M Keaton

Children, Young Adult, and Fully Grown: Our panelists discuss the differences and similarities of writing for different age groups and why they choose to do so. Time permitting, they may also address the phenomena of the recent success of young adult fiction at the box office.

From gaming novels, movie adaptations and corporate series to the reader expectations of shared mythos such as HPL's Chthulu and Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, how do you write in a fixed world and still be original?

Our panelists talk about really strange and neat things, many of which sit just outside the edge of normal, that they enjoy learning about and want to share with you.

Unless you enjoy the thrill of living without health insurance and have a real taste for rice, beans, and ramen noodles, you probably shouldn't quit your day job. How do you build a writing career if you know you can't escape the daily grind?

Two powerhouse writers and one distraction work hard for your amusement. They'll read just enough to make you want to buy more. They'll share glimpses of their writing so dazzling that you'll walk from the room blinded. They'll leave you wondering why their work isn't mandatory reading for every school ... (more)child in America. Bring your books that you may fawn at their feet and beg them to sign. Bring offerings of fine foods and drink and they might at that. (Oh, and MK will read too.)

Warfare in science fiction and fantasy and what attracts us to it.

Good idea or waste of time?: Every November hordes of would-be writers as well as established pros unite to attempt to produce 50,000 words in one month. Does it help or hurt writing? What about the pressures of deadlines in general? Does slow and steady out-weigh the adrenaline rush of having to produce ... (more)massive word counts at the eleventh hour?

Authors increasingly insist they only want to write novel length and that the short form is boring. Market numbers seem to indicate that the short form is dying. And yet, the demand for flash fiction continues to grow and a generation rises raised on instant gratification and short attention spans. Why ... (more)write short stories? How are they different from novels other than length? What extra skills are required? And what about the dreaded serial? Our panelists explain.

Playing the Game: Three writers, each with a background in both playing and writing for gaming, share a stage together. They might read, they might take questions, they might just tell horror stories of working with gaming companies. Who knows? The only thing you can be sure of is that these three have ... (more)learned to play the game and deliver up top notch entertainment. Bring your books to be signed and be sure to ask them about their books coming out this year.

Constructed languages and beautiful maps have been part of fantasy and science fiction writing for decades. Our panelists discuss the right and wrong ways to do them and why they appeal to us so much.

The resurgence of space opera: A subgenre of sci-fi once considered passe and childish is back with both pulp fists swinging. Why? Is it a good thing? What is it within the space opera that continues to appeal after all these years?