It's Official!

It's been a while but there will be a Mini Con in 2010. Planning is underway and this blog will be updated as things develop.

Where: Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre

When: Sunday 2 May 2010.

There'll be panels, booksellers and a chance to meet local speculative fiction writers.

Keep the day free to come and join the fun.

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.