Untitled Writers' Group

Interview with Sarah Zettel

There's a new interview with Sarah Zettel up on the web at http://www.bookhelpweb.com. Come read possibly more than you ever wanted to know about her writing life, past, present and future.

Penguicon 2.0, April 16-18

Penguicon 2.0 — Michigan's first and only combined Linux/Open Source and SF convention. Attend Linux and Open Source training sessions on Friday, then party Friday night through Sunday. Meet the GoHs: Neil Gaiman, Wil Wheaton, Jeff "Hemos" Bates (slashdot founder), Steve Jackson, Jon "Maddog" Hall, as well as many other nifty people in the SF and Linux communities. Whether it's computers, SF literature or media, gaming, science, or the arts, Penguicon offers something for everyone. What more can you ask for?

Plus, a change from last year: Penguicon will offer a day pass for $25, sold at the convention.

Anne Harris Book Signing this Saturday

Grab yourself a copy of Inventing Memory and head over to Grosse Point this Saturday, April 3. Anne Harris will be signing copies of Inventing Memory as well as her other books at 2 p.m at the Borders Books and Music in Grosse Pointe. 17141 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230.

MYTHCON Comes to Ann Arbor by Lisa

Neil Gaiman fans, get your fix at Mythcon XXXV!

The Mythopoeic Society is bringing Mythcon, their anual conference devoted to mythopoeic scholarship, to Ann Arbor this summer, and Neil Gaiman is one of their guests of honor.

Annonymous ICON

Just so you do know, the ICON post was created by Yours Truly, Sarah Zettel

ICON

March 26

Here I am at Detroit Metro airport, waiting for my flight to New York. I'm on my way to ICON in Stony Brook, and thought I'd try to keep a travellog with my funky new PDA and little keyboard. It's actually pretty sweet, basically atrunkated laptop that fits in my purse and plays music to boot.
Anyway, the trip thus far, I did finally find a parking spot. I have trouble with airport parking. I always end up in the wrong lot, especially now that they've opened this huge new terminal. And I'd like to point out a problem with the Austin Mini. At least a half dozen times I thought I'd found an empty space only to see a mini in there. Those things should have a big red flag that pops out when you park them.
But, I parked and checked in, and proceeded to my gate which turned out to be at the tail end of the terminal. On the way, I stopped at the bookstore, just to ego surf. I wasn't there, but there was a nice selection of SF/F. The clerk was singing "Hello, Dolly," so I joined her in a chorus, and we had a brief discussion of movie musicals and the sublimity (is that a word?) of Gene Kelly.
More later.

March 26 3:50 pm
Arrived at the Holiday Inn Unpronounceable (okay, it's the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma, but no matter how many times I hear it, I can't seem to say it). The flight was good, except for some nasty turbulence over Pennsylvania. The car was waiting for me just like the Nice Con Folks (TM) said it would be. I've got a basically good but unremarkable bar burger for lunch, and am now sort of hanging out and waiting for things to start happening, which they should in another hour or so.
And for reasons unknown, the palm has decided to stop being able to run the music program and the documents program at the same time. This is frustrating as I really like to listen to music while I write, and the radio in the room is abysmal.
Oh, poor me. Move over Jane Austen Doe.

Sneaky Boxes--Steven Harper Piziks

At the high school where I teach, anytime a staff member is moving, they send out a notice via e-mail saying, "Don't toss boxes! I'll come get them!"

I was just about to send out one of these missives when a bit of e-mail arrived. It was a teacher saying she was moving in late April and needed boxes. Hey!

I promptly sent out a response explaining that I was moving, too. Then I added:

"The person who gets me the most boxes will win a short but pivotal role in my next novel."

Mwah ha ha ha!

--Steven Harper Piziks

Sarah Zettel at I-CON 23

This weekend you can meet and chat with Sarah Zettel at I-CON 23 SF Convention at SUNY, Stony Brook, New York. She is one of several special guest authors there to participate on panels, do readings and signings, and have a general good time hanging out with fellow writers and fans.

I-CON 23 is the Northeast's largest SF&F convention with some more than 6,000 attendees! (That's about the size of a World Con!) Their offerings are both wide and deep, covering all facets of science fiction and fantasy, covering aime, books, media, gaming, science and technology, and so forth.

Zelazny's Amber Lives On at Ambercons by Lisa

This weekend is the 15th anual Ambercon US, the original role playing game convention devoted to roleplaying in Roger Zelazny's Amber universe. Love 'em or hate 'em, the Amber books have had tremendous effect on both science fiction literature and role playing games.

While it's too late to get into this Ambercon, there are a number of other Ambercons held throughout the year, including conventions in Canada, the UK, and Italy!

Sad--Steven Harper Piziks

I came across this post at gaymiddleeast.com , a site devoted to GLBT people in the middle east. It was written by a man who lives in Iraq, and it made me sad.

***
Hello dear friends of Gay Middle East.

Now I realize that I am not alone...and just when lonliness was taking over my life. I'm an Iraqi gay man now 32 years old. I knew that I'm gay since primary school. I loved the voice of our teacher. Since that time I'm in my own world, my own fantasy world. I used to sit on the rooftop of our home and talk to the moon every night. I never knew any other people like me.