Saturday, August 30, 2008

Twenty Two Sleeps.

This Mini Con is getting better by the day. Not saying anything just yet but there are some interesting new ideas being worked on. Well more than just interesting in my opinion. We'll be making some announcements soon.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Panels Topics

After much discussion and soul searching the votes have been counted and the list of panels decided. We had so many great suggestions that it was a difficult process but as you can see those chosen will give something for everybody.

As voted in order of popularity they are:

How to Get Out of the Slushpile

What's Hot and What's Not: trends in speculative fiction

Hooks and Sinkers:writing a killer opening sentence

How to Survive Rejections


Clarions: gains and losses

Steampunk

Lies, Damn Lies and Research: using facts in fiction

A programme will be put up giving times and participants very soon.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Getting closer.

So the final decision on panels is to be made tomorrow and the details of who's on what will be going out soon. Stay tuned.
And just a quick plug for another KSP event: the Katharine Susannah Prichard Speculative Fiction Awards will be held tomorrow Sunday,17 August, starting at 3:00pm at KSP Writers' Centre, 11 Old York Road, Greenmount. All welcome.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Panels - Voting in Progress

Things are really moving now. We have a proposed list of panel topics covering a wide area. This was made up of suggestions from the Speculative Group members and those invited to be on panels. As there are a lot of suggestions and only six panel times much soul searching is being done to decide which of these will get the guernseys. The final list will be put up later in the week.

I have to say with so many interesting and challenging topics on the list as it stands making the choices is not easy but it does mean con goers will get a day of stimulating discussions whichever ones are chosen.

In the meantime if you happen to see some of the committee members hunched over spreadsheets and computers in a coffee shop somewhere in the City over the next few days, we'll be working hard on your behalf.

And one last thing although we are way outclassed by this: congratulations to the organising committee of the Melbourne Worldcon 2010 bid on their success. Aussiecon4 will be held in Melbourne on 2-6 September, 2010.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Update.

There's going to be a great line up at the KSP Mini Con.

Confirmed guests so far include:

Adrian Bedford

Alisa Krasnostein

Bevan McGuiness

Dave Luckett

Elaine Kemp

Grant Stone

Hal Colbatch

Ian Nicholls

Janet Blagg

John Parker

Juliet Marillier

Lee Battersby

Lyn Battersby

Martin Livings

Russell Farr

Simon Haynes

Stephen Dedman

Tehani Wessely
.

That's a lot of knowledge and talent to be gathered in one place and it's only the beginning.


Saturday, August 2, 2008

The KSP Mini Con is on again!

Those who attended the inaugural KSP Mini Con run, by the KSP Speculative Fiction Writers' Group, have been asking when the next will be on. Well the wait is over and planning for the KSP Mini Con 2008 is underway.

This is a must visit for Western Australian writers and fans of speculative fiction - a chance to meet writers and editors with panels, readings and books for sale for only a gold coin entry. Tea and coffee and cheap lunches available.

Why come? Because the more opportunities for fans and writers of speculative fiction to get together the better. You'll be able to mingle with established authors and editors, meet up with fans and buy books.

When is it? From 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday 21 September 2008.

Where? At Katharine's Place, the home of the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers' Centre, 11 Old York Road, Greenmount, WA 6056. This heritage listed building, perched near the top of Greenmount, was the home of well known Australian writer Katharine Susannah Prichard.

Who will be there? Established Western Australian writers and editors from all areas of speculative fiction - science fiction, fantasy and horror. They'll be on discussion panels and reading from their work and there'll be books for sale from local speculative fiction bookshops.

I'll blog program details and the names of guests over the next weeks.