Can*Con 2024 — Where I’ll Be

Audiobook! Eee! So. Excited.

Hey all! I’ve been pretty much buried under the various last steps of getting Upon the Midnight Queer ready for its release on November 12th (including having gotten the physical proof, the audiobook proofs, and I can now happily announce that Giancarlo Herrera is back, and he’s brought Hannah Schooner with him, and listening to them perform off each other in these stories has been the highlight of this whole journey thus far).

That’s the “why have you been so quiet?” part.

Tonight, though, I’m heading to the Hallowe’en party that’s pre-launching this year’s Can*Con, and I can’t wait! I mean, not for the party (though I’m looking forward to the party) but for Can*Con itself. If you don’t know about Can*Con, allow me to cut-and-paste their self-description for you: Can*Con is a periodic science fiction and fantasy convention in Ottawa put on by The Rocket Words Society.  Can*Con supports diverse, emerging and established speculative fiction authors in honing their craft, expanding their professional networks, and accessing tools and resources to further their artistic careers.

That doesn’t do it justice, but they’re being humble. It’s a favourite event, and one I look forward to year after year.

Where I’ll Be

If you’re also at Can*Con and you want to say hello, please do! I love meeting new people and then immediately saying something awkward and making us both regret every life choice that led to that moment. It’s kind of my whole thing. (I’m kidding. Well, I hope I’m kidding.)

But definitely say hi if you see me. Also? I’ve got a full tin of Death Prediction cards (from my This is How You Die days) and if you’d like, just ask me how you’re going to die and I’ll give you a prediction card!

How’s that for a non-awkward icebreaker, eh? Eh?

I’m going to be taking part in a few panels/discussions as well, and here they are:

Friday November 1st — 8:00pm, Salon C — “Making the Fun Stuff Work” — Whether it’s an intricate fight scene, a horror gorefest, or explicit sex, many subgenres have sequences that enhance the fun, while not necessarily furthering the plot. While readers enjoy these features, and often expect them from certain subgenres, how do writers navigate hitting the “pause” button on the plot for the sake of these sequences? How can we make sure that these scenes enhance the story, rather than just existing? Is there a way to craft them so that they appeal to those who aren’t excited or titillated at the start? Panelists: ‘Nathan Burgoine, James Downe, and Aysha U. Farah; Moderated by Ira Nayman.

Saturday November 2nd — 1:30pm, Vendors Room — Signing! — Myself and the brilliant Kate Heartfield will be signing for half an hour. She’s amazing, so mostly I’ll be sitting there and gushing to her, but I promise to sign anything you bring my way. Oh! This is open to the public, by the way!

Saturday November 2nd — 4:00pm, Salon C — “Three’s (Not) A Crowd: Polyamory in Fiction — Though far from unheard of, polyamory is still somewhat rare as a focus in fiction. Whether it’s an open relationship, one character with multiple committed partners, or a full triad (or quadrangle, etc.), more characters means more interactions, more development, and more dynamics to balance. How do the elements of writing compelling relationships change when polyamory is added to the mix? What are the joys and challenges of creating polyamorous characters and relationships? Do these components change when writing polyamorous characters/relationships as a side plot, versus as a capital-R Romance? Panelists: ‘Nathan Burgoine, Steve Kenson, Avi Silver; Moderated by Rebecca Bennett.

Sunday November 3rd — 10:00am, Salon D — “The Need for Community” — From found family to intergenerational tales, stories across speculative fiction showcase the importance of community in a variety of forms, beyond the obvious need for human connection. In what ways have recent works spotlighted resilience and hope as something inherent to a healthy community? How do writers approach the notion of community in a way that’s nuanced and realistic? At what point does conflict become too much, bringing fictional community to its breaking point? Panelists: Charlotte Ashley, André Geleynse, Terese Mason Pierre; Moderated by ‘Nathan Burgoine.

Dude, I Didn’t Get a Ticket!

Worry not! All is not lost! The Vendors Room is open to the public, and there’ll be people signing there throughout the event (including me at 1:30pm on Saturday), The Vendors Room hours are: FRIDAY, NOV 1: 5pm – 8pm, SATURDAY, NOV 2: 10am – 6pm, and SUNDAY, NOV 3: 10am – 4pm.