Boston/Arisia Writeup, Part 1

Replete with the usual namedropping, because I know awesome people. And, really, that's how much of my con time is spent these days. I set out to go to a reading or a panel, I run into someone and then I'm off to go talk or meet or whatever the equivalent is. I'm not complaining, but it did mean that I saw less of Arisia than I originally thought that I might.

That said, we got into Boston early on Thursday afternoon and got to the hotel without incident, then were off into the city to Brattle Book Shop which was old and creeky and charming. We picked up a copy of Virginia Woolf essays, Coaching Days and Coaching Ways (with the Hugh Thomson illustrations), Thurber's The White Deer, and fine press editions of the Songs of Sappho and Shakespeare's Sonnets, all for very reasonable prices. Then it was back to the hotel for dinner and sleeping, since we'd gotten up at 3:30AM to catch our flight and were pretty groggy by then.

Friday, Jana went off to go explore and network with other binders, while I holed up in the room and did some writing before meeting up with Victor Raymond for lunch. From there, I was off to help set up the Broad Universe table in the Dealer's Room, where I got to hang out with our esteemed pres, Trisha Wooldridge and her husband Scott, the nice folks from Spencer Hill Press and a bunch of other fun folks. An expedition to the business center resulted in me running into Fan GOH James Nicoll (we'd met online, but not in person) as well as getting copies. Then it was back to the BU table for me until I needed to leave for dinner with Jana and sparkymonster. This was lovely, except for the part where Jana limped in, having taken a bad (bruising, back spasms) fall on the steps of one of the libraries. but she soldiered on bravely and we had a fine chat about fannish and personal stuff and lady's undergarments, as one does.

I then headed back down to the Dealer's Room, where I got to guard the table while a bunch of other Broads did party setup. I went up and checked on Jana, who was still convalescing, then went on to the Broad Universe Party where I met up with the fabulous Connie Wilkins/Sacchi Green. We hung out at BU for a bit, then went on to the Circlet Press party next door, where we chatted with publisher/editor/writer Cecilia Tan and other folks. Then onward and upward to the Carl Brandon Society party where we chatted a bit with Nisi Shawl, Julia Rios, K. Tempest Bradford and other folks, and got a demo of what I have come to think of as "Stupid White People Tricks." This particular instance started with a conversation about the House Elves in the Potterverse, which got turned into a mini lecture by a white fanboy on the extent to which enslaved people "buy into" or become "comfortable" with their status as slaves and are then  redefined as "willing slaves.". This went over about as one would expect (hint: badly), while derailing what might have otherwise been an interesting conversation.  At any rate, his companion took him away shortly thereafter, we hung out for a bit longer, then headed off to our respective rooms.

Saturday morning, Jana and I headed down for breakfast and ran into James again, this time sweeping him up to join us for breakfast. We had a lovely conversation about cats and sf/f and assorted other stuff. Then we went off to the Art Show, where we ran into Connie and her family. At which point, I developed a migraine, just in time to go collapse before the BU RFR. Jana went off to panels, I pulled it together to go read. We had a full room and lots of good readings. I ducked out to go work the table, only to discover I'd written my shift times down wrong. So I bought tea in the Dealer's Room and headed back up to the reading, in time for it to let out.

To be con't...

Arisia, Part 2

As I noted in the last post, this is not the most representative couple of posts on what Arisia is like for most people, just me. It was a fun and lively convention and I would definitely be willing to go back. Now back to what I actually did there.

So having messed up on times, I hung out with Connie Wilkins until we needed to work the BU table. The table was hopping, thought not so much for us. Lots of people stopped to get badge tags and info and some books by other people, plus interesting socializing with other Broads. At one point, I met Rose Mambert of Pink Narcissus Press, who was quite entertaining.From there, we were off to dinner with Connie and family, then back up to the room for me to deal with my worsening migraine.

Then back down again to moderate an 8:30 panel - Unheard Voices of SF/F/H. This is a roadshow panel  that we've been doing at a number of conventions with representatives from Broad Universe, the Carl Brandon Society and Outer Alliance. talking about each organization, why we all exist and what we hope to do next (I'm a Board member for BU, a founding member of Outer Alliance and a member of Carl Brandon, hence the "we"). The full panel discussion will be up at the Outer Alliance podcast in a few weeks so this is just based on what I remember at a high level while moderating and having a migraine. .K. Tempest Bradford stepped in for Nisi Shawl (who sat in the audience and asked us to call her "Nalo," which made for lots of fun comic relief); other panelists included Andrea Hairston, Julia Rios, Trisha Wooldridge, Victor Raymond and me.

Resources that the organizations offer:
Broad Universe is an organization that exists to promote women writing science fiction, fantasy and horror (women are defined as anyone self-identifying as female). Resources/benefits of membership include: social media, newsletter, online discussion group, website catalog of member works, a podcast, rapidfire readings at conventions and tables at conventions.
Carl Brandon is an organization that exists to promote racial and ethnic diversity in both the writing and reading of science fiction and fantasy. The organization runs the Parallax and Kindred Awards, as well as the Octavia Butler Scholarship fund to send writers of color to Clarion and the Con or Bust auction, which provides financial support to fans of color wanting to attend cons. They also host parties at several conventions, including Arisia and WisCon.
The Outer Alliance is an organization that exists to promote and support the writing and reading of LGBTQ science fiction, fantasy and horror. There is a podcast, an online discussion group and a reading group at WisCon, as well as panels such as this one.

We discussed visibility and invisibility, some of the authors that we've lost, small presses that promote diversity, things we'd like to do if we had the people power and resources, issues in the field that make each organization essential, conventions that are friendly to diversity, and related topics. It was lively, as promised, and I'll post a link to the podcast when it's available. Check out each organization's website for some resources. I'll post more as I think of them.

We left the panel, stopped off to talk to Victor and some of his friends and ended up in the bar, as one does. we spent a jolly hour or so talking about conventions, queer fandom, LGBTQ organizing and other related topics. And I may be headed back to Boston for an upcoming con. More bulletins as events warrant. We made vague plans to meet Victor the next morning but the hellacious hotel wifi made connecting nearly impossible. So we ended up wandering down to the restaurant on Sunday morning and crashing the breakfast that Victor, Tempest and a friend were having. More food, more chatting, occasional bits of gossip and sordid anecdotes ensued. As they do.

Jana went off to go look for a bookstore and I stayed, fully intending to go to panels. I got a message that James Nicoll had some questions about BU and went to his guest interview, which was very entertaining. He and I wandered back up through the hotel and I ended up crashing the lunch he was having with a friend (we have a theme for Sunday!). And there was more hanging out and chatting. Then off to the Art Show so I could recover my fabulous little bird bone earrings and skull box, then down to the Dealer's Room. And from thence, on to an early dinner with Julia Rios. Jana took off for a panel and Julia and I retired to our room to hang out until her next panel and the Masquerade.

After that, Jana and I hung out, complimented people on their costumes, then went and vegged out. So, overall, good  relaxing time, bruises, migraine and all. Good chatting with friends and meeting new people and all of the things that make for a good con weekend.

Monday's trip back was pleasant and mellow. So now we are back to the regularly scheduled programs of unpacking the office, putting stuff away, dealing with Mom and so forth. Thanks for a fine and pleasant con, Arisia!