2007 Panel Descriptions
Here is your proposed schedule for your review. In addition to the below, I would ask you to attend Opening Ceremonies Friday at 7 P.M. and Closing Ceremonies Monday at 3 P.M.
Panel: MisCon Rummage Sale
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Volunteer
Description: Sell your stuff or, better yet, buy ours! All proceeds go to MisCon.
Panel: Early Bird Round Table
Room: Programming B
Panelists: By Attendance
Description: CthulhuBob moderates a random group of panelists discussing their choice of Science Fiction and Fantasy topics.
Panel: Writer's Round Table
Room: Programming B
Panelists: TBA
Description: Find out what some of our writers are up to, and feel free to ask questions about their work.
Panel: Gizmo Make and Take
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Joe Taylor, Jim Johnson
Description: Ever wanted to scratch build a ray gun, spaceship or atomic discombobulator? Well, this is your chance. All materials are provided but feel free to bring your own old paper towel rolls, dish liquid caps and non-functioning VCRs.
Panel: Alternative Medicine
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Gail Glass, Inge Saenz
Description:Gail and Inge describe methods used by many traditional cultures for healing and health maintenance.
Panel: Cheapass Games O Rama
Room: Programming A
Panelists: James Ernest, CthulhuBob
Description: Come and play your favorite Cheapass Games, uh... games. Or, try something new.
Panel: Jay Lake Introduction
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Jay Lake
Description: Come meet Jay Lake, MisCon 21's Author Guest of Honor. If you happen to already be a friend of Jay's, you can also attend–but DO NOT mention the zebra incident.
Panel: Opening Ceremonies
Room: Programming A
Panelists: MisCon 21 ConCom, GoHs and Pros
Description: Get a preview of the MisCon 21 weekend. Meet the Guests of Honor and various Professionals who's work will be presented, and the committee of dedicated volunteers who make all this happen!
Panel: Myles Pinkney Introduction
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Myles Pinkney
Description: Come meet Myles Pinkney, MisCon 21's Artist Guest of Honor, or catch up with an old friend if you happen to know him.
Panel: James Ernest Introduction
Room: Programming A
Panelists: James Ernest
Description: Come meet James Ernest, MisCon 21's Special (Gaming) Guest of Honor, or catch up with an old friend if you happen to know him. Now, when we say James is special, we don't actually mean... Well, anyway, just come hang out.
Panel: Coming of Age as a Writer.
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Diana Pharaoh Francis, Patty Briggs
Description: Learn about the process and experience of transforming from an aspiring writer to a well known, widely read author.
Panel: Paints: Oil vs Acrylic
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Myles Pinkney, Chuck Bordell, Robin Walker
Description: These artists discuss their preferences for painting media.
Panel: Theories of Space Travel
Room: Programming B
Panelists: James Glass
Description: What sort of vehicles and drive systems are likely to be used in future space missions? What sorts of missions can we expect to see?
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: CthulhuBob
Description: CthulhuBob will be reading from one of his recent works.
Panel: Anime Music Video Party
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Ben Donnelly
Description: Ben will entertain with all sorts of anime music videos.
Panel: The Shape of Your Ship.
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Cate Davenport
Description: Are you a shipper? Don't know what a shipper is? Think the Doctor is better with Rose or Martha? Think the Cylons are hot? Come find out in this amazing discussion about all your SciFi shows and the shipping that they cause.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Diana Pharaoh Francis
Description: Diana will be reading from one of her recent works.
Panel: Computer Generated Art
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Myles Pinkney
Description: Is computer generated art valid? How has it developed and what sort of skills are involved?
Panel: Moon Base
Room: Programming B
Panelists: James Glass
Description: Hear the latest on the moon base NASA is thinking of building.
Panel: Fairy Flutters
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Joy Bragg-Staudt
Description: Wingless faries, dragons, and denizens of the dark rejoice! These wings can be crafted in no time at all and have endless variations so you'll never have to worry about showing up to the ball looking like the rest of the crowd.
Panel: Games as Education
Room: Programming A
Panelists: James Ernest
Description: How can games be used as educational tools, and what sorts of skills can they teach?
Panel: Writing a Synopsis
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Jay Lake, Patty Briggs, Mary Jane Engh
Description: How to condense your 8000 page magnum opus to a concise page or two, and why you would need to do so.
Panel: Art Education
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Myles Pinkney, Robin Walker
Description: How is art taught? How should art be taught? Is an academic environment more likely to stimulate or degrade artistic vision and expression?
Panel: Kid's Build-O-Rama
Room: Programming B
Panelists: TBA
Description: A group of kids will build some sort of creative monstrosity. Parents, please use discretion and, if your children are under 12, you must be in attendance at all times.
Panel: Science Fiction Jeopardy Round 1
Room: Fireside Area
Panelists: Inge Saenz
Description: Struggle with other geeks in a test of your science fiction trivia prowess! Klingon Culinary Art for the win!
Panel: Aromatherapy Basics
Room: Picnic
Panelists: Joy Bragg-Staudt
Description: If you have sensitivities to strong essential oils, this may be a good one to avoid. Otherwise, learn the basics of aromatherapy.
Panel: Teaching Creative Writing
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Patty Briggs, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Vicki Mitchell
Description: What are, or perhaps should be, the methods currently used to teach creative writing? Does academic critique crush creativity or provide necessary and useful guidelines for expression?
Panel: Introduction to Gaming (Non-electronic)
Room: Programming B
Panelists: James Ernest
Description: If you are interested in getting started in gaming, this is the panel for you. What the heck is an RPG? CCG? Are they fun? Expensive?
Panel: Shoot the Knight
Room: Picnic Area
Panelists: Realms of Avalon
Description: Pretty much what the name says. Pick up a bow and arrow and shoot a guy in armor. The arrows are padded, by the way.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: James Glass
Description: James will be reading from one of his recent works.
Panel: Belly Dance Workshop
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Sultana Dancers
Description: Learn the basics of belly dancing, or improve your skills, with Sparky and Friends.
Panel: What's New at Cheapass Games
Room: Programming B
Panelists: James Ernest
Description: Sadly, what's new is the demise of the company. Still, the CAG story is an interesting one and James can give us an idea where we can still buy remaining stock of great games like Give Me The Brain and Kill Doctor Lucky.
Panel: Combat Demo
Room: Picnic area
Panelists: Realms of Avalon
Description: Watch the Realms of Avalon fighters as they demonstrate medieval combat.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Jay Lake
Description: Author Guest of Honor Jay Lake will be reading from one of his recent works.
Panel: The New Sky: Current Trends and Recent Discoveries in Astronomy.
Room: Programming A
Panelists: James Glass
Description: Find out what new theories and discoveries are happening in astronomy. Plus, hear about the latest technologies being developed and utilized.
Panel: All Things Harry Potter
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Cate Davenport
Description: Join this discussion of Harry Potter books, films, merchandise, etc.
Panel: Game World Building
Room: Programming B
Panelists: CthulhuBob, Marc Johnson
Description: Get some advice on how to create a world for your role playing campaign.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Vicki Mitchell
Description: Vicki will be reading from one of her recent works.
Panel: 20th Century Art
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Myles Pinkney, Robin Walker, Amy Doty
Description: Art has changed a great deal in the 20th century, and this has been influenced by the evolution of photography.
Panel: Punctuation and other Writing Style Issues
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Maggie Bonham
Description: You have a great story and excellent diction. Meat and sauce. What about the seasoning? All those little dots and dashes can't just be sprinkled throughout the text.
Panel: Writing Role Playing Scenarios
Room: Programming B
Panelists: CthulhuBob, Marc Johnson
Description: Get some tips on how to write engaging, challenging and fair role playing scenarios.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Mary Jane Engh
Description: M.J. will be reading from one of her recent works.
Panel: Words to Page
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Jay Lake, Patty Briggs, Justin Stanchfield
Description: Get some advice on how to transfer that story from your mind and heart to the page.
Panel: Introduction to Gaming (Electronic)
Room: Programming B
Panelists: James Ernest
Description: Looking to play your first (or first in a long time) P.C. or console game? What's a good system? What games are out there?
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Justin Stanchfield
Description: Justin will be reading from one of his recent works.
Panel: Special Effects Make Up
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Faith Emens, Amy Doty
Description: See Faith turn a hapless fan into some sort of insect zombie radiation accident victim... thingy.
Panel: Modern Marvels of the Ancient World
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Maggie Bonham, James Glass
Description: The Antikythera Mechanism and much of Leonardo Da Vinci's work are examples of amazing technological progress in the ancient world. Come and learn about these and other creative wonders.
Panel: Live Steel Combat
Room: Picnic area
Panelists: Jess Roe
Description: Watch Jess demonstrate real, full speed fighting techniques using live steel. This is demonstration only and children must be tended by a parent.
Panel: Science Fiction Jeopardy Round 2
Room: Fireside Area
Panelists: Inge Saenz
Description: Struggle with other geeks in a test of your science fiction trivia prowess! Klingon Culinary Art for the win!
Panel: Costume Contest Prep
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Cate Davenport
Description: Contestants please meet at 7. Judges please meet at 7:30
Panel: World Building for Writing
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Diana Pharaoh Francis, Maggie Bonham
Description: Learn how to create a complete, functioning and believable world or setting for your writing.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Parris ja Young
Description: Parris will be reading from one of his recent works.
Panel: Costume Contest
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Cate Davenport
Description: Come support our contestants who have put much time, effort and creativity into costumes historical, futuristic, fantasy and just plain, uh... Interesting.
Panel: How To Break Into Comics
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Chuck Bordell
Description: BIFF! BAM! POW! Oh, uh, I mean: Find out how to find work (possibly even paying work) in the comics industry. ZAM!
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: TBA
Description: Author will be reading from one of his/her recent works.
Panel: Historical Fiction
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Mary Jane Engh, Maggie Bonham, Diana Pharaoh Francis
Description: How to create fiction in a real world historical context.
Panel: Torchwood
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Cate Davenport
Description:Check out this cool spinoff from the Doctor Who series.
Panel: Are You A...
Room: Fireside
Panelists: Cate Davenport
Description: A fun, dynamic game about paranoia and mob mentality... er, I mean cooperation and group dynamics.
Panel: Medieval Dance
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Realms of Avalon
Description:
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Vicki Mitchell
Description: Vicki will be reading from one of her recent works.
Panel: Developing Artistic Skill
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Myles Pinkney, Robin Walker
Description: How does one develop artistic skill? To what extent is natural talent necessary?
Panel: Medieval and Fantasy Costumes
Room: Programming B
Panelists: TBA
Description: Learn how to create accurate period garb and fantasy costumes.
Panel: Introduction to Live Combat
Room: Picnic Area
Panelists: Realms of Avalon
Description: Learn the basics of engaging in medieval combat–without actually killing each other.
Panel: Writers Workshop
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Jay Lake, Jim Glass, Maggie Bonham
Description: This is a closed event available only to entrants.
Panel: Preparing for a Writers Workshop
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Diana Pharaoh Francis, M.J. Engh
Description: Find out how to prepare your manuscript for critiquing in a writers workshop.
Panel: But Is It Art?
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Myles Pinkney
Description: What constitutes art? Can there be a concise definition?
Panel: What Were You Thinking?
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Patty Briggs
Description: Audience members will ask about the inspiration for a certain written scene or piece of art and the creator will answer and autograph the item.
Panel: Writing Believable Cultures
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Mary Jane Engh, Vicki Mitchell
Description: Learn how to create believable, in depth cultures in your writing.
Panel: Short Story or Dodeca-logy
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Vicki Mitchell, Maggie Bonham
Description: How to determin whether your great story idea is fit for 12 pages in a digest or an endless series of monolithic books that will have to be completed by your grandchild.
Panel: BBQ
Room: Picnic Area
Panelists: MisCon Staff
Description: One of MisCon's signature events is our family barbeque. For $6 you get a great dinner, outdoor entertainment and the company of some of the greatest people on Earth.
Panel: Combat Demo
Room: Picnic Area
Panelists: Realms of Avalon
Description: While you're eating your yummy BBQ food, watch the Realms of Avalon people demonstrate medieval combat.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Patty Briggs
Description: Patty will be reading from one of her recent works.
Panel: Belly Dance
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Sultana Dancers
Description: A little aerobic exercise before all that BBQ will help burn calories and keep off extra pounds. Plus, it's a lot of fun!
Panel: Video Festival
Room: Programming A
Panelists: James McGahee
Description: Now that you're full of yummy BBQ, come watch the entries in the MisCon Video Festival, and vote for your favorites.
Panel: Illustrating For RPGs
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Chuck Bordell
Description: Learn how to get hired and what RPG publishers are looking for. Chuck's pretty skinny. Make sure he eats some of that yummy, nutritious BBQ.
Panel: Live Steel Combat
Room: Picnic Area
Panelists: Jess Roe
Description: BBQ, horseshoes, the beauty of Nature, watching Jess whack the crap out of someone... Ah, the good stuff.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Maggie Bonham
Description: Maggie will be reading from one of her recent works.
Panel: Female Protagonists
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Mary Jane Engh
Description: How well have female protagonists been received? How long have they been around? Do books with a strong female main character sell as well as those with a male protagonist?
Panel: Creativity
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Myles Pinkney, James Ernest, Faith Emens, Jay Lake
Description: What is creativity? How much of it is innate and to what extent can one develop it? How can you maximize your creativity?
Panel: Siege Weapons
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Gene Mealey/Realms of Avalon
Description: Come fling stuff with a small trebuchet. It doesn't get any better than that.
Panel: Art Auction
Room: Programming A
Panelists: MisCon Staff
Description: Come bid on that piece that you just can't live without. Artists need to eat, after all.
Panel: Healing Dance
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Gail Glass
Description: Gail will lead a group through the thought behind, and execution of, dance designed to help heal the mind, body and soul.
Panel: Collectable Minis Trade
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Attendees
Description: Come trade your Mechwarrior, Star Wars, D&D, Axis and Allies and/or other collectable minis.
Panel: Collectable Minis Trade
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Attendees
Description: Come trade your Mechwarrior, Star Wars, D&D, Axis and Allies and/or other collectable minis.
Panel: Are You A...
Room: Fireside
Panelists: Cate Davenport
Description: A fun, dynamic game about paranoia and mob mentality... er, I mean cooperation and group dynamics.
Panel: Are You A...
Room: Fireside
Panelists: Cate Davenport
Description: A fun, dynamic game about paranoia and mob mentality... er, I mean cooperation and group dynamics.
Panel: Gladiator School Boffing
Room: Picnic
Panelists: TBA
Description: TBA
Panel: Art for Non-Artists
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Myles Pinkney, Robin Walker
Description: Personally, I find the talent of these people a bit overwhelming and it tends to make me unwilling to even try. Come stand on the shoulders of giants and get some tips on how to improve your art.
Panel: Monopo Tiddly Nuclear Zombies
Room: Programming B
Panelists: James Ernest
Description: James will tell us about game design and marketing, as well as what's going on in the industry currently.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Patty Briggs
Description: Patty will be reading from one of her recent works.
Panel: Hyperdrive
Room: Programming A
Panelists: James Glass
Description: Learn about the work of Burkhard Heim and the possibilities of real life hyperdrive.
Panel: Manuscript Format
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Jay Lake, Mary Jane Engh
Description: Learn how to properly format your manuscript. Editors receive zillions a month and correct formatting can be the difference between yours being read or immediately dropped in the trash.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Jay Lake
Description: Author Guest of Honor Jay Lake will be reading from one of his recent works.
Panel: How to Properly Care for the Belly Dancer in your life
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Ann Peters and Laurel Adams
Description: 1. How to dress your dancer; 2. How to entertain your dancer with shiny stuff; 3. The dance studio, a dance necessity; 4. Wine and chocolate - the proper diet; 5. Spare no expense for your dancer - she's worth it!; 6. How to have your own drummer boy.
Panel: Buying Art
Room: Programming B
Panelists: TBA
Description: There are various ways to buy art; auction, online sales, commission. Get some tips on how to decide what you like, what you can afford and where to display it.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: James Glass
Description: James will be reading from one of his recent works.
Panel: Future of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Room: Programming A
Panelists: Diana Pharaoh Francis, Vicki Mitchell
Description: These genres may have come of age, but time continues to pass. Find out what these authors think the future will hold for the writing and publishing of speculative fiction.
Panel: Future of James Ernest
Room: Programming B
Panelists: James Ernest
Description: Hear about the future hopes, dreams, fears and evil schemes of our Special (Gaming) Guest of Honor.
Panel: Reading
Room: Boardroom
Panelists: Maggie Bonham
Description: Maggie will be reading from one of her recent works.
Panel: Choosing a Publisher
Room: Programming A
Panelists: TBA
Description: Get some tips on how to decide where to submit your writing, and when to sacrifice cents per word for getting into print at all.
Panel: Running RPGs at Home vs at Conventions
Room: Programming B
Panelists: Marc Johnson, CthulhuBob
Description: Marc and Bob will discuss the differences between home and convention role playing games and scenarios.
Panel: Closing Ceremonies
Room: Programming A
Panelists: MisCon 21 ConCom, GoHs and Pros
Description: Catch a sneak peek at what's in store for you next year at MisCon 22, the 23rd to 26th of May, 2008.