The Russian Trepak!!!

I'm so proud of So You Think You Can Dance for what they've done this season to introduce world dance to America. And! The fact that two hip hop dancers are in the finale. Hip Hop dancers dancing a Trepak?! Amazing.
I want America academia to think that way about bringing World Literature over here. That's all I'm saying.


Project Runway later. I'm exhausted. Summer school finally ended today and I get all of... three days off? before I'll be back for sorority stuff. Somewhere in there is ArmadilloCon. Woot! So I'll use this opportunity to publish what sessions I'm going to.

From 8:45 Friday morning until... uh I don't know when I'll be at the writers' workshop. After I take a break for food in there somewhere I'll be going to...

Fr1700DW Electronically Published Fiction

Fri 5:00 PM-6:00 PM deWitt

Burton*, Henderson, Huff, Marin, McKinney, Trimm

An examination of new publishing avenues opened by technology, and the best places to publish and read it.

Fr1800DZ Why I Write

Fri 6:00 PM-7:00 PM deZavala

Bey*, Sheridan, Swann, Wade, Swenson

Our panelists discuss why and how they transitioned from reader to writer.

Fr2000PF Meet the Pros Party

Fri 8:00 PM-10:00 PM Prefunction Area

Mingle with and meet your favorite writers, artists, and editors. They're friendly -- honest -- and would love to chat with you.

Fr2030DW Reading

Fri 8:30 PM-9:00 PM deWitt

J. M. McDermott

Fr2100DZ Interstitial Fiction

Fri 9:00 PM-10:00 PM deZavala

Denton, Klaw, Person, Richerson, Trimm*

A lot of recent fiction falls between the cracks of genre. There have been anthologies devoted to it, and now there is the Interstitial Arts Foundation. The most recent Nebula-winning novel falls into this category. What are the essential works and authors, and is this a full-fledged literary movement?

Fr2200DW Neglected Gems of Genre Fiction

Fri 10:00 PM-11:00 PM deWitt

Blaschke*, Brust, Graham, Hobson, Nakashima-Brown, Sheridan

Which works of speculative fiction are the most criminally-neglected?

Or? (If Lindsey is with me she'll want to go to this one \/ for sure. I won't have a choice.)

Fr2200DZ Adult Topics in SF & F

Fri 10:00 PM-11:00 PM deZavala

Hale, Huey, Kimbriel*, Roberts, C. Spector

Must be 18 or older to attend! We'll have a freestyle discussion of "advanced" topics including sensitive topics in fiction, specialized cons and fannish subgroups, and wherever else our panelists want to take it.

Saturday

YES! I don't have any panels I want to go to until noon. Brilliant. I can sleep.

Sa1200DZ Literary Criticism

Sat Noon-1:00 PM deZavala

Hobson, Huey, Kofmel, McDermott, Webb*, Wagner

How does critique of sf differ from that of mainstream literature? Where should one look for the best analysis? Is this the domain of fans, or are academics taking over?

Sa1300R Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading

Sat 1:00 PM-2:00 PM Robertson

Burton, Dimond, Eudaly, Henderson, Latner, Leicht, N. J. Moore*, Reisman

Come hear several good but short readings by members of one of our favorite writers' organizations.

Sa1400DW What You Should Have Read

Sat 2:00 PM-3:00 PM deWitt

Dimond*, Hevelin, Klaw, Marin, W. Siros, S. Williams

Our distinguished panel of writers, editors, and book-sellers discuss their take on the most important, influential, and enjoyable books and stories of the year.

Sa1500DZ Sex, Drugs, and Urban Fantasy: Teen Fiction is Not For Kids

Sat 3:00 PM-4:00 PM deZavala

Chester, Leicht, J. Moore, Thomas, Sarath*, Wagner

"Young Adult" fiction sometimes seems obsessed with some adult or at least dark topics. Is this a natural reflection of the challenges facing the target audience, or a marketting excess?

Sa1600DW Crazy Grrlz: Slipstream Ain't Just for Boys

Sat 4:00 PM-5:00 PM deWitt

N. J. Moore, Nakashima-Brown, Oliver, Reisman, Ward, Wheeler*

The guys writing hard-to-classify alternative fiction have gotten a lot of attention, and labels such as "Texas Weird". What about the women working this same vein?

YES! A break for dinner!

Sa1900PN Paranormal Romance

Sat 7:00 PM-8:00 PM Phoenix North

Babcock*, Burton, Frost, Kenner, Kimbriel, Mallory

The romance genre has invaded our turf! A large portion of the sf shelves is devoted to the cross-genre paranormal romance. What are the attactions? Why are so many authors making the jump to this fast-growing movement?

Sa2000DZ Elves in Condos

Sat 8:00 PM-9:00 PM deZavala

Fletcher, Kenner, Rogers*, D. L. Smith, Swann, Wade

Urban fantasy isn't just a matter of putting elves on motorcycles or in a rock band. What is it -- and why is it so fascinating?

Sa2100DZ Metafiction in Comics

Sat 9:00 PM-10:00 PM deZavala

Benjamin, Blaschke, Klaw*, Porter, Potter

Metafiction has a long and rich history in comic books and graphic novels. Recent works such as Dr. 13, Nextwave, Scott Pilgrim and Ambush Bug have ushered in a new era for this insightful and entertaining storytelling method. What are some of the best examples, why do writers & artists use this method, and why has it become so popular?

Then it's nighty night!

Sunday

Su1000PN Religious Themes in SF

Sun 10:00 AM-11:00 AM Phoenix North

Broderick, Dimond*, Eudaly, Latner, Webb

How does religion inform our panelists’ writing? And how do they feel religion has been treated in science fiction?

or

Su1000DW Challenges of Writing Genre for Younger Readers

Sun 10:00 AM-11:00 AM deWitt

Benjamin, Chester, Fletcher*, J. Moore, C. L. Smith, M. Williams

How does writing for young adults differ from writing for adult readers? Our panelists discuss whether it’s harder, easier, or pretty much the same, but with a different label.

I can't decide...

and ALL of these sound interesting!

Su1100PN Alternate History

Sun 11:00 AM-Noon Phoenix North

Huff, J. Lansdale, Mills, Rogers, Utley, S. Williams*

Rome never falls, Dewey defeats Truman, New England Patriots defeat the Giants in the Superbowl. A discussion of writing alternate history and how to show how changes in the past can affect the present.

Su1100DW Living with a Creator

Sun 11:00 AM-Noon deWitt

C. Foster, G. Haldeman*, K. Lansdale, W. Spector, T. Wilson

What’s it like living with a writer or artist? Is it more boredom, like going to conventions where you have nothing to do because your spouse was invited? Or is it more excitement, such as seeing a new work spring from their fingertips? Our panelists will give us an idea of what living with a creator is like.

Su1100DZ No More Excuses: Making Writing a Part of Your Life

Sun 11:00 AM-Noon deZavala

Antonelli, Broderick, Kenner, Richerson, Sarath*, M. Wells

Having trouble fitting writing into your life? We'll have tips, tactics, and boot camp-style exhortations to get you to stop making excuses and spend more time writing.

LUNCH!!

Su1300PN From Agent to Editor to Publisher to Store

Sun 1:00 PM-2:00 PM Phoenix North

Finn, G. Haldeman, Leicht, Roberson, Rosen*

We examine the process and decisions between an author finishing a book and it showing up on store shelves.

I dunno. I think I'm gonna go home then!!!!!! Nothing else tickles my fancy enough to stay longer when I really should get back.