Having two small children means only being able to get away for one day–the Saturday–of Ad Astra this year, but I’m trying to make the most of it by doing three (nearly) back-to-back-to-back panels. If you’re attending I hope to see you there!
Sat 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: High Quality Self-Publishing
Panellists: Beverly Bambury, Caro Soles, Catherine Fitzsimmons, Mark Lefebvre, S.M. Beiko, Stephen Kotowych
It’s time to throw off the yoke of our oppression! Panellists discuss how to make it as an author without relying on a publishing overlord while still producing high quality product and content for your readers.
Sat 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Book Interior Design for Authors
Panellist: Stephen Kotowych (yup–just me for this one, folks!)
We spend so much time obsessing over our covers—but do we spend much time thinking about the look of what’s between them? Whether you’re a traditionally published author working with page proofs for the first time, or an indie author doing printed books through Createspace, any author can benefit from understanding more about the principles of book interior design. How can you tell what works in print and what doesn’t? Do you know the right terms to use when communicating changes to your typesetter or designer? How can you avoid simple mistakes in your self-published book that will scream “Amateur!” to your readers? Join Stephen Kotowych, a 12-year veteran of the traditional publishing biz, for a fast and fun look at the dos-and-don’ts of interior design for your next print genre book.
Sat 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: The Big Bang Theory: Revenge of the Nerds or Geeksploitation?
Panellists: Ada Hoffmann, Matt Moore, Sephera Giron, Stephen Kotowych
There has been mixed reaction to TBBT in the SF fandom community. When the show first aired some hailed it as a breakthrough—there “we” were every week on TV! But not long after a backlash began: there “we” were every week on TV, the butt of the joke. Or are we? Are you a geek or nerd who loves TBBT? Are you a geek or nerd who loathes TBBT? Are you laughing with or at Sheldon, Howard, Raj, and Leonard? As TV’s idea of geeks are they portrayed as heroes or just hapless? Let’s discuss opinions of the show—ours and those of some insightful media commentators—and decide where we stand on The Big Bang Theory.