My Arisia 2015 Panel Schedule

I'm excited and happy to have been accepted as a program participant for the upcoming Arisia conference. This is a large, annual science fiction/fan/lifestyle convention that takes place in Boston, at the Westin Boston Waterfront.

This is, I think, my sixth year as a panelist. Every year is so different in terms of the panels you get placed on. A few years ago I was on three gender-related panels. Two years ago I was very zombie-heavy. Another year I had several religion and spirituality-related panels. Last year I has two science panels, and a few very cool literature panels. My schedule this is year is very eclectic--one writing panel, a fan interest, gender, and science.

I'll also be participating in the Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading, where I *think* I'll be reading from my current novel-in-progress, a contemporary fantasy novel. That takes place Sunday at 11:30 am. I hope you'll come listen! The conference itself runs from Friday, Jan. 16 to Monday the 19th.

Without further ado...

Do We Need Science Fiction? — Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Marina 1 (2E)

The BBC's Business section recently asked whether or not we need science fiction to encourage the development of new technologies. What technologies have been inspired by SF? Would they have happened without SF? What devices in SF do you think are likely to be the next new technologies? As we enter the future described in SF books and movies, are our expectations changing?

James L. Cambias (m), B. Diane Martin, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Jeff Warner, Stephen R Wilk

Face Off: The Best Reality Show for Geeks — Media, Panel — 1hr 15min — Marina 4 (2E)

Plenty of geek-oriented reality shows have sprung up in recent years, but few have found the success of SyFy's Face Off, about to head into its eighth season. With its parade of Oscar and Emmy-award winners as judges and guest judges, some truly entertaining challenges, and incredible insight into the world of make-up and practical f/x, it's become a huge hit. Join us as we discuss what makes the show work creatively and how it's changed the way we view special effects.

Mark L Amidon, Toni "Leigh Perry" Kelner, Resa Nelson, Kate Nepveu (m), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

Shame on Slut-Shaming — Communities, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W)

Slut-shaming is the act of making a woman feel guilty or inferior for engaging in sexual behaviors that deviate from the norm, failing to uphold gender expectations, dressing in sexually provocative ways, requiring access to birth control, or even for being sexually assaulted or raped. What are the psychological and sociological causes of slut-shaming? What can be done to change people's attitudes?

Terry Franklin (m), Megan S. Markland, Michael McAfee, Melissa Perreira-Andrews, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading — Writing, Reading — 1hr 30min — Douglas (3W)

Broad Universe is an international organization of women and men dedicated to celebrating and promoting the work of women writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Come listen to dramatic live readings from works of members of the Broad Universe organization. Participants are members of the Broad Universe writers' group.

Terri Bruce, Anna Erishkigal, Lisa J. Evans, Justine Graykin, Elektra Hammond, Elaine Isaak, Jennifer Allis Provost, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Morven Westfield, Trisha Wooldridge (m)

Worldbuilding with the Soft Sciences — Writing, Panel — 1hr 15min — Hale (3W)

Let's skip past geology and cosmology and go straight to the sciences that study culture: linguistics, psychology, cultural anthropology, and the like. How does knowledge in these areas inform (or laughably fail to inform) speculative fictions' world building? How can we use insights from these disciplines to build worlds with a realistic diversity in their cultures?

Vikki Ciaffone, Alexander Feinman (m), James Meickle, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, W. B. J. Williams

Some of the Report-Out/Suggestions from My Arisia Panels

If you took my card at Arisia so that you could get the notes and/or book and movie suggestions from my panels, you may have already seen my post that I lost all of my notes due to technical/user error. (Never again will I take notes on my Google Nexus tablet--it's all paper and pen from here on.) 

With the help of some fellow panelists and audience members--and my memory--I'm able to provide SOME of the information I had collected. See below, by panel topic. I'm including panelist names, as they may have information on their blogs that you can refer to.

Read All the Things!

Panelists: Randee Dawn, Greer Gilman, Adam Lipkin (m), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, JoSelle Vanderhooft

The authors that were championed were: Jonathan Carroll, Angela Carter, Shirley Jackson, Octavia Butler, and Roger Zelazny. I championed Octavia Butler. The first works I read of hers were Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. I'd recommend starting there. If you have any questions about other works by Butler, feel free to contact me.

Zombies, More Zombies, and Even More Zombies

Panelists: Gayle Blake, Jeanne Cavelos, Gail Z Martin, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert (m), Barbara A Woodward

We talked about:

• The appeal of zombies-- the themes they tend to convey, and how those things connect to our modern world.

• What do zombies represent today?

• Zombie evolution--Shambling vs. sentient; personality or not (i.e. the movie Warm Bodies)

• Variations on the zombie theme (i.e. the Borg)

• Lesser-known zombie works.There were many great suggestions for zombie works, which I've lost. Some are: Dan Shamble PI, Dead Set, Spoiler

Spirituality in Fantasy and Science Fiction

Panelists: Erik Amundsen (m), Max Gladstone, Kate Kaynak, Daniel Jose Older, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

A lot of content came out of this panel. One of the books mentioned was A Canticle for Leibowitz, Chronicles of Narnia, also the Hyperion series. From my neo-Pagan perspective, I mentioned The Mists of Avalon and The Fifth Sacred Thing as works having influenced my spirituality. An audience member mentioned Dies the Fire.

I wish I could provide more... if any audience members or fellow panelists want to add more in the comments below, please do so!

Update on Report-Out from Arisia Panels...

So, I just posted the below to the Arisia Facebook group...


"Apparently, I saved ALL the notes from my panels incorrectly on my Google Nexus tablet. So, I have NO NOTES to share. I was purposefully taking notes/book-movie suggestions, etc. so that I could share them on my blog.

The panels I was part of were:
* Read All the Things
* Zombies, More Zombies & Even More Zombies
* Spirituality in F/SF
* Fear of Science--On the Rise?
* Get Off My Lawn: Backlash Against Progress in SF

If any of my fellow panelists or audience members have some notes to share, I'd appreciate it!

I'm SO GOING BACK to pen and paper. :-( "

I do have a few notes/things I remember, and I will post those. But I'm hoping to get some more info. from others. UGH! Sorry, and I'm SO mad at myself...

Placeholder for Report-out from Arisia...

Hi y'all! I know a dozen or so of you took my card at Arisia, so that you can access the lists of books/authors, zombie movie suggestions, and other notes from my panels. I promise it's forthcoming! I need to get my work life in order, deal with my kids, and get a writers' group submission in... then I'll be on it!

If you want to receive a notice when that blog post goes up, you can follow my blog and then a notice will go right to your inbox. Otherwise, check back in a week or so!

Thanks for the memories!

<3 Suzanne

In the meantime please accept this picture of my daughter with the Kaylee look-alike.

Some Writerly Announcements and Updates

Arisia

Headed to the Arisia Conference in Boston today--"New England's Largest and Most Diverse Science Fiction and Fantasy Conference." Hubby and I are taking our kids this year. Hopefully it will work out OK and everyone will have fun!

I have some announces about the conference and some cool announcements related to my writing. If you want to jump down to the announcements, just scroll to the bottom...

First the Arisia announcements...

• I belong to the group Broad Universe (BU), an international organization promoting women who write genre fiction. We are hosting an open party tonight at 8pm. If you're at the conference, come by and meet me and other 'Broads'! BU will also have a table in the dealers' room where you can find Broads hanging out throughout the weekend.

  

  BU parties always have THE BEST food!

• Broad Universe also has an RFR (rapid fire reading) on Saturday at 1pm in the Hale room. These events are lots of fun! Twelve BU members read from their works. It's a great way to hear your favorite authors, and find your next favorite! I'll be reading from Interview with the Faerie to help promote my newly-released book of poetry.
  
  
  
  

Writing Updates

• The issue of Creatio Fantastica that some of my work and an interview will appear in is scheduled to be released the last week of January. So, it's coming soon and be sure to check it out!
• The second big update is that I have started a new novel! And I wrote my first sex scene! The new novel is an urban fantasy romance--not normally what I write. But the idea just struck me, and I've been moderately depressed over the lack of progress of my other WIP, Ownership of the Gods. I will be writing this new novel under a pseudonym. Stay tuned for more information on this!

My Arisia 2014 Panel Schedule

Once again, I'll be attending Arisia--a science fiction and geek-culture convention in Boston. I love this con! Every year I am given the honor of being on such diverse and interesting panels. The composition is different every year! In the past, I've had many feminism-related panels. This year, I have none. I do have two science-related panels this year. And another zombie panel! I do love me them zombies :-)

Without further ado...

Read All The Things!

Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Faneuil (3W)

Sure, we have limited reading time, but there are some authors whose works clamor to be read in their entirety! Which authors? Come to this panel and find out! Each panelist will discuss the author whose complete works they deem absolutely essential. Come develop your reading list for the next year!

Randee Dawn, Greer Gilman, Adam Lipkin (m), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, JoSelle Vanderhooft

Zombies, More Zombies, and Even More Zombies

Fan Interest, Panel — 1hr 15min — Douglas (3W)

The past few years have seen a resurgence of zombies in print and media. Why? From The Walking Deadand Zombieland to Mira Grant's Newsflesh trilogy, what's the appeal? Do zombies still represent consumer culture as in Romero's films, or do they mean something different now? Come join the discussion on the origins and portrayals of zombies.

Gayle Blake, Jeanne Cavelos, Gail Z Martin, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert (m), Barbara A Woodward

Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading

Writing, Reading — 1hr 30min — Hale (3W)

Broad Universe is an international organization of women and men dedicated to celebrating and promoting the work of women writers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Come hear samples from the works of several members of the Broad Universe organization.

Terri Bruce, Kelly Hashway, Rachel Kenley, Ellen Larson, Catherine Lundoff, Gail Z Martin, KT Pinto,Jennifer Allis Provost, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Roberta Rogow, Connie Wilkins, Trisha Wooldridge,Phoebe Wray

Spirituality in Fantasy and Science Fiction

 Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Faneuil (3W)

The Chronicles of Narnia are famous for, among other things, incorporating many of C.S. Lewis's Christian beliefs. But did it inspire its readers to be more religious? Are there fans of fantasy and science fiction who look to their favorite works in times of crisis or to inspire their faith (or, possibly, lack there of)? What works of literature have people in fandom, whether Christian, Wiccan, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, agnostic, or none (or all) of the above, found formative to their beliefs?

Erik Amundsen (m), Max Gladstone, Kate Kaynak, Daniel José Older, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

Fear of Science—On the Rise?

Science, Panel — 1hr 15min — Alcott (3W)

Why do people fear science? What is this fear doing to our society? Is this fear on the rise, or has it always been around? And what, if anything, can be done to quell this fear?

Carl Fink, Abby Hafer, Richard Moore (m), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Alexandra Thorn

Get Off My Lawn: Backlash Against Progress in SFF

Literature, Panel — 1hr 15min — Adams (3W)

Over the past few years, we've seen many a kerfuffle in genre that amounts to "you kids get off of my lawn". There are some who seem wedded to the SF/F they grew up with to the point of excluding anything or anyone new and progressive—which seems antithetical to the whole concept of science fiction! We'll discuss progress in genre and the backlash against it.

Mark L Amidon, Lila Garrott, James Nicoll, Daniel José Older (m), Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert

My Arisia Panel Schedule

I'm psyched to be paneling at Arisia again this year! Arisia is an awesome scifi/fantasy culture conference that takes place every year in  Boston. I'm usually a panelist on topics such as gender, sexuality, religion and sociology and how these relate to science fiction in books, TV and film. I'm often on panels about dystopian science fiction, as this is my primary scifi love.

Here's my current panel schedule...

Gender Limitations in SF/F with Greer Gilman, Jennifer Pelland, Trisha Wooldridge (m), Andrea Hairston. Friday 1/13 at 5:30 pm.


The Nature of Gender: Past, Present and Future with Raven Kaldera (m), Michelle d'Entremont, Dyschordiana. Friday at 10 pm.


Sacred Sexuality with Shava Nerad, Rev. Matthew (m), Dyschordiana. Friday at 11:30 pm.


Can You Like Literary Scifi Without Being a Snob? with Grant Carrington, John Bowker,  Andrea Hairston, Kenneth Schneyer (m). Saturday 1/14 at 10 am.


Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading with Elaine Isaak, Phoebe Wray, KT Pinto, Trisha Wooldridge (m), Morven Westfield,  Kimberley Long-Ewing. Saturday at 11:30 am. ** All of the participants--myself included--will be reading from our works.**


Our Grim Meat-Hook Future with Steve Sawicki, Ken Kingsgrave-Ernstein (m), Glenn Grant, Alexander Jablokov. Saturday at 1pm.


Politics in Science Fiction with Ian Randal Strock, Walter Hunt, Mark L Amidon (m), Ira Nayman, Proprietor, Alternate Reality News. Saturday at 10 pm.