I will be at Readercon this weekend, Friday through Sunday. I’m not on any panels or giving any readings—this is my first time going to the whole thing and I’m new to this thing. Dipping my toe in as they say.

I will be selling books in the Bookshop at the Broad Universe tables (40 and 41). I’m really excited about this and about attending panels and readings.

First, what is Readercon, you say? It’s this wild conference in Massachusetts every summer—for now in Burlington, at the Boston Marriott Burlington, like that makes any sense. Here’s how they describe it: “Although Readercon is modeled on general ‘science fiction conventions,’ we feature a near-total focus on the written word.” There are panel discussions, author readings, workshops, kaffeeklatsches (intimate gatherings with an author), autograph signings, and what they call “extracurricular activities.”

They also hand out two awards: the Cordwainer Smith Rediscovery Award for a neglected author and the Shirley Jackson Awards for dark fantasy and psychological suspense.

It’s inexpensive if you live in the area. The con itself is only $80 for the full weekend. (It’s the hotel where they get those of us who don’t live nearby. Sigh)

And what’s this Broad Universe? It’s “an international, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, encouraging, honoring, and celebrating women and historically excluded and marginalized genders writing, editing and publishing in science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other speculative genres.” How’s that for a lungful! A lot of writers I know from Bluesky and Strong Women-Strange Worlds are members. I’m excited to meet them!

Yes, I’ll have all my (OK, there’s only three) Captain Randall books for sale! I even have bookmarks (those I’ll give away). Now that the series is complete, I’m psyched to get it out to readers and see what they think. As a reviewer put it, “At the end I had to sigh in satisfaction: a good end and new beginnings.”

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Readercon

Broad Universe