Westercon68 Update #5: My Events (Finally!)

The Westercon68 folks have finally provided me with the list of events in which I am a participant.  The times are start and end, PDT. The names are of the panelists or participants. “Pacific 3,” “Sunset,” etc. are the names of the rooms in which the event takes place at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego, CA.

The text in brackets is my commentary; the rest is from the official document. I’m sure it’s going to be posted on the westercon68 dot com before long.

Characterization: Pushing Fictional People Beyond Their Limits
7/2/2015
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
Pacific 3
Steven Brust, Tera Lynn Childs, H. Paul Honsinger, John Oliver, Peter Clines

[Since I put my people in a situation where the survival of the whole human race is at stake, I think this is something I can talk about.]

Endangered languages
7/3/2015
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
Sunset
We worry about endangered species—but 80% of the world’s languages will be dead by the century’s end, often with no fossil remains. Should we be concerned? What could be done? H. Paul Honsinger, Katherine B. Kerr, Will Morton, Jason Vanhee, Heather Rose

[A little family history here–my mother is Cajun French.  Her maiden name is Arceneaux, her mother’s was LeBlanc. English was not the cradle tongue of either of her parents, and all four of her grandparents primarily spoke Cajun French. She was the first generation in her family to grow up speaking English, even though her family had been in Louisiana since 1755.  I’ve watched Cajun French nearly die out.  I understand a little but do not speak it.  So, I know something about this subject from experience..]

Drones: Technological possibilities.
7/4/2015
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
Sunset
Drones in war. Drones as delivery vehicles. Drones as camera platforms. I guess we can truly say the sky is the limit. – Amy Sterling Casil, Vernor Vinge, H. Paul Honsinger, Matt Pallamary,Mike Shepard Moscoe, Gordon Permann

[I could tell you how I know about this stuff, but I would have to kill you.  Just trust that I know it, OK?]

Autographs
7/4/2015
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
Dealers Room
David Brin, Peter Clines, Vernor Vinge; H. Paul Honsinger

[Me? Signing autographs? And in the same room as David Brin? Pinch me. I’m a real admirer of his work.  Never heard of those other guys, but then again (for all I know, they’re big deals, but I’m a writer, not a fan), I’m pretty sure none of them have ever heard of me. I can just see people wandering into the room to get David Brin to autograph their books and wondering who the hell the fat guy is in the corner. Maybe enough people will see the pretty covers on my books and wander over, so I don’t have to haul all those books back home with me.  Seriously, I’ll be selling autographed copies of all 3 of my books (limited quantities only) for $20 a piece (cash only).  The cover price is $14.95 so it’s a decent deal.]

Meeting of the Mindless
7/5/2015
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
Pacific 4/5
A panel of such experts as “Mr Know-It-All” and Baron Munchhausen answer all your questions about, well, everything. – H. Paul Honsinger, Calvin Johnson, James Hay, David Levine; Jefferson Swycaffer

[This is improv comedy, as you can tell. I don’t know what “expert” I will be portraying, or even whether we get to pick our own expert. If I can’t be Sarek of Vulcan, I want to be Saruman the Wise. “No, you know as well as I do that all the Palentiri are lost. That’s just a crystal croquet ball. It’s purely decorative.”  Oh, I know . . . Master Po from the David Carridine King Fu series.  I can answer in riddle-like Koans of wisdom.]

Westercon68 Update #3: Please Stand By . . . .

For those of you who are watching this space, expecting to see announcements of what exactly I will be doing at Westercon68 and when, well, please continue to watch.  I have yet to hear from the conference’s promoters what my participation schedule is, although I am assured most confidently that it is forthcoming. I’m eager to see what I’ll be doing and with whom I’ll be doing it (no, you dirty minded scoundrels, not like that!) so I can have some time to get my ideas together and maybe even do a little research.

I ask, therefore, for your patience.  I will pass the information on to you as soon as I receive it.

#HPaulHonsinger #Westercon68 #ManofWar #BrothersinValor #ToHonorYouCallUs #ForHonorWeStand #ManofWarTrilogy #MilitaryScienceFiction #Westercon #IDon’tKnowIfTheseHashTagsDoAnyGoodButI’llPutThemInAnyway

Countdown to Westercon #1

My esteemed publisher, 47North, has agreed to provide me with a limited number of books to give away at Westercon68. I get to choose which volume to be supplied with and I really don’t know.  I solicit your input.  Whatever books I wind up with, I will be giving away autographed copies to fans on a first come, first served basis.  The number will be small, so you will want to track me down early.

There is still no word regarding what I will actually be doing at this shindig, but I will update you guys as soon as I know something.  I will also try to post the panels I am on as events on my Amazon web page, time permitting.

The publisher is not picking up any of my expenses for this excursion, so I am open to being bribed.  I’ve never been bribed before, so it might be fun.  If a nice fan wants to take me to dinner someplace reasonably decent (I’m pretty easily pleased), I’m willing to be sure he/she gets an autographed book and will sign anything else they like (so long as it isn’t some kind of contract).  I’ll even abase myself by posing for pictures with your spouse, children, dog, pet woolly marmoset, etc.  Actually, I don’t mind pictures.  I’m not one of those touchy, temperamental, reclusive writers who shies away from publicity.  I kind of like the limelight, in fact.

So, see you in San Diego!