There hasn't been any Tea lately--mostly because I have been very busy working--but before I forget to let you all know what I'm up to:
I'll be doing two cons in August!
I'm returning as a guest of the Gen Con Writers' Symposium on the 1st-4th of August, so if you're gonna be at the Indiana Convention Center, here's some of the stuff I'll be up to at the adjacent Indianapolis Downtown Marriott:
Writing Genre Poetry
Thursday 1st August, 4pm @ Marriott Ballroom 4
w/ C. S. E. Cooney, Jordan Kurella, Linda D. Addison, & Sandra Tayler
Join our panel of poets as they discuss genre (or speculative) poetry, what it is, and ways to experience it.
Meet The Writers
Thursday 1st August, 6pm @ Wabash Ballroom 1
Join writers of the Gen Con Writers' Symposium to say hello, get your existing books signed, or purchase new ones here). Tickets are nice but not required during this 3hr open-house event!
The System As Villain: Exploring Goodness Through Media
Friday 2nd August, 11AM @ Marriott Ballroom 3
w/ Khaldoun Khelil, Michael R. Underwood, Sarah Hans, & Will Sobel
Join our panel of experts as they discuss and explore different forms of media depicting the system as a villain, such as police brutality, military force, and political oppression. Our panelists discuss which stories, shows, and games do this well, and what the *heroes* then look like in such contexts.
Bardic Inspiration: Writing Speculative Poetry
Friday 2nd August, 2PM @ Boston
An in-person speculative poetry workshop! I lead you through a practical workshop about writing speculative verse, including simple exercises to channel the speculative in your own poetic expressions!
D&D With Writers!
Friday 2nd August, 7PM @ Marriott Ballroom 1
w/ GM Gregory A. Wilson, E.D.E. Bell, Karen Menzel, Richard Lee Byers, & Toiya Kristen Finley
Join game master and streamer Gregory A. Wilson to enjoy a group of professional writers playing D&D for a casual audience in this annual evening celebration of gaming, storytelling, and community.
Speculative Poetry Open Mic!
Saturday 3rd August, 5PM @ Marriott Ballroom 1
w/ Writers' Symposium Guest of Honor Linda D. Addison
Join Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association Grand Master Linda D. Addison and Elgin Award winning poet Brandon O'Brien for a loving, inclusive, and affirming open-mic poetry night! You are welcome to offer your own poetry to read, or sit back and enjoy the poetry of our Gen Con community.
Queer Characters of Nonbinary Flavour: The Battle of the Pronouns
Sunday 4th August, 9AM @ Marriott Ballroom 4
w/ Ava Kelly, Briana Lawrence, Jordan Jones-Brewster, & Morgan Wilson
Join our panel of experts as they discuss nonbinary characters in fiction - how to incorporate your characters in concept and in words.
Plus, if you see me about during Gen Con weekend, by all means, ask me about my work! I'm hoping to pull folks aside and show them what Grayshade looks like under the hood so far! If you see me scribbling anxiously on index cards, it's because I'm trying to finish a prototype of a thing--suffice it to say that if you enjoyed The Moon Wants Me To Leave You, I am trying to make another game in its family! And of course, I want to network with more actual-play folks--suffice it to say I have ~schemes~!
Then, right after that, I'll be at NecronomiCon as this year's Poet Laureate! Here's what I'll be officially up to in Providence on the weekend of the 15th to 18th!
Michael Moorcock: No Gods, No Masters
Friday 16th August, 2pm @ Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
w/ John Bittrich, Adam Bolivar (M), Paul Di Filippo, Allen Ruch, & Alan Tromp
Editor, author, and musician Moorcock (English, 1939 – ) is a renowned writer of fantasy and science fiction, and considered part of the New Wave literary movement. Best known for his creations Elric of Melniboné, the Multiverse, Hawkmoon, and the Eternal Champion, his writing is driven by political commentary, satire, and the reversal or subversion of genre theme and tropes. Our panelists discuss his work, legacy, and political activism.
This Place Is Not For You: Impossible Architecture In Weird Fiction
Friday 16th August, 3:30pm @ Capital Ballroom, Graduate Hotel, 2nd floor
w/ Catherine Scully (M), Sheree Renée Thomas, John Thompson, & Jeff VanderMeer
Join us as we explore the abandoned halls of alien and forgotten races, non-Euclidean spaces, liminal passageways, and labyrinths of mysterious origin. At the Mountains of Madness, House of Leaves, Piranesi, Labyrinths, Solaris, and Mapping the Interior are just some of the many titles that employ strange structures. How do authors use the scale, design, and function of buildings and other designed spaces to disturb and disorient the reader in weird fiction? What is the psychological impact of these factors on characters?
NecronomiCon-Providence 2024 Guests of Honor
Friday 16th August, 5pm @ Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
w/ S. J. Bagley (M), Nadia Bulkin, Billy Martin, Mike Mason, Sheree Renée Thomas, & Jeff VanderMeer
Meet this year's Guests of Honor!
Editing The Weird
Saturday 17th August, 5pm @ Biltmore Ballroom, Graduate 17th Floor
w/ Mike Mason, Sheree Renée Thomas, Ann VanderMeer, & Douglas E Winter
An all-star line-up of editors discuss editing and curating weird and horror literature. What changes have occurred in the past four decades in content, reach, and the publishing environment. What is the role of the editor in curating the Weird? What trends are on the horizon?
Uncovering Dark Pearls: Emily Dickinson’s Witch Poems
Sunday 18th August, 11am @ South County Room, Omni 3rd Floor
w/ Christa Carmen, F. Brett Cox, VJ Stonecraft, & Trisha Wooldridge (M)
Emily Dickenson (American, 1830 – 1886) is considered one of the most important poets in American literature and often touched on supernatural themes. In this panel, we take a close look at the poetry of spells and witchcraft of the White Witch of Amherst.
Plus, if you missed the announcement, I will be the Poet Laureate of Worldcon in Seattle in 2025! I can't wait to see you all in Seattle next year as we celebrate all the cool things that are happening in speculative poetry!
Before then, two things:
any support you can give me via Ko-Fi and PayPal as I travel will be deeply appreciated! Suffice it to say that travel is a doozy and since I'm still in between work payments it would be grand to be able to handle incidentals while traveling and pay bills back home.
Also, you know the drill: if you're gonna be there, don't hesitate to say hello! And if you're local to either of the places I'll be coming to in August, feel free to tell me where I can get the spiciest food in town! I still very much enjoy burning my lips off.
Can't wait to see you all!
--Brandon