Reprint Sale: “El Cantar de la Reina Bruja”; General Update

Happy 2019 indeed!

How lovely it is to get to start the year off with some good news to share! My beloved witch-queen story from last year’s Sword & Sonnet will run on an upcoming episode of Podcastle! That makes my third sale to an Escape Artists podcast and my first to this fabulous home for fantasy fiction.

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It’s been a long time since I’ve properly updated here for a whole host of reasons, most of which center around the fact that I spent two months languishing through morning sickness last summer. Yes, Baby #2 is due in April, and that means a very interesting year ahead indeed for this writer-mom. I’ve got lots of irons in the fire for the year ahead, including another wonderful Boskone (schedule TBA when it’s final!), my thoughts on forthcoming SFF novels and short story collections (and probably a few older ones, too), and who knows what kind of answers for story submissions galore. I’ve been very active on Twitter lately, so check there if you want blow-by-blow updates as the year progresses!

My Readercon Schedule

Readercon 29 is right around the corner–a few days from now, in fact–and it’s about time I shared my schedule for anyone interested. I’m thrilled to have time enough to attend and participate in programming this summer, and I cannot wait to catch up with some long-unseen friends from across the country! You can find the whole schedule here.

Friday July 13th at 12PM
CONSENT CULTURE IN FICTION
Salon 6
In the context of ongoing extensive discussions of consent and harassment within creative communities, this panel will discuss how to integrate consent into creative works. How do writers approach consent culture within worldbuilding? What different kinds of consent can be represented? How do writers balance advocating for consent with honest depictions of nonconsensual situations?
Maria Dahvana Headley (mod ), Teri Clarke, Victoria Sandbrook, KT Bryski, Hillary Monahan

Friday,, July 13 at 4PM
THE BUREAUCRACY OF FANTASY
Salon 6
Authors such as Daniel Abraham, Max Gladstone, and Ken Liu have received attention for incorporating bureaucratic concepts into their fantasy works, but fantasy frequently has bureaucratic underpinnings that escape notice because they’re so familiar: the nuances of who inherits a title or a throne, the specific wording of a prophecy, detailed contracts with demons. Why do some bureaucracies feel more incongruous in fantastical contexts than others? What are some tricks for making dry, nitpicky topics exciting and comprehensible?
Kenneth Schneyer (mod), John Wiswell, Victoria Sandbrook, Phenderson Djèlí Clark, 
Alexander Jablokov 

Sunday, July 15 at 12PM
SPECULATIVE FICTION IN AUDIO: WHAT’S WORKING AND WHY
Salon 5
Authors such as Daniel Abraham, Max Gladstone, and Ken Liu have received attention for incorporating bureaucratic concepts into their fantasy works, but fantasy frequently has bureaucratic underpinnings that escape notice because they’re so familiar: the nuances of who inherits a title or a throne, the specific wording of a prophecy, detailed contracts with demons. Why do some bureaucracies feel more incongruous in fantastical contexts than others? What are some tricks for making dry, nitpicky topics exciting and comprehensible?
Victoria Sandbrook (mod), James Patrick Kelly, Benjamin C. Kinney, John Chu, Heath Miller 

Sunday, July 15 at 2:30PM
READING!
Salon C

My Boskone Schedule

Not much longer to wait for one of my favorite conventions ever. Boskone holds a special place in my heart because it was my first con, a con I’ve always shared with my husband and some of our extended family, and a con where I feel like I know so many people. Looking at my panels, I’m really excited to get to have conversations with these smart and talented SFF people, and I cannot wait to devour panels morning-to-night.

I’ll be bringing a copy of Shimmer 2017 (in which my story “The Moon, The Sun, and the Truth” appears, among many other superb works) to give away to one lucky reading attendee. Please come! I’ll be reading something new! (/suppresses a satisfied cackle)

Where and when you ask? Oh. Here.

 

AIs and the Female Image
Format: Panel
16 Feb 2018, Friday 14:00 – 15:00, Marina 3 (Westin)
When it comes to AIs wearing mechanical bodies, until recently, many “female” AIs were all about gorgeousness and sexuality. Now some portrayals emphasize strength and intelligence. Can you do both? How well do these creations represent women, metaphorically or realistically? How does the representation of “male” AIs differ?
Victoria Sandbrook (M), Catherine Asaro, Christine Taylor-Butler, Laurence Raphael Brothers, John P. Murphy
Angels in Speculative Fiction
Format: Panel
16 Feb 2018, Friday 15:00 – 16:00, Marina 4 (Westin)
Angels in fantasy, science fiction, and horror aren’t always what you might expect. There are the ones that behave, well, angelically, and the fallen angels — but also bad-tempered angels, angels from advanced civilizations, and more. What attracts writers (and readers) to this motif? What common themes, like redemption or the Fall, recur? Are there novel ways to write an angel?
Bob Kuhn (M), Alexander Jablokov, Victoria Sandbrook, Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Walt Williams
Feminist Fairy Tales
Format: Panel
17 Feb 2018, Saturday 10:00 – 11:00, Burroughs (Westin)
Women frequently serve as the main characters of fairy tales. (Why, by the way?) It’s hard not to notice they’re often presented as victims, or the subjects of a lesson learned. Do any tales instead offer strong female role models? What can modern feminist perspectives contribute when considering stories from so long ago and/or far away?
Jane Yolen, Victoria Sandbrook, Andrea Corbin, Julia Rios, E.J. Stevens

Reading by Victoria Sandbrook
Format: Reading
17 Feb 2018, Saturday 11:00 – 11:30, Independence (Westin)

Women Who Write Science Fiction
Format: Panel
18 Feb 2018, Sunday 12:00 – 13:00, Marina 3 (Westin)
Mary Shelley, Leigh Brackett, Ursula K. Le Guin, Connie Willis, N. K. Jemisin —  women have been in the thick of writing science fiction for a very long time. Let’s discuss some of their landmark publications that captured our imagination. Why do we love these stories? What works should we look for the next time we’re browsing the shelves?
Victoria Sandbrook (M), LJ Cohen, Catherine Asaro, Erin Roberts, Marianna Martin PhD

My Arisia 2018 Schedule

It’s January and that means Arisia is here! It’s here! I’ve got panels on three of the four days and I hope you’ll consider stopping in for some great conversation.

Broad Universe Rapid-Fire Reading
Adams Sat 10:00 AM

Morven Westfield, Victoria Sandbrook, LJ Cohen, Larissa Glasser, Julie C. Day, Dianna Sanchez, Randee Dawn, Trisha J. Wooldridge, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Anna Erishkigal, Heather Albano

Description Come discover your new favorite writer as members of Broad Universe read short excerpts from their work. Each writer has just a few minutes to show you what she’s capable of! We offer chocolate and the chance to win prizes. Broad Universe is an international organization that supports women writers, editors, and publishers.

Mosaic – PoC & Ally Meet Up
Otis Sat 2:30 PM

Victoria Sandbrook, Benjamin Chicka, Diana Hsu

Come hang out with people of color and allies in a welcoming and inclusive space! Chat about the con and make new friends. Discuss ways fandom (including Arisia) can work to be more actively inclusive of fans of all backgrounds. If so inclined, talk about what can be done at Arisia to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday.

Fantasy that Speculates
Marina 2 Sat 5:30 PM

James Hailer (mod), Victoria Sandbrook, Ruthanna Emrys, Victoria “V.E.” Schwab, Debra Doyle

Fantasy lands such as Westeros or Stillness, with their dramatic variations in climate or seismic activity, provide a fertile ground for speculation within the story. The Stillness plans ahead and takes these factors into account; Westeros does not. Why? This panel will discuss speculation in fantasy, which stories are more speculative, and how fantasy can extrapolate from its premise.

You Got Your Science in My Magic
Marina 2 Sun 11:30am

Ken Gale (mod), Victoria Sandbrook, Andrea Corbin, Roy Kilgard, Gwendolyn Clare

We often talk about science fiction, realism, and fantasy as separate things, but the genre borders are awfully fuzzy. In stories, what does magic look like in a modern setting? We’ll explore what happens when science collides with magic, especially when that magic isn’t rule-based, and books or movies where magic and non-handwavy science work together.

In Praise of Villainesses and Antiheroines
Marina 2 Sun 5:30 PM

Henry M. White (mod), Victoria Sandbrook, Hillary Monahan, Tom Deady, Gwendolyn Clare

We love villains. We love compelling, break-out, has a point villains and badass antiheroes who look cool and say cool one liners. The problem is, the list of those compelling bad (and sort of bad) guys are all… guys. Those femme-of-center villains and antiheroes that do appear often find themselves in the love-to-hate, rather than the hate-to-love. Our panelists will be exploring compelling villainesses and why they deserve more appreciation than they often receive.

Disney’s Second Renaissance
Burroughs Mon 11:30 AM

Heather Urbanski (mod), Victoria Sandbrook, Hilary L. Hertzoff, David Olsen, Hanna Lee Rubin Abramowitz

From 1989-1999, The Walt Disney Company experienced a period of creative resurgence known as the Disney Renaissance; *The Little Mermaid*, *Beauty and the Beast*, and *The Lion King* were artistic and financial wins for a studio coming out of a long slump. Recently, *Frozen*, *Moana* and others have led some to declare that the company is in the middle of a new success streak. We’ll discuss what we’ve seen in the past few years from this animation powerhouse, and look ahead to what’s to come.

My Arisia 2017 Schedule

It’s that time again, folks! I’ll be braving whatever weather comes to make it to the Westin Waterfront in Boston to enjoy the event that kicks off my geek calendar year. If you’re local and not familiar with Arisia, well, come out There is quite literally something for everyone. And, for the first time, I’m on the program!

You’ll find me here:

SAT 10:00 AM
Parents with Infants & Toddlers Meetup – Communities, Meetup – 1hr 15min – Otis (2W)
We have run into each other in panels, in hallways, and in elevators with strollers, but have we really met? Let’s let the kids run around for an hour, catch our breath, bemoan cluster feeding/colic/climbing/teething/growing pains, and celebrate the fact that we’re OUT OF THE HOUSE and among our people.
Aurora Celeste (m), Victoria Sandbrook

SAT 1:00 PM
Mosaic—PoC & Ally Meet Up – Communities, Meetup – 1hr 15min – Paine (2W)
People of Color at the con and allies helping us build a better space for diverse faces in fandom, get together for some social and casual conversation time. Recap the convention with friends and maybe brainstorm a bit on how to up our game for next year. (Deep thinking on social action of the future optional but appropriate to MLK’s birthday observance.)
Mink Rose (m), Victoria Sandbrook, TheoNerd

SUN 10:00 AM
Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make Fantasy – Literature, Panel – 1hr 15min – Marina 2 (2E)
From Susan Pevensie’s lipstick to fan-hate for Sansa Stark, feminine characters often get shortchanged by fantasy authors and fans alike, losing out in comparison with the Strong Female Protagonist archetype. Why does this happen? Which feminine characters manage to succeed against this stereotype? Is the trend changing, and why?
Victoria Sandbrook (m), Randee Dawn, Ariela Housman, Victoria Janssen, Henry M. White