CanCon SF convention logoCan-Con 2017 is happening from October 13-15 this year — less than two weeks away! I first attended in 2015, and since I missed the convention last year, I’m super excited to be back as a panelist this year. Here’s a quick look at what panels I’ll be taking part in.

Friday, October 13th

Short on Wacky Ideas? Peanut Butter and Chocolate: SF/F Mashups We Wish Existed
You got your Greek mythology in my space opera! No, *you* got *your* space opera in my Greek mythology! Mashups are like mixing peanut butter and chocolate together and realizing they’re awesome. Here’s the panel where we discuss the nerdy peanut butter cups of our dreams. All ideas generated in this room are free for anyone to use, just in time for NaNo!

When: 9-9:50 PM
Where: Salon C
Participants: Cathy Hird, Angela S. Stone, Christina Vasilevski, Sylvain Neuvel, Kaitlin Caul (moderator)

Sunday, October 15th

Wands Up! The Power of SFF Fandom and Activism
From Nerdfighters to Dumbledore’s Army, science fiction and fantasy fans have been channeling their love for the genre into real life social change. This panel will explore how SFF literature enables readers to see themselves as heroines and heroes in their own narratives, and the role that authors play in crafting these stories.

When: 2-2:50 PM
Where: Salon E
Participants: Rebecca Diem, Su J. Sokol, Christina Vasilevski, Violette Malan (moderator)

Note: The times and dates listed above are based on the draft schedule and may change before the convention starts. Go to the convention’s panel page to see the full list of panels and the most up-to-date schedule.

The offerings at Can-Con 2017 look great, and the chance to try out the RPG system for attendees is particularly exciting. The RPG aspect was introduced last year, but it’s new to me.

I can’t wait to attend and see both friends and new faces. I may even be bringing along some tea samples for some lucky guests. If you’re coming, let me know, and if you want me to bring you some tea, definitely let me know so I can pack some samples for you.

Bonus news for authors and other industry professionals

In 2018, I want to focus more on interviewing authors and others involved in the Canadian SF scene and sharing those interviews on Books & Tea. That means that if you’re a Canadian author, publisher, bookseller, editor, or agent, I want to hear from you.

If you’re going to Can-Con 2017, I’m interested in talking to you about scheduling an interview and any launches or publications you may have coming up that I can help promote. Just look for me at the con, or send me a message now so we can connect later on.