Diversicon Write-up, Part the First

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So I spent last weekend doing my first gig as a “headlining guest” (as in name goes out in publicity as opposed to “also attending”) at a science fiction convention. Diversicon is a small convention that takes place in the Twin Cities, usually St. Paul, every year for the past 21 years.  As the name implies, this is a convention built around the notion of “diversity” in science fiction, fantasy and horror.  Former guests have included Melissa Scott, S.P. Somtow, Pam Keesey, Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes and a host of others. In short, not bad company to be keeping. J

Jack McDevitt, Roy C. Booth (and Cynthia Booth) and I kicked things off with readings at DreamHaven Books on Thursday night. We got an audience of 15-20 attendees, which is pretty good for a weeknight reading. Roy and Cynthia had survived a harrowing drive down from northern MN, and arrived after I got started, but still with plenty of time to do a fun reading. Jack McDevitt was an excellent reader and quite pleasant and the attendees asked lots of good questions, so it was a fun experience all around. We retired to Merlin’s Rest, which proved somewhat unfortunate as it was “overly amplified live band in a small space night.” But the food was good.

My Friday kicked off by landing at the hotel mid-afternoon with bags of auction items and copies of my books. I checked into my nice hotel room, dropped stuff off and chatted with various friends. I capped things off with a brisk dinner with author Rachel Gold, con pro liason extraordinaire Anton Petersen and my friend Matt, before returning for Opening Ceremonies. These were quite efficient: after greeting the attendees, Roy and I stepped out to make room for Jack McDevitt’s interview.

Shortly thereafter, I was back up to moderate “Can’t Rip a Chainmail Bodice: Science Fiction, Fantasy, and/or Feminist Romance.” To be honest, I don’t think this panel ever really jelled. Individually, I think we all said interesting things about the topic but we never quite got a discussion to take off. Just one of those Friday night things, I think. I do remember plugs for Michael Merriam’s work, Rachel Gold’s new SFR (written as Rachel Calish), my Silver Moon, the works of Tamora Pierce, Holly Black, Lois McMaster Bujold, Pat Wrede and Caroline Stevermer, Emma Bull and others, plus some general points about sexism in romance and the extent to which nonheterosexual romance does or does not play into those formulas.

After that, it was lounging about in the nice big open space and chatting with the Merriams and other friends, and hence to bed.

Part 2 coming soon!