SpaceGypsies

First I have to say, the guest were particularly fun!

Ethan Siegel, Science Guest of Honor 

Ethan Siegel, Science Guest of Honor - Mid South Con 30 - March 2012

Ethan fell in love with learning about how and why the Universe works the way it does at a very young age, and has spent his entire adult life pursuing that end.

 

 

 

Mark Goddard and Marta Kristen,

Media Guests of Honor

Mark Goddard and Marta Kristen are best known to fans for their roles as Maj. Don West and Judy Robinson on the 60s TV show Lost in Space.

With the focus on literacy there were plenty of Authors, Graphic artists and storytellers. I attended a screenwriters roundtable discussion led by Science Fiction Author Stephanie Osborn and playwrite, director and producer of Death Du Jour Mystery Theater Phyllis Appleby and walked away with some very helpful information.

I was so excited by the discussion I actually went home and wrote a short screenplay for practice. So much fun! While both recommended the Screenwriter Software, I downloaded the Open Office free screenwriting software and found it easy and fun to use. I’d never looked at any screenwriting software, but after viewing both I found the Open Office Free software fit my needs during the learning process.

There were many authors I didn’t get around to meeting all of them, but did catch up with a few, bought some books and had them signed by the authors. Author and filmmaker, Stephen Zimmer and the talented Georgia L. Jones were two that stood out and agreed to be interviewed. Those interviews can be seen here on SpaceGypsies.com.

I spent time perusing the art work and chatting with artists like Jim Hall, Dean Zachary and Mitch Foust to name a few. I found some really awesome Farscape drawings!

And from my generation the guests Mark Goddard and Marta Kristen from Lost in Spacewere very busy and well received!

Mark Goddard (Lost in Space) with Con Goers

MidSouthCon is one of my favorite small cons. The atmosphere is open and friendly, and of course there are the usual suspects wandering around in costumes.  This yearly convention is one I hope never to miss!

Once you see these guys you know for sure you are at a Con

ROSWELL, GA– JordanCon, a literary fantasy convention held near Atlanta, GA will host an exclusive viewing of the art of legendary science fiction and fantasy artist Darrell K. Sweet as well as a preview of the forthcoming final novel in the Wheel of Time series, A Memory of Light. Reading a selection from this highly anticipated conclusion to the series is Harriet McDougal, editor of the series and widow of its creator and author, Robert Jordan.

At the time of his death on December 5, 2011, Darrell K. Sweet was working on the cover of A Memory of Light. The concept art for this cover, as well as a special exhibition of Sweet’s artwork—including never published rough drafts and concept art—will be on display at JordanCon’s art show.

A Memory of Light is scheduled to release in January 2013, and is the 13^th and final novel in the best-selling Wheel of Time series, which was begun by the late Robert Jordan and is being completed by Brandon Sanderson. Darrell K. Sweet was the original artist for the series, and has illustrated each of the series’ covers. Renowned artist Michael Whelan is painting the cover for the final novel.

Sweet illustrated science fiction and fantasy novels for over 35 years, and is well known for his cover illustrations for the best-selling series The Wheel of Time, as well as many other novels, including best-selling novels by Piers Anthony and Terry Brooks. Sweet was nominated for a Hugo for his work in 1980, and was the Guest of Honor at the World Fantasy Convention in 2010. He was slated to be the Guest of Honor at the 2013 World Science Fiction Convention.

Sweet’s son, Darrell R. Sweet, himself a noted artist, will be attending the convention and will be a featured artist in the show.

ABOUT JORDANCON:

JordanCon is an Atlanta-based fantasy literature convention founded in honor of the late author, Robert Jordan. Jordan was the author of the best-selling The Wheel of Time series. JordanCon features four tracks of simultaneous programming, an Art Show, a Dealers Hall, and charity events benefiting the Mayo Clinic.  Past guests have included Harriet McDougal, Brandon Sanderson, David Wong, Jana G. Oliver, David B. Coe and Eugie Foster. This year’s guests include Hugo-award winning author Mary Robinette Kowal and artist Sam Weber.

In 2012 JordanCon is being held April 20-22 at the Doubletree Hotel in Roswell, GA. For more information visit www.jordancon.org.

I’ve never had a huge love of comics. I absolutely appreciate the artistry and talent behind them, but comic books and graphic novels rarely engage me like I wish they would.  That said, I *love* comic conventions. The costuming, the art show, the pure raw passion of so many of the attendees — it’s just wonderful! And what’s even better, is that next Friday at C2E2 in Chicago, I’ll have the opportunity to meet the artists of three of the only comics to truly excite me.

Back in 1998, when I was a little babygoth, a comic-loving coworker bought me a comic book. Today’s Tiarala would explain to the clueless Tiarala of Christmas Past that said coworker was flirting, but at the time I just saw it as a sweet little gift from a guy I thought was too cute to possibly like me. Anyway, the gift introduced me to Lenore, the Cute Little Dead Girl, and I was hooked instantly. The dark humor, the adorable drawings, rich with Burtonesque creepiness but with a style all their own… it all just made me so damn happy. Roman Dirge would go on to be one of the unwell brains behind the genius of Invader Zim, but he had me at Lenore and I became obsessed.

Like what you see? Dirge's illustrated short stories are high-larious too. The Cat with a Really Big Head, and One Other Story that Isn't as Good and Something at the Window is Scratching are freaking briliant.

Jhonen Vasquez's "I Feel Sick" and "Squee" round out the trifecta of my comic book loves.

My college animation projects were all based on clippings from my Lenore books. I made advertising for Lenore books, and even made up a cereal called Noogies & Buggies based on Lenore for a digital art class. (It had little skull-shaped cereal bits and eyeball marshmallows and I would so buy all of it!) I’d kill to be able to find these old pieces, lost forever on Zip disks that played the click of death before I thought to back them up. Also, I still want the Lenore tattoo I contemplated years ago. Maybe Roman would draw me one if I asked nicely. (Probably not, but **swooon*… ahem.)

So while the unwashed masses line up for Dirge and his friend and collaborator Jhonen Vasquez to sign their Invader Zim memorabilia, I’ll be in line with my first Lenore book, sadly wilted from an unfortunate cup-of-water vs. kitten incident, and my Spooky, the Thing What Squeaks toy from Vasquez’s “I Feel Sick” series, also circa late ’90s. Not because I’m cooler than you because I knew of them back then, but because I’m not a huge Zim fan, and when I think of comics, I think of  dark purple nail polish and lipstick (never, never black), clove cigarettes, a boy who liked me and I didn’t know it, and Slave Labor Graphics.

Follow Roman Dirge on Twitter because he’s cooler than you @Taxidermied  

It’s April, and that means convention season is in full swing! MaryLouWho will be attending two conventions this month: Middle Tennessee Anime Convention (MTAC) and ConGlomeration.

MTAC is a convention held April 6-8, 2012, in Nashville, TN, which focuses mostly on anime and Japanese culture. While we don’t cover anime often here at SpaceGypsies, it’s always good to expand your boundaries, right? MTAC was my first yearly geek convention, and this will be my 7th time in attendance. (Damn…when did I get so old??) It’s a constantly growing event, with last year’s attendance at just over 5600. This year MTAC will be held in a new location: the Nashville Convention Center and Renaissance Nashville Hotel. I’m looking forward to seeing how the new venue will allow the event to expand and increase its nighttime activities.

While anime conventions generally cater to a younger crowd, I’ve found MTAC is an exception. Of course there are middle and high schoolers without number, but there is definitely a healthy dose of adult material available as well. One of this year’s most exciting guests is Jason David Frank, who played Tommy Oliver on Power Rangers. MTAC is also known to feature several musical guests. This year’s list includes “Notorious MSG,” “The Symphonic Anime Orchestra,” and many others. If you’re a Nashville fan of music, anime, or geekdom in any capacity, don’t miss this event!

I’ll also be attending ConGlomeration, a multimedia sci-fi and fantasy convention, in Louisville, KY. It is April 13-14, the weekend after MTAC. Will it be tough getting no sleep two weekends in a row? Yes. Will I do it? Absolutely.  And happily. I have never attended ConGlom before, but I look forward to it! It is known for its smaller, “relaxacon” atmosphere, and for its happening nightlife. There’s ample programming, and I’m told the masquerade is something to behold. Each year, the International Wenches Guild Local 77 hosts a “Jail & Bail,” where you can have your friends arrested and thrown in ‘jail’ for a small fee. This year’s event benefits the Korsair Children’s Hospital.

ConGlomeration will be held at the Louisville Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center. It features guests artists, authors, and even gaming guests. I’m looking forward to the 24 hour game room and, of course, the room parties. If you’re near Louisville and looking for some fellow geeks to hang out with, this will be place to be!

Preregistration for both events is closed, but tickets will be available at the door.

MidSouthCon-30 was so much fun!  One of my favorite people, Stephen Zimmer, had some great insight into his world.  Check out the video below!  I love this guy!

check him out here: http://www.stephenzimmer.com/