Steampunk World’s Fair was everything you could want in such an event: amazing outfits, great music (including a new discovery for JR and I, Jason Webley, who, as it turns out, is a friend of Kyle‘s. Because everyone is a friend of Kyle’s), and a meeting with friends who I don’t see nearly enough. SPWF has a much more relaxed atmosphere than most conventions; if you want to settle in and just look at everyone’s gorgeous clothes, you can settle in and just look at everyone’s gorgeous clothes.
SPWF is a convention where costuming in the norm, and showing up uncostumed makes you look like you were in the wrong place. Steampunk, as a fashion culture–especially as a fashion culture for men–has a lot to recommend for it. It is a space where men can be fastidious about their appearance and still be masculine, which, I do not have to tell you, I am whole-heartedly for. It’s something I will certainly delve into at some point.
But right now, I turn my eye not to the past–or even the fictional past–but to the Future! Balticon is coming. And I am doing quite a lot:
Sat, 8:00 PM, Derby,   Making Stories Worth Hearing (New Media)
Moderator: Mur Lafferty; Panelists: Jared Axelrod, Chris Lester, Nathan Lowell, Evo Terra
It’s been over six years since the first podiobook appeared on the internet, and in that time, audio fiction has exploded into a variety of styles and formats. Authors have grappled with the often conflicting demands of story, serial format, audio presentation and immersion. Having just a good story does not always lead to a good podcast, and while expansive voice casts and custom-composed music can help draw the listener in, they come with their own problems. Join some of the best fiction podcasters as they discuss their solutions to making the written word worth hearing.
This one was my idea, and I am really looking forward to it. Often podcasts are looked on as a medium, not an artform, a means to get a story or an idea into the mind of the audience. If we can call podcasts art–if we can be that lofty–then this is the sort of conversation we need to have, where we look at what makes audio fiction work, and why.
Sat, 10:00 PM, Chesapeake,   Unlikely Disasters to Plan For — Because more things may uprise than just zombies and robots! (New Media)
Moderator: Chooch Schubert, Panelists: Jared Axelrod, Marc “Grailwolf” Bailey, Laura Burns, John Cmar, MD, Donald Roche Scott
So much attention is paid to how one might survive the zombie apocalypse or robot uprising. But aren’t there a whole lot of other things we should be planning for? How about mole men? Insect sentience? Or grey goo? Join our panel of possible-apocalypses scholars enumerate the conceivable threats. We might even have time to figure out how to survive one or two! Audience participation encouraged!
This looked like too much fun not to be a part of. So I’m a part of it. I imagine this will be extremely silly, and possibly educational. But mainly silly.
Sun, 10:00 AM, Derby, Pitch Workshop (New Media)
Moderator:Â Jared Axelrod, Panelists:Â Eric Kimball, Donald Scott Roche, Brent Weichsel
Your pitch is your calling card. It’s the way you get people interested in your work and the way they tell each other about it. This workshop is designed to give you an opportunity to improve your pitch. Members of the workshop will be given an opportunity to pitch their work and get feedback from the expert panel and from the audience. The idea is to improve the presentation of the work and give the pitch the pizazz it deserves.
Right. So. I agreed to do this, back when I thought it was being moderated by someone else, and I would just sit at the table, fold my arms and make snarky comments. I found out yesterday that I am now IN CHARGE of this workshop, which means that the other three people involved get to do the arms-folded-snarky-comments thing, and I have to come up with actual things to help whoever shows up with their pitch. I will probably also have to stand. Strangely enough, this actually makes me MORE excited about the workshop then back when I was just going to sit there. I’ve got plans, now. Awesome plans.
Sun, 3:00 PM, Chesapeake,  The TRUTH About Adult Content (New Media)
Moderator:Â Laura Burns; Panelists:Â Jared Axelrod, John Cmar MD, Christiana Ellis
We’ve all seen the signs. “Warning: Adult Content.” “Not Safe For Work.” “Men’s Restroom.” But how many of us know the TRUTH behind these slightly ajar doors of forbidden knowledge? What, if anything, is contained inside an adult? How sexy is danger in the workplace? Does anyone really rest in those rooms? These answers and more will plunged, examined and ultimately ignored as Doctor John Cmar (a real doctor!), Professor Jared Axelrod (not a real professor!) and Commodore Christiana Ellis (up for debate!) bring you the TRUTH about Adult Content.*
*may not include actual adult content.
Remember last year? When Dr. John Cmar, Antioch Morningstar and I riffed on a slideshow we had no knowledge of put together by Laura Burns and JR Blackwell. Yeah, we’re doing that again. Only this time we’ve swapped out Mr. Morningstar for the funniest woman in podcasting, Christiana Ellis. There is no reason this will not be hilarious.
Sun, 7:00 PM, Chesapeake,   The Flying City Circus! A Launch Party for Book 2 of Jared Axelrod’s Podcast, “Fables of the Flying City” (New Media)
Moderator:Â Jared Axelrod
Join Axelrod as he launches Book 2 steampunk adventure podcast, “Fables of the Flying City.” Now that Ashe left the Aerial Guard, what adventures are waiting for her on the streets of the flying city of Amperstam? And what does role does the Flying City Circus play? Find out in this circus-themed launch party! The first episode will be read, live! Popcorn will be served! Prizes will be won! YOU could be in the story!
Oh, man. I promised popcorn for this? I should get on that. I’ve got some big news about both the graphic novel, The Battle of Blood And Ink and the next volume of the podcast, Mouths Of The Dead, as well the usual tasty fiction and theatrics that have become a hallmark of my readings. And speaking of readings…
Sun, 11:00 PM, Belmont,   Jared Axelrod – Reading
…I’ve got a late night one. Which is really cool. Also, there’s nothing after me, so if we all want to hang out all night, build a campfire in the middle of the room and make s’mores, no can stop up.
Okay, maybe the fire marshal. BUT NO ONE ELSE!
Finally go the audio from Balticon up on the Fables of the Flying City feed, which means I also have an excuse to finally post the sweet Bruce Press photo I was talking about months ago. The man is a wizard with the lens. An absolute wizard.
