Literary events like autumn leaves in Texas

 For some creatures, hibernation is a winter event. For Texans, it occurs during the deadly heat of late summer. But while I've struggled to keep my garden alive, other Texans have prepared an autumn-long list of state literary events. 

Note: Updates are now available for AuthorPalooza, Mayborn, Tulisoma and the Texas Book festival.

September 1: The Dallas Mystery Writers Laree Bryant Memorial Scholarship contest is this Monday. It's a contest dear to many Dallas-area writers, celebrating Laree's life and legacy. As I've posted previously, the rules are simple:

• Be on the DMW mailing list. It's free, by clicking on the link at the website.
• Don't have published fiction for the public (traditional or self-published) within the last five years
• Open to all genres. 

See the site for formatting details of your writing sample and a brief biography, sent to sandysteenwrites@gmail.com. The prize is a ticket to the DFW Writers Conference (see more below) valued at $500. The winner will be announced at the DMW's meeting September 6.

September 12-14: ArmadilloCon is Austin's convention for science fiction, fantasy, and horror fans, now in its 47th year. See the site for details and registration. Entries for the associated writers workshop are now closed, but I plan to attend. If you see me, say hi!

September 13: Trinity River Book Festival is a Fort Worth multicultural event with multiple books, authors, ad running. Yes, get your heart pumping with the run-to-read event. Free, but see the site for event schedule and to register for promotional giveaways, updates, and notifications.

September 16: Tickets (free!) for the Richardson Reads One Book event are now available. Or add a $35 luncheon ticket with Rowan Jacobsen, author of the 2025 RROB selection, Wild Chocolate, about the quest to revive ancient cacao and produce the world's finest chocolate. 

The deadline to purchase luncheon tickets is September 10, but space is limited. 

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. lecture are available (limited to 2 per order) on a first-come, first-served basis. Again, space for the event at First United Methodist Church Richardson, 503 N. Central Expressway in Richardson, is limited.

See the site for details or email richardsonreadstx@gmail.com for additional information.

Image by Carlos Villada for Pixabay

September 27-28: AuthorPalooza 2025 fills the Ley Student Center, 6100 Main St., Houston (on the Rice University campus) with favorite authors and books. Sponsored by the Houston Writers Guild. See the site for tickets and additional information.

Update: Houston Writers Guild reports AuthorPalooza 2025 was cancelled for reasons beyond its control. Ticket holders should have already received notification and full refund. For additional questions or feedback, contact the Guild.

October 4-5: The DFW Writers Conference returns to the Hurst, Texas, conference center 1615 Campus Drive, in Hurst. Events include keynote speakers Kelly Bishop (The Third Gilmore Girl) and literary agent Carly Watters, more than a dozen literary agents and editors (one complimentary pitch session with ticket) and classes and workshops galore.

See the site for details and registration.

October 24-25: Registration for The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference is now open. More details still to come. See the site or visit maybornconferenceinfo@unt.edu.\

Update: Registration for the Mayborn is due by October 13. Full conference pass to all events including $20 documentary film series day pass is $150. The film series pass may be purchased separately for $20. Full pass registrants may also add a $50 writers' workshop registration. Registration for the writers' workshop closes October 1, and materials must be submitted by October 3. See the site for additional information, including hotel accommodations.

November 7-8: The 21st Tulisoma: South Dallas Book Fair connects readers with Black authors, publishers, and storytellers from across the country. At the African American Museum in Dallas Fair Park, 3536 Grand Avenue. Free. See the site for details.

Update: Tulisoma hours are 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Events include workshops, more than 40 authors sharing their work, and featured speaker Dr. Linda Hall Searight, author of I Am God's Property, sharing insights that led to the creation of her award-winning choir in the 1990's. See the site under "events" for additional information. 

November 8-9: The 30th Texas Book Festival returns to multiple venues in and around downtown Austin and around the Texas Capitol. Check the site for ongoing details, including the author lineup to be unveiled later this fall.

Update: More than 300 authors are lined up for the November 8-9 Texas Book Festival. The festival is free but tickets may be required for some events and activities. Tickets to headliner talks are now available for purchase. Best sources of information seem to be the festival's social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and X.

This way to crowds of summer literary confabs!

 (Updated 9:08 a.m. June 9 to include information about writing workshops at FenCon and ArmadilloCon.)

Is it summer already? Unseasonably boggy weather has kept temperatures in North Texas at far from balmy levels. And those crowds of kids I’d expect to see? Time lost to the pandemic as well as last winter’s one-two punch of killer cold and equally deadly power outages has extended the school year weeks longer than usual.

At least, we have plenty of literary conferences to look forward to, in a mix of in-person, virtual, even hybrid venues. I’ll concentrate on those with a Texas twist. But in a virtual world, around the country – or the world – can be as close as our hometowns, starting with:

June 10-12: REH Days

Image: wikimedia commons

celebrates the life and works of Conan creator (and Texas native) Robert E. Howard in his hometown of Cross Plains, Texas. Of course, it’s in person – we’re all barbarians! – but feel free to mask up. (Maybe with one of the stylish Conan versions available online?) Free, as always. The only paid event is the annual banquet which is already sold out. Access to Howard’s home and museum, the Cross Plains library’s collection of original typescripts and memorabilia, readings, and more. Cross Plains is approximately a three-hour drive from Dallas. Lodging is available at nearby towns, including Brownwood, site of REH’s grave. See the REH Days site for full list of events.

June 11-13: Houston Writers Guild’s annual conference goes virtual. Saturday speakers include Dallas-own Arianne “Tex” Thompson Agent/editor panel, agent pitch sessions, plus sessions on marketing, networking, genre writing and blending, memoir writing and more. Early bird registration (ends June 11), $30 plus processing fee. Editor/agent pitch sessions (which still appear to be available) are $25 each. See the site for details and registration.

June 21-27: Historical Novel Society North America’s annual conference will be virtual. This year’s guest of honor is Lisa See (Snow Flower and the Secret Fan), with special presenters Libbie Hawker and Jane Friedman, master classes, panels, and more. Unfortunately, it’s too late to register for agent pitches. Registration: $259 for HNS members, $289 for nonmembers. See the site for complete schedule.

June 28-July 1: Thrillerfest XVI stays virtual. Options include master classes ($399) consulting ($75) and pitching ($50 sessions), and more. There’s also a free “Best First Sentence Contest,” open to registrants. Deadline for registration by mail as well as entries for the Best First Sentence Contest is June 15.

July 22-24: When the conference goes virtual, location is not a problem. So, although the Writer’s Digest reports itself to be sad not to see participants in person, it’s eager to proclaim a virtual conference. Pre-conference workshops July 22 ($199 each), and a choice of fiction or publishing business tracks for the main conference July 23-24 ($199 each). See the site for add-ons, including recordings.

August 25-29:  BoucherCon, the world mystery conference, plans to meet in-person in New Orleans, with guest of honor Michael Connelly. Registration is $195, fully refundable if an in-person meeting in deemed to be not available. See the site for tentative schedule and list of special guests.

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How many literary conferences have pushed their normal summer dates back in order to proceed in-person? Lots! Including the Writers League of Texas in Austin, Texas, now scheduled for September 17-19.

Those are also the dates for the Dallas-area science fiction/fantasy convention FenCon. A Facebook message stated that due to limited staff, FenCon will not have an organized writing workshop this year. The convention is considering what it terms "workshop-style panels" for 2021 with a return to the formal workshop in 2022. 

The hands-on event, Writers in the Field returns in person October 9-10, to Mansfield, Texas. Registration opens in June, with more information to come.

The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference plans a hybrid conference – part in-person, part by Zoom – October 15-16. The site says plans are still being made but assures that the traditional writing contests and networking opportunities will be part of its lineup.

The Austin, Texas, science fiction/fantasy convention ArmadilloCon is delaying its return until October 15-17. At this point, information only appears to be available at the convention’s Facebook page. A Facebook message stated that ArmadilloCon will have an in-person writing workshop October 15, with format similar to previous years. More information will be available when the website is updated.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Writers Conference follows on October 23-24, in Hurst, Texas. Early registration (through October 10) is $379 for both days. Saturday only registration, which includes the keynote address, is $289; Sunday registration, which includes the Query Gong game show) is $239. I’ll update as more information is available.

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Still to come: The Romance Writers of America (RWA) conference will be held virtually in November. Check the site for details.

Worldcon, the World Science Fiction Convention, is moving its 2021 dates to December 15-19, with provisions for a virtual conference if necessary.

The World Fantasy Convention is still monitoring the pandemic situation but hopes to have an in-person event in Montreal this year, apparently sometime in late fall.

As always, I’ll update this blog as new information arrives.

Dive deep into summer reading, writing events

School’s nearly out, but two of the three “R’s” still apply all summer long. That’s reading and ‘riting, of course, and summer 2017 is particularly rich in rrr’s, with classes by internationally bestselling authors, as well as a plethora of free ways for readers and writers to keep their skills sharp. But don’t delay. Some of these events are going, going, nearly gone, including:

image: wikimedia commons

May 23-July 25: Dallas Museum of Art’s Arts & Letters Live programs continue. Ticket costs are typically $40 for the public, with discounts for DMA members and students/educators. Most events are at the museum, 1717 N. Harwood, Dallas. See the site for details and ticket information.

June 1: This is the deadline for author applications for the Local Authors Book Fair at the Audelia Road Branch of the Dallas Public Library. Authors from the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth area may apply here, or contact librarian Elizabeth Kwan at Elizabeth.kwan@dallascityhall for information. The book fair, where authors may sell their works directly to the public, occurs July 29, 2 – 4 p.m. at the library, 10045 Audelia Road, Dallas, Texas.

June 2-4: Literary agent Donald Maass returns to Texas for a three-day workshop on the Emotional Craft of Fiction: How to Write the Story beneath the Surface, at the Hyatt Place Houston Airport, 300 Ronan Park Place, Houston, Texas. At the time of this writing (Monday night), only 11 seats were still available. Cost: $529. See the site for details and registration.

June 3-August 12: Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge at the Dallas Public Library. Kids up to age 18 can keep their reading skills honed and earn free books, and coupons or passes to recreational events and attractions by reading (or being read to, for the youngest tots) at least 20 minutes a day for 10 days. Every 10 days, pick up a new prize, up to five times over the summer. Adults may also earn an entry in grand prize drawings for each book they read. Register at any library branch.

June 7 – July 26: Here’s a freebie just for readers! The annual Rejebian Summer Review Series at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas, every Wednesday in June and July. Entertaining book reviews free at 7 p.m., beginning with Clementine: The Life of Mrs. Winston Churchill, reviewed by Lurline Morrow, a member of the Dallas Professional Book Reviewers Association. Add an optional dinner at 5:30 p.m. for $12, but please RSVP by Tuesday noon before the program, at 214-523-2249 or stanfordr@hpumc.org so they’ll know how much food to cook!

June 9-10: Robert E. Howard Days, Cross Plains, Texas. Celebrate the life of the Texas creator of Conan and other classic fantasy heroes. Except for the celebration banquet (cost $15) all events are free and open to the public, including tours of Howard’s home (and now museum) at the junction of J Street and Texas Highway 36 in Cross Plains. See the site for details.

June 16-17: Internationally bestselling Australian author Kate Forsyth visits Texas for two events, the Cactus & Kangaroos Readerathon (6/16) at Half Price Books in Dallas, (address), 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Cost: $49, which includes a copy of either of two bestone of two Forsyth books, Bitter Greens or The Wild Girl. Only 100 tickets available!

On June 17, Forsyth teaches two writers’ intensives from 9 a.m. – noon, and 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the Richardson Woman’s Club, 200 N. Cliffe, Richardson. Cost is $99 for each of the sessions, or $169 for both writing intensives (includes lunch). Or get the Super-fan Package for Friday’s Readerathon, both books, and all day Saturday for $199. Sponsored by the Writers Guild of Texas and W.O.R.D (Writers Organizations ‘Round Dallas). See the WORD site for course descriptions and tickets.

June 30-July 2: 2017 Agents & Editors Conference, Writers League of Texas, at the Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs Road, Austin. Workshops, panels, networking events, plus one on one conferences with agents and editors (available for additional charge). Cost: $439 for Writers League members, $499 for nonmembers. See the site for details and list of agents attending.

July 21-23: Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference center, 1800 State Highway 26, Grapevine, Texas, is a forum for writers of narrative nonfiction. Speakers, workshops and panels, as well as a variety of writing contests. Cost: $425. See the site for details and registration.

August 4-6: ArmadilloCon is Austin’s science fiction and fantasy convention – plus a writing workshop. (Note: manuscript deadline for the workshop is June 11.) At the Omni Southpark hotel, 4140 Governors Row, Austin. Cost: $50 for the con (until early registration closes in July), $90 for the workshop, which includes convention membership. See the site for tickets and additional details.

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And here’s a sneak preview of two out of this world events this fall: Robert McKee, who wrote the book on Story (literally), brings his 3-day writing seminar to Austin October 6-8, at the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol, 701 East 11^th St., Austin. Seminar tuition: $865, tuition plus Final Draft Software package, $995. See the site for details and registration.

November 2-5: World Fantasy 2017 Convention, Wyndham Riverwalk, 111 East Pecan St., San Antonio. Attending membership $225, increasing to $275 June 1. See the site for details, registration, and list of special guests.

Wordcraft -- Let the new year’s contests begin!

I promised previously to make this post about literary events, but a look at my inbox has convinced me that contests are more pressing issues. At this time, I’m only listing contests for book length works, but see www.thefirstline.com/, http://overtheredline.com/, http://carvezine.com/, and www.glimmertrain.com/ for current and upcoming short story contests.

I’ll list the long-form contests in order of deadline urgency. Although some were listed in posts last fall, after the stress of NaNoWriMo, a repeat may be in order. Others are new, or new-to-me items. There are always more than I can participate in personally, so I appreciate feedback from readers about their contest experiences.

January 31: The Writers League of Texas 2015 manuscript contest. You don’t need to have a completed manuscript to enter this contest, only the first ten pages and a synopsis of your work in any of ten fiction and nonfiction categories. Contestants receive professional critiques. Winners get individual consultations with literary agents and recognition at the WLT conference June. Contest fee is $65 for non-WLT members, $55 for members. See www.writersleague.org/109/Manuscript-Contest for details.

March 30: Houston Writers House genre novel contest is a chance to win $100 for unpublished novels in five categories, including middle school and young adult novels. Winners will be announced at the Houston Writers Guild June workshop. The contest opens February 1. Fee is $15. See www.houstonwritershouse.com for details.

April 1: 2015 Historical Novel Society new novel award. New this year, a complete manuscript is no longer required to enter. Generally, entries must be unpublished, but see complete rules at http://historicalnovelsocietylorg for exceptions for novels self-published since December 1, 2014. Cash prize. Contest fee is $35 ($20 for HNS members). A brief reader’s report is available for an additional $15.

June 1: Mayborn Writing Competition. Nonfiction writers who may be feeling a little overlooked will get their chance to shine at the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference in July. Winners in the book-length manuscript contest and a chance at publication by the UNT press. The conference’s site currently lists 2014 information, so check
www.themayborn.com/writing-competition for updates.

June 30: INK & Insights 2015 writing contest, from editors at Critique My Novel. Entries accepted beginning March 1 in two fiction categories (Apprentice and Master) and nonfiction. This is new to me, but includes cash prizes, writing resources, and feedback for the top three winners in each category. Top three manuscripts in the Master and nonfiction categories will also receive readings from literary agents. Fee is $35. The contest “officially” opens March 1, but entries between February 1-28 receive a $5 discount off the entry fee. For details, including a list of agent readers, see http://critiquemynovel.com/.

(Next Tuesday, a first look at spring literary conferences and events in Texas. For now, please note that the Literature + Medicine conference at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas has been rescheduled for this Thursday, January 22. Cost is $25. See www.TexasHealth.org/LitMed/.)

Wordcraft -- Make a dash for summer literary events

This year has been full of literary conferences, contests, workshops and readings, and they don’t slow down just because it’s summer. I’m including a few events I mentioned in my new year’s post in January that are still to come this summer. The emphasis is on events in North Texas, but some conferences in other parts of Texas are too good to miss.

Now through July 18: Arts and Letters at the Dallas Museum of Art. Authors still to come include Diana Gabaldon and Daniel Silva. At the DMA, 1717 N. Harwood unless otherwise noted. See the list of events and purchase tickets at www.dallasmuseumofart.org/programs/arts-letters-live/.

Now through October 27: Authors LIVE! Season of visiting authors at Highland Park United Methodist Church, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Author readings and discussions free. Or add $30 for a signed book and reception with the author. Still to come, Steve Berry this Thursday, May 29, at 7 p.m. Free. Add author’s reception at 6 p.m. with signed book for $30, RSVP required by Tuesday for reception. Books will be available for sale afterward as well. To RSVP for reception, and for more information, see www.hpumc.org/authorslive/.

June 4 - July 30: Rejebian Summer Series of book reviews, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in June through July, at Highland Park UMC, 3300 Mockingbird Lane, Dallas. Some reviews overlap events in Authors LIVE! Speakers are free, or schedule a dinner reservation at 5:30 p.m. for $12. For information and dinner reservations, see www.hpumc.org/rejebian/.

June 7 - August 2: Dallas Mayor’s Summer Reading Club, with weekly prizes for readers of all ages. The Club opens June 7 with storytelling, performances and interactive entertainment. Free. Register at any of Dallas’ 29 branches, or online at
www.dallaslibrary.org/.

June 27 – 29: Writers League of Texas Agents & Editors Conference, Hyatt Regency Austin, 208 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas. Registration for nonmembers is $459 through June 10, $489 for later registrations. More than 20 literary agents, plus workshops on craft and publishing information. See www.writersleague.org for more information and registration.

July 11-13: LexiCon 2014, Hilton Garden Inn, 3110 Colorado
Blvd., Texas. Motivational and craft workshops, and authors’ book fair. Cost is $100 through June 1, $125 after. See www.lexi-conwritersconference.org/.

July 18-20: The Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, 1800 Highway 26 East, in Grapevine, Texas. Cost is $425. Registration closes when full, or by July 1, 2014. Additional fees for contest entries in personal essay, reported narrative and book manuscript, and for sessions with literary agents. Entries for writing contests are due June 13. For registration and details, see
www.themayborn.com/.

July 23-26: Romance Writers of America’s national convention, San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter & Marriott Riverwalk, San Antonio, Texas. Registration is currently sold out, but you may email conference@rwa.org to be placed on a waitlist. For more information see www.rwa.org/.

July 25-27: ArmadilloCon 36 Literary Science Fiction Conference, Omni Southpark, 4140 Governors Row, Austin, Texas. Lots of artists and authors, including this year’s guest of honor, award winning science fiction author Ian McDonald. I especially go for the writing workshop. Conference membership is $35 through June 15, $45 after, with additional $70 for the workshop. Please note that short story entries for the workshop are due June 15. For registration and additional information, see www.armadillocon.org/.

(Next Monday--yes, in the interests of education for my fellow authors, I will finally share agent/author Donald Maass’s critique of my query letter from this month’s DFW Writers’ Conference)

Wordcraft -- Cherishing the backlist

I always appreciate your comments on posts. (And I’m okay with links to your site, as long as they’re relevant and clicking on them doesn’t set off alarms in my computer’s security system!) But a recent comment was an especially welcome surprise because it referenced a post written nearly a year and a half ago. Like last Monday’s post about the life still left in previously published stories, it was a reminder of the life in all words.

In fact, every week, I find readers looking at words published weeks, months, sometimes years ago. I hope they read those posts with as much pleasure as I had writing them. And if you’re trying to draw readers to your blog, or direct them to your other work, or simply make contact with others of like mind, look for ways to amplify the power of your blog’s backlist.

The only secret I’ve found to writing what other people want to read is to write what I’d like to read. It’s been a joy to share information about outings, writing and old books. And an even greater joy to see so many of you with those same interests.

How can we find each other? Don’t overlook the obvious -- search terms. Or tags, labels, whatever your blog format terms them. Some blogs I subscribe to use every search term the authors can think of. It’s probably lucky for me that my host, Blogspot, limits me to 200 characters. Typically, I use one or two general terms and several specific ones. You want search engines to find your blog, but not bury it under twenty-six pages of Google, Bing or Yahoo results.

Readership jumped when I added illustrations. As always, I’ve only been able to keep them coming because they’re fun for me.

But the blog format I chose for its succinctness won’t keep illustrations up indefinitely.  Not being able to stand losing them, I began posting them on Pinterest. If you’re a camera nut like me, or if you enjoy trolling copyright-free sites for something out of the ordinary, such as the eighteenth century trompe l'oeuil collage illustrating this post, your boards don’t have to be the same stuff you see everywhere. Be sure to post a link to your website or blog. People find me from Pinterest. And I find those who love what I love.

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More literary/writing updates: If you’re journalistically inclined, take a look at the writing competition of the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Writing Conference. The annual North Texas conference sponsors contests in three nonfiction categories -- reported narrative, personal essay, and book manuscript. Cash prizes and chances for publication. This year’s deadline is June 8, 2013. For details, see http://journalism.unt.edu/maybornconference/writing-competition/.

Need help to prep for this big conference? The Dallas Writer’s Garret typically hosts Mayborn preparation classes. Although the Garret’s spring 2013 calendar doesn’t yet list Mayborn specifically, it does include several classes on nonfiction writing. For specifics, see www.writersgarret.org/.

Or if you like romance, here’s a free event -- a multi-author book signing sponsored by the Dreamin’ in Dallas Conference of the Dallas Area Romance Authors, the evening of March 29. For details about this and the DARA conference, see
www.dallasromanceauthors.com/.

Wordcraft -- Another word about writers conferences

I discussed writing conferences January 4 (“Writing conferences in heart of Texas"), but with the Houston Writers Guild convention coming up this weekend, April 13-14, an update seems in order. (Notice some of the prices are up -- usually the earlier you register, the better.)

Walk-up registrations are available for the Houston-area conference through Friday, April 13. Cost is $140 for both days, with one-day options, and an extra charge for agent consultations. Friday’s afternoon program is on self-publishing, at the Marriott Sugar Land hotel, 16090 City Walk, in Sugar Land.

Saturday’s programs are at Sugar Land Baptist Church, 16755 Southwest Freeway, with a full day of information sessions, including a mystery writers’ track. See
www.houstonwritersguild.org,/ for additional information, completed schedule, and list of agents.

The DFW Writers’ Conference, May 19-20 will be at the Hurst, Texas, Conference Center, 1601 Campus Drive. Regular registration costs $325 through April 19. Late registration through the May 19 opening date is $350. The price includes one consultation with an agent. Thriller writer James Rollins will give the keynote address. Check it out at www.dfwwritersconference.org/.

The Writers League of Texas convention in Austin, June 22-24, is the big one, at the Hyatt Regency, 208 Barton Springs Road. Registration is $429 for nonmembers through April 30, or $439 for the new YA A to Z track. See www.writersleague.org/ for additional information and prices for agent conferences.

The North Texas Christian Writers Conference is scheduled June 22-23 at the Bethesda Community Church, 4700 North Beach St., Haltom City, Texas. Reduced registration is available before May 15. I have not attended this one, but many of the classes seem applicable to general fiction and memoir writing. See
www.ntchristianwriters.com for details.

Nonfiction writers will want to visit the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, July 20-22, at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, 1800 State Highway 26, in Grapevine. Register by today, April 11, for a $20 discount off admission. Manuscript deadlines are June 8 for the biography writing contest and June 11 for writing competitions in personal essay, reported narrative, and book manuscript. See http://journalism.unt.edu/maybornconference/ .

Austin’s ArmadilloCon, July 27 -29, at the Renaissance Hotel, 9721 Arboretum Road, isn’t strictly a writing conference. But it includes a writers’ workshop July 27 for science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories, with instruction and feedback from writing
professionals as well as students. Cost is $75, which includes admission to the convention. Manuscript deadline is June 18. See
www.armadillocon.org for details.

Another sci-fi/fantasy convention, FenCon, at the Crowne Plaza North, 14315 Midway Road in Addison, Texas, September 21-23, includes a writing workshop and story contest. Writers especially who long for more emphasis on hard science fiction won’t want to miss this year’s workshop with futurist Karl Schroeder. See www.fencon.org/, where you can also check out details of FenCon’s short story contest, with manuscript deadline July 20. Registration for FenCon is $35 before June 1, plus $40 for the writing workshop.

Finally, although Worldcon isn’t in Texas -- yet -- you can help Hugo Award-nominee Mike Resnick write a story for the 2012 Worldcon (Chicon 7) convention. Resnick writes the first half, you write the rest. Deadline is May 15. See https://chicon.org for details. Resnick also happens to be a guest of honor at FenCon. (Thanks to http://deborahwalkersbibliography.blogspot.com for the information.)