Missoula's Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention

Rhiannon Held

MisCon 40 Attending Professional

Rhiannon Held writes urban fantasy, along with space opera and weird western (as R. Z. Held). She lives in Seattle, where she works as an archaeologist for an environmental compliance firm. At work, she mostly uses her degree for copy-editing technical reports; in writing, she uses it for cultural world-building; in public, she’ll probably use it to check the mold seams on the wine bottle at dinner.

Scheduled Panels and Games:

Key: =On a Panel =Moderating =GMing

(Tentative)

• Thu 6:00 - 7:50 PM, Author Readings, Rocket Tent
  Panelists: Stoney Compton, James Glass, Rhiannon Held, Theresa Miller, Gwendolyn Nix

  Some of our authors will read from their works.

• Break Thu 7:50 - Fri 1:00
• Fri 1:00 - 1:50 PM, Informal Author Meet & Greet: Speedfriending Edition, Dragon Pavilion
  Moderator: Justin Barba; Panelists: Justin Barba, Jessica Brawner, C E Chester, Stoney Compton, Katie Cross, Laramie Dean, Jayel Draco, Manny Frishberg, James Glass, Lynsey Griswold (Lynsey G), Rhiannon Held, GS Jennsen, Esther Jones, Frog Jones, Sanan Kolva, Tess Langston, Todd Lockwood, Joseph Malik, Tod McCoy, Danith McPherson, Theresa Miller, Gwendolyn Nix, AM Scott, Steven L Sears, D.L. Solum, Jeff Sturgeon, Patrick Swenson: Fairwood Press, Hunter Kay Wallace, Dean Wells, Danica Winters, Jim Wright (Stonekettle), Matthew Yetter

  If you want to get to know some of MisCon 40's writers/editors, this is the place for you! It's like speed dating, but without the romance. We'll provide lists of question prompts to help break the ice (though you can ask whatever you want), split everyone into pairs, and run quick 3 to 5-minute rounds before rotating to a new conversation partner. Come swap stories, talk art, movies, anime, pop culture, and make a new connection.

• Break Fri 1:50 - Fri 3:00
• Fri 3:00 - 3:50 PM, Critique 201: How to be a Great Critique Partner, Great Hall 1
  Moderator: Rhiannon Held; Panelists: Rhiannon Held, Esther Jones, D.L. Solum

  You may already have the basics of critiquing a fellow writer's work down, but how do you go from "okay" to "great?" Come learn strategies to make yourself the person everyone wants to read their work.

• Fri 4:00 - 4:50 PM, Magic System Design, Great Hall 3
  Panelists: Manny Frishberg, Rhiannon Held, AM Scott, Matthew Yetter

  Magic is a cornerstone of fantasy, but what is a magic system? Join our panelists as we delve into the workings of magic, discuss examples, and provide insights into balancing magic with world and plot elements.

• Break Fri 4:50 - Sat 4:00
• Sat 4:00 - 4:50 PM, Author Readings: McPherson, Held, Monster Tent
  Panelists: Rhiannon Held, Danith McPherson

  Join our authors as they read from their latest works! (25 minutes a piece).

• Sat 5:00 - 5:50 PM, It Was a Dark and Stormy Night . . ., Great Hall 1
  Panelists: Katie Cross, Manny Frishberg, Rhiannon Held, Danith McPherson

  What makes a good opening for a novel? What is most likely to entice you to read the book? What should a first sentence/first paragraph accomplish? We’ll discuss openings, both good and bad.

• Break Sat 5:50 - Sun 11:00
• Sun 11:00 - 11:50 AM, When Fantasy Meets Reality: Grounding the Extraordinary, Rocket Tent
  Panelists: Jessica Brawner, Rhiannon Held, Sanan Kolva, Dean Wells

  Have you ever read a fantasy novel where the magic felt unearned, the creatures out of place, or the futuristic tech just... didn't quite make sense? Making the extraordinary believable is crucial for reader immersion. Let's examine ways to weave fantastical elements—be it magic, mythical creatures, or cutting-edge technology—seamlessly into a believable framework. We'll explore how to avoid common pitfalls like arbitrary powers, inconsistent rules, information overload, etc.