My Weekend at ICON 2023

This past weekend, I attended and spoke at ICON 48, the science fiction convention in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. What a great time!

Bill Pitcher, me, Tony Penticoff

On Friday night, I spoke at a very imaginative panel on the topic of “Dyson Spheres and other Megastructures in Space.” Tony Penticoff did a marvelous job of monitoring the panel (and making an informative presentation) while Bill Pitcher and I talked about various aspects of these structures. The ten audience members seemed engaged, and asked several detailed questions.

Michael Fraska and I

My first Saturday morning panel covered “Embracing Technology isn’t only for the Young.” (How would I know? I’m not old yet.) Still, Michael Fraska and I talked about that topic in an informed way and I think the three attendees got something out of it.

Me and Myron Williams

Next came an Author Meet and Greet. I sat at a table with Myron Williams while prospective readers stopped to talk. To my surprise, I sold a couple of books.

Me, Tom Ashwell, and Jim Hines

After lunch, I moderated a panel on the topic of “Riding the Publishing Roller-Coaster,” and authors Tom Ashwell and Jim Hines (ICON toastmaster and Hugo award winner) helped the seven members of our audience understand the ups and downs of the writer-publisher relationship.

Me and Paul Price

In mid-afternoon, I moderated a panel called “The Rapid Increase of Population Growth” with retired EPA scientist Paul Price. He gave the eight-member audience a much better understanding of the rise in human population. Though the world’s populace may experience some problems in the near term, it may be best to worry about something else.

Nobody attended my scheduled author reading with fellow author Trisha Anderson. I chatted with her for some time, though, and spent a pleasant half hour learning about her novels.

Joseph Isenberg, me, and Tony Penticoff

Saturday night, I served as a panelist for two artificial intelligence topics. The first, “Artificial Intelligence in World of Creators,” drew a crowd of three people, but moderator Tony Penticoff and panelists Joseph Isenberg and I explored how AI may soon create stories as well as human writers can. We might have to adapt to a future where AI writes better fiction.

Tony Penticoff, Bill Pitcher, and me

The next panel, “How AI Will Transform Our Lives Over the Next Five Years,” garnered an audience of eleven. Tony Penticoff moderated this panel as well, and Bill Pitcher joined us. A lively discussion occurred, with great audience participation.

Me, Tom Ashwell, and Athena Foster

Sunday mornings at scifi cons tend to be subdued after attendees have stayed up late the past two nights, and a sense of winding down pervades the hotel. However, eight alert and curious audience members gathered for a 10:00 am panel titled “First Time Authors – How to Get Published.” I moderated, while authors Tom Ashwell and Athena Foster imparted excellent advice.

At noon I moderated an interesting panel called “Writing a Compelling Fight Scene.” Author Alexis D. Craig did a masterful and enthusiastic job of educating the ten-person audience about how best to do that.

Rachel Aukes, me, and Megan Mackie

My last panel, “How Do I Get My Work Out There?” started at 1:00. Author Rachel Aukes moderated, and author Megan Mackie sat on the panel with me. I believe the six attendees of this panel walked out with solid tips on how to get their manuscripts published.

All in all, a wonderful con, and, having grown up in Cedar Rapids, it represented a nice homecoming for—

Poseidon’s Scribe

October 17, 2023Permalink

Iowa Boy Returns – DemiCon 2023

This coming weekend, May 5-7, I plan to speak at DemiCon, the science fiction convention in Des Moines, Iowa. I grew up in Iowa, so it will serve as a homecoming of sorts.

Here’s my schedule for that weekend:

Friday

6 pm               AI Meets SF (with David Pedersen and Jan Gephardt)

Saturday

10 am             Iowa in SF (with Adam Whitlatch and Lettie Prell)

12 pm             Can Writers Benefit from Being Editors? (with Adam Whitlatch)

2 pm               Steve Southard Reading

3 pm               Pandemics Through History, Their Effects on Literature (with Jan Gephardt)

9 pm               Character Changes: From Unlikable to Likable

Sunday

12 pm             Gadgets in SF (with Jan Gephardt)

I’ve never been to DemiCon and it looks like there’s a lot to enjoy, even many events that don’t include me. The full schedule is here and you can register for the con here.

You’re thinking—with so many other things to do in Iowa, why go to a scifi convention? That question answers itself.

C’mon to DemiCon. If nothing else, it’s a good chance for you to meet the literary phenomenon everyone calls—

Poseidon’s Scribe