Hi fellow Deviants,

Just some more quick updates as of 05/09/2012

I got my preliminary schedule from BayCon2012  (Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28 at the Santa Clara Hyatt, info and reg. at [link] ) , so here it is. I will be on the following panels:

1. Young Adult Fiction: More that Blanking-out the Sex on Friday from 5:30 PM
    to 7:00 PM in Camino Real
    (with Deborah J. Ross, Ann Finnin, Diana L. Paxson)
     
        Young Adult Fiction is a rapidly growing sub-genre.  What does it take
        to write YA, and how is it different from either children's or adult
        fiction?

     
2. Location, Location, Location -- Setting your Story in a Science Fiction
    World on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM in Lafayette
    (with Chaz Brenchley, Deborah J. Ross, T.S. Luikart, Allison Lonsdale)
     
        Your character has to live somewhere, and that somewhere needs to
        support the story. It's embarrassing to have a great scene all written
        involving bikini- or Speedo-dressed people, when they all live in the
        first permanent settlement on the Moon, and only landed yesterday....

     
3. Self-Promotion and Publicity for Writers on Saturday from 1:00 PM to 2:30
    PM in Ballroom D
    (with Tony N. Todaro, Dave Trowbridge, Marty Halpern, Jaym Gates)
     
        So you've figured out this whole writing thing and your work is finally
        out there. Wouldn't it be great if people actually bought it?  Just
        because the publisher bought your book doesn't mean they're going to
        publicize it.  Learn the whys and hows of self-promotion from the
        experts.

     
4. Getting Girls Hooked on Science and Engineering on Saturday from 2:30 PM to
    4:00 PM in San Tomas
    (with Juliette Wade, Karen Williams, Kay Pannell)
     
        Ladies in lab coats:  Following in the footsteps of Madam Curie.

     
5. Iron Editor on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM in Camino Real
    (with Laurel Anne Hill, Marty Halpern, Kent Brewster)
     
        Normally, any "writers' workshop" is a private, behind-closed-doors
        affair, inviting rumors of ancient and tribal rites involving bio-based
        styrofoam, marshmallows, duct tape, and the odd un-observant
        Pastafarian.  This panel is designed to bring to the public what the
        process looks and sounds like.  Using submissions from the audience
        members, our panelists will quickly mark up each manuscript and present
        a critique.  All of our Iron Editors have been published themselves,
        and have a very good idea of what a story needs to get published.  To
        participate, bring up to two double-spaced pages of creative writing to
        the panel, or drop it off in the box at the Info Desk.  You must be
        present to have your submission critiqued!  The more, the merrier!
        Non-submmitting audience members are more than welcome.

     
6. Chicks Dig Comics on Sunday from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in Lafayette
    (with Jean Batt, Karen Williams, Kay Pannell, Allison Lonsdale, Sally
    RoseRed Robinson)     

        Once a boys-only genre, women of all ages are finding comics to love
        and read.

     
7. From Girl to Goddess: The Heroine's Quest on Sunday from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
    in Lawrence
    (with Leslie Ann Moore, Kay Pannell, Valerie Estelle Frankel)     

        Many know Joseph Campbell's theory of the Hero's Journey, but the
        Heroine's Quest has existed beside it, from the earliest tales to the
        modern girls of epic fantasy.  Join us for a presentation following the
        heroine archetype as she ascends to the role of mother-goddess.


I've also been asked to participate in the BayCon Writers' Workshop, and I'll post updates on that when I get them.

Who wants a Ratha Room party at BayCon?  I can put up an announcement when I get to the convention.

As of 05/09/2012, the Ratha graphic novel has 220 responses, and Ratha got 34 votes on NPRBooks' Fictional Felines poll to tie for 3rd place, just behind first placer Hobbes the Tiger, from Calvin and Hobbes, and second placer The Cheshire Cat from Lewis Caroll's Alice in Wonderland.


05/05/2012

The Ratha graphic novel survey has 212 responses, many from this site, so I thank all who voted.  

Even though the gift certificate drawing entries are closed, you can still take the survey:
[link]

NPRBooks set up a favorite #FictionalFeline poll on their Facebook, and Ratha is tied for fifth place.  And this all happened while I was in town today.  It was a great surprise to return and find that Ratha fans had, once again, come through for their favorite Named clan leader.

Anyway, if you want to add your yowl and bump our pre-hysteric heroine up a notch, feel free.  Maybe the phenomenon will intrigue NPR into asking me for an interview.   Here's the NPRBooks Poll: [link]

You can also find NPRBooks on Twitter: @nprbooks

More soon.

R-kitty