Vylar Kaftan

I’m gearing up for the Write-a-Thon fundraiser for Clarion West, an sf/f writing workshop held annually in Seattle.  Details are located here.

I’ll be writing six short stories over the next six weeks, one per week.  If you’d like to sponsor me, you can pledge whatever you like:  $1/week, $5/week, $20/week, or whatever you like.  Last year, people pledged on the doubling sequence:  $.50 for the first story, $1 for the second, and so on, up to six stories.  All pledges go to Clarion West, a non-profit organization, and they’re tax-deductible.  Last year I raised over $270 for the workshop, which was an awesome feeling.
Or you can just pledge support and encouragement. I can always use that too.

I’m finally recovered from WisCon.  It was an awesome experience–the best con I’ve gone to, so far.

Highlights of the con: The Tiptree auction was, of course, completely hysterical.  I’m sorry I missed the beginning of it, but I saw plenty to keep me amused.  Ellen Klages is a great comedian.

The dessert salon was fun, although we got there so late that only a few desserts remained.  At least the carrot cake was yummy.  The Guest of Honor speeches were amazing–Jane Yolen and Kate Wilhelm both spoke with such grace, strength, and power that it felt like the room was under a spell.

I gave a reading with the ToolPunk (ToolPorn) group from my Clarion West ‘04 class.  That was a lot of fun, and it was cool to hear a variety of stories on the same theme–but all very different.

The networking was very helpful for me–particularly a conversation with Sarah Prineas and David Levine, as well as a later conversation with Geoff Ryman and Eileen Gunn.

Definitely a con I want to visit next year, too.