Photos from the Mini Con

Here are links to various sites with KSP Mini Con 2008 photos.

http://www.battersblog.blogspot.com

http://betweenworlds.com

http://soniahelbig.livejournal.com

That should inspire us all for next time, shouldn't it.

All Over - Until Next Time?

What a fantastic day we had! The KSP Speculative Fiction group members really put themselves out to provide a memorable event. Congratulations and thanks to each and every one of you.

In spite of the weather being unbelievably bad - cold with soaking rain and strong wind (It's well into Spring, for goodness sake) - it didn't stop us having a great turn out. A succession of entertaining and informative panels on all sorts of speculative fiction and writerly subjects, readings, a hot lunch, door prizes, book sellers and a chance to chat with local writers made for a day with something for everyone. It must have been good because the last visitors were still standing around talking as we finished locking up.

Will we do it again? You'll have to wait and see, I guess, but if you came and enjoyed yourself or missed out for some reason it would be a good idea to check in here every now and then. You just might be pleasantly surprised - and sooner than you think.

Final Programme for the Mini Con

Here's what you've all been waiting for - the final running order for the day's activities:

10.00 am Panel "How to Handle Rejections":

Adrian Bedford, Russell Farr, Simon Haynes and Bevan McGuiness

followed by

Readings from

Sonia Helbig and Helen Venn

11.00 am Panel "Clarions; gains and losses":

Lee Battersby, Lyn Battersby, Carol Ryles, Helen Venn and Jessica Vivien

followed by

Readings from

Jo Mills and Elaine Kemp

12.00 noon Panel "What's Hot and What's Not - trends in Speculative Fiction":

Elaine Kemp, Alisa Krasnostein, Ian Nichols and Grant Stone

followed by

Readings from

Juliet Marillier and Ian Nichols

1.00 pm Panel "Lies, Damned Lies and Research":

Dave Luckett, Hal Colebatch, Satima Flavell and Juliet Marillier

followed by

Readings from

Hal Colebatch and Dave Luckett

2.00 pm Panel "Hooks and Sinkers - writing a killer first line"

Adrian Bedford, Stephen Dedman, Russell Farr and Bevan McGuiness

followed by

Readings from

Adrian Bedford and Stephen Dedman

3.00 pm Panel "Steampunk"

Toby Coulstock; John Parker; Carol Ryles and Grant Stone

followed by

Readings from

Deb Ratcliffe and Carol Ryles

4.00 pm Panel "How to get out of the Slushpile":

Lyn Battersby, Janet Blagg, Stephen Dedman; Alisa Krasnostein; Tehani Wessely

followed by

Q&A and wind-up.

That's quite a line up.But wait, there's more - book sales courtesy of Fantastic Planet and a chance to chat with local authors and buy their books as well

Gold coin entry, Hot dog and fruit lunch $5 with complimentary entry into prize draw for book parcels with each lunch voucher purchased.
Tea and coffee will be available all day for a silver coin donation per cup.

You don't want to miss this! See you there.

Wastelands II, Age of Iron

Wastelands II, Age of Iron is a two day convention focusing on the
futures of yesterday, and the glories of tomorrows that never were.
There will be two streams over two days, including workshops, panels,
and presentations. Discounts for people dressed in theme.

Wastelands is on the Saturday, October 18,
and Sunday 19th 2008 at the Good Earth Hotel in Perth, WA.

We need YOU to help us make this convention great! Here's the current programme:
http://cheshire.iinet.net.au/WL2/Wasteland2Prog.html

We want YOU to be on those panels! Do you see something you like?
Do you see something you feel confident you can speak on to a few close friends?
Do you see something you want to research and then discuss?
Please click on the links and let us know!
We're looking for people to talk on a wide range of topics.
If you have an idea you think would be of interest, please email Chesh on cheshirenoir at g mail dot com

If you want to help out, but don't know what you can do, then please email Calli on callisto at g mail dot com

Age of Iron is coming fast, and it's going to be great!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.