It’s May Long, and for once, I got some of the long weekend off. Unfortunately I can’t make it to Keycon today as I’m back at work in Gladstone, but it’s been a busy few weeks and Ron will still be at the Radisson today for the next few hours with some books for sale, so drop by and say hi if you’re so inclined – ask him questions about our publisher or publishing in general, it’ll keep him on his toes. It’s also a great place to check out other local authors and other artists of the science fiction / fantasy variety.
I was only on one panel this year – the locally grown panel, though I went to two – one on women in spec fic, the other regarding big/small/indie presses. It’s nice to see that the issue is being raised, and that there is continued support for independent authors. Winnipeg is special though – we have a supportive arts community for a variety of different mediums, and it’s nice to see that it’s acknowledged. I’m not going to say it’s all cookies and cream though – it’s a rough industry, and up until recently, science-fiction and fantasy have been looked down on in most literary circles, but needless to say we don’t run into that same issue at a convention all about that.
Ah well – if I wanted to be popular and stuff in high school I would have focused more on sports and doing my hair.
Here’s a list of some of the people you can find at Keycon:
Ingrid Glaw, the artist who did my tattoo (removable, mum) was at our table selling prints and stickers, so if you’re so inclined, check out her art, as well as the other fabulous artists in the room and at the art show.
Prelaunch Flight – a prequel Webseries, brought to you by Farmgirl in the City Productions. They’re trying to get funding for a tv series and it’s garnered some interest, so check out this free webseries on youtube. I haven’t seen anything and my internet is shall we say, slow, so I can’t vouch for anything other then that it’s shot locally with local actors/editors/crew.
Samantha Beiko – Aurora Nominated for her book The Lake and the Library, she’s also the cochair of the Winnipeg Branch of the ChiSeries.
GMB Chomichuk – graphic novel artist and writer, multiple award-winning author and painter.
Karen Dudley – I got her novel Kraken Bake hot off the press yesterday. She was nominated for an Aurora for the first book in the series, Food for the Gods. If you see her, ask her about some sort of pastry found on page 128. Trust me, it’s fun.
Chadwick Ginther – author of Ravenstone’s Thunder Road Trilogy, he other conchair of the Wpg branch of Chiseries and overall nice guy. The second book in the series is nominated for an Aurora again this year.
Jonathan Hatton – cartoonist and kendo practitioner, probably current which I am not in regards to the kendo.
Sherry Peters – local small press author, her novel, Mabel the Lovelorn Dwarf, will be out soon (August, methinks).
Adam Knight – Local science fiction author of Cowboy Ending, first book in the planned Overdrive Series.
Lenora Rose Patrick – author of fantasy novella the Illusion of Steel.
Laurie Smith – lead colorist with many comics this day, she used to work for Digital Chameleon, which is cool because I job-shadowed there when I was fourteen for a day.
Robert J. Sawyer – he’s around but I don’t think I saw him – Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Author. Has won multiple aurora awards.
Tanya Huff – Science Fictiona and Fantasy Author. Won last year’s Aurora for best Long Fiction. Our Author GOH.
David Herrold – science fiction writer with numerous books and wrote the Star Trek Episode the Trouble with Trebbles. He had trebbles for sale at the table next to ours – let’s just say it was fun to smack it and set them off when I was walking by. Our other Writer GOH.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia – our Editor GOH. I met her last year, didn’t have a chance to speak to her much this year, but both of the panels I went to she was on: Women in Spec Fic and Big, Small and Indie Press.
Lauren Eli – Our Fan GOH; I saw her walking around in her hobbit outfit!
Ian Sokolowski – Our Artist GOH; didn’t see him, but go check out his illustrations and photography.
I’m sorry if I missed you – please, comment about yourself and what you do below. I’m a believer in trying to help other artists out when I can.
As for where I’m going next – planning on ComicCon in Wpg again this fall, but that’s in like six months. I’d really like to do when Words Collide and Thin Air, but as for now, I’m bidding on work. If I go down to casual, I don’t really have an excuse, but I’m doing my best to get permed up so I can know exactly what I’m doing – I’m also really wanting to feed my travel bug, but we’ll see what the next few months entails.
ltgetty's Blog 
Hey man. Glad you caught some panels and enjoyed your time at Keycon. this year was my first one and I am looking forward to other years and places to share my works.
AK