Going to RavenCon

My 2009 conference season starts off with a bang this Friday at Richmond’s RavenCon. If you’re in the neighborhood of the Crowne Plaza West, drop by and say hello--and hang around for the festivities. Mary Shelley’s going to be making a return engagement, and this time I think I can get the hair right. As for the rest, I think they’re going to get their money’s worth...

Friday

5 p.m.: Twice-Told Tales
Some of the most popular adult and young adult fantasy in today’s market are retellings of classic fairy tales and myths. What’s the allure? How do writers find something new to say about the stories we all know?
Panelists: Marcia Collette, Edmund Schubert (moderator), Jean Marie Ward, John C. Wright

7 p.m.: Writing 411: (Not Necessarily) The Usual Suspects (90-minute literary workshop)
Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, Jack Bauer, Reno—chances are the thing you like best and remember longest about your favorite stories are the characters. This session will discuss the importance of characters in the creation of plot.
Panelists: Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Jean Marie Ward, Allen Wold (moderator), John C. Wright

10 p.m.: Urban Fantasy 101
Werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters—these used to be classic “horror” elements. What defines Urban Fantasy and how does it differ from classic horror?
Panelists: Danny Birt, Marcia Colette, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Hildy Silverman, Jean Marie Ward (moderator)

Saturday

3 p.m.: Dead Authors Society
Four authors channel the spirits of their favorite dead authors for the duration. Talk to William Morris, David Gemmel, Louie L’Amour and Mary Shelley live…sort of.Panelists: Lyn Gardner, Laurel Anne Hill, Peter Prellwitz, Tony Ruggiero (moderator), Jean Marie Ward

6 p.m.: Books on TV
Several new series are popping up on TV based on popular novels--TrueBlood and Legend of the Seeker, for example. How closely do these TV shows follow their inspiration and will book fans follow them to television?
Panelists: James Fulbright, Jean Marie Ward

10 p.m.: Love at First Bite
What is it about vampires? From TrueBlood to Twilight, vampires seem to be taking over. What makes them fun to read and watch? Oh… and do they deserve “human rights” or are they “monsters”?
Panelists: Paul Bibeau, Marcia Collette, Tony Ruggiero (moderator), Jean Marie Ward

Sunday

Noon: Does Blood Smell?
A panel about some of the more “icky” aspects of writing and research.
Panelists: Laurel Anne Hill, Gail Martin, Tony Ruggiero (moderator), Maggie Stiefvater, Jean Marie Ward

Too many farewells: Andy Hallett

I didn't realize 2009 was going to be about good-byes, and I certainly didn't think one of those farewells would be to 33-year-old Andy Hallett, who played Lorne on the TV show Angel. Sorry as I was to see a nice guy die so young, I didn't plan on any memorials either. Since late last week I've been wrestling with my latest Short Story of Doom and managing the parade of repair people it takes to replace a thirty-year-old furnace. Besides, I didn't know Andy any better than any of the other journalists who interviewed him in his first blush of syndicated fame. Anything I could've said would've been said better a lot sooner than I could.

Then I reread his Crescent Blues interview. I'd forgotten what a butterfly he was--a not-so-little boy (he stood over a foot taller than me) let loose in the great candy shop of life. Almost eight years later, the wonder and the joy still shine through. In the words of "Lady Marmalade", his favorite song, Andy never had to go back home, doing 9 to 5, living a gray flannel life. Which is only right, butterflies hate gray.

So long, Andy. I hope your next turn boasts satin sheets, sweet magnolia wine and lots of more, more, more.

DragonCon, here I come

My name is listed on the DragonCon Guests Page, and they've given me a biography of my very own.  So it's official, I will be adding my own special brand of madness to DragonCon, September 4-7.  Not only that, they've added a new track featuring everybody's favorite new genre, Steampunk.  Okay, now you have Lois McMasters Bujold, Charlaine Harris and ME--plus that brand new Steampunk track--on the schedule.  Why haven't you bought your membership yet?  ;-)

With flourishes and fanfares, I give you JeanMarieWard.com

My new home on the web is complete. JeanMarieWard.com is now live. The links work, including the Amazon gifs. (Yes, I'm an affiliate. Don't hate me.) I still can't crosspost between blogs, but I can copy and paste for the time being.

I'll be leaving WardSmith.com up on the web as a tribute to Teri. But all the new stuff--including free reads, banners and videos (when I get good enough to make them)--will be posted at the new place. Enjoy!

Going to Dragon*Con

I’m about to leave for my favorite summer camp for wayward adults: Dragon*Con. This year they’re working me to the bone, and I hate to suffer alone. So if you’d like to drop by to cheer, jeer or just say hello, this is where you’ll find me:

Saturday

Paranormal Romance vs. Urban Fantasy - The panel hopes to explore what distinguishes the two genres and whether it’s possible for writers to break genre barriers and still keep their core audiences. Panelists: Raven Hart, Rita Herron, Carol Malcolm (Moderator), Jackie Kessler, Jean Marie Ward. 2:30 p.m., Montreal/Vancouver Room (Hyatt)

Magic and Religion in Science Fiction and Fantasy - Magic as religion? Or religion as magic? Is there such a thing? Can it be both? A. Davis, Glenda Finkelstein (Moderator), Katherine Kurtz, Jody Lynn Nye, Jean Marie Ward. 4 p.m. Fairlie Room (Hyatt)

Attack of the Dead Authors Society - You want to see what happens when I channel Mary Shelley? It ain’t gonna pretty--especially when they let me loose against a bunch of guys. I'm not kidding, despite Stephanie's presence on the panel, they're all coming as male authors. That is so wrong on so many levels. Come and see the carnage--I mean, fun. Joe Crowe, Larry Davis, Van Allen Plexico (Moderator), Stephanie Souders, Jean Marie Ward. 10 p.m. Fairlie Room (Hyatt)

Sunday

Other Worlds, Other Times - Romance is now exploiting the tropes of science fiction--space voyages, time travel, magical lands, etc. What are the key motifs for today’s romance writers? How do they use them differently than their SF/fantasy colleagues--especially when, under other names, they may be the same people? They’re letting me run this one, and for some reason, they expect me to be conscious the morning after the Cruxshadows' midnight concert. I believe the term "cock-eyed optimist" was coined for situations like these. Panelists: Sandra Hill, Susan Kearney, Susan Sizemore, Jean Marie Ward (Moderator), C.L. Wilson. 10 a.m., Montreal/Vancouver Room (Hyatt)

Dark Secrets, Shadowed Hearts - Tortured anti-heroes or insufferable jerks? Why we lover (or hate) alpha males and “bad boys”. Panelists: Carole Nelson Douglas, Rita Herron, Donna Lynch, Carol Malcolm (Moderator), Jeanne C Stein, Jean Marie Ward. 1 p.m., Montreal/Vancouver Room (Hyatt)

Plumbing the Anima: On Fritz Leiber - Everything Fritz Leiber will be up for discussion. Since he’s the fantasy writer who inspired me to write fantasy, I’m looking forward to this. I’d look forward to it more if there were more of us on the panel, though. Panelists: T. Leonard, Jean Marie Ward. 2:30 p.m. Greenbriar Room (Hyatt)

Monday

Tales of Dragaera - This time around this discussion centers on Steven Brust. Expect the good, the bad, and lots of Eastern European food porn. Panelists: Van Allen Plexico, Jean Marie Ward. 11:30 a.m., Greenbriar Room (Hyatt)

What’s Next for Romance? - These days, it seems you can’t have a con without asking this question. Industry professionals talk about the current trends in the romance genre and where they expect the field to go next. Panelists: Althea Kontis, Carol Malcolm (Moderator), Deborah Smith, Jean Marie Ward. 2:30 p.m., Montreal/Vancouver Room (Hyatt)

See you there!

Beavers And Turtles And Ducks, Oh My!

I finally joined the YouTube Generation last night. Quite by accident I photographed a series of nature shots at a local stream that made a decent slide show. So if you want to see some of Virginia's not-quite-wild fauna, you might want to check out the results here. I happened to catch the patriarch of the beaver family, two snapping turtles (one of them with an 18-inch shell) and, of course, the ever-present ducks.

BTW, the turtles like popcorn even more than the ducks--or maybe the ducks know better than to contest the matter.

Cheers,

Jean Marie

The Beach Said, "Ouch!"

Figured I'd better establish raise the flag on Blogspot, if only to secure my name. Will be interesting to see how this works out. Cheers, Jean Marie