ConFusion and Plush Goblin
First off, because it is awesome: A crocheted Jig the Goblin. (Crocheted Smudge the Fire-spider is also pictured.) This officially makes socchan my favorite person of the week.
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I’m off to ConFusion for the weekend, where I have the honor of being Toastmaster. Basically, I get to MC the opening ceremonies and introduce our various amazing guests, including Pat Rothfuss, Harley Thronson, Tom Smith, Roxanne King, Peter Brett, Joe Abercrombie, Brett Weeks, and Robin Hobb. Those are just the guests of honor, mind you. Check out some of the other authors who’ll be in attendance. It is indeed epic.
So is my schedule, which looks roughly like this:
Friday
7:00 pm – I Suck! In which various authors compete in good fun to play “dueling suck.” I’m excited about this one, which I proposed after joking around with Pat Rothfuss at ConFusion last year. If all goes well, it should be mightily entertaining. Jim C. Hines [M], Patrick Rothfuss, John Scalzi, Scott Lynch, Joe Abercrombie.
8:00 pm – Opening Ceremonies I’m actually a bit nervous about this one. I blame Howard Tayler, who did his Toastmaster gig at Penguicon last year in a tuxedo. How can I top that? (I do have an idea or two…)
Saturday
10:00 am – Jim C. Hines Kaffeeklatsch I’ve never actually kaffeeklatsched before, so this should be interesting. It’s in the Concierge Lounge, and it looks like you need to sign up at OPS if you’re interested. I’m thinking about bringing dust jackets for Libriomancer to sign and hand out. What do you think?
11:00 am – Reading with Me and Kristine Smith Kristine and I will be reading our stories from The Modern Fae’s Guide to Surviving Humanity.
1:00 pm – Science in Fantasy Jason Sanford [M], Catherine Shaffer, Jim C. Hines, Cindy Spencer Pape.
4:00 pm – Care and Feeding of the Writer Elizabeth Bear [M], Jim C. Hines, Catherine Shaffer, Gretchen Ash, Robin Hobb.
5:00 pm – Mass Autographing
Sunday
11:00 am – Future of Publishing Roxanne Meida King [M], Jim C. Hines, Rick Jackson.
1:00 pm – Women in Combat Carrie Harris [M], Jim C. Hines, Scott Lynch, Kristine Smith, Kameron Hurley.
3:00 pm – Closing Ceremonies
And then I come home and collapse on the couch. This doesn’t even include things like barcon time or the Dungeons and Dragons game I’ll be playing in along with various other author guests. I wonder if they’ll let me play a goblin…
I’m really excited about this con. I’ve been going to ConFusion for roughly a decade now, and the con has just gotten bigger and better. Can’t wait to see everyone!
Angela Korra'ti
January 19, 2012 @ 10:43 am
OMG, crocheted Jig and Smudge are adorable!
Jim C. Hines
January 19, 2012 @ 10:51 am
Aren’t they great?
Martin L. Shoemaker
January 19, 2012 @ 12:04 pm
Rumor has it that Dr. Phil Kaldon was listed on an earlier version of this schedule. Did he bow out? Weather on his (and my) side of the state is a little nasty.
Jim C. Hines
January 19, 2012 @ 12:08 pm
I don’t know; I thought he was going to be there…
Martin L. Shoemaker
January 19, 2012 @ 12:16 pm
So you didn’t edit this list and remove his name? Then I’m confused! (The con schedule still lists him.)
I’m trying to talk myself into one of two decisions: drive across the snow-blown state for the con, or stay home and write a story that has been nagging for my attention. The friends I hoped to meet there had other commitments, so I’m leaning toward writing; but Dr. Phil might make me change my mind.
Jim C. Hines
January 19, 2012 @ 12:20 pm
I took the names of the panelists directly from the ConFusion website. I hope Dr. Phil will be there, but he doesn’t appear to be scheduled in any of the panels I’m on.
Looking at the site, he does appear to be scheduled for other panels, though.
Martin L. Shoemaker
January 19, 2012 @ 12:34 pm
Huh. My friend must have misled me, then. He thought he saw Dr. Phil mentioned on this page (he’s a regular reader here), but then couldn’t find him when he checked back. Maybe he clicked your “other authors” link. Dr. Phil is there.
Jim C. Hines
January 19, 2012 @ 12:38 pm
Wait – there was one other panel I had listed briefly, but it wasn’t up for very long. Dr. Phil might have been in that one…
I didn’t remove anyone’s name, but I did pull that panel off my post when my liaison reminded me I wasn’t scheduled for it any more. I bet that’s what happened.
(Sorry – very little sleep last night, so the brain’s working slower than usual today.)
Martin L. Shoemaker
January 19, 2012 @ 12:40 pm
You’re supposed to be short of sleep AFTER the Con, not BEFORE!
Jim C. Hines
January 19, 2012 @ 12:43 pm
Tell that to the six-year-old who got sick three times last night!