: Kel Coleman (M), Nicole Glover, Diana Peterfreund, Jean Marie Ward
Writers can write in the first person (I did that), third person (John did that), and (rarely) second person (you did that). What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? When do writers decide what POV to use and why might they make that choice? Have you written a story in one person (or one POV) and rewrote it with a different one? Under what circumstances would you choose not to write in the typical third person? Are there some subgenres or markets that lend themselves to a particular approach?

See you there!

 

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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!

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