I'm a participating author at ConFusion in Detroit, January 18 to 21. As I've said before, ConFusion is one of my favorite conventions and features a strong literary focus with a laid-back and accessible attitude.
Here are the panels I'm taking part in. Really excited about these topics. See everyone there!
Visions of Positive Masculinity
6pm Friday in Saugatuck
David Anthony Durham, Jason Sanford, Jim C. Hines, John Chu, Pablo Defendini
From high fantasy adventures to noir mysteries to superheroes and war stories, genre fiction has meticulously catalogued the narrow roles society expects men to occupy: strong, brave, and powerful, but also angry, competitive, emotionally repressed, and misogynistic. What does a character arc look like for the man who has decided not to be the best at performing this toxic vision of masculinity? We've seen many stories about women who struggle and triumph against gender roles. How can writers use social expectations of masculinity to create challenges that their male characters have to overcome to save the day?
That’s Not My Star Wars!
11am Saturday in Leelanaw
James Breakwell, Ferrett Steinmetz, Jason Sanford, Mur Lafferty, Sarah Hans, Seleste deLaney / Julie Particka
At one point, it appeared most of the world agreed on the canon-destroying awfulness of the Star Wars prequel films, and their unholy avatar Jar Jar Binks. But a new generation of Star Wars is taking hold, and not everyone is pleased with the direction that’s going, either. Where do we draw our mental lines, and why?
Autograph Session (4 PM)
4pm Saturday in St. Clair
Come meet your favorite authors, artists and musicians and have them sign things! Featuring Amal El-Mohtar, Annalee Flower Horne, Annalee Newitz, Carl Engle-Laird, David Anthony Durham, David D. Levine, Delilah S. Dawson, Diana Rowland, Dominik Parisien, Dyrk Ashton, Ferrett Steinmetz, James Breakwell, James L. Sutter, Jason Sanford, Jason Sizemore, Jim Butcher, Jim C. Hines, Julia Rios, Mark Oshiro, Michael J. DeLuca, Michael R. Underwood, Monica Valentinelli, Mur Lafferty, Nisi Shawl, Patrick S. Tomlinson, Sara Dobie Bauer, Sarah Gailey, Scott H. Andrews, Seleste deLaney / Julie Particka, Stacey Filak, Suzanne Church, Tracy Townsend
Making Money in Fandom: Why and Why Not
5pm Saturday in Petoskey
Dessa Lux, Jason Sanford, Sunny Moraine, Mark Oshiro
We all like to express our love of fandom in different ways but not all of us like to get paid for it. Find out why our panelists do what they do for a profit or not.