I’ll be at Starfest 2016 here in Denver this coming weekend (11-13 March).

While I’m there, I’ll be moderating two panels: Combat in SF and Fantasy and Ow! My Spleen!  I’m also trying to get an author table, but I haven’t heard anything about that so far.

Here’s my schedule:

Saturday 12 March @ 1 PM Ow! My Spleen!

All too often in a book or movie, the characters undergo severe physical trauma, only for them to undertake heroic acts in the following scenes. How do you write realistic fiction where your characters are injured and face the consequences yet still manage to allow them to do what you need?

Sunday 13 March @ 11 AM Where Did This Chocolate Come From?

Every time our character turns a corner in a secondary world, it seems there is a decision to make. Even something as simple as a drink (and brawl!) in a tavern can lead to a thousand questions about commerce, culture, and connections. Our panelists will talk about these decisions, pitfalls and rabbit holes, and when to say when.

Sunday 13 March @ 3 PM Combat in SF and Fantasy

A lively discussion about what works (and doesn’t) in books and media as far as fighting and conflict. A friendly discussion about violence, bloodshed, and what effect it has upon characters. We’ll discuss what goes on in crafting a scene, what makes a fight scene realistic without being over the top, and we’ll dive into examples of combat done right versus where authors/directors have gone wrong.

If you are here in Colorado, I hope to see you there!