by Kevin A Davis | Oct 18, 2024 | Authors Workshop, Guests, Programming
This year the Authors Workshop Track will host one-on-one mentorships, and possibly even pitches, depending on the interest of the attending publishers.
During a one-hour session, we’ll offer a few fifteen-minute time slots for attendees to sit with an industry professional and discuss their career plans, story plots, or writing habits. As mentioned above, there might be pitch sessions. We’re sure this will be a new Authors Workshop Track favorite.
We’ll have a lot more information on this project as the weeks progress, and logistics will be key in getting guest preferences connected to attendee interest. Keep watching our blog and social media for sign-up forms because the early preparation will determine match-ups.
by Rhed Morgan | Sep 20, 2024 | Guests
Earlier this month, JordanCon 2025 Guest applications opened. I spoke with Nancy Greene, Guest Relations Director, about what it means to be a Guest at JordanCon.
Guests are visiting 
professionals at JordanCon who have a comped badge and are expected to be on a certain number of panels during the weekend. Professionals of all sorts will be considered, including writers, artists, scientists, and makers.
Guests need to be responsive to emails, Nancy says, and if we don’t hear from Guests in a timely manner, their application may not be approved, or they may end up on panels where they have less to contribute. Guest Services does their best to ensure Guests are placed where they have the most interest. Guests are also expected to engage with attendees and other Guests.
Unfortunately, Nancy says, “we do have to limit the number of Guests each year. This sometimes leads to great heartbreak as we have to say ‘not this year’ to past Guests to ensure we can bring in new Guests each year.” Track Directors look for people who can contribute to panel topics, so if you’re unsure about what topics JordanCon covers, check the Programming page for ideas.
What advice does Nancy have for Guests? First, let Guest Services know if you’re unable to make it to a panel so they can ensure you’re ok, and so they can make programming adjustments. “Also, ask us anything you have questions about,” she says. “Someone has already asked the question and someone in the organization has the answer.”
“We’re here to make the experience as seamless and wonderful as possible for Guests,” Nancy concludes.
A separate form for those fans and attendees who wish to be Program Participants will be released at a later date.
If you want to be considered as a Guest for JordanCon 2025, fill out the form as soon as possible; spaces are limited and can fill as early as November.
by JordanCon Marketing | Apr 9, 2024 | Guests
When Jennifer Liang asked us to be Toastmasters for 2024 we had a few questions, such as “Can we get paid in cheese?” and “Can we set things on fire?” We took the silence as a yes…AND HERE WE ARE.
This is the 16th JordanCon, a coming of Age for the convention and we, Graendal and Lanfear, disguised as mortals Aleena Jack and Kitty Rallo, are here to bask in the celebrations as your Ringmasters.
JordanCon was first graced with our presence back in 2013. A Memory of Light was published that year and we planned on finishing it before the con. Alas, the road to the Dark is paved with good intentions. Unsurprisingly, we spent Saturday in our hotel room speed-reading until the final minute. We managed to finish just in time to be the last ones to get our books signed by Team Jordan. Did we learn our lesson? No. Did we come back? Not right away. We thought
the convention would be ending since the books ended. How exorbitantly wrong we were. This seemingly one-show convention has turned into a magnificent 3-ring grand circus. JordanCon has grown and thrived, and we have grown with it. Our lives are now intertwined with our Chosen chosen family and our friends that we have met here.
A little about each of us. Aleena Jack lives in northern California with her partner as well as her cat, Zeppelin. She is a Gothy Sparkle Mermaid stuck on land. Currently she is a second grade teaching assistant. When not reading, being an executive/personal assistant, wrangling 7 year olds, or working as a Social Media Manager for JordanCon, this Red is probably knitting. You can also find her in her garden getting messy.
Kitty Rallo is an actor living in LA with her main partner and the real loves of her life, her cats Dandelion and Sunflower. She is a Dark Ray of Sunshine, has worked as a chef and a butcher and is doing nothing with her degrees in Physical Anthropology and Dance. You’ve seen her as a host for Dragonmount, in numerous national commercials, the motion capture behind well-known games, and as a legion of Wheel of Time characters on TikTok. Perpetually freezing, this cold-blooded Green is never far from a hot body drink or warm socks.
This year’s theme of Valen Luca’s Traveling Circus is close to our dark hearts. We agreed to be Toastmasters at JordanCon this year to cause mayhem; why else would they have even asked us to host? The past JordanCons were about coming together as a family, but this year we are all running off to join the Circus. This includes our delightful Guests of Honor, whom we grandly welcome into our show of chaos.
Our Author Guest of Honor, Michael Livingston, PhD, is a three-ring circus in his own right. Author of not only Origins of the Wheel of Time, he also released Agincourt and Killing Ground this year. He is also an award-winning conflict analyst, an avant-garde armorer, and a scholar of pre-modern military history. Two of these are true, and the other could be true in a different timeline.
Incidentally, Mark Poole, our Artist Guest of Honor, is concentrating on his personal visions of imaginative realism. He is a superstar, a worldwide award-winning and displaying artist, creating oil paintings that cross subtle landscapes of dreams with emotional journey. His works of riot and color fit perfectly into the havoc of JordanCon.
All great traveling shows have a surprise headliner, and for us this year it is none other than Guy Roberts, who plays Uno Nomesta in Amazon/SONY’s smash-hit TV Series THE WHEEL OF TIME. Guy is the Founder and Artistic Director of Prague Shakespeare Company, the professional English-language theatre of the Czech Republic, now celebrating its 17th season. We are devilishly delighted to have him be a part of our show.
Welcome to the delightful chaos of JordanCon. We relish in the flow of creativity and friendship. If you lose your way or want to join in, come find us and say hello. We are here to serve you as your Toastmasters. Let the Show begin!
by Kevin A Davis | Apr 14, 2023 | Guests
by Mel Todd
Hi! Welcome to the annual meeting of the “We Write So We Don’t Have to Talk To People” association. Wow, so many of you came. I see three attendees! That has to be a record. It’s great you showed up as I have some wonderful tips for those of you (all of us) that fear talking to people. Because let’s be honest—People bite.
I see you nodding your heads in agreement, so let’s get to it.
Tip 1: You are playing a role.
Really, you are not John Doe office worker and sometime writer, you are J Doe—the awesome writer who creates worlds and guides destiny. You control the fate of millions and you are awesome. People already admire you because you are an author. They want to get to know you. J Doe is funny, creative, and always has their awesome X.
Tip 2: Have an X.
No, I don’t mean a literal X, though that would work too, but have a thing. Your thing can be a hat, a shirt, a wig, a prop. But have an X. It means that if you wear a bright purple rose pinned to your shirt, that is what people focus on and remember. It gives you something to play with, to talk about, and even better, it helps you become J Doe Writer Extraordinaire. Don’t be afraid to come up with a story about it, a history, a personality. I’ve seen armadillo purses, rhinestone hats, even ventriloquist dummies. If you have a cool X, people will think you are even cooler than you already are.
Tip 3: Ask Leading Questions
Look, some people LOVE to talk about themselves, most of us, not so much. So when someone is talking to you (especially at a con) ask them a leading question. In fact, make a list of questions ahead of time to ask. Here are some samples: What have you seen at the con so far? Omg, that is a great shirt/costume/hat. Where did you get it? How did you make it? What genre do you like to read? What is your favorite book? Note that some of these questions give you an intro to tell them about your book. Oh, remember to let them answer, don’t just rattle off all your questions.
I know, I know, selling yourself is hard, but remember they think you are J Doe awesome author! They want to know about your books, your stories, your worlds. Especially if you write a genre they already read. So put on J Doe’s award-winning smile and tell them about your book.
Tip 4: Practice Smiling
No, I don’t want you to become Gilderoy Lockhart. But many of us don’t know what our face feels like when you have a friendly smile on it. And when we are stressed or uncomfortable, our “forced” smile can look, well, a bit Joker like. And that isn’t a good look for awesome writer J Doe. Go stand in front of the mirror and let your inner J Doe out and smile. What does it feel like in your cheeks? How do your eyes crinkle? Where are your shoulders at? Knowing what it feels like for a friendly welcoming smile helps you get your face into that same position when J Doe is losing the battle to John Doe’s introverted ways.
Tip 5: And this is the best one and really one most of us use – Bring an Extrovert With You
Look—socializing is HARD. Or at least it is for us. But there exist these creatures called Extroverts that are extremely easy to attract. Lure one to your side (cookies, bacon, or booze usually works), then push them in front of you like a living shield. If they are a fan or another author, then let them talk about your books, tell the jokes, and you can just smile along. Yes, extrovert authors exist, but they are rare precious creatures. If you find one, brand them as yours, and keep them close. They may exhaust you, but they are well worth the effort. Then, with your extrovert as their focal point, everyone will love you because they are so personable. It works like magic.
That is all I have for you tonight. Please remember to take some cookies and tea. No, really, take the cookies. I bought out two Girl Scout Troops trying to get them to go away. See you next year, I hope.
Mel Todd has over 40 stories out and is planning on at least another twenty more. You can find her at www.badashpublishing.com. Remember to sign up for her newsletter and get a short story twice a month.
by Kevin A Davis | Apr 6, 2023 | Guests
By Kyoko M.
When I was a kid, I was teased a lot for being an avid reader of books and comic books/graphic novels/manga. At the time, comic books, graphic novels, and manga were only for the nerdy and geeky crowd. It was a tough time, but as the decades passed, the world has since updated its perspective on the genres of science fiction and fantasy. The genres have moved into the mainstream spotlight, so it’s no longer the freaks and geeks that are enjoying them, but an entirely different, much bigger audience.
In my experience, we’ve had several works of fiction that helped move the sci-fi/fantasy (SFF) genres into mainstream attention. Back in the day, things like the Lost in Space series, Star Trek, and Star Wars were among the first science fiction titles to pique people’s interest. The success of Christopher Reeve as Superman also was one of the first breakthroughs for SFF in the mainstream. The eighties gave birth to an explosion of hybrid action science fiction like The Terminator, Back to the Future, and Tron. The additional success of the 1989 Batman starring Michael Keaton turned a huge corner for the subgenre of comic book movies. Blade, X-Men, and Spider-Man’s subsequent successes hinted that comic book movies could find success with mainstream audiences. The Lord of the Rings trilogy made huge money and liberated all the LOTR book nerds after years of waiting for another adaptation. Then a great deal of its progression came from the establishment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with its first entry, Iron Man (2008).
Where did the success of SFF with mainstream audiences come from? I believe that the reason SFF is now a precious commodity with everyone watching it came from the productions being helmed by very passionate people who found a way to condense decades of fiction into 90-minute films or into bite-sized chunks for television series. SFF has seen a similar boom in YA book series like Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Percy Jackson, which were also adapted into films for mass consumption. Adapting to the modern culture where you can deliver the information quickly and in an engaging manner is likely the reason that mainstream audiences realized the potential of SFF for entertainment.
For example, the pre-Avengers (2012) films Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Captain America all did well at the box office, but they didn’t hit critical mass until the Avengers. Why? Because Marvel found a way to tie all their stories together in a neat little package that didn’t require you to have seen all the solo films to understand Avengers. Seeing the other films would add more context and hit more emotional beats, but the film found a way to let everyone join in on the fun with no prerequisites.
We now have plenty of streaming channels full to burst with SFF works. All I can say is it’s a great time to be a fan of SFF.
by Kevin A Davis | Apr 5, 2023 | Guests
By Sarah J. Sover
Whenever a new member joins the online JordanCon community, there’s inevitably a slew of comments saying “Welcome home.” For those unfamiliar with the convention scene, it might seem odd or downright off-putting. How can a science fiction and fantasy convention be a home?
Fans, artists, and writers in the speculative realms are frequently misfits in society at large. We were the geeks and weirdos in school—the drama kids, the nerd herd, the trench coat clad boy who binged Anime, the quiet girl who scribbled poems and accidentally set a paper tablecloth on fire at that one school event. Through the years, I’ve worn dozens of hats and been involved with many communities—I promise, I never burned any of them down! I joined and even headed writer’s clubs, animal rescue groups, swing dance communities, and more. Sure, I made a couple friends in each of those spaces, but no matter how much time I spent and how much of myself I gave, I never felt like I truly fit in. When I spoke, people would look at me like I just disembarked my spacecraft.
Until JordanCon.
I discovered JordanCon when my best friend, Sara Bond, and I met Jason Denzel at WorldCon 2016. As soon as he discovered that we were both SFF writers from Atlanta, he insisted we check it out. That first year, I was anxious and awkward, but that’s pretty standard for me. I built up my nerve enough to enter the slush event hosted by the writer’s track. Traffic was abysmal that morning, so I was late, and I sloshed my coffee all over the table and myself. Sara gave me a funny look when I sat down.
“Do I smell rum?” she whispered.
I think I told her to shut up, to which she laughed and responded with some calming words.
The moderator read the first pages of my work in progress, Fairy Godmurder, to a panel of editors, who were instructed to raise their hands at the point in which they would stop reading if they were truly evaluating a slush pile. The team Sanderson editors raised their hands at some point during my pages, but the indie press editors listened all the way through. Afterwards, they all discussed their rationale. I’ll never forget the moment John Hartness turned to an editor who hated my “black suit molasses” phrase and said “Haven’t you ever read any noir?” He went on to say that he would request more pages. It was the first time my writing had received validation from an industry professional. Years later, I signed a three-book contract with John for that series, but I’ll save that story for another time.
The following year, my debut novel, the weird and wacky Double-Crossing the Bridge, released, I was accepted into the inaugural JordanCon Anthology, and I appeared as a guest. I was so nervous, I posted on social media that in order to get a ribbon from me, you had to bleat like a goat. It worked like a charm! Every time I walked through the lobby, I was welcomed with goat calls. My anxiety gave way to laughter, and I felt truly accepted. I’ve been attending as a guest ever since.
I’m still nervous on panels. I spent so long being called weird, random, nerd, and a slew of other things, I’m not sure I’ll ever fully get used to people embracing that side of me, and it doesn’t help that adrenaline surges zap facts out of my brain. But at JordanCon, when I say things that would make the general population look at me like I’m wearing a human-skin suit, people nod along. They laugh at my stupid jokes. They seek me out after to continue the conversation, to peek at the doodles on my notes, or to compliment my take on a topic. My weirdness is not only accepted, it’s celebrated.
I hope, like me, you feel like you belong at JordanCon. Those things that bring you joy—your love of fantasy, gaming, geek culture, tiaras, the spacecraft you flew in on, that one esoteric topic you think nobody else cares about—we want to celebrate those things with you. By the time it’s all over, you’ll be back online asking if it’s April yet, and when you see the newbies posting about how they’re excited to attend their first JordanCon, you’ll be excited to post “Welcome home!”
Sarah J. Sover is the author of the Fractured Fae Series from Falstaff Books, which currently includes Fairy Godmurder and the forthcoming Faed to Black. Sarah also wrote the comedic fantasy Double-Crossing the Bridge, and she is a contributor to both Putting the Fact in Fantasy and Writer’s Digest Magazine. She’s had a love affair with JordanCon since 2017. Find her everywhere at linktr.ee/SarahJ.Sover.
