mariness

Some conventions – the 2014 World Fantasy Convention in DC, for instance – have worked to ensure that disabled members have full access to the convention.

Others have not.

Thanks to far too many examples of the latter, I have decided not to attend conventions that do not offer an accessibility statement on the convention website, and/or a written statement to me guaranteeing disability access, and offering specifics about that disability access.

I will also no longer be attending conventions that do not provide access ramps to stages.

I am, granted, only a very small voice in fandom, but I'm a very small voice that can no longer use my money and time to support conventions that cannot take the time to ensure that I can fully participate in the con.

Quick list of where I'm so far scheduled to appear in 2015:

International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts, Orlando, FL, March 18-March 22, 2015. As always, I will mostly be hanging out by the pool, although since I'm an invited author this year there's a small chance I might actually end up Doing Something. Stay tuned.

Megacon, April 11, 2015. Let's be frank: I'm just here for the Legos and the Star Wars robots, and, depending upon crowds, the chance to see if David Ramsey's arms are really as big in person as they seem to be on TV.

OASIS, May 1- May 3, 2015. The schedule for this isn't up yet, but I should be there for a couple of days, along with Usman Malik.

World Fantasy Con, November 5-8, 2015. I'll be at the bar.

There's also a chance I will be appearing at Dragon Con, but we'll see how things go.

It's been brought to my attention that I haven't yet blogged about this, so:

So far, in 2014 I plan to attend:

1. ICFA, March 19-23, 2014, Orlando, FL where I will once again be mostly out by the pool, giving updates on golf.

2. Worldcon, August 14-18, 2014, London, UK. This is less "planned" than hoped for; I have my membership and a hotel reservation that is...not that close to the Excel center, which may be a problem. Still hoping.

3. World Fantasy, Nov 6-9, 2014, Washington, DC.

Alas, scheduling conflicts mean no Megacon this year (same dates as ICFA), and Worldcon eats up the budget for any other convention. Keeping my fingers crossed that I can make all three.

( Cut to spare the majority of you with no interest in why Worldcon attendance is or may be dropping. )

I seem to be slowly climbing out of my funk, though in a tentative sort of a way. So, announcements for the month:

1. The Roald Dahl reread comes to a close -- but we're not quite done with Roald Dahl yet! Next up: I take a look at the films based on Dahl's work. This should start well and then go badly.

2. Speaking of Tor.com, at some point today I should be seeing the Oz the Great and Powerful film. From what I've heard so far, my response will be in two parts: a nice essay for Oz fans and everyone else on the Tor.com blog, and snark right here for you diehard readers that haven't fled LJ/Dreamwidth yet.

3. This month I'll be heading to MegaCon and ICFA. The current plans for Megacon are beyond tentative ("10 sounds ok - no, wait. I think I'll sleep in more. Do we want pancakes first?") but so far it looks as if I'll be there Saturday afternoon and perhaps Sunday.

ICFA is as always a touch more complex, but I should be there Friday and Saturday, and possibly Wednesday or Thursday evening. Chances are excellent that regardless of the date I will be at the pool sipping little drinks, because, pool! Little drinks! It's that kind of con.

I'm assuming by then it will have warmed up. It's odd -- we had an unusually warm January, and we are now having an unusually cold March - it was in the 40s this morning, just enough to make the sun delightful.

My incredibly tentative convention/conference schedule for the year:

February: Megacon, February 17-19, 2012, which caught me by surprise since it's usually been in March. On the bright side, I am assuming this will mean that the con will no longer be competing with the cheerleading competions, which is a plus for everyone.

My Megacon schedule is completely dependent upon other people, but currently it looks as if I will be there Saturday afternoon and possibly Sunday. The con is generally jammed, but if you want to meet up, shoot me an email/text and we'll arrange something.

March: International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts, March 21-25, Orlando Airport Marriott, Orlando, Florida.

Unlike pretty much everyone else at this one, I will not be doing any readings/papers/panels. Mostly, I will be hanging out at the pool, or, for a change of scenery, hanging out at the bar.

I am, however, hoping to have/host an another Unofficial Official Poets Dinner Thursday evening. If you're interested in joining, let me know. More details as the date nears!

I also signed up for the ghost thingy. Anybody know what that actually is? My mind just saw "ghost" and clicked.

April:

Spring Fever in the Garden, Winter Garden, FL, April 14-15, 2012, at the Here Be Dragons Bookshoppe. It's entirely possible that Cthulhu like things may be coming along with me.

Tentative:

Worldcon 2012, August 30-September 3, 2012, Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Dragoncon 2012, August 31-September 3, 2012, Atlanta.

Clever people will have noticed the problem here.

Dragoncon is closer and cheaper, and filled with more real life friends, including a couple that I haven't had the chance to hang out with in years, but presents far more physical challenges. Worldcon is, well, Worldcon.

World Fantasy Convention, November 1-4, 2012, Toronto, Canada.

I have this down as tentative only because of finances, but as long as nothing too unexpected appears in the budget, I hope to be there.

As always, this schedule is subject to change.

Right! Appearances! Where I will be in 2011:

1) Driving arrangements permitting, I should be stopping by the International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts. I have absolutely no schedule for this, so if you are planning on being there, and want to meet up, let me know and I'll try to work something out.

2) MegaCon 2011, Orlando, on Saturday, March 26th, probably someplace by the Legos and the robots. Or just wandering around. There is a small chance I may also be there on Sunday, but that's entirely dependent on the schedules of other people who are planning to make up their minds about this in March, probably that Friday :) So this is not exactly a set planned thing.

3) GenCon 2011, Indianapolis, August 4-7, 2001. We will actually be arriving Wednesday night and leaving at some point on Sunday. This is where I turn from writer to gamer, so I will not be part of the Writers Symposium. Despite some rather sarcastic suggestions that I, you know, try to actually see the entire con instead of just the board gaming part of it, I expect you will probably be able to find me at the board gaming part of it. Or in line for coffee. It's a gaming con.

4) World Fantasy Con, San Diego, October 27-30, 2011. Once again, fluid schedule.

Still up in the air: Readercon, World Con and, yes, DragonCon. Unfortunately, that nasty bugbear finances, which, honestly, we, as a nation, or at least we, as artists, should have evolved past by now, is making Readercon and World Con not seem all that likely. DragonCon...ah, yes. Well. We'll see.

The meandering words of Mari Ness

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2015 Convention Appearances

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