January has been lots of storms and lots of work. It's time to look forward to Spring and conventions. This year, I've resolved to visit a number of conventions. Most of them are on the West Coast of the US, but I may add a few later.
Wondercon just announced I'd be attending as a guest. This is one I haven't been to before. Click on the link to see the full list of attending guests. As a Felicia Day fan, I'm thrilled to see my name next to hers! This should be a lovely outing for me. I love my rainy state, but I will enjoy (I hope) a bit of a sun break in March for this convention in San Diego from March 26 to 30. I hope to see a lot of readers there.
But Wondercon isn't the only March Convention. Closer to home will Be Emerald City Comic Con, in Seattle. Kat and I will be wandering this convention as attending pros, and hanging out at the Grim Oak Press booth to sign copies of Shawn Speakman's Grimoire. Shawn has created a special anthology for Emerald City Comic Con, featuring attending authors. He creates an opportunity for readers to come by his booth and collect all the autographs of all the featured authors. It's a lovely gathering for writers as well as readers. But if you can't make it to ECCC you can still order a copy from him to be mailed to you. That con is from March 5 to 8.
Next up on the Convention Calendar for me? International Comic-con, still familiar to many of us as SDCC or San Diego Comic Con. It goes from July 24 to 27. This is a convention I've always loved. The sheer size can be daunting but the variety of program is dazziing, and San Diego itself goes all out for this one! Two visits to San Diego in one year? Never too many. Favorite memory from last year? Kat and I went zooming through the streets in a pedi-cab on the way back to our hotel. Pedi-cab driver was blasting the theme to Star Wars as we whisked past costumed attendees under a city lights sky! I know you can't recreate favorite memories but I'm still going to try! That will be July 24 to 27.
August 27 to 31 will be WORLDCON in Anaheim, California! Will I come a day early or stay an extra day to visit Disneyland? Of course I will. LA Con V is the host for this year's Science Fiction and Fantasy Worldcon. This one always draws a lot ot writers, editors, agents, ariists . . . well, anyone with a strong oonnection to the field, as well as a host of readers. I always enjoy Worldcons and this one is just down the beach (well, a bit farther than that) from me.
New York Comic Con is from October 8 to 11. I haven't made a firm committment to that one, thought Kat thinks we really must attend. What do you think?
World Fantasy Convention is from October 22 to 25 It's in Oakland this year, the city where I was born. So how could I miss that? Again, lots of writers, artists and other attending pros as well as many many readers.
Then, closer to home. Tacoma's own Grit City Comic Show November 7. If you've never been to a comic show, this is a great place to start! Membership is $5 for a few more days so snap that up. It's a one day con, with very easy parking. Always fun.
Then there is Brandon Sanderson's Dragon Steel Nexus That's December 3-5. I haven't committed to that one yet. December is always a crazy time for me without adding in travel to Salt Lake City, Utah and a convention. But the year I went, it was a wonderful convention, so I am very tempted. Your thoughts on that? Should I go?
And that fills up my year with a LOT of reader and writer gatherings. I'm sure I'm going to have regrets about such a busy schedule, but well, I've missed getting out and seeing readers. So here I go. Hope to see you at one of them.
