At Boskone, you’ll find folks working on a wide variety of projects in the realm of science fiction and fantasy. Today’s mini inteviews feature interactive text based games, motivating your writing, 2014’s Best  YA speculative fiction and more!

Heather Albano

Heather Albano is a storyteller. Sometimes she writes traditional fiction and sometimes she makes games, and she finds the line between the two growing fuzzier all the time. If you like steampunk time travel, check out her novels Timepiece and Timekeeper; if you like Napoleonic naval battles, fantasy medieval court intrigues, or zombie apocalypses, check out her Choice of Games titles; if you like James-Bond-style spycraft and/or interactive radio dramas, check out Codename Cygnus. If you want to know what she’s doing next, or just follow the random thoughts that wander through her head, check out www.heatheralbano.com. Like Heather on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @heatheralbano.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

I am sooooo close to done with my sixth Choice of Games title. It’s terrifyingly behind schedule and hugely beyond initial scope, but now that it’s almost there, I’m so proud of it. Choice of Games produces multiple choice, text-based choose-your-path-style games – or interactive novels, if you prefer. My current work-in-progress, and my first solo endeavor, is tentatively titled Choice by Gaslight. It follows the adventures of an Army-surgeon-turned-government-spy in a Victorian-era secondary world that runs on steampunk tech but is threatened by ancient magic. Four distinct character arcs are possible for the protagonist (as well as variants within each) – save your empire, join the rebellion against it, learn to train your inborn magical talent, or give in to your inner darkness. The biggest challenge has been in getting all the clockwork to interact correctly in the background, so that each individual scene can function simultaneously as different points (or different “beats”) in different storylines. This was a somewhat over-the-top endeavor – the thing is somewhere around 250K words – much more ambitious than my previous games with Choice Of. Bluntly, I wanted to know if I could do it. The answer turns out to be, “Yes,” but that was not at all clear at certain points over the last two years. Without my fabulous editor Rebecca Slitt and my equally fabulous, patient, and supportive husband Richard Jackson, I would have lost my nerve months ago.

From a fan perspective, what new book, film, TV show, or comic are you most looking forward to seeing/reading?

I was delighted (read: bouncing up and down with excitement) to learn that Ellen Kushner has another Riverside novel in the works – this one about the young adulthood of Jessica Campion, set between _The Privilege of the Sword_ and “The Man With The Knives,” and featuring at least in passing Alec and Richard. If you do not know the series of which I speak, _run don’t walk_ to your nearest bookseller and acquire yourself a copy of Swordspoint.You will not be sorry.

What are you looking forward to at Boskone?

I’m very excited about the possibility of meeting guest of honor Steven Brust. Freedom and Necessity (a epistolary work co-authored with Emma Bull, set in 1849) absolutely blew my mind, and I’d love to ask him to autograph my copy.

Stephen Kelner

Dr. Steve Kelner is an authority on measuring and developing leadership and motivation; he applied his background in motivational theory to research and write the book Motivate Your Writing! He develops and applies executive assessment methodologies globally for a leading executive search firm and often speaks to writers groups. Visit Stephen’s website or like him on Facebook.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

Besides my fiction, I am developing content for an update of my book Motivate Your Writing! Reviewers had noted a few areas I could add (such as more information on having multiple motives, or how thriller writers are motivated), and some areas that had gone out of date (on the writing business as it was versus the opportunities today). I have a Facebook page for the book where I am gathering questions and posting new content. I am also expanding the circle somewhat to other forms of creativity, such as visual arts, thanks to some help and input from my daughter who is studying animation (and will also be at Boskone!). Seeing how people have responded to my book and how it energized them and improved their productivity, I get excited by how I can help people with some relatively simple insights that just aren’t widely enough known — yet.

What event or experience stands out as one of those ‘defining moments’ that shaped who you are today?

One of the first times I consulted to a senior manager on (among other things) his implicit (emotional) motivation. He was known as an outstanding manager of people, who had moved from an engineering position up the management ranks, learning how to empower, manage, and align his team and, eventually, a whole organization of hundreds of people. But his actual implicit motive pattern — what really moved him — was to make things better as an individual contributor, perhaps as the engineer he was trained to be, or as an entrepreneur. All his skill in managing people came not from a personal enjoyment of influence, but from a conscious effort. He had been so successful that he had been promoted to a role that wore him down, where he had to force himself to do the right thing for the job. Sadly, he had not realized how his own drives had made that happen. The conflict had taken its toll, making him cynical and ready for early retirement. After our conversation, where all I did was help him understand this in himself, he came back the next day completely revitalized and energized. He thanked me sincerely and told me, “I blamed the company, but the truth was I hated my job because it didn’t suit me. I’ve decided that if they don’t let me retire, I have to quit: I can’t live like this anymore.” It was shocking to me that someone could get to their fifties and not realize they were unhappy simply because they had not known their own motives. I knew intellectually that implicit motives are not conscious in nature, but here I saw the personal cost of that fact, and how someone could transform with the right personal understanding. Ever since, I have tried to think about how people can learn and tap into their own motivation, and be happy and satisfied at what they do. I applied that to writing as I do to many other jobs!

What is it that you enjoy most about Boskone?

Returning to my homeworld!

Julia Rios

Julia Rios writes all sorts of things, hosts the Outer Alliance Podcast (celebrating QUILTBAG speculative fiction), and is one of the three fiction editors at Strange Horizons. Her fiction, articles, essays, and poetry have appeared in Daily Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, Queers Dig Time Lords, Jabberwocky, and several other places. Visit Julia’s website or follow her on Twitter @omgjulia.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

Right now I’m working on The Year’s Best YA Speculative Fiction 2014 for Twelfth Planet Press. This is extremely exciting and challenging because it basically means I’m reading all the short fiction I can get my hands on from 2014, and finding the best stories featuring teen protagonists. It’s challenging because, my, there is a lot of short fiction out there! But it’s absolutely wonderful when I find a new favorite author.

From a fan perspective, what new book, film, TV show, or comic are you most looking forward to seeing/reading?

I’m really looking forward to The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu. I love his short fiction, so I’m very excited to read his first novel.

What is it that you enjoy most about Boskone?

I think my favorite thing about Boskone is the art show. There are always so many fabulous pieces of art there, and walking through is a delight. I often end up with a little something new for myself from jewelry to paintings. It’s also great to get the chance to meet the artists personally. One of my favorite jewelry makers, K. M. Kotulak of Studio Hibernacula (https://www.etsy.com/shop/Hibernacula) has sold me multiple pieces at Boskone in the past. If you see me wearing a really cool necklace, chances are it’s one of hers.

Daniel M. Kimmel

Daniel M. Kimmel is a film critic. He was nominated for a Hugo Award for Jar Jar Binks Must Die… and other observations about science fiction movies. His latest book is his first novel, Shh! It’s a Secret: a novel about Aliens, Hollywood, and the Bartender’s Guide. Both are available from Fantastic Books. Visit Daniel’s website, friend him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @dkimmel.

How would you describe your work to people who might be unfamiliar with you?

I take film — SF or not — seriously, but I don’t take my own opinions as the final word. They’re MY opinions, and if I express them strongly it’s because I’m hoping you’ll agree or disagree and the conversation can continue. Humor is also an important part of my writing, as with my first novel, “Shh! It’s a Secret.” It plays a role in my new novel — currently seeking a home — which is a time travel comedy.

What event or experience stands out as one of those ‘defining moments’ that shaped who you are today?

As someone known in the fan community as a professional film critic it would probably be seeing “2001: A Space Odyssey” for the first time at the tender age of 13 and realizing that science fiction films were worth exploring and discussing. It led many years later to my first published piece for an SF audience on the film for the late, lamented Artemis magazine which, in turn, led to my then editor, Ian Randal Strock, to eventually publish my book on SF film, “Jar Jar Binks Must Die.”

What is it that you enjoy most about Boskone?

No question: it’s the conversations whether on panels, in the consuite, or in the hallways. Some of it is about science fiction and some of it is about our lives, as I catch up with people I may not have seen in a while.

One thing that sets Boskone apart from many conventions is the mingling of professionals and fans. There’s no green room for the pros and many programming items, such as Kaffeeklatsches encourage these interactions. Also important is that professionals are also fans. Take a look at what some of our participants are looking forward to seeing/reading.

Jo Walton

Jo Walton is the Hugo and Nebula award winning author of Among Others and many other SF and Fantasy novels. Her new novel My Real Children will be out in May. She blogs about older books on Tor.com. She comes from Wales but lives in Montreal where the food and books are more varied. Visit Jo’s website, find her on Livejournal or follow her on Twitter @BluejoWalton.

From a fan perspective, what new book, film, TV show, or comic are you most looking forward to seeing/reading?

I’m looking forward to reading so many things. Rosemary Kirstein’s next Steerswoman book. The new Cherryh Atevi book. But probably what I’m looking forward to most is Ada Palmer’s _Dogs of Peace_ being published next year. It’s the first in a series of four books, philosophical science fiction. I’ve been fortunate enough to read the first three, and I’m looking forward eagerly to the fourth one being finished, I can’t wait to read it. But even more, I am looking forward to everyone else reading these, because I am longing to talk about them. You know the way when you were fifteen youi’d read SF and it would make your head explode with all the new ideas and things you’d never thought about before, all packed into a great story? You don’t get that experience so often when you’re fifty, but these books have given me that. I’m longing to talk about them — and of course, they’re not out yet, so I can’t!

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

I’m working on the third and final book in my Thessaly sequence. All my work is informed by history, but these books use it directly and let me play with it in different ways. The premise is that various philosophers and classicists through time prayed to Athene to let them help set up Plato’s Reopublic, and she granted that prayer for reeasons of her own. So in the first book, _The Just City_ I have those people from all of time, and of course they’re mostly real people. In this final volume, _Necessity_, I am grappling even more with real history and also various problems with time travel, even time travel via divine intervention. The biggest problem is the science fictional one of writing about the future. I can look up the past — I can’t research the future! Still, it’s fun — mostly! This is also the first time I’ve written something that will be published before I’m finished with it, which is an odd feeling. _The Just City_ will be out in January, and I’m still writing _Necessity_. I know this happens to writers all the time, but it hasn’t happened to me before.

What is it that you enjoy most about Boskone?
Boskone is a con with a remarkabkly high proportion of my friends — it’s in Boston but it attracts people I know and want to hang out with from all over the world. I don’t know why this is, maybe because everyone needs something cheering by February, or maybe because it has consistrently good program. But fandom is made of people, and Boskone has congenial people, and what I am looking forward to is spending time with them.

James Cambias

James L. Cambias is a science fiction writer and game designer. A New Orleans native, he lives in western Massachusetts. He published a dozen stories in FSF and other magazines, and wrote or coauthored ten RPG sourcebooks. His novel A Darkling Sea comes out in Fall 2013 from Tor. Visit James’s website or follow him on Facebook.

From a fan perspective, what new book, film, TV show, or comic are you most looking forward to seeing/reading?

The book I’m most eagerly anticipating is James Blaylock’s _Beneath London_. As a movie fan my tastes are unabashedly lowbrow; I’m looking forward to the next Avengers movie.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?
At present I’m writing a novel with the working title _Arkad’s World_. It’s a coming-of-age story about a boy growing up on a remote alien world with no other humans. It has been a challenge for me because I’ve never written that kind of story before.

What is it that you enjoy most about Boskone?

Boskone has become more of a social event for me than a professional one. I attend in order to see old friends. It also has one of the better dealer rooms for a bookhound like myself.

Elizabeth Bear

Elizabeth Bear is the Hugo and Sturgeon award winning author of over twenty science fiction and fantasy novels and one hundred short stories, most recently including the Eternal Sky trilogy: Range of Ghosts, Shattered Pillars, and Steles of the Sky. Photo by Kyle Cassidy

From a fan perspective, what new book, film, TV show, or comic are you most looking forward to seeing/reading?

I’m totally hooked on Max Gladstone’s Craft series right now. The first three books are out, and I’m loving them. I have a copy of the fourth (industry privilege–we get all the new books early and then don’t have time to read them!) and I can’t wait until I have time for it. I also was fortunate enough to get my hands on Fran Wilde’s first novel, UPDRAFT, in advance copy. It’s super-good, I don’t mind saying.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

I just handed in the final work on KAREN MEMORY, a wild West steampunk novel that’s coming out from Tor the week before Boskone. (I’m actually doing a book launch at Panedmonium in Cambridge on Thursday the 12th, before I report to the con.) It’s bordello girls versus disaster capitalists, and it’s no secret whose side I’m on. I’m also about to start work on two things simultaneously in 2015. One is the first book of an epic fantasy set in an alternate Asia-inspire world. It’s called THE STONE IN THE SKULL, and it’s in the same world as RANGE OF GHOSTS. The other is a big-idea space opera called Ancestral Night, which is intrigue and politics and sweeping interstellar civilizations.

What are you looking forward to at Boskone?

Boskone! One of the best-organized, most interesting conventions around. The science panels in particular, I love. (And the proximity to some of my favorite restaurants.)

The Flash Fiction Slam is back! Last year’s first ever contest was so much fun that we decided to do it again. Join us for a fun and exciting event filled with live readings of short fiction, which is sure to delight and entertain. The contest will feature eleven (11) writers who compete for the title of The Flash, reading their own original fiction that must tell a complete tale in under 3-minutes.

RULES:

Readings are scored on a scale of 1 to 10, and you automatically lose 1 point for going over your 3-minute limit. Contestants can only read his/her own work. The reader with the top score wins!

Sign up in advance for one of eight (8) reading slots on a first-come, first-served basis by e-mailing erin.m.underwood@gmail.com. Please put “Flash Fiction Slam” in your email’s subject line. To secure one of the remaining three (3) slots, sign-up onsite at Program Ops in the Galleria additional openings. A waiting list will also be available.

Judges:

• F. Brett Cox
• James Patrick Kelly
• Kenneth Schneyer
• Fran Wilde
• Carrie Cuinn (MC)

Flash Fiction Slam

• Day: Sunday
• Time: 9:30-10:50 a.m.
• Room:  Marina 4

Today’s set of Mini Interviews features participants who have something very cool in common. SCIENCE! Whether it’s the stars your after or something a little closer to earth, you’re sure to enjoy meeting Guy Consolmagno, Tom Easton, and Steven Popkes.

Guy Consolmagno

Former MITSFS skinner and former Boskone special guest, Jesuit astronomer at the Vatican Br. Guy researches meteorites and asteroids, and has written books on popular astronomy and science/religion topics, including the upcoming Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? Visit Guy’s website or follow him on Twitter @specolations.

What are you looking forward to at Boskone?

For me, Boskone is a homecoming. Boston was my home (or at least home-away-from-home) for nearly 20 years, during the 1970s and 1980s, and I still have so many friends in the area. It’s also the time and place when I first encountered Fandom. (My first SF convention was Boskone 10 in 1973, if I recall correctly). So while I love the panels and the art show and the dealer’s room, the real thing that brings me back to Boskone are the people… Old friends, of course. But this also means, the people I meet for the first time here! A few years ago at a Boskone I got to finally meet a couple of writers (Sharon Lee and Steve Miller) whose work I had long admired. Last year, I met a young writer (Sarah Beth Durst) whose work was completely new to me, but I have become quite a fan of hers as a result. Michael Flynn and John Farrell are two others who immediately come to mind, whom I first met at a Boskone. My experience of science fiction is far richer for having participated at this convention.

What event or experience stands out as one of those ‘defining moments’ that shaped who you are today?

In the fall of 1970, I was a miserable freshman at Some Other College in Boston when I visited Mike Timmreck, my best friend from high school, who was attending MIT. Mike showed me the MIT Science Fiction Society library, and I was gobsmacked. You could actually hold original pulp SF magazines from the 1930’s! I pulled one off the shelf — and immediately another MITSFS member, Marc Alpert yelled at me — “if you want to just browse through the old magazines, go to the bound volumes!” Which made perfect sense. (Marc and Mike are both still great friends of mine, after all these years.) Something told me then, that this was where I belonged… where I could dream, and where I could maybe make those dreams come true. I transferred to MIT, became a scientist, and never looked back.

How would you describe your work to people who might be unfamiliar with you?

I am a Jesuit brother — a member of a religious order — and a planetary scientist, an active research with all the usual academic credentials and published papers. I also give a lot of popular talks, and write a lot of non-fiction books, about both my jobs. I see myself as a missionary, yes — but as a missionary of science, and science fiction, to people who might be afraid of them. My message? Like science fiction, science itself is actually about more than just the subject matter we study or write about; it’s about people — our human curiosity, our desire to know and know more and know better. It’s about the ways that we test the assumptions we make all the time about the universe. It’s about holding onto the things that stay the same so that we can be free to explore the things that are always changing… and being able to recognize which things are in the first category, and which are in the second.

Tom Easton

Tom Easton will retire in 2014 from his position as Professor of Science at Thomas College in Waterville, Maine. On the way to this event, he has written science fiction and textbooks and has spent 30 years as the Analog book columnist. For more information, visit Tom’s website.

How would you describe your work to people who might be unfamiliar with you?

I am constantly reviewing and commenting on the work of others, in science (teaching, textbooks) and in science fiction (my 30 years as the Analog book columnist are over, but the attitude remains).

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

The biggie at the moment is the 12th edition of my Science, Technology, and Society issues textbook (McGraw-Hill). I love finding topics such as the fight between utilities and home solar advocates. They are often very sfnal!

What is it that you enjoy most about Boskone?

I like seeing old friends and making connections for projects such as the Pink Narcissus I and Judith K. Dial have been doing. Since I like to talk, doing panels is a big part of the fun as well.

Steven Popkes

An expatriate Missourian, Steven Popkes makes his home in New England. Along with writing science fiction, he pursues other impossible tasks such as growing watermelons and making a drinkable Concord wine. For more information, visit Steven’s website.

What is it that you enjoy most and what are you looking forward to at Boskone?

I’ll answer both: I like the science that shows up. Science in the panels. Science in the fiction. Authors, scientists, engineers, all talking about how the world really works. In fiction. In life. In industry.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

I like to think my work answers questions. In this case the question is what does child abuse, redemption and the terraforming of Venus have in common? The answer is my book. The challenge is to bring all the pieces together.

If you could recommend a book to your teenage-self, what book would you recommend? Why did you pick that book?

It would be Robert F Jones Blood Sport: A Journey up the Hassayampa. This is what fiction can and can’t do. This is why it is important. This is why words are both more and less important than you think they are. You don’t learn from a magnificent success; you learn from a magnificent attempt.

~

Our next set of Mini Interviews is coming soon! Sign up to follow the Boskone Blog via email to avoid missing the interview with your favorite author. If you’re on Twitter, look for us using #Boskone.

Purchase your Boskone membership!

Boskone is pleased to announce that this year’s schedule is now available to view online. It’s a great way to plan ahead or share with family, friends and colleagues who have not attended a Boskone.

Some of the programming for this year’s convention include:

• Over 150 Participants
• Free Friday Afternoon Programming from 2:00-6:00 pm on Friday, February 13th is free and open to the public.
• Late Night Programming Friday and Saturday
• Panels in a range of topics including science fiction, fantasy, horror, comics and games
• 30 round table Kaffeeklatsches for small group discussion with your favorite authors and professionals
• Docent lead tours of the art show
• Dragonslair, programming for kids

Register by January 21 for pre-convention rates. See you at Boskone! Feb 13-15, 2015.

Please note Boskone is offering gaming and anime programming this year. Those schedules will be posted shortly.

 

 

As writers, professionals and fans, we all have a defining moment that shaped who we are today. In today’s Boskone Mini Interviews, three participants share their stories on what influenced them to become science fiction fans, publishers, writers and science journalists.

Steve Davidson

Steve Davidson is the owner, publisher and editor pro-tem of Amazing Stories. Steve is a recovering fan; following a whirlwind career that culminated in managing the 1977 Hugo Awards Banquet, he briefly gafiated for 30 years to become a Top 100 Paintball Player of All Time. He has since come to his senses and returns to the warm and fuzzy folds of Fandom with Amazing Stories. Visit the Amazing Stories website, find them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @amazingstories0.

What event or experience stands out as one of those ‘defining moments’ that shaped who you are today?
Purchasing a copy of Heinlein’s Starman Jones from the Bookmobile while in fourth grade. I’d been fond of science fiction up till that point (without realizing it was a “thing” – watching shows like Fireball XL 5, The Outer Limits and reading H. G. Wells and Jules Verne), but picking up a true SF novel (one illustrated provocatively by Berkey), and one by Heinlein, opened the door to fandom for me; in searching for “more of the same” I quickly discovered anthologies (Astounding Tales of Space & Time), other authors (like Ursula Le Guin) and the magazines, like Amazing Stories. I became a letter hack and had several published in Ted White’s Amazing Stories; an announcement in Filthy Pierre’s convention listing turned me on to Suncon, which was being managed out of my neighborhood; I signed on to staff and there was no looking back.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?
I’m continuing to publish Amazing Stories as a daily, multi-author blog; we’re increasing out offerings in fiction, we just opened our online store (Frank R. Paul Amazing Stories pulp cover posters, mostly); I’m managing licensing deals with Futures Past Editions books and Open Road Brands, negotiating additional licenses and always – ALWAYS – continually looking for that investor that can help take us to the next level.

What is it that you enjoy most about Boskone?
The tradition. Boskone is a “traditional” convention of the fan-run, fan-attended, fan-interest convention of the type I attended when I first started going to conventions. I love the intimacy – being able to walk up to anyone and start a conversation, starting out with having so much in common that there can be a meaningful conversation. During my first run of doing conventions in the early 70s through the 80s I lived in New Jersey and ended up mostly going south and west to attended cons – philcons, balticons, disclaves, pghlanges – and for some reason, although I tried on numerous occasions, I never made it north of New York City (Lunacons, Bouchercons, etc); moving to New Hampshire changed all of that and I was very happy to discover that Boskone was “just like those other cons I’d been to”. When they say that fandom is one big extended family, they weren’t joking. And it’s so nice to be able to go “home” once every year.

E. C. Ambrose (aka Elaine Isaak)

E. C. Ambrose writes The Dark Apostle historical fantasy series about medieval surgery, beginning with Elisha Barber (DAW, 2013). Her work has appeared in Clarkesworld, and won the Tenebris Press Flash Fiction Contest 2012. As Elaine Isaak, she is also the author of The Singer’s Crown and its sequels. Visit her website, friend her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter at @ecambrose and/or @elaineisaak.

What event or experience stands out as one of those ‘defining moments’ that shaped who you are today?
Years ago, when I had dropped out of art school and was looking for a way to support myself while finishing my first novel, I shared an apartment with my sister, and ended up getting a job at the same place she was working, a call center for a vendor of equestrian equipment. I knew just enough about horses to get by (and most questions were easily answered by the catalog anyhow). But I became increasingly frustrated with the corporate structure, and the company’s adherence to hierarchy–even when it didn’t make sense. So, when they had pushed a little too hard on an agenda that had nothing to do with my work, and everything to do with making sure I understood I was the Employee, and they were In Charge. I quit. When A fellow employee discovered I didn’t have another job lined up, aside from some freelance costuming, she said, “What are you going to do?” And I said, ‘Whatever I want.” My motto since then has been, I am who I am because I dare. Not because I live by someone else’s arbitrary rules. Only in daring can we learn and grow and become our best selves.

From a fan perspective, what new book, film, TV show, or comic are you most looking forward to seeing/reading?
Avengers II. Yep, totally. I loved the first one, loved Captain America, and the Iron Man films (mostly), but most of all, I love how they pack so much adventure and character development into a single film. The Marvel films in general give me a great break from the pressures of life, sure, but from the author’s perspective (yeah, I know, outside the purview of the question, but there you go) they also encourage me to think about courage, heroism, and consequences. But, best part, I can have Captain America *and* Iron Man for Mother’s Day.

What is it that you enjoy most about Boskone?
Boskone is my chance to visit with hundreds of friends, fans and fellow authors all in the same place, sharing our intellectual curiosity, artistic enthusiasm, and geekish discoveries. It is a tribal gathering where I can recognize even those I have not yet met. Every time I prowl the con suite I meet an old friend, or I make a new one.

Jeff Hecht

Jeff Hecht is a free-lance science and technology writer and consultant for New Scientist magazine and Laser Focus World, based in Newton, Massachusetts. His short fiction has appeared in Analog, Asimov’s, Interzone, Nature, and Daily Science Fiction. He has written several books on lasers and fiber optics. Visit Jeff’s website or follow him on Twitter @jeffhecht.

What event or experience stands out as one of those ‘defining moments’ that shaped who you are today?
Answering a tiny little ad in the help wanted section of the Boston Globe 40 years ago. I was getting bored out of my skull writing computer manuals for Honeywell. I had all but finished my project, and was sitting around writing science fiction and sending out resumes. The tiny little ad was from a trade magazine looking for an assistant editor. It turned out to be a laser magazine, and I had worked one summer in a laser lab, and had a degree in electrical engineering. I talked my way into the job. And it was a hell of a lot more fun than computer manuals. It got me launched into a career as a science journalist, something that I hadn’t really thought about very much before. My boss was an old-line journalist who put up with my erratic spelling because I understood more about physics and engineering than he did. He also tutored me in writing. And he turned out to be an old friend of Damon Knight who was not bothered by my side interest in science fiction. I stayed seven years, learned laser geek speak, and quit to become a full-time freelancer and write about more than lasers. That led to more adventures in writing the history of fiber optics, going through the madness of the Bubble, and covering news stories like the Piltdown bird (Archaeoraptor).

How would you describe your work to people who might be unfamiliar with you?

I write about lasers and dinosaurs. Seriously. I make my living writing about science and technology, and somewhat by happenstance two of the areas I specialize in are optics (lasers, fiber optics, photonics, and so forth) and paleontology (earth science, history of the earth, fossils, and – of course – dinosaurs. I’ve been known to write fiction about them, but mostly I write science fact, for magazines including New Scientist and Laser Focus World.

What are you looking forward to at Boskone?
Meeting old and new friends and talking about interesting ideas. Boskone attracts an interesting group of people, and they make for stimulating discussions.

It’s all about Friday.

Boskone is starting early this year, which means more programming and more fun. So, mark your calendars with the magic number: 2.13.15 at 2:00 pm because that’s when program panels begin.

Programming Highlights for Friday (2.13.15):

• Panels begin at 2:00 pm: featuring everything from Manga to Science, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Young Adult and Children’s programming…and more!
• Gaming begins at 2:00 pm
• Anime and Film Screenings begin at 2:00 pm
• Kaffeeklatches begin on Friday
• Readings begin on Friday
• Filking begins on Friday
• Even better, everything is free to the public from 2:00-6:00 pm on Friday; memberships are needed after that.
• Did we mention late night chocolate?

Registration Rates:

• Full Convention Rates:
  • Adult rate: $50
  • College student rate: $35
  • K-12 student rate: $25
• Day Rates:
  • Friday: $20
  • Saturday: $40
  • Sunday: $20
• Access the Printed Registration Form

Register Today for the Pre-convention Rates! 

Rates increase after January 21st.

Friday Evening Events:

• 8:00-8:30 pm  — Opening Ceremony & Meet the Boskone Guests
• 8:30-10:00 pm —  Boskone Reception / Art Show Opening
• Plus LOTS of Fun!

Boskonians! Filking has long been a part of Boskone’s program, and filkers (i.e. musicians) from far and wide come to filk and talk music every February. In honor of our filking traditions, we’ve got a special set of Mini Interviews for you today, which features Jeff Bohnhoff (one of our Featured Filkers), Denise Gendron, and Gary Ehrlich. Sit back and enjoy the Filking Mini Interviews.

Jeff Bohnhoff

Jeff Bohnhoff is a professional musician, songwriter and recording engineer/producer. With his wife Maya, he has released 5 CDs including 3 albums of hilarious parodies of classic rock songs, and 2 albums of beautiful original songs. He has also produced albums for Seanan McGuire, Nancy Freeman, Mary Crowell, Betsey Tinney, Twotonic (Katy Dröge Macdonald and Steve Macdonald) and Harmony Heifers. He is currently working on new albums with Scott Snyder and Char McKay. Midichlorian Rhapsody, a spot-on parody of Bohemian Rhapsody from Jeff and Maya’s most recent album Grated Hits, went viral on Youtube. Jeff and Maya have been frequent musical Guests of Honor at cons all over the US and the world, including the UK, Germany and Canada. Visit Jeff’s website, friend him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter @mysticfic.

What are you looking forward to at Boskone?

I’m especially looking forward to connecting again with the community of musicians and writers from the east coast community. Maya and I were last in New England in 2003, so it has been too long. Boskone offers a rich combination of activities from the literary, visual and musical arts, and I want to meet the creative people involved with all of them.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

I’m currently producing an album for the filk artist Scott Snyder. It’s a collection of songs about gaming called Rock and Roll to Hit. As of this writing, I’m at the mixing stage, which is always a fun challenge. Mixing involves thousands of decisions, that all affect each other. You can take the same set of raw tracks and get very different results depending on how you mix it. I love sculpting sound, especially when I have such a strong set of tracks to work with.

How would you describe your work to people who might be unfamiliar with you?

I like to describe my parody work as a classic rock FM radio station that has gone feral. For our parody recordings, I try to match the production of the original song as closely as I can, so that ideally, you can’t tell it’s different until the lyrics come in.

Denise Gendron

Denise Gendron has been reading SF since 1966, teaching music since 1976, and filking since Lois Magnan pulled her in from the hallway to sing. She has written about two dozen music books and recently released her fourth CD of original music.

What is it that you enjoy most about Boskone?

I love the energy at Boskone. Apparently, if you gather that many intelligent, curious people in one place, you can feel the potential! I always come home inspired and eager to tackle my next project.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

As usual, I’m working on several projects; two music instruction books, various compositions, and a musical (all in addition to teaching!). The musical is taking a long time to write because it is complex. It doesn’t appear to be genre inspired, but I would never have started it without the inspiration I get from sf. I also plan on referring to as much sf/fantasy literature as I can, mostly through favorite quotes. I am thoroughly studying Dr. Who and Sherlock to improve my plotting, dialogue, and scene building skills. Steven Moffat’s brilliance is both inspiring and intimidating.

From a fan perspective, what new book, film, TV show, or comic are you most looking forward to seeing/reading?

Due to a big sale, coupons, and hoarded gift certificates I recently amassed enough Dr. Who DVDs to last me for months! Most exciting is last year’s collection, as I have only seen the first episode with Peter Capaldi (and that only weeks ago!). Bring on the blizzards, I know what I’ll be doing!

Gary Ehrlich

Gary Ehrlich is a mild-mannered structural engineer who stalks Northeast conventions singing of space flight, lunar colonies and hyperspace hotels. Gary is a past chair of NEFilk’s Conterpoint incarnation and is Balticon’s Director of Filk and Other Musical Mayhem. Gary is a 2012 inductee into the Filk Hall of Fame. For more information, visit Gary’s Livejournal.

What is it that you enjoy most about Boskone?

I was originally drawn to Boskone by its fine filk program, but quickly came to appreciate the strength of its literary program as well. The program committee always seems to do an excellent job at scheduling a wide spectrum of panel topics, not just the same “Religion/Economics/Political Systems/Humor in SF” panels that you can find on almost every general SF convention schedule. Favorites have included “What’s So Cool About the Middle Ages, Anyway?”, “Bad Science on TV”, “Boston as Setting”, and “Fun with (or Fear of) Genetics?”.

How would you describe your work to people who might be unfamiliar with you?

Thematically, my songs often come from the media and literary ends of the fannish and filk pool. I have songs about Star Trek, Babylon 5, Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan series, and Zenna Henderson’s People stories. I’ve also been known to work city or building imagery into songs – that’s my engineering background and architectural interests breaking through. Musically, I include James Keelaghan, Schooner Fare, and Pete and Maura Kennedy among my inspirations. I’m one of those rare folks who’s adept at both funny and serious material, which means you often never know exactly what kind of song I’m going to launch into next!

What event or experience stands out as one of those ‘defining moments’ that shaped who you are today?

The event that looms largest over my years in fandom is my first trip to Canadian filk convention FilKONtario in 1994. My maternal grandmother passed away during the weekend, but for various reasons I chose to stay in Canada. Many of the folks who helped comfort me I had just met for the first time in person (having corresponded on-line previously via the GEnie Science Fiction Round Table). Meanwhile, outside of the personal crisis it was a great convention musically and otherwise. That weekend established for me what a perfect filk convention and a fannish community should be. I strive for those ideals when helping run conventions and in my local filk and fan communities.

Come join the fun at Boskone’s Multi-Author Book Party, and meet the presses and authors who have new books coming out at Boskone.

Boskone is once again holding a book party on Saturday night during the convention to give our authors and publishers the opportunity to show off their newly released titles.

Meet the Presses: The Boskone Multi-Author Book Party

Day: Saturday, February 14th
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm
Location: Con Suite, in the Galleria Level, Westin Waterfront Hotel

Authors & Publishers: If you have a new book that was (or will be) published within a few months of Boskone, we invite you to participate in the Multi-Author Book Party. Bring your books and swag to share with readers who come to mix, mingle, and talk fiction with Boskone’s authors. If you would like to join the party, please email Erin Underwood at Program@boskone.org with your book’s information, including:

• Title:
• Author Name:
• Release Date:
• Publisher:

Authors and publishers with a new book and a  membership for Boskone 52 are welcome to take part, but need to contact Program@boskone.org with their book details.…the more book lovers the merrier!

Fans & Readers: Come meet the presses who have come to the convention! Join us for Boskone’s Multi-Author Book Party, and see what’s new from authors you already love as well as those you have yet to discover.

Day two of the New Year brings us four brand new Boskone Mini Interviews with program participants who are all new to Boskone. These writers come to Boston from across the country. Help us welcome Chris Jackson, Susan Jane Bigelow, Thomas Sweterlitsch, and D. Lynn Smith.

Chris Jackson

A sailing writer, or writing sailor (still not sure which), Chris A. Jackson is living his dream. Sailing full time since 2009, he and his wife are dividing their time between cruising and writing fantasy. As a sailor, nautical fantasy came naturally. His Scimitar Seas novels have won multiple gold medals, and his debut Pathfinder Tales novels, Pirate’s Honor and Pirate’s Promise have received high praise. The Weapon of Flesh Trilogy has become a Kindle bestseller, spurring international interest. His shorter works include “Blood and Iron,” a nautical novella in the Iron Kingdoms world released in 2014 from Privateer Press, stories in various anthologies, and a short story for Catalyst Game Labs in the Shadowrun universe pending release. More Pathfinder Tales, the Weapon of Fear Trilogy, and other works are coming in 2015. For more information, visit Chris’s website, friend him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter @ChrisAJackson1.

What are you looking forward to at Boskone?

Chris Jackson (CJ): I love small, fan-based conventions, but due to my vagabond lifestyle and aversion to cold climes (I’m usually in the Caribbean this time of year), I have not been able to attend a Boskone. That is about to change, and I’m psyched. Love Boston, love fans, love small cons, and some writers I have not seen in years will be here, so there will be some catching up. What could be better?

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

(CJ): Working on my fourth novel for Paizo’s Pathfinder Tales, tentatively titled Pirate’s Curse. Just turned in the manuscript for the third, Pirate’s Prophesy, and the second, Pirate’s Promise, was released in December, so it looks like I’m on a one book a year schedule with this series, and loving it. The challenge is to take it to the next level, as with all series. Things have to progress, to let the reader know that, yes, bad things can happen to the primary characters. No spoilers, but there are going to be some major twists.

How would you describe your work to people who might be unfamiliar with you?

(CJ): Since this is my first Boskone, I’ll jump on this question with both feet. I am a hybrid, writing for both traditional publishers and on my own. The first is as a labor of love. Most of the worlds I write in are shared gaming worlds, and since I’ve been a gamer for about 35 years, I’m having more fun than is usually legal to have with your clothes on writing for these publishers. The second is to pay bills, and be faithful to my fans. I am a character writer, and my fans have fallen in love with several I have created. I cannot abandon them. I firmly believe that plot and setting, while important, are not the primary driving force of story and reader engagement. Readers read to be with the characters, to experience the world, to figure out the mystery, to slay the dragon and save the prince/princess through the character. My characters are real people, they just happen to live in a fantasy world.

Susan Jane Bigelow

Susan Jane Bigelow is an author and political columnist from Connecticut. Her short stories have appeared in Strange Horizons and War Stories, among other places, and her science fiction is published by small press Candlemark & Gleam. Her latest novel, The Seeker Star, was released in November 2014. Visit her website, friend her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter at @whateversusan.

What are you looking forward to at Boskone?

Susan Jane Bigelow (SJB): This is going to be my first Boskone, so I’m looking forward to all kinds of things! Conventions often involve me wandering wide-eyed through everything like a kid in a candy store. I can’t wait to see all of the art, hear awesome filkers, go to panels, play some games, and spend literally hours in the dealers’ room browsing everything. I like being overwhelmed by a con when I first get there.

But what I know I’m most looking forward to is meeting people—from folks I know from other cons or online to new people.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

(SJB): I always have a ton of projects going on at the same time. Right now, I’m working on the fourth book in the Extrahumans series, which is also the final book. I’m also working on the final book in the Grayline Sisters trilogy. So I’ve been doing a lot of wrapping things up and bidding farewell to characters I may never write again, meaning it’s both satisfying and bittersweet. I will definitely be glad to complete these two series, though—just because I’m the kind of person who really loves finishing things! I’ve also been doing a ton of work on short stories this year, and I expect that will continue.

From a fan perspective, what new book, film, TV show, or comic are you most looking forward to seeing/reading?

(SJB): I am excited beyond belief for the next book in the Fairyland series by Catherynne Valente to come out. I love this series so much, and every book takes me on the best emotional roller-coaster! I will read anything new by Seanan McGuire, especially her October Daye series. I’m also somewhat cautiously excited for the new Star Wars movie—but don’t hold me to that. I was excited for the prequels, too, and that didn’t go so well!

Thomas Sweterlitsch

Thomas Sweterlitsch is the author of Tomorrow and Tomorrow. For twelve years, he worked at the Carnegie Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife and daughter. Visit Thomas’s website, friend him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter @letterswitch.

What are you looking forward to at Boskone?

Thomas Sweterlitsch (TS): I’ve never been to Boskone, I’ve never even been to Boston before—so I’ll be wide-eyed, taking everything in. I’m sure to spend a lot of time in the Dealer’s Room (I’m planning on packing light, so I can fill my suitcase with books), and I’m excited to hear, and maybe even have a chance to meet, some of my favorite writers. The Boskone website lists Charles Stross as a scheduled attendee—I hope I have the chance to ask him to sign a book!

What event or experience stands out as one of those ‘defining moments’ that shaped who you are today?

(TS): I’d always been into Dungeons and Dragons and horror fiction, but the first real engagement I had with science fiction was watching Peter Chung’s Aeon Flux shorts as part of MTV’s Liquid Television when I was in high school. The book responsible for my love of reading science fiction was the “Philip K. Dick Reader,” a collection of his short stories.

From a fan perspective, what new book, film, TV show, or comic are you most looking forward to seeing/reading?

(TS): The two movies I’m most looking forward to are Blomkamp’s “Chappie,” and Garland’s “Ex Machina.” I’m also waiting patiently for the new season of Oprhan Black.

D. Lynn Smith

D. Lynn Smith has spent most of her career writing and producing such television shows as Murder, She Wrote, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and Touched by an Angel. In addition, Debbie has published short stories in the Dark Delicacies, Summer Chills and DOA II: Extreme Horror anthologies. She was nominated for a Scribe Award for her audio drama The Lost Girl which is set in the world of the 60’s classic television show, Dark Shadows. Most recently, Debbie created Kymera Press, a comic book publishing company that supports women in comics. Kymera’s first offering is Gates of Midnight, created by Debbie. Debbie lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with husband Paul, Jack Russell Terrier, Mad Max, cat Mr. Grant and desert tortoise Hermione. For more information, visit Debbie’s website and friend her on Facebook.

What are you looking forward to at Boskone?

This is my first Boskone so I’m looking forward to everything. I’ve heard such good things about this convention. I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. I’m also looking forward to visiting Boston as I’ve never been there either.

What are you working on now? What excites or challenges you about this project?

I recently started a new comic book press called Kymera Press. Kymera was formed to support female artists and comic book creators. Our first outing is my own comic, Gates of Midnight. All of the artists involved are women.

I love writing comics and working with all the artists to bring my stories to life. It’s very similar to working in the collaborative environment of television, except I have more power over my creative choices.

Absolutely everything is challenging about this endeavor: learning all of the aspects of running a business, learning all the aspects of putting together a comic book, finding artists, finding printers, getting distribution—everything. But I really love it. In 2015 Kymera will produce a second comic book series. A third and a fourth are in the works. I’m excited to work with all of these talented women and to give their art a voice in comics.