Archive of posts with tag 'SFbayarea'
May 2015: My BayCon Schedule
BayCon’s coming up this weekend, Friday through Sunday in Santa Clara, California. This year’s theme is Women of Wonder…and the people who love and appreciate them.
Normally BayCon is four days; this year it’s three due to a hotel snafu. The con starts earlier on Friday (10 am) than usual and runs late on Sunday, with the final formal event being Seanan McGuire’s concert at 8:15 pm.
BayCon Guests of Honor
Seanan McGuire, writer guest of honor
Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, artist guest of honor
Amber Benson, toastmaster
Caradwen “Sabre” Braskat-Arellanes, fan guest of honor
The Winner Twins, young adult special guests
My Friday Panels
Handicapped Characters (Alameda at 1:30 PM)
There’s a lot more ‘there’ there than the wheelchair! How do you do it right? How do you find out what life is like for someone with a particular problem? How do you handle the messy bits otherwise known as reality without turning the reader off? How do you show what other kinds of courage might be needed by a handicapped hero or heroine?
Invertebrates are Cool on Friday at 4:30 PM in Ballroom A
Jellyfishes. Octopuses. Cephalopods. Invertebrates can be unexpectedly beautiful, surprisingly smart, or just weirdly intriguing. Find out why these panelists think that they are just plain cool.
I may also put in a good word for nudibranchs.
My Saturday Panels
Book Covers That Sell Books (Bayshore at 10:00 AM)
When you’re browsing at a bookstore, why do you pick up a particular book? When you’re on Amazon, do some suggested books seem to jump out at you more than others? The saying goes “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” but when it comes to impulse buying, that’s exactly what people do. With self-publishing becoming more common, writers need to know more about an area they previously left in the publisher’s hands. How does one make a cover that will stand out when it’s shelved alongside other books? How can one tell if a thumbnail version of the cover will look good on Amazon? Do shoppers judge the quality of the book by the quality of its cover design? The panelists discuss the design elements of a good book cover, and where to go to for help in designing one that will sell.
The Hugo tug-of-war: Diversity of opinion among Worldcon voters (Camino Real at 11:30 AM)
This year’s Hugo nominations certainly have fandom talking. Is this just another periodic “all fandom is plunged into war” outbreak, or are there serious systemic issues to address?
Categorizing Your Books: YA versus NA on Saturday at 1:00 PM in Alameda
The Young Adult Library Services Association of the American Library Association defines a young adult (YA) as someone between the ages of 12 and 18. Authors and readers of YA novels traditionally defined the genre as literature written for ages ranging from 16 up to 25, while Teen Fiction is for the ages of 10 to 15. In 2009, a new category entered the mix: New Adult (or “NA”) for literature with protagonists with ages ranging from 18 to 25. Is NA here to stay? If it is, where does that leave YA and Teen Fiction?
I’m a huge fan of the New Adult genre, though it does have some pitfalls.
Themed Reading: Erotic SF/F/H on Saturday at 4:00 PM in Alameda
Hear authors read from stories that blend erotica with speculative fiction. For ages 18 and above only, please.
What it says on the tin.
A Shot Rang Out on Saturday at 8:30 PM in Alameda
…and bounced down the hallway, through the door, and out of the world. Come see hilarious, impromptu storytelling. Back as always by popular demand.
If the masquerade/variety show starts on time, then this is likely to start after the variety show ends.
(Note: I was originally also on one Sunday panel, but, given recent events, said I wanted to be taken off as I wasn’t feeling it.)
Hope to see you there.
If you’re going, what are you looking forward to? Full schedule can be found here.
My Next Convention
After BayCon, the next convention Rick and I will be attending is Westercon 68 in San Diego, California, July 2-5. I’ll be volunteering as site selection administrator for the 2017 Westercon.
Feb 2015: Stanford Through 2/8: Gilbert & Sullivan's Yeoman of the Guard
Rick and I went to go see this charming production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s last operetta yesterday. Neither of us had ever seen it staged before, though we’d both heard the music.
Love, intrigue, and comedy are in the air in London in 1515! Sweet Phoebe Meryll loves Colonel Fairfax; Fairfax is utterly oblivious. Assistant Tormentor & Chief Jailer of the Tower of London, Wilfred, loves Phoebe; Phoebe finds him oafish and abhorrent. Jack the jester loves Elsie, the dancing girl; Elsie sees him more like a brother and colleague. Meanwhile, the Yeomen of the Guard love their peaceful job guarding the Tower of London…until their routine takes a topsy-turvy turn when a mysterious new soldier joins their regiment. With Colonel Fairfax accused of sorcery and sentenced to meet his doom at the headsman’s block, to whom will he turn for solace, a reprieve, or…short-lived matrimonial bliss? A rollicking musical tale of deception, devotion, duty, and (dare we say?) death, The Yeomen of the Guard is a show not to be missed!
Dates and Times
Friday, 2/6 at 8 pm
Saturday, 2/7 at 8 pm
Sunday, 2/8 at 2 pm
All performances will be fully staged with orchestra in Dinkelspiel Auditorium, located at 471 Lagunita Drive, Stanford, CA 94305.
Tickets: $20 General; $15 Seniors and Stanford staff/faculty with ID; $10 children and students w/ ID.
The Dinkelspiel Box Office opens 1 hour prior to show-time for same day sales and Will Call pickup. Please see a cast or staff member, call 650.725.2787, or visit the Stanford Ticket Office for advance ticket sales starting Wednesday, 1/28.
Jul 2012: Sixth Annual Edible Landscaping Tour, June 21
The sixth annual Common Ground Edible Landscaping Tour is coming up this Saturday, July 21. (fixed date)
We first went in 2009, photos here.
Mar 2011: Rick at the Dutch Goose
Near our house is a bar called The Dutch Goose. They serve dinner late, have deeply-carved tables and peanut shells on the floor. It’s awesome. I love their burgers.
Dec 2010: Fulton Street, Palo Alto
For the past 70 years, Fulton Street in Palo Alto has had an annual holiday light display. Rick and I walked the street for the first time, and I got a few shots I’m happy with.
Dec 2010: USS Hornet
Had never been aboard an aircraft carrier before, nor a ship built primarily by women. Some nice Apollo history, too.
Nov 2010: Pigeon Point Lighthouse
Every year on the anniversary (or close to it) of the first lighting, the fresnel lens at the Pigeon Point lighthouse is lit for a couple of hours. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people come to visit.
Oct 2010: Sawyer Camp Trail
We spent an entirely too-long day on Sawyer Camp Trail. Photo taken with my GF1 and a 50mm Olympus OM f/3.5 macro lens. Hand-held, worked like a champ.