The Balticon Saturday Six That Growed

Wiped from turning in a story that went on too long and baking too many cookies, I didn't take as many pictures as usual at this year's Balticon. But I still had too many to narrow down to six. Balticon, the Maryland science fiction and fantasy convention held over the Memorial Day weekend, is like that. Mind-boggling and often disorganized, it's always crazy fun.

Marty Gear, the patron saint of Maryland costumers died last year, but his spirit definitely lingers in the Balticon Masquerade. Take this amazing stag, who is prepping for a turn onstage Saturday, May 24. The real eye holes are hidden beneath the orange glass eyes, and the jaw moved when the costumer spoke. BTW, the person inside is a woman.

Marty Gear also provided the motivation behind Stephanie Burke's gorgeous hand-painted kimono. She'd been promising him to create a Steampunk kimono for the Masquerade for years. This year, she did.

Meanwhile, you couldn't walk down a hall of the Escher Inn of the--I mean, the Hunt Valley Inn without seeing the towel over the bolt signifying a room party. The one two doors down from my roomie and I featured absinthe and this guy, who sang about "That Guy", the jerk you don't want to meet at a con. The filker was excellent and the song, spot-on.

I encountered this pair in the bar. The lady had the best clockwork stockings ever, and Buddha was having a grand time encouraging folks to rub his belly.

Even Super Mario Brothers were there.

Even I dressed up this year. Twice! No one caught a photograph of me in my Steampunk finery for Friday night's Zombies Need Brains launch party Friday night. (Remember how wiped I was before the con? Add in a four-hour drive that should've taken ninety minutes. Rinse. Repeat.) So I made sure to get a shot of my faerie gear for Sunday's Dark Quest Books launch party.

About those cookies--this photo shows the reason for all the baking. In addition to launching the line's new books, Dark Quest Books editor Danielle Ackley-McPhail turned the launch into a surprise 30th anniversary celebration and fundraiser for author CJ Henderson and his wife Tin.

The place was packed. I'm almost scared to see what Danielle cooks up when the Silence in the Library anthology for CJ, Dance Like a Monkey, is released later this summer. I may wind up chained to my stove for a week. On the plus side, folks REALLY liked my ginger cookies.

Finally, on the last day of the con, I captured this image of Guest of Honor Brandon Sanderson (right) and a fan dressed as the Mulian Alegretto from the anime RahXephon. Look at that headdress! Not only that, her manicure matched the costume perfectly.
Speaking of perfect, guests of honor don't get much better than Brandon Sanderson.  He managed to be funny, charming and instructive for four full days. And yeah, I got the interview. ;-)
Need more Balticon goodness? I've posted more photos on my Flicker page. Enjoy!

Jean Marie Ward

Jean Marie's Balticon Schedule

The merry month of May is about to get a little merrier. That's right folks, it's time for Balticon!

This year's con will run from Friday, May 23, all the way until Memorial Day Monday, May 26, at the Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley, Maryland. Brandon Sanderson is our writer guest of honor, but he's only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Unfortunately, as of Monday evening the con has neglected to post the rest of its guest list.  Or its final program.  (Insert headdesk here.)

But there will be lots of writers, artists, dances, parties, costume competitions and fun.  There will also be programming.  How do I know this when it's not on the web site?  Because they have posted a preliminary program! With parties! Here's my part in the festivities:

Friday

4 p.m.: Beyond Medieval History
A look at the challenges and possibilities of fantasy inspired by time periods other than medieval Europe. Jean Marie Ward (M), KT Bryski,Val Griswold-Ford, Tom Doyle and Joshua Palmatier (Chase)

6 p.m.: Writing the Economics of Magic
A discussion examining how to address economics when building a world in which magic is a major factor. Collin Earl, Brandon Sanderson, Jeffrey Lyman, Jean Marie Ward, Eric Hardenbrook (Salon C)

9-11 p.m.: Zombies Need Brains Launch Party
Celebrating the start of the new small press Zombies Need Brains and its first SF&F anthology Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens. Come join us for some snacks, meet some of the authors contributing to the first anthology, and learn all about ZNB and what it hopes to do in the future! Joshua Palmatier (M), Gail Z. Martin, Jason Palmatier, Jean Marie Ward (Parlor 1026)

11 p.m.: Developing a Sense of Propriety
Advice from SF/F Fandom on how to avoid creepy behavior; how to tell your friend that his/her behavior is totally Uncool, instead of watching in silent horror; what's harassment and what else--while not harassment--is still unacceptable public behavior. Debi Chowdhury (M), Leona Wisoker, Don Sakers, Jean Marie Ward, Mildred Cady

Saturday

2 p.m.: Flipping the SF Archetypes
Maybe humanity isn't the good guy on the intergalactic playing field. Maybe the mad scientist is just a jerk, not an evil genius. Maybe... Scott Roche (M), T Jackson King, James Daniel Ross, Jean Marie Ward, Steven H. Wilson (Salon B)

4 p.m.: Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading
A buffet of short reads from some of today's most exciting women authors. Jean Marie Ward (M), Reesa Herberth, Elektra Hammond, Gail Z Martin, Michelle Moore, Kelly Harmon (Pimlico Room)

Sunday

7-10 p.m.: Dark Quest Books Launch Party
Those Bad-Ass Faeries are back in Dark Quest Book's all-new volume, It's Elemental, along with plenty of other great new titles. Come help the authors, editors, and the publisher celebrate the their spring releases, including Baba Ali and the Clockwork Djinn by Danielle Ackley-McPhail and Day Al-Mohamed, In All Directions by David Sherman, Beginning a Beginning by Danny Birt, Trouble on the Water, Consigned to the Sea, Tales from Rugosa Coven by Sarah Avery, as well as the anthology Trust and Treachery, and a special guest appearance by Hellfire Lounge 4: Reflections of Evil. Join us for food, fun, and as always PRIZES! Danielle Ackley-Mcphail (M), N.R. Brown, Keith DeCandido, Mike Mcphail, CJ Henderson, Phoebe Wray, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Judi Fleming, Danny Birt, Peter Prellwitz, Lee C. Hillman, Jeffrey Lyman, Neal Levin, James Daniel Ross, Jean Marie Ward (Con Suite)

Friday evening, you'll also be able to find me at the first part of Gail Z. Martin's and Jon Sprunk's Reign of Ash/Blood and Iron launch party in Parlor 1026, from five until my six o'clock panel. Gotta support my roomie, don't you know.  :-)

Regarding the Zombies Need Brains and Dark Quest launch parties, aspiring writers take note: the editors and publishers will be there. In particular, I know Joshua Palmatier, ZNB's publisher, is starting to pull together his next anthology and recently posted what he looks for in a story at the Magical Words blog.

Like I said, there are lots of reasons to head to Balticon this weekend. And then there's MEEEEEEE!

Happy Memorial Day, however you choose to spend it!

Jean Marie Ward