Friday Quick Updates: Serafina and Millarworld in the Triangle, a big ConGregate preview, and more!
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Friday Quick Updates: Serafina and Millarworld in the Triangle, a big ConGregate preview, and more!
Posted on 2016-07-15 at 16:00 by montsamu
Friday, July 15, 2016: It’s going to be a fantastic weekend in High Point, so whether you’re driving or taking the train (it’s less than a block walk from the station to the hotel!), travel safe on your way to ConGregate! But before I go on (at length!) about ConGregate, there are also a few things happening in and around the Triangle this weekend, so I’ll get started with those:
- July 15 (Friday) 6 pm -- The Streets at Southpoint Barnes & Noble in Durham hosts Asheville author Robert Beatty for Serafina and the Twisted Staff, book two in his 1890s Biltmore-set series for young readers after Serafine and the Black Cloak, out from Disney-Hyperion.
- July 16 (Saturday) 11 am to 1 pm -- Ultimate Comics Raleigh hosts a MILLAR WORLD ANNUAL #1 signing: "Join writer and artist of the American Jesus story in the new Millarworld annual this Saturday the 16th at Ultimate Comics Raleigh from 11am-1pm! Steve Beach and friend-of-the-store writer Cliff Bumgarner join us for the signing of the brand spankin' new MILLARWORLD ANNUAL!"
The program schedule is online, with quite a lot on the schedule this afternoon ahead of tonight’s official opening ceremonies. They are expecting a good crowd this year, no doubt boosted a bit by a really fun news segment on WFMY’s morning show, starring some of the con staff, and have just a fantastic lineup (again) of guests, from writer guest of honor Steven Barnes, artist guest of honor Lindsey Look, special author guest A. J. Hartley, musical guests Valentine Wolfe, and plenty more authors including David B. Coe, Gail Z. Martin, and many more.
I haven’t taken an exhaustive look through the entire program schedule, but here’s a few events (outside of all of the signings and “Java and Pros” coffee talk style chats, which are all recommended, and of course the gaming and dealer rooms) which caught my eye:
FRIDAY
- 5:30 p.m. — Concert by Gray Rinehart -- Gray is a really fun (and talented) filk musician, and if you haven't had a chance to sing along with the chorus of "Tauntauns to Glory" or "The Monster Hunter Ballad" do catch him sometime this weekend!
- 8:30 pm -- Not sure this is on the actual program guide, but there's a big multi-author launch party where David B. Coe will be be launching Children of Amarid, and others launching books include John Hartness, Gail Martin, Stuart Jaffe, Chris Kennedy, Samantha Dunaway Bryant, Cheralyn Lambeth, and Michael Williams. Books will be signed, fun conversations will be had, and if there's not a nice little spread of food to be had, I'll be shocked. Shocked, I tell you!
- 10 pm -- Another one I didn't see on the program guide is the ConCarolinas-Atomacon-Geek Gala room party where there's rumor of a big ConCarolinas announcement.
- 10:30 p.m. — “Campfire Songs” — a fannish singalong! Going along with ConGregate 2016's theme of "Geek Summer Camp" come sing along with all kinds of fannish songs. Libations recommended.
- 9 am -- Author guest of honor Steven Barnes leads an introductory Tai Chi workshop
- 10 am -- Allen Wold's "regionally famous" writers workshop -- register ahead of time to save your seat!
- 2:00 p.m. — “Songs and S’mores” — kid-friendly songs and yes, I understand actual s’mores will be served
- 2:30 pm -- "Star Wars Saved My Life" with Steven Barnes
- 4:00 p.m. — Baen Books Traveling Road Show and Prize Patrol — see what new releases Baen has coming out, and possibly score a free book!
- 7:30 p.m. -- Award Ceremony -- Join as we present The Manly Wade Wellman Award for Science Fiction in the Carolinas!
- 8:00 p.m. — “Confronting the Publishing Gatekeeper” Workshop — known at other conventions as “Face-to-Face with the Slushmaster General” and the Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading also
- 9:30 p.m. — “Camp ConGregate: the Final Jam” — a musical roundtable “from filk to gothic and everything in between”
- 9:30 pm -- Charity auction!
- 10 pm -- Writing a Series (great looking panel) and also a Java and Pros with Darin Kennedy and Michael G. Williams
- 11 pm -- Always-hilarious (and often insightful) John G. Hartness among those on the "But I Liked That Guy" panel on killing off your characters. This should be a good one!
Also, here’s a couple quick notes on events next weekend:
- July 23 (Saturday) -- Quail Ridge Books hosts its grand re-opening at its new permanent location at 4209-100 Lassiter Mill Rd in Raleigh's North Hills. Among other author appearances, NC author Sheila Turnage will stop by at 2 pm to "to give fans the latest news from Tupelo Landing, the NC fictional setting for her beloved Mo & Dale Mystery series (Three Times Lucky; Ghosts of Tupelo Landing; The Odds of Getting Even)."
- July 24 (Sunday) 6 pm — 11th annual Can’t Stop the Serenity charity screening of the Firefly film Serenity. Raffles, costume contests, and the usual fun goings-on. Note: A limited number of tickets are still available.
All right, that’s all the news for now, except for one “new-new” event since the June newsletter to highlight: July 29 (Friday) 7 pm — The B&N of Durham’s New Hope Commons hosts local comics writer Jeremy Whitley for his newest graphic novel Princeless: Raven the Pirate Princess Book 2: Free Women.
All right! See you at ConGregate!