And Now It's Over.

Well the 2010 KSP Mini Con has come and gone. For once the weather was kind to us. Instead of teeming rain we had a glorious, sunny day, that invited everyone to wander out into the sunshine and brightened the inside of the house. We were very grateful too given that we arrived to find the power was out – and so it stayed until shortly before 3:00 pm. This caused considerable challenges, particularly in the kitchen, but with creative, not to mention lateral thinking, we managed to run a successful day. Several visitors commented that if they hadn’t been told they wouldn’t have realised the power was off. Much credit for this goes to Vanessa and Richard. They managed to supply hot food and drinks using only the gas cook top and the barbeque.

As well as no power, sickness cut a swathe through helpers and panelists and I’d like to thank all those who stepped into fill the gaps so successfully.

Guests including Lee Battersby, Lyn Battersby, Adrian Bedford, Stephen Dedman, Russell B. Farr, Liz Grzyb, Sue Isle, Elaine Kemp, Dave Luckett, Juliet Marillier, Bevan McGuinness, Ian Nichols and Tehani Wesseley as well as members of the KSP Speculative Fiction group, ensured panels were lively and informative. The Kaffeeklatsches, a new innovation run by Elaine and Tehani, were popular too.

Booksellers including Fantastic Planet, Ticonderoga Publications and Twelfth Planet Press brought a range of books including those by guest authors.

The house made an ideal setting for a convention of this size with guests able to mingle with writers, editors and publishers and those who attended took full advantage. Although numbers were down on previous years, judging by feedback on the day and on the Internet later, those who came enjoyed the opportunity.

The Absolutely Final Program

We're very excited. Come along to Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre, 11 Old York Rd, Greenmount, between 10:00 am and 5: pm on May 2. Yes, it is this coming Sunday! How did it come up so fast?

The final line up is:

Annette Backshall and Vanessa Boscarello will share MC duties.


10:00: Casting Call: heroes, villains and monsters. Hal Colebatch, Toby Coulstock, Liz Grzyb, Bevan McGuinness and Carol Ryles (mod)

11:00: Writing Intensives e.g. Clarions, Writers of the Future: do they work? Lee Battersby, Lyn Battersby, Carol Ryles, Helen Venn and Annette Backshall (mod)

Or enjoy a Kaffeeklatsch: Nanowrimo with Elaine Kemp and Sarah Parker

12:00: Stuck in the Mud: Writers' block/painting characters into a corner: Stephen Dedman, Sue Isle, David Kitson, Bevan McGuiness and Annette Backshall (mod)

1:00: Should WA writers use WA settings? Lee Battersby, Adrian Bedford, Stephen Dedman, Juliet Marillier and Russell B. Farr (mod)

2:00: Romance in Fantasy. Lyn Battersby, Satima Flavell, Elaine Kemp, David Kitson and Sarah Parker (mod)

3:00: World Building: Dave Luckett, Bevan McGuinness, Helen Venn and Carol Ryles (mod)

Or enjoy a Kaffeeklatsch: E-publishing with Elaine Kemp and Tehani Wesseley

4:00: Turkey City Lexicon: Have some fun with overused tropes of SF. Russell B. Farr, David Kitson, Dave Luckett, Ian Nichols and Annette Backshall (mod).

See you on Sunday.

Nine More Sleeps

Until the KSP 2010 Mini Con.

It's getting better by the day. There will be panels peopled by some of Perth's finest speculative fiction writers and publishers. You'll be able to buy a range of books from Fantastic Planet and indie publishers Ticonderoga Publications and Twelfth Planet Press as well as from local authors. And, of course, there are the kaffeeklatsches - but you'll have to be early to book into those. Numbers are limited.

Just to remind you, the details for the KSP Mini Con are:

Where: Katharine Susannah Writers Centre, 11 Old York Rd, Greenmount

When: Sunday, May 2, from 10:00 am 'til 5:00 pm.

Entry: Adults $5.00 Family pass $10.00

There'll be snacks and tea and coffee available at a reasonable price.

It's Here

The Mini Con 2010 program that is. We're excited about it and hope you will be too.
We have some great panellists and topics covering a wide range of writerly topics so come and enjoy them on May 2 at the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre, 11 Old York Road, Greenmount WA 6056.

Here's the complete list:

10:00: Casting Call: heroes, villains and monsters. Hal Colebatch, Toby Coulstock, Liz Grzyb, Bevan McGuinness and Carol Ryles (mod)

11:00: Writing Intensives e.g. Clarions, Writers of the Future: do they work? Lee Battersby, Sonia Helbig, Carol Ryles and Helen Venn

Kaffeeklatsch: Nanowrimo with Elaine Kemp and Sarah Parker

12:00: Stuck in the Mud: Writers' block/painting characters into a corner: Sonia Helbig, Sue Isle and David Kitson

1:00: Should WA writers use WA settings? Lee Battersby, Adrian Bedford, Stephen Dedman, Russell B. Farr (mod) and Juliet Marillier

2:00: Romance in Fantasy. Lyn Battersby, Satima Flavell, Elaine Kemp and David Kitson

3:00: World Building: Dave Luckett, Bevan McGuinness, Helen Venn and Carol Ryles (mod)

Kaffeeklatsch: E-publishing with Elaine Kemp and Tehani Wesseley

4:00: Turkey City Lexicon: Have some fun with overused tropes of SF. Russell B. Farr, David Kitson, Dave Luckett and Ian Nichols.

More details soon.

We're getting there.

Here's what you've all been waiting for! Our third biennial one day speculative fiction get together of writers and readers.

This is a must visit for Western Australian writers and fans of speculative fiction - a chance to meet writers and editors for a low entry fee. 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, sit in on discussion panels, meet up with other fans and buy books.

When is it? From 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Sunday 2 May, 2010.

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, dark fantasy and horror. Lee Battersby, Lyn Battersby, Sonia Helbig, Sue Isle, Juliet Marillier, Bevan McGuiness, Carol Ryles and more have signed up to participate in discussion panels such as "Should WA writers use WA settings?" "Stuck in the mud - dealing with writers block and other difficulties" and "Romance in fantasy". Take the opportunity to meet the guests and fellow-enthusiasts and find out what’s happening on the Western Australian speculative fiction scene.

We’ll be posting the program with a complete list of participants and other details here over the next few weeks. Don't forget to check in.

More Planning

The Mini Con group site is abuzz with ideas and plans. This is going to be a great day. We have a number of authors on board and I'll update as we finalise details. Please keep checking in. You don't want to miss Perth's only writing oriented speculative fiction convention, do you.

A long time coming

but the Mini Con edeges ever closer.

May 2 is going to be a great day. The grounds of Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre are looking lovely, the weather must be kind this time and the invitations are out and replies are coming in. To judge by the responses a lot of folk are looking forward to a progam of exciting panels featuring some of Western Australia's many talented speculative fiction writers as well as the chance to meet and mingle with them.

There'll be all the usual fun - and some new additions but you'll have to wait to find out about that as I update the blog.

Check back soon.