Missoula's Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention

Carol Berg

MisCon 38 Featured Professional

Former software engineer Carol Berg (aka Cate Glass) never expected to become an award-winning author. But her seventeen epic fantasy novels have won national and international awards, including multiple Colorado Book Awards and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. She’s taught writing in the US and Canada and received reader mail from the slopes of Denali and beneath the Mediterranean. All amazing for one who majored in math and computer science to avoid writing papers. Her newest novels are Cate Glass’s fantasy adventure Chimera novels from Tor Books, most recently A Conjuring of Assassins. Carol/Cate lives in Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, and on the internet at www.carolberg.com.

Web site: http://www.sff.net/people/carolberg/

Scheduled Panels and Presentations:

Key: =On a Panel =Moderating =GMing

(Tentative)

• Fri 3:00 - 3:50 PM, Informal Author Meet & Greet, Dragon Pavilion (1)
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: J.A. Andrews, Justin Barba, Carol Berg, Katie Cross, Eva Elasigue, Deby Fredericks, Manny Frishberg, Julie Frost, Ann Gimpel, Lynsey Griswold, Rhiannon Held, Meradeth Houston, GS Jennsen, Esther Jones, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Sanan Kolva, Tod McCoy, Danith McPherson, Theresa Miller, Gwendolyn Nix, Dakota Nyght, Dave Smeds, Patrick Swenson, Hunter Wallace, Dean Wells, Danica Winters, David Yake

  Join us for an informal hangout with a bunch of MisCon's writers and editors. This isn't a formal panel with panelists up on the stage discussing a topic. Instead, everyone will grab chairs in the pavilion, and the moderator will have every author/editor introduce themselves and tell us what they do. Then we'll open things up so small group hangouts can happen until the end of the hour. This is your chance to informally meet a bunch of the people you'll see on panels all weekend.

• Fri 4:00 - 4:50 PM, Crafting Starts (Writing 201), Rocket Tent (3)
  Moderator: G.R. Theron; Panelists: Carol Berg, Brenda Carre, G.R. Theron, Dean Wells

  Dive into the unique elements that define the beginning of stories. Our authors will guide you in identifying these crucial components and demonstrate practical ways to apply them to your own work.

• Fri 5:00 - 5:50 PM, Character Chemistry, Monster Tent (2)
  Moderator: Rhiannon Held; Panelists: Carol Berg, Manny Frishberg, Rhiannon Held, Nina Kiriki Hoffman

  Chemistry, that indefinable quality in relationships between actors and also between characters--how do you create it in your own writing? What are some good examples of it? Can stories succeed without it?

• Break Fri 5:50 - Sat Noon
• Sat Noon - 12:50 PM, Crafting Compelling Middles (Writing 202), Dragon Pavilion (1)
  Moderator: G.R. Theron; Panelists: Carol Berg, Brenda Carre, G.R. Theron, Dean Wells

  You've set the stage, but what comes next? Join our authors in exploring the complexities of the novel middle and how to expand on your story's foundations by analyzing successful examples and how to integrate these insights into your own writing.

• Break Sat 12:50 - Sun 10:00
• Sun 10:00 - 10:50 AM, Don’t Kill The Dog!, Monster Tent (2)
  Moderator: JM Landels; Panelists: Carol Berg, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, JM Landels

  Animals have been used and misused by writers for centuries: as ways to progress the plot, induce pathos, get a character from point A to point B, and as characters in their own right. Panelists will give examples of stories in which the use of animals either works or doesn't work, and will discuss how to avoid making your readers throw a book across the room in fury.

• Break Sun 10:50 - Sun Noon
• Sun Noon - 12:50 PM, Spotlight: Berg, Carre, Spotlight
  Panelists: Carol Berg, Brenda Carre

  Meet a few of our authors, get signatures, and see what they're up to these days.

• Break Sun 12:50 - Sun 2:00
• Sun 2:00 - 2:50 PM, Building a Story on the Fly, Ballroom C
  Moderator: Krista Wallace; Panelists: Carol Berg, Paul Jenkins, Krista Wallace, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), David Yake

  Your page is blank. Even worse, your map is blank: no lands, no plants, no buildings, no industry, and not a single inhabitant in your world, let alone a culture. So how do you create a story? The panelists will ask questions, the audience will lend a hand giving answers and sharing ideas. The artist will make it all visual, and together we will give shape to a world. No blocking, no wimping, but laughter is encouraged as we show that the blank space is not empty: it's full of potential.

• Sun 3:00 - 3:50 PM, Crafting Memorable Ends (Writing 203), Fairy Tent (4)
  Moderator: G.R. Theron; Panelists: Carol Berg, Brenda Carre, G.R. Theron, Dean Wells

  The finale is in sight, and it's time to stick the landing. Discover the art of concluding tales as our authors share their thoughts on impactful endings, the qualities that tie up story and theme threads, and practical ideas to enhance the conclusion of your own work.