Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: awake
  • Music: DJ Earworm, "World Go Boom (State of Pop 2011)."

It was many and many a year ago, in a kingdom by the sea...

And now for something completely different: a few words about a convention. No, not one where I'm a guest, although I have several of those to talk about this year (too many, if you ask the cats, who want me to stop traveling and stay home already).

I'm talking about FOGcon.

FOGcon (or "Friends of the Genre") is a literary-themed San Francisco SF/F con in the tradition of Wiscon and Readercon. It's small, fresh, and still forming its traditions. Better yet, it's being held in Walnut Creek, California, my home territory, which makes it awesome. This year's guests are Nalo Hopkinson and Shelley Jackson, with Mary Shelley as their Ghost of Honor, and this year's theme is "The Body."

This is a friendly, cozy convention with a lot of potential to grow into something amazing. I'd love to see the West Coast have its own successful entry into the literary convention world, and it's very well-timed, being held from March 30th to April 1st, when the weather will be amazing here (and still cold almost everywhere else).

If you think this sounds like something you might enjoy, check out the website and consider your options. I don't think you'll be sorry that you did.

This advertisement was not paid for by anyone. The magical moon ponies told me to do it. OBEY THE PONIES.
Tags: conventions
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  • 65 comments

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seanan_mcguire

January 6 2012, 16:34:51 UTC 5 years ago

Rocking!

serge_lj

January 6 2012, 16:28:40 UTC 5 years ago

Walnut Creek is your home territory? My wife's was Pleasant Hill and we were there during the Holidays's gastroenteritis celebration. Well, if my boss pays for my next trip to the Bay Area, I'll see if it can be during FOGcon.

seanan_mcguire

January 6 2012, 16:35:01 UTC 5 years ago

I live in Concord.

serge_lj

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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thedragonweaver

5 years ago

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queenoftheskies

January 6 2012, 16:36:53 UTC 5 years ago

Thanks for the link. I think I'm going to make plans to go.

emmalyon

January 8 2012, 00:35:53 UTC 5 years ago

J. and I will be there, you should totally come!!

queenoftheskies

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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sheistheweather

January 6 2012, 16:38:13 UTC 5 years ago

Ghost of Honor! I love it. :D

reedrover

January 6 2012, 16:39:00 UTC 5 years ago

The web site seems to be lacking any description of programming, etc., and I've never been to either of the other cons mentioned. So I'll just take a quick recap stab - Is this a speculation-n-conversation with fascinating people about BOOKS! type of Con?

(My folks live in Danville. This is very, very tempting... Mom, do you have any plans for the weekend...?)

desperance

January 7 2012, 18:36:48 UTC 5 years ago

That's the kind of con it was last year, yup. We recommend it.

You really should come.

the_ogre

5 years ago

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cathschaffstump

January 6 2012, 16:42:46 UTC 5 years ago

Yes, I really would rather be at FOGcon, rather than the TOEFL national convention in Philadelphia. But you can see how this is going to play out. :)

I will make it there eventually. I hear it is very good, and so many of you cool people are there. And you have weather, not WEATHER. Although to be fair, we're not having WEATHER in Iowa too much this winter.

Anyway, have a great time, and I'll think of you all when I'm looking at the International Phonetic Alphabet. Or something like.

Catherine

seanan_mcguire

January 8 2012, 05:23:18 UTC 5 years ago

I actually won't be there. I have Emerald City that weekend. But I know a lot of the staff personally, and it's an awesome con, so I agreed to post a little blurb for them.

Enjoy the alphabet!

lysystratae

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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lysystratae

January 6 2012, 16:55:37 UTC 5 years ago

Is that the same Shelley Jackson who did The Skin Project?

the_ogre

January 7 2012, 19:12:39 UTC 5 years ago

Yes it is. It's going to be a great con. If you've a way out here, we'd love to see you there!

lysystratae

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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pola_bear

January 6 2012, 17:09:19 UTC 5 years ago

That con sounds so good! Maybe one day I will make it, if it continues, both more lit cons and actually going to SF are high on my list.</p>

Of course this year, aside from distance and money I shall be busy that week end getting married! *dances while ignoring all the planning that is still needed*

seanan_mcguire

January 8 2012, 05:24:24 UTC 5 years ago

You're allowed to be doing something as CRAZY AWESOME as getting hitched. ;)

britgeekgrrl

January 6 2012, 18:10:48 UTC 5 years ago

Good lord, I can actually make it this year!

I no longer live in Concord, but Walnut Creek is still an easy BART ride from me.

Furthermore I really, really want to help support any SFF/lit event in the bay area that's north of San Jose and east of San Francisco (plaintively cries the fan who is totally reliant on pubtrains to get around).

*emails the volunteer coordinator*

themysteriousg

January 6 2012, 23:37:45 UTC 5 years ago

Yes. This.

vylar_kaftan

5 years ago

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You'd better show, m'dear.

the_ogre

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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alicebentley

January 6 2012, 18:34:04 UTC 5 years ago

Well that's a dilemma - March 30 - April 1st is also the Emerald City ComiCon up here in Seattle. One of the major events in my Foglio-esce retailer life. But ... books! and a WisCon-like West Coast con!

I know as well as anyone that there's no such thing as an un-encumbered event date, but one can always hope.

windbourne

January 7 2012, 01:08:38 UTC 5 years ago

+1. I'm a comic retailer in Seattle, and you can probably extrapolate from there.

But this con sounds -awesome-. I've never been to a litcon, and it's an experience I want to have!

seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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cleothyla

January 6 2012, 19:45:15 UTC 5 years ago

My original home territory too. Wish I could go. But I'll be going to Emerald City Comicon to see Tom Felton instead. :0

seanan_mcguire

January 8 2012, 05:25:17 UTC 5 years ago

Amusingly, I am, too. If for different reasons...

cleothyla

5 years ago

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ckd

January 6 2012, 23:28:09 UTC 5 years ago

Hmm. It's only a week earlier than Minicon, and that extra few hours of travel time from the east coast isn't a huge draw to me (even with the better weather)...but maybe.

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:45:57 UTC 5 years ago

Hee.

themysteriousg

January 6 2012, 23:37:02 UTC 5 years ago

My usual excuse does NOT apply! I'm coming. Thank you for the notification.

Also, because you'll appreciate this, Magnus, my big(ger) kitty is taking 3 ft leaps at dustmotes in a sunbeam. He's hitting the ground hard enough to rattle the wine glasses:)

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:46:08 UTC 5 years ago

GO MAGNUS GO!

sibylle

January 7 2012, 00:23:10 UTC 5 years ago

I live too many miles away, but I love Annabel Lee.</p>

:-)

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:46:17 UTC 5 years ago

As do I!

cgbookcat1

January 7 2012, 01:45:43 UTC 5 years ago

That sounds lovely! However, this year I have to stick with Readercon, which is a 20-min. drive from me.

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:46:25 UTC 5 years ago

I think that makes sense.

melchar

January 7 2012, 01:57:42 UTC 5 years ago

Always obey the magical moon ponies. Run away from [Lovecraft's] moon toads. Important safety warning: do not confuse the two. This message brought to you by the cats of Ulthar.

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:46:38 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you, cats of Ulthar!

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seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:46:50 UTC 5 years ago

I am not. I have other plans that weekend.

janeg

January 7 2012, 15:54:45 UTC 5 years ago

Don't miss Nalo! She's a great panelist and person. I'm lucky to live in the same city and see her occasionally at community events.

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:47:01 UTC 5 years ago

She is splendid, it's true.

desperance

January 7 2012, 18:38:19 UTC 5 years ago

Oh goodie, are you coming this year? We'll be there. Assuming I'm let into the country.

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:47:23 UTC 5 years ago

Sadly, no, and I apologize for giving that impression. I'm already committed to ECCC that weekend.

deire

January 7 2012, 22:40:12 UTC 5 years ago

If I don't obey the ponies, will they bite me?

I desperately want to make a Little Pony Bellydancer.

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:47:34 UTC 5 years ago

They might!

emmalyon

January 8 2012, 00:35:13 UTC 5 years ago

I attended last year, and it was without exaggeration my best con experience ever. It was quite small and very friendly, everyone got a chance to speak and to listen, and everyone was very patent and respectful to one another. the discussions were fascinating and thought-provoking and fun, and I am booked again for this year!

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:47:49 UTC 5 years ago

That's brilliant!

peachtales

January 8 2012, 01:53:28 UTC 5 years ago

I would absolutely obey the ponies if it weren't so far away. Ah well.

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:47:56 UTC 5 years ago

Alas.

tamingheadfauna

January 8 2012, 22:45:50 UTC 5 years ago

Looks like fun! I'll need to figure out some logistics on my part and if I can swing it, I'll be there. :)

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:48:05 UTC 5 years ago

Have fun!

mardott

January 9 2012, 05:27:47 UTC 5 years ago

Oh my goodness, it's just a couple miles away. How awesome is that? Unfortunately, I'll be in England for the Titanic Memorial Cruise. Which is writing related, since my novel is about the builder of the Titanic. But... I will put FogCon on my calendar for next year. Sounds too cool to pass up.

seanan_mcguire

January 9 2012, 15:48:19 UTC 5 years ago

Enjoy the cruise!