Events Archives - edebell.com

We had a really fun time at Penguicon this weekend, and I thought I’d provide a rundown, both for fun and also in case anyone out there is curious what it’s all about.

First: the premise. Penguicon is a community-run convention for a wide range of storytelling, gaming, and other open-thought activities. Here are my overall thoughts and surprises:

It’s everything. I mean, not the millennial “it’s everything” but like it’s all over the place. People provide and share their own events, which range from readings, gaming, costumes, discussions, crafts, tech, burlesque, food, I mean… it’s a lot.
Everyone there seems really happy. I’ve been to cons where people are engaged or excited, but I’ve never been to one where everyone is walking around looking so darn happy. The vibe was really great—very community feeling.
The vendors were top-notch. I’m used to seeing many of the local vendors at a variety of events, cons, and street fairs, but in this case I really noticed that some of the best craftspeople were there. The crafts, jewelry, art, and other items were all really fun. You really could just go there and gift shop.

So what did we do?

Well, first, I confess that I caught the funk, and not that good Dayton funk, coming back from Gem City Comic Con last weekend. Despite my best allegiance to hand-sanitizer, sometimes it happens. However, the few hours where I pretty much completely lost my voice also coincided with two first Penguicon panels. So I apologize to those of you who had to listen to me straining to channel my inner stressed-out-frog. I know it was disturbing.

First, Chris did a workshop on formatting a manuscript for indie publishing. The questions were great, and I hope people learned a few tips. (Note: Chris offers publication services.)

Then, my friend Marsalis and I led a discussion on socially conscious fiction. Of course we didn’t claim to have the answers, but we discussed things we’ve seen as well as general advice for what to look for and where to seek (and not seek) help. We emphasized the point: it’s all about being thoughtful, about listening, and about considering how what you write may convey to other people.

If you like really big, bold always-exciting writing, check out Marsalis on Twitter, Instagram, and Amazon.

Then, Chris and I went to a reading by Saladin Ahmed, where, even knowing he is a skilled and varied writer, I blurted out that I was a Kamala Khan fangirl in my froggy voice. Look, I love her.

And after that, I was co-leading a panel on advice on short fiction submissions. As I started to say the few things I wanted to say, the other editor abruptly took ill and left, leaving me and my now 2% battery voice up there alone. Which made this really the coolest place to be at 8 PM Friday night. Luckily, Chris stepped in and helped discuss anthologies in general, as well as some of the red flags on contracting and terms. And…what a great audience. I sort of can’t believe you stayed! I hope it was worth the time!

And if you want to hear more on our upcoming anthology Five Minutes at Hotel Stormcove, (it releases this week!) I was excited to be on another episode of Pondo’s Playground discussing it: I hope you’ll give it a listen!

We went back Saturday to hang out, and of course being May the Fourth and Free Comic Book Day, we had to swing by and catch the atmosphere (and update from the pull file) at Comics & More in Madison Heights, which is a super cool store.

Making our way to Penguicon, we enjoyed listening to horror author Stefani Manard talk about her own experiences with indie publishing, along with a team member from Podcast Detroit. She had a lot of great advice to offer!

Now, you’ll notice these have all been literary events. (Marsalis and I joked that all our events were marked with “Lit” like yeah, obvs.) Not feeling great still, I didn’t want to push it, but I wanted to try at least something different. So we went to a meditation overview with a Zen Priest. It was…calming. And…it took them about ten seconds to tell me I needed to stop worrying about what other people think of me. I’m trying! Anyway, they recommended a specific book so I’m totally going to try that.

After we left, we went to the other side of Southfield to try a place I’ve wanted to go for so long: Taste of Ethiopia. So good. If you’re in the area, stop by! (Very vegan-friendly, for my peeps. They make their own cheesecake, mmm.)

And then Sunday, Chris and I ran a panel called “Meet Atthis Arts,” where we talked about our small press – really just to let people know who we are, what we believe, and about all our great titles. Afterward, we had such a nice time talking to Marv, we joined him in the bar for a Penguicon wrap-up. (Hey, Marv!)

Then we went back to the Penguicon bookstore (“Writers’ Block”) and were excited to see that all six pre-release copies of Five Minutes at Hotel Stormcove had sold, along with some of my own titles. If you bought one, thank you, and I hope you enjoy it!

Anyway, we’d like to thank the Penguicon organizers and attendees for making this such a pleasant experience. We’ll definitely be back in 2020 – and maybe we’ll see you there?

I spent a good deal of last weekend at a Fantasy & Science Fiction convention, known generally as ConFusion. (They change the specific name every year to align with a theme, per tradition—this year it was called Storming the ConFusion in honor of The Princess Bride.) Lots of people pronounce it like the word, but I’m feeling the intent here, so I pronounce it Con-Fusion. Who knows what’s right; they didn’t kick me out or anything. ‘Course, I also say root beer.

Unlike Comic Con or Gaming Con events where I’m there to sell books as well as connect, at literary events, I’m there to connect, but without books in tow. These events have a real community feel, as people stay in the hotel all weekend and make a thing of it.

I participated in two panels, one on episodic fiction and one on hospitality systems. Both were more interesting than I anticipated, and I learned a lot from other people in attendance.

For episodic fiction, honestly, the coolest moment was when I mentioned in passing that if people knew about Five Minutes at Hotel Stormcove, well, that was me. Several people did a little audience gasp and I was like wait…you know. How cool! Anyway, Michael R. Underwood was a great addition to that panel, with extensive experience on serial fiction, and I personally talked about my most serial-like-at-the-moment endeavors, Diamondsong, and Just Bart (for my Patreon subscribers).

The panel on hospitality systems was particularly enhanced by the well-versed audience. (Hey, you!) We talked not just about literal hospitality in fictional cultures, like taking in strangers, but also customs, honor, and a point that I raised—emotional violence. In Diamondsong, I had intended to write about a physically non-violent world, but that quickly led into my realization that in that world, they would not be emotionally violent either. This means things like rude or overly personal questions, especially those that have an element of assumption to them. For example: “Do you have children?” It’s a question people on Earth ask all the time but would be considered terribly rude in the world of Ada-ji. This sparked some interesting discussions that I enjoyed being a part of.

I also did an autograph session (the line was out the door, no, I’m kidding) and a reading, where I read the interludes to Diamondsong Part 07: [Redacted] to what I thought was a pretty good reception. One was written entirely in ve pronouns, about a ji’pyr who was dying, and the second was about a fairy with anxiety at a party.

My husband and wonderful partner-in-business, Chris, also participated in one panel, and moderated two, including one with the Guest of Honor, Ada Palmer. (Who was very interesting in talking about castles under siege!) I snuck a picture of him moderating. So, like hey Chris! Speaking of which, this was on our 17^th (!) wedding anniversary. I used this to my advantage to talk him into letting me get a new piece for my chainmaille collection. (Sure, that’s a thing.) I really like the team from Things from Rings, and I’m happy to have this new piece, which looks sort of standard, but is not, if you’re able to look at it more closely. (I’m sure I’ll be wearing it at events this year, so ask me there!)

Anniversary party from Valentine’s after the Con.

The best thing about events, of course, is seeing friends. I met several new people, and had the honor of chatting with the talented Cat Rambo. (She’s so cool!) I also saw my friend Kimberly, who owned the house down with her cosplay. It was great to talk to Clif, a local author (and who, with his talented wife Carol, mastered the epic volcanic rock genre in As Told by Things). (And Clif, thanks for going to my reading!) Also from around, we had a great chat with the illustrious Mackenzie Flohr. And I got to talk to and meet several other great people, some with other indie presses, to talk about goals and reinvigorate why we do all this. (Art, beauty, and love!)

A lot of people joke about the infamous BarCon, but we were pretty well behaved. We had a great time talking to the bartender Shelly, and people who swung by. Also, realizing we were real close to Unburger, Chris went out and scored us some burgers. Mmm.

Something I’ve finally started talking about is my anxiety disorders. As much as I love these events, they are difficult for me. I leave feeling disjointed, concerned, and sometimes even panicked, worried that I wasn’t able to conduct the social interactions the way I’d like to. But I want you to know, it’s worth it for the absolute joy I feel meeting and talking to you. And check this out—I have these boss Diamondsong con ribbons. I keep them out at GenCon, since badge ribbons are a thing there, but at any Con at all, if you’re there grabbing a book, just let me know if you want a ribbon! I always have them in my handy behind-the-table tub.

Thanks to the staff and participants of ConFusion. I will see you in 2020!

Love, cheers, and doing this together – Emily.

Category: Events

The Bells at Penguicon 2019

Fun at ConFusion 2019