News from Norwescon July 2023

Norwescon 46 welcomes Jim Butcher as our Writer Guest of Honor!

Jim Butcher is the author of The Dresden Files, Codex Alera, and a new steampunk series, The Cinder Spires. His resume includes a laundry list of skills which were useful a couple centuries ago, and he plays guitar quite badly. An avid gamer, he plays tabletop games in varying systems, a variety of video games on PC and console, and LARPs whenever he can make time for it.

Jim goes by the moniker Longshot in a number of online locales. He came by this name in the early 1990s when he decided he would become a published author.Usually only three in 1000 who make such an attempt actually manage to become published; of those, only one in 10 make enough money to call it a living. The sale of a second series was the breakthrough that allowed him beat the long odds against attaining a career as a novelist.

All the same, he refuses to change his nickname.

Norwescon 46 welcomes Clarkesworld as our Publisher Guest of Honor!

Since launching in 2006, Clarkesworld rapidly became one of the leading English language science fiction and fantasy magazines. Each monthly issue features six-to-eight works of original fiction by new and established authors, thought-provoking articles, interviews, eye-catching cover art, and an editorial. They are also known for taking a more global approach to science fiction, with almost every issue featuring at least one work in translation. Clarkesworld has been recognized with a WorldFantasy Award, three Hugo Awards, and a British Fantasy Award. Their fiction has been nominated for or won the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, BSFA, Sturgeon,Locus, Shirley Jackson, Ditmar, Aurora, Aurealis, Ignyte, Eugie Foster, Utopia, WSFA Small Press, and Stoker Awards. Clarkesworld is available in ebook, online, and print editions. Their fiction is also available via podcast. You can find them online here.

Calling All Filmmakers!

Norwescon’s Speculative Film Fest is back for another year. The festival is a great way to show your science fiction, fantasy, or horror short films to the Norwescon membership.

Submissions open on July 15. Films may be submitted on FilmFreeway here.

We are once again waiving the submission fee for BIPOC directors, as we feel it is important to show your visions and stories. More details can be found on the FilmFreeway site.

This year we will be giving out six awards: audience choice, best short film under 10 minutes, best short film under 30 minutes, best science fiction, best fantasy, and best horror.

Early bird submissions close on September 30, and final Submissions closeDecember 15.

Norwescon's Speculative Film Festival Needs Judges

Norwescon is once again hosting the Speculative Film Fest, and we are looking for some new judges. The main qualifications are that you enjoy watching independent films and are willing to watch between 25-50 hours of short films between now and the end of December, amounting to a few hours each week. We would love to add more diversity to our judges, so LGBTQ+ or BIPOC is a plus!

Fun and Refreshments at the Norwescon Volunteer Appreciation Picnic!

The Norwescon Volunteer Appreciation Picnic is Sunday, August 6, at Steel Lake Park inFederal Way at Site #1 (the covered picnic area closest to the beach) from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Norwescon is providing beef and plant-based hamburgers and hot dogs (with fixings), water, and soft drinks! Please feel free to bring a side dish or dessert to share — they are always appreciated! Friends and family are welcome.

The park is located at 2410 S. 312th St., Federal Way, WA 98003. Parking is available. See you there!

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