Here's my
Confluence schedule for this coming weekend in Pittsburgh, PA. I plan on arriving on Friday after hitting a bunch of bookstores on the drive down. So if you live in Wilkes-Barre, you'll be able to find signed copies of my books in the B&N and Waldenbooks after Thursday.
In Bloomsburg, I'm actually doing a short signing on Thursday at the local independent bookstore Cloak & Dragon right downtown starting at 2pm and lasting for about an hour. After that, they should have signed copies as well.
After that I'll be hitting the B. Dalton in State College (and possibly Webster's downtown), the B&N and Waldenbooks in Altoona, the B. Dalton in Johnstown, and the Borders in Monroeville. They should have signed copies after Friday.
In Pittsburgh, I'll be hitting the B&N in Squirrel Hill, Waterfront, and N Fayette (although I'm not sure the N. Fayette is getting books in or not), along with the Joseph-Beth in downtown Pitt. I'm not sure whether I'll be able to hit these on Friday night (depends on how fast I get down there) or if I'll have to wait and catch them on Sunday. I'll definitely catch them on Sunday at the latest, so they should have signed copies after that.
OK, that alone should keep me busy. However, I'm also doing some panels and a kaffeeklatsch, and a reading. Check it out!
Friday 7:00pm
Rhyme, Meter, and Language in Fantasy (Herb Kauderer, Joshua B. Palmatier (M), Tamora Pierce, Michelle (Sagara) West)
In her essay "From Elfland to Poughkeepsie," Ursula Le Guin
discusses the importance of style in fantasy. She contends that
fantasy requires a style that, if not followed, can hurl the reader
out of Elfland and send him or her to Poughkeepsie. (She cites the
way characters in fantasies by Zelazny and Leiber break into
contemporary slang as examples.) The panel discusses the importance
of style in fantasy.
Saturday 11:00am
Making It Real: Bringing a Fantasy or SF Setting to Life (Kenneth B. Chiacchia, Joshua B. Palmatier, Tamora Pierce (M), Michelle (Sagara) West)
To be believable, fantasy relies on an underlying sense of reality.
What does it take to make fantasy real?
Saturday 12:00 noon
Kaffeeklatsch/Literary BeerSaturday 2:00pm
Comedy in High Fantasy (S. C. Butler (M), Susan Dexter, Joshua B. Palmatier, Tamora Pierce, Karina Sumner-Smith)
We have Merry and Pippin in LOTR, and Fred and George Weasley in
Harry Potter, but what other comic figures are there in High
Fantasy? Are there enough? Should there be more? What, if any, is
the purpose of comedy in High Fantasy? With any luck the panel will
answer all these questions, and provide a few laughs as well.
Saturday 5:00pm
Reading (Joshua B. Palmatier)
I'll be reading from both the newest book
The Vacant Throne and the new novel I just handed in to my editor
Well of Sorrows. Come get a sneak peek at the new project!
Sunday 2:00pm
My Favorite Series: The Best Current Fantasy and SF Series (S. C. Butler (M), Susan Dexter, Timothy Liebe, Joshua B. Palmatier, Karina Sumner-Smith)
What are your favorite series -- both recent and classic. George
Martin's Song of Ice and Fire? Lois Bujold's Miles stories?
Repairman Jack? What about series you really like that you feel are
very underrated?
Hmm . . . lots of panels with Tamora Pierce, Michelle (Sagara) West, and some guy named S.C. Butler. Plus that panel I'm moderating about the essay "From Elfland to Poughkeepsie". I suppose I should read that. Anybody got a copy or know where I can find one online?
ETA: Thanks for
kathleenfoucart for sending me the essay. That panel may not suck now. *grin*