Norwescon 40 Thursday & Friday Pocket Program

Norwescon 40

The pocket program for Thursday and Friday of Norwescon 40.

Cheryl Dyson

Norwescon

April 13–14, 2017

English

Norwescon 40 Pocket Program Thursday & Friday

[Art by Cory & Catska Ench of cats perched on a tree branch in a misty grotto near a waterfall and a large statue of a cat.]

Norwescon 40

The Northwest Science Fiction Society proudly presents Norwescon 40: Over the Hills and Far Away
The Fortieth Annual Northwest Regional Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention

Writer Guest of Honor
Ian McDonald

Artist Guests of Honor
Cory & Catska Ench

Science Guest of Honor
Ethan Siegel

Publisher
Angry Robot

Except where noted, contents Copyright © 2017 Norwescon for the contributors.

All opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Science Fiction Northwest, Norwescon orthe Northwest Science Fiction Society.

cover art © cory & catska ench

Member’s Guide

Your pocket programs contains all kinds of cool stuff. It has Norwescon's policy for attendance, including our harrassment policy. There are schedules for events, information on those events, services available, maps, and convention hours.

For further information about the convention go to the Information Table located in the convention space lobby.

The most up-to-date information can be found in the Guidebook app, as updates are made frequently during the convention. Feel free to download the app on your phone or other mobile device.

Your pocket program and event descriptions are broken up into three books for easy transportation.

Norwescon Member's Guide, harrassment policy, and panels by subject, make up the planning guide.

The second book contains Thursday and Friday event programming.

The third book contains Saturday and Sunday event programming.

Registration
Thursday 10:00 a.m – 9:00 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Convention Office (wing 7 – Olympic 3)
Thursday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m. – Noon

Cloak Room (wing 7 – 7101)
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. – Noon

Volunteer Lounge
Thursday Noon – 7:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 8:30 a.m. – Noon

Convention Lounge
Thursday Noon – 5:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Dealers' Room
Thursday 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Art Show
Friday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Art in Action
Thursday 12:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Friday 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Security & Lost and Found
Thurs 9:00 a.m. – Sun 12:00 p.m.

Convention Security Office is closed between the hours of 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Security is always available by dialing 77108 from any hotel phone.

Scheduled Gaming
Maxi’s Ballroom:
Thursday (all ages) 2:00 p.m-2:00 a.m.
Friday (all ages) 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Friday (21+) 9:00 p.m. 2:00 a.m.
Saturday (all ages) 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Saturday (21+) 9:00 p.m. 2:00 a.m.

Evergreen 1&2:
Friday (all ages) 9:00 p.m. 2:00 a.m.
Saturday (all ages) 9:00 p.m. 2:00 a.m.

Pro Check-in, Stage Management, Workshop, and Koffee Klatch Sign-ups
(Cascade 1)
Thursday Noon - 10:00 p.m.
Friday 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

[Map of the main floor of the Doubletree hotel, with the lobby, art show, dealer room, registration, and Wing 7 highlighted.]

[Maps of the Doubletree hotel’s second floor, wing 7, and Maxi’s.]

Dealer Tables

Dealer / Location
Angelwear 62–63
Atomic Soap Works 32
Brian Dorsey, Author 73
Broken Eye Books 30
Cargo Cult Books & Notions 54–55
Celtic Moonlighting 52–53
Chibi Yeti 9
Chooseomatic Books 30
Chronos Gifts 23–24
Clockwork Dragon 49
Clover Creek 47
Collageorama, LLC 64
DefCon One Publishing 48
Dragondyne Publishing 12
Dragon’s Hoard Games 40
Dragon Storm Sports 11
Elizabeth Guizzetti 67
Elysium Books 71
Firefox Fashion ( The Fur Connection) 33–34
Games Plus 7–8
Geek Girls Collectibles 22
Geek Lolita/Brass Bobbin 38–39
GeekStar Costuming 10
Girl Genius 41–42
Humanoid Games LLC Gaming Salon
Hundeliebe Press 72
Janine A. Southard 69
LittleCLUUs 4
Michael G. Munz/Red Muse Press 65
Nemesis Gear/Steampunked Out 57–58
Offworld Designs Lobby
Optimystical Studios 36–37
Pandora House Crafts LLC 56
Pavel’s Puzzles 59–60
Pegasus Publishing 19–20
Phil Davis Books and Treasures 5–6
Pixelosis 13
Purple Top Hat: the Art of Celine Chapus 29
Quicksilver Fantasies 50–51
Quinn and Bloom 21
Randall P. Fitzgerald 68
Rob & June Edwards 45–46
Scary White Girl Designs 48
SewCherie 61
Sinister Metalworks 27–28
Skydragons 31
Springtime Creations 43–44
SteelCraft/Legends of Camelot 17–18
Studio Catawampus 14
TANSTAAFL Press 26
The Dreadfuls 1
University of Washington Book Store 2–3
Van Zee Magic Dragon Pets 25
Varida Publishing & Resources 70
Yellow Rocket Collectibles 15–16

[Map of the Dealer’s Room showing locations of all tables.]

Club/ Fan Tables

Table 1 Museum of Pop Culture
Table 2 Northwest Science Fiction Society (NWSFS
Table 3 Anglicon 2017: Christmas in Whoville
Table 4 Beyond Reality Costumer’s Guild (BRCG)
Table 5 Imperial Starbase Society (I.S.S.)
Table 6 Tenth Fleet - The Royal Manticoran Navy
Table 7A OzCon International: The 53rd Annual Winkie Convention
Table 7B The Emerald City Androgums
Table 8 Crypticon
Table 9 OrcaCon
Table 10 Rustycon
Table 11 Jet City Comic Show
Table 12 Songwriters in Seattle
Table 13 Cascade Writers
Table 14 The Finch Foundation
Table 15 Realm of Chivalry
Table 16A The Cult of Scott Bakula
Table 16B All’s Faire 2017
Table 17 Primitive Festival Alliance
Table 18 Consent Academy
Table 19 Alliance LARP Seattle
Table 20 The Hands That Heal Center for the Healing Arts
Table 21 Costumed Characters for Causes

[Map of the hotel lobby showing locations of all club tables.]

Art Show Participants

Panel 1 Cory & Catska Ench
Panel 2 Amber Clark
Panel 2 Crystal Smith
Panel 2 Shelley George-Solaris
Panel 3 Lee Moyer
Panel 4 Douglas Herring
Panel 4 Laurie Noel
Panel 4 Marisa Erven
Panel 5 Krab Jab Studio
Panel 6 Belsac
Panel 6 John R. Gray III
Panel 6 Rebecca Flaum
Panel 7 Elizabeth Fellows
Panel 7 L. Pierce Ludke
Panel 8 Sarah Clemens
Panel 9 Susan Stejskal Alexander
Panel 9 Nick Alexander
Panel 9 Peter Pan
Panel 10 Liv Rainey-Smith
Panel 11 Cynthia Radthorne
Panel 11 Jon Axlen
Panel 11 Laura Tempest Zakroff
Panel 12 Ed Matuskey
Panel 13 Theresa Mather
Panel 13 Maia BW Sanders
Panel 14 Shaughnessy
Panel 14 Belsac
Panel 15 Lizzy D. Hill
Panel 15 Ginger Opal
Panel 16 Laura Cameron
Panel 16 Mark Sutton
Panel 16 Miriam Keith-Stanley
Panel 17 Betsy Mott
Panel 17 Jo Brown
Panel 18 Goldenwolf
Panel 19 Meg Lyman
Panel 19 Richard Hescox
Panel 19 Vandy Hall
Panel 20 Patricia Smith
Panel 20 Aimee Stewart
Panel 20 Audre Schutte
Panel 21 Brittany Torres
Panel 21 Katie Croonenberghs
Panel 22 Braden Duncan
Panel 23 Rob Carlos
Panel 24 Actaphasia Grey
Panel 24 Camille Meehan
Panel 25 Diana Levin
Panel 25 Alan F. Beck
Panel 25 Wade Chitwood
Panel 26 Jeff Sturgeon
Panel 27 Heather Gamble
Panel 27 LA Wilson
Panel 28 Andy Vanoverberghe
Panel 29 Faina Lorah
Panel 29 John Alexander
Panel 30 Mark Roland
Panel 30 Sandra SanTara
Panel 31 Mark Ferrari
Panel 32 Eric Vargas
Panel 32 Michael Brugger
Panel 33 Julie Dillon
Panel 34 Theresa Halbert
Panel 34 Christopher M. Creath
Panel 35 Emerging Artist Winners

East Tables
Diana Daniels, Debbie Hoover, Katherine Howes, Lynn Pacione-Holman, Lynne Taylor Fahnestalk, Keith Amarak Waters, Mike Rerick, Josh Foreman (floor)

North Tables
Elizabeth Adams, Jeliza, Joyce Tatro, Kate Kelsey, Lynne Magie, Mark Chapman, Ruth Peterson, Tamera Mickelson

South Tables
BenJamin Armstrong, Diana Daniels, Jo Brown, Miriam Keith-Stanley, Patty A. Watson, Ruth Cohen, Shaughnessy, Vandy Hall

[Map of the art show showing locations of all displayed artists.]

Thursday, 4/13	11	11:30	Noon	12:30	1	1:30	2	2:30	3	3:30	4	4:30	5	5:30	6	6:30	7	7:30	8	8:30	9	9:30	10	10:30	11	11:30	Mid	12:30	1	1:30
Cascade 1	Pro Check-in/Stage Management
Cascade 2- Readings												Hayley Stone	Brenda Carre	Dale Ivan Smith	Kurt Cagle	Dean Wells			Lilith Dawn	Christopher Bodan
Cascade 3 & 4									An Epic Process		Care and Feeding of Young Fen		Printmaking (Ink and Blocks)		SFWA - What Is It?				History With a Twist		Make a Villian: Fantasy Edition		Friends of Bill W.
Cascade 5 & 6							Food for Fantasy		Cyber Warfare				Let's Design a Monster		Biology of Warfare				Getting There: Transportation Tech		Paranoia (Will Destroy Ya)
Cascade 7 & 8							The Status of Private Spaceflight		Mega Weapons - The Magic of SF		Navigating the New Publishing		Mining in Ancient and Medieval Times		Writing to Market				Rhythm of Fiction		Pre-Masqeurade Meeting		BDSM 101
Cascade 9									What Is a Story?		Professional Mers		Coral on Top		Dealing With Problem Players				Make a Villian: Sci-Fi Edition
Cascade 10							Con Crud				Tuesday Afternoon Poetry				Fan Culture and the New Meta				Adult Comcis vs. Mature Comics		Cyborg by Choice
Cascade 11									Alien Harvest		Cosplay is Not Consent		What the Frak is Filk?		Enthusiastic Consent				Adapting to Climate Change		Identities & Terminology Are Important		GM Podcast: Put Your Phone Down
Cascade 12							Write Your Elevator Pitch		NASA Advanced Innovation		From Ink to Celluloid		Norwescon Filmmaking Workshop: Introduction		Filmmaking Workshop: Special Effects				Wigging Out		My Favorite Fictional Spacecraft
Cascade 13							Business of Art		Home Recording I		Costume Draping - Demo		Beat Writer's Block		Creating a Budget for Your Costume
Evergreen 1 & 2	Norwescon Film Festival								J. Edgar Hoover's Flying Discs: The Maury Island Incident				Navigating by the Stars		Will Asteroid Mining Ever Happen				US Military Overview		Escher Girls and the Hawkeye Initiative
Evergreen 3 & 4	Artemis																		Karaoke						Open Filk
Olympic 1							Newest Fen Social		Story Time for Kids		Sensory Open Time		Art and Craft Open Time
Olympic 2							Book Lovers' Anon Meetup
Grand 1 - Art Show
Grand 2													GOH Banquet				Opening Ceremonies				Lazer Tag/Nerf
Grand 3																Doors Open					Concert: Shubzilla x Bill Beats		Concert: Kadesh Flow		Concert: Dogwood
Maxi's Ballroom	All-Ages Scheduled Gaming
Maxi's Salon							All-Ages Gaming Demos/Dealers
Rotunda 1	Pathfinder and D&D AL

Norwescon Film Festival
11 a.m.–3 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
The Norwescon Film Festival will feature films from local producers from local producers and others as well. Films have been submitted for our viewing and cover UFOs, an underwater mission, ray guns, and more. There will be a few surprises as well. Come to see what people have created for our viewing pleasure.

Artemis
11 a.m.–4 p.m. Evergreen 3&4
Be the crew, report to the bridge! Artemis is a spaceship bridge simulator where players assume the jobs of Captain, Helm, Science, Communication, Engineering, and Weapons Control. Together you operate your ship and defend the sector from evil aliens. Artemis simulates spaceship bridges by networking several computers together. One screen acts as the "main screen" of a bridge, while others serve as stations for the normal jobs a bridge crew might do. Artemis is a social game where several players work together on each bridge, and one player plays the captain, who doesn't have a station but tells everyone else what to do. Multiple bridges can participate together in cooperative multi-ship missions.

Pathfinder and D&D Adventurer's League
11 a.m.–1 a.m. Rotunda 1
Pathfinder Society and Dungeons and Dragons' Adventurers League will be running games throughout the weekend. Check the gaming schedule for details.

All-Ages Scheduled Gaming
11 a.m.–2 a.m. Maxi's Ballroom
Come sign up for a game run by our DMs or check out games from our lending library. We have RPGs, computer games, LARPs, card games, board games, and so much more! Need ADA access for a game? Please speak to our staff when you sign up so we can be sure to meet your needs.

Food for the Fantasy
2–3 p.m. Cascade 5&6
So everything is packed and ready to go: weapons, armor, spell book, hats, & cloaks. And off you go, on paper or at the FR-PG table. Did you forget something? People, animals, and monsters have to eat. Where's the grub? What is the grub? Match the food to your fantasy adventure.
Adrienne Carlson (M), V Whitlock, Ogre Whiteside, Michael Ormes, Ann Shilling

The Status of Private Spaceflight
2–3 p.m. Cascade 7&8
A number of companies, among them Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, SpaceX and XCOR Aerospace, are deeply involved in designing and building private spacecraft. What is the latest news from the effort to make space routine, and what are the possible future plans and developments?
Peter N. Glaskowsky (M), Arthur Bozlee, Dan DeLong, Dave Davis

Con Crud
2–3 p.m. Cascade 10
Put almost 3,000 people into an enclosed space for four days, and it happens: sore throat, itchy sinuses, stuffed-up nose, hacking cough, congestion, exhaustion, and at least a week of recovery. This is con crud, a respiratory infection that can strike at any convention. Join our experts as they discuss strategies to help you not get sick.
Dr. Ricky (M), Vickie Bligh, Matt Hammond

Write Your Elevator Pitch Workshop
2–3 p.m. Cascade 12
Got a good elevator pitch for your manuscript? Whether you're seeking an agent and traditional publisher, or planning to self-publish, you need to have an elevator pitch of your book. Loglines and elevator pitches are ways to explain your story/series and pique interest in your work in one or two sentences. This workshop will teach you how to condense your 90,000 word novel or 5 book series into a quick, effective elevator pitch. Ages 18+. Space is limited and advance sign-up is required in Cascade 1.
Curtis C. Chen (M)

The Business of Art
2–3 p.m. Cascade 13
There's more than talent to making a living as an artist. Health insurance, taxes, marketing, organization, selling yourself, portfolios—where do you find the time to do all that and still make art?
Jeff Sturgeon (M), Elizabeth Adams, Joy Alyssa Day, Laura Tempest Zakroff

Newest Fen Social
2–3 p.m. Olympic 1
Drop-in for a meet and greet of your fellow youngest fen and their caregivers, from newborn to two. Toys and gear available for socializing and quiet and gentle play.
Danielle Gembala (M)

Book Addicts Anonymous Meetup
2–3 p.m. Olympic 2
Do your friends sometimes say you have too many books? Come chat with fellow bibliophiles about the wonder and grandeur of books. Also, how do you store all of them?
Kathy Bond

All-Ages Game Demos
2–7 p.m. Salon
All weekend there are dealers and game developers running demos of games in Maxi's Salon. Come up and see the latest and greatest games and talk to game developers.

An Epic Process
3–4 p.m. Cascade 3&4
Keeping details straight during a series can be a daunting task and everyone has a different method. Meet with our pros and learn the tricks they use to manage the nuts and bolts of such an undertaking.
Brenda Carre (M), Elliott Kay, Kay Kenyon, Peter Orullian, Django Wexler

Cyber Warfare
3–4 p.m. Cascade 5&6
Militarization of the "World Wide Web" and the "Internet of Things" has grown exponentially in the last 20 years. Cyber warfare has become the new battle space for cold wars and ongoing intelligence gathering (i.e., spying) worldwide. We'll review the unclassified mission of the US Cyber Command and the part it is playing in our national defense framework. And we'll take a speculative look at where we are headed.
V Whitlock (M), Joseph Malik, Peter N. Glaskowsky, Michael Ormes

Mega Weapons: The Magic of Science Fiction
3–4 p.m. Cascade 7&8
Our panelists discuss fictional super weapons, current examples, and their place in storytelling.
Mike Brennan (M), Bart Kemper, Ethan Siegel, Frog Jones

What is a Story?
3–4 p.m. Cascade 9
Writers talk about story, but what is it really? Something with a beginning, middle, and end? A witch's brew of words and punctuation? Come discuss with our panelists what separates a coherent narrative from a random series of events.
Marta Murvosh (M), Cat Rambo, Curtis C. Chen, Nancy Kress, James C. Glass

Alien Harvest
3–4 p.m. Cascade 11
Say you find a nice planet in an out-of-the-way star system and decide to put down roots. Just toss some seeds on the ground and wait for rain, right? Our panelists will discuss why it probably won't be that easy.
Jude-Marie Green (M), Dr. Ricky, David Shoemaker

NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts Program
3–4 p.m. Cascade 12
Dr. John Cramer takes us on a tour of NIAC, including some of the more successful projects it has assisted with, and how YOU can apply for one of their innovation grants.
John Cramer (M)

Home Recording I
3–4 p.m. Cascade 13
Everybody wants to make a music demo, and many want to record podcasts or livestream a show. What can you do with what you've got? If that won't do—and it probably won't—what do you really need to create a good demo or show? How little can you get away with; or, if you have even a small budget, what can you do to turn a spare bedroom into decent recording space? Hardware and software solutions are discussed.
Dara Korra'ti (M), Alexander James Adams

J. Edgar Hoover's flying discs: The Maury Island Incident
3–5 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Summer of the Saucers, filmmakers Steve Edmiston and Scott Schaefer provide a special lecture presentation, "J. Edgar Hoover's flying discs: why the Maury Island Incident is the seminal event in modern popular culture relating to UFOs, conspiracies, and cover-ups," followed by the screening of their multiple award-winning film, The Maury Island Incident, and an audience Q&A session. The Maury Island Incident tells the forgotten, tragic story—taken directly from declassified FBI documents—of Harold Dahl's June 21, 1947, UFO sighting near Maury Island. It explores the origins of the iconic men in black within a conspiratorial mythology set during the Summer of the Saucers in 1947, all leading directly to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The film's honors/awards include: 2015 UFO Congress best short film, Big Island Film Festival opening night gala, Washington Filmworks Innovation Lab, Gig Harbor Film Festival best short, Seattle International Film Festival world premiere. The film was adapted into a web series distributed on Hulu.
Alan Halfhill (M), Scott Schaefer, Steve Edmiston

Story Time for Kids
3–3:30 p.m. Olympic 1
Come to hear a story and then create a one-of-a-kind item to take home with you.
Dale Ivan Smith (M)

Care and Feeding of Young Fen
4–5 p.m. Cascade 3&4
What do our young fen need to develop, support, and nourish their creativity and fandoms? How can we, as parents, caregivers, and a community do better to include and provide opportunities to youth in our fandoms, and in our own communities and families? Tips and ideas from our Youth Pros and Those Who Care For Them.
Eric Snyder (M), Amélie Mantchev, Lisa Mantchev

Navigating the New Publishing Landscape
4–5 p.m. Cascade 7&8
Agents, big publishers, small presses, self-publishing, or going hybrid: there are countless options in today's publishing world. Which is right for your book? What about your next book? Should you stick with one or diversify? Pros talk about the various roads to publication and the reasons to try one—or all—of them.
Mark Teppo (M), Raven Oak, Shannon Page, Marc Gascoigne

Professional Mers
4–5 p.m. Cascade 9
Come learn about the commitments to a Mer lifestyle, the various kinds of Mers out there, and the varying passions they come with. How do families and friends respond when you announce a mermaid career?
Mermaid SIF (M), Zir0, Triton Mahtlinnie, Melissa "Merlissa" Thomas, Cuddlefish

Thursday Afternoon Poetry
4–5 p.m. Cascade 10
The truth is, you only THINK you don't like poetry, and we know how to fix that. Join us for some poetry, talking about poetry, and general relaxation before the Opening Ceremonies. If, at the end, you still don't like poetry, we will refund you the hour. (Hour refund available only if the Time Travel panel is EXCEPTIONALLY successful.)
Mike Brennan (M), Tod McCoy, Mickey "Meowse" Phoenix, Alex C. Renwick

Cosplay Is Not Consent
4–5 p.m. Cascade 11
Cosplayers have become increasingly vocal about the abuse they endure from fans and media at conventions. From "news crews" for vlogs posing insulting and sexually aggressive questions, to being groped, having their bodies rudely commented on, slut and size shaming, not to mention the constant cries of "Fake Nerd Girl!" what is a cosplayer to do? How you should act toward cosplayers, and why it isn't okay to treat them poorly.
Bella la Blanc (M), Sar Surmick, Torrey Stenmark, Ethan Siegel

From Ink to Celluloid
4–5 p.m. Cascade 12
There have been so many good and bad comic book related movies and TV shows over the years. Let's examine the best and worst comic book movies and TV shows and discuss what properties we would like to see adapted.
Lee Moyer (M), Dylan Templar, Scott James Magner

Costume Draping: Demo
4–5 p.m. Cascade 13
The basic mechanics and technique for draping a "toile", your fabric pattern, to create whatever garment you want. This is how every pattern starts and how high end designers create all their high fashion works of art. A must skill for anyone wanting to grow their costuming skill set.
Carmen Beaudry (M), Melissa Quinn, Kat Marier

Sensory Friendly Open Time
4–5 p.m. Olympic 1
Olympic 1 will be filled with sensory-friendly items and activities for our neurodivergent members and their caregivers to drop-in to a safe space to slow down, stim, or just be themselves.
Danielle Gembala (M)

Reading: Hayley Stone
4:30–5 p.m. Cascade 2
Machinations. Rated PG
Hayley Stone (M)

Reading: Brenda Carre
5–5:30 p.m. Cascade 2
"A Murder of Crones". A selection from a soon-to-be published work. Rated G
Brenda Carre (M)

Printmaking: Ink & Blocks
5–6 p.m. Cascade 3&4
The computer printer was invented in the 1950s, but we've been printing inked images on paper for well over a millennium, with techniques that are still in use today. Why do we continue to use this literally ancient approach… and how can you do it too?
Mimi Noyes (M), Liv Rainey-Smith, Laura Tempest Zakroff

Let's Design a Monster
5–6 p.m. Cascade 5&6
There's always room for more monsters, right? Fiendish things that lurk in dark corners. Hordes that scour the countryside. Bizarre horrors that haunt our dreams and closets. Join our panelists and the other audience members in the quest to create something truly horrific to haunt our shared imaginary spaces.
Ogre Whiteside (M), Arinn Dembo, Dylan Templar

Mining in Ancient and Medieval Times
5–6 p.m. Cascade 7&8
Before you is an artificial opening in the mountainside. Or perhaps that mountainside cliff displays a wide streak of silvery rock with flecks of gold. How was the opening made? How will you follow the vein of ore into the mountain? Is it safe to enter someone else's mine? How will you break the rock in what will be your mine? Find out about historic mining techniques for your fiction, gaming, or dangerous underground touring in the Cascades.
Alan Andrist (M), Bill Gruner, Pat Reed

Coral on Top
5–6 p.m. Cascade 9
Join Norwescon's Mers for an inquisitive look at A Mer's Life: Drab to Fab. You'll learn the gadgets and gizmos of making a MERsona come to life.
Zio0 (M), Mermaid SIF, Melissa "Merlissa" Thomas, Triton Mahtlinnie, Cuddlefish

What the Frak Is Filk?
5–6 p.m. Cascade 11
The oldest form of geekmusic at SF conventions is a branch-off from folk called "filk." It has an intentionally open and deeply participatory culture, and isn't just folk-derived, despite the origins. This panel is your introduction to fandom's oldest tradition of participatory geekmusic. Come on out and play!
Stephanie Weippert (M), Wednesday Phoenix

Norwescon Filmmaking Workshop: Introduction!
5–6 p.m. Cascade 12
You're probably walking around with a movie camera in your pocket RIGHT NOW! You have access to tons of websites to post videos and powerful software to create them, all of it for free. Filmmaking once required thousands of dollars to even get started, but now it can be done with a phone and a quick trip to Home Depot. Come meet local professional film makers and learn the simple tricks and workflow that will make your vision watchable for the rest of us! In this introductory panel you get to meet the people involved and learn about what's to come. We're even going to film a short film on Saturday, with your help! Keep an eye out for other Norwescon Filmmaking Workshop events during the weekend and come to our Film Festival on Sunday! Come make movies with us!
dQniel Kaufman (M), Ryan K. Johnson, Brian D. Oberquell, John Medlong

Beat Writer's Block
5–6 p.m. Cascade 13
Stuck in a story? Writers lead a series of quick exercises that have helped them get past obstacles. Bring pen, paper, laptop, or whatever you need to write.
James C. Glass (M), Adam Rakunas, Catherine Cooke Montrose, Marta Murvosh

Navigating by the Stars
5–6 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Using the stars to steer by is a staple in historical fiction and fantasy, as well as actual history. How was it done? How could it have been done differently, with different technology?
Mike Brennan (M), Joseph Malik

Art and Craft Open Time
5–6 p.m. Olympic 1
Drop by for crafts and activities for our young members.
Eric Snyder, Danielle Gembala

GoH Banquet
5–6:30 p.m. Grand 2
Enjoy a buffet of great food and great company as you rub elbows with our Guests of Honor. Photo ops and preferred seating for the Opening Ceremonies abound. Ticket sales are limited, so get them while they are hot!
Nancy Kress (M), Marc Gascoigne, Mike Underwood, Catska Ench, Ethan Siegel, Ian McDonald, Cory Ench

Reading: Dale Ivan Smith
5:30–6 p.m. Cascade 2
Empowered. Agent Dale reads from the opening of his novel, Empowered: Agent, Book 1 of the Empowered series. Rated PG
Dale Ivan Smith (M)

Reading: Kurt Cagle
6–6:30 p.m. Cascade 2
Storme Crow: Sins of Our Fathers. Briannen Storme has a few problems. The last software she wrote gained a conscience and sent her banker clients to prison. Her grandmother still wants her to go to medical school. Her psychic best friend is giving her holy water by the squirt bottle, and is forecasting the apocalypse, again. She's being stalked by mysterious monks in her mirrors. In other words, just another typical day in Seattle. Rated G
Kurt Cagle (M)

SFWA: What Is It, Where Is It Going, and Why Should You Care?
6–7 p.m. Cascade 3&4
Panelists will discuss the origin and history of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), what the organization does for professional F&SF writers and the genre, and what its direction will be in coming years.
Cat Rambo (M), Django Wexler, Adam Rakunas, John Walters

The Biology of Warfare
6–7 p.m. Cascade 5&6
From the Assyrians poisoning enemy wells with toxic mold to influenza engineered to be highly contagious, bioweapons have been part of the human arsenal for millennia. What has been done in the past, and what might the future hold?
Bart Kemper (M), Alan Andrist, Dr. Ricky, Bill Gruner

Writing to Market
6–7 p.m. Cascade 7&8
What is writing to market? What is it not? Is it smart business or lazy writing? In this new, faster age of publishing, should you even consider the market when you choose your next projects and if so, how much should that factor in? This panel will discuss what writing to market means to them, whether it's a good thing or not, and how much you should analyze and worry about the common tropes in your genre, or what the bestsellers are doing.
Tori Centanni (M), Annie Bellet, Marta Murvosh, Brenda Carre, Tegan Moore

Dealing with Problem Players
6–7 p.m. Cascade 9
Is someone being disruptive in your group? Are you being harassed online? Did someone flip the table? Our panelists will hear your horror stories and help you come up with calm, adult ways to resolve your gaming issues.
Sar Surmick (M), Jonny Nero Action Hero, Barry Wilson, Ogre Whiteside

Fan Culture and the New Meta
6–7 p.m. Cascade 10
Captain Kirk is a feminist. Hannibal Lecter is a Hufflepuff. Imperial Stormtroopers can hit their targets—they just don't want to. Fans on social media have put forth these innovative theories about pop culture, and many more. Our panel will discuss how 21st-century fandom has dismantled the conventional wisdom about film, book, and TV franchises and recontextualized them in ways that are mind-blowing, inclusive, and often hilarious.
Lisa Mantchev (M), Raven Oak, Torrey Stenmark

Enthusiastic Consent
6–7 p.m. Cascade 11
We're all here to have a good time, right? Let's make sure we're ALL having a good time. Tips and tricks to avoid miscommunication and accidentally hurting someone.
Sheye Anne Blaze (M), Sienna Saint-Cyr, Sonia Orin Lyris, Wednesday Phoenix

Norwescon Filmmaking Workshop: Practical Special Effects!
6–7 p.m. Cascade 12
Despite the modern influx of computer-generated effects, sometimes your budget or the situation calls for more practical measures. Miniatures, fire, smoke, the ol' "Enterprise is hit with phaser fire, everybody lean left" trick. Learn from a couple of industry experts how to solve a wide variety of special effects problems for your next epic summer blockbuster.
Ryan K. Johnson (M), Brian D. Oberquell, John Medlong

Creating a Budget for Your Masquerade Entry or Cosplay
6–7 p.m. Cascade 13
You have an idea you really want to make but are unsure of the cost and time it will take to make it. Our experts share how they break down their costumes projects into detailed monetary budgets and time requirements. These principles can apply for a single costume or for planning a whole costume plot for a stage show.
Melissa Quinn (M), Richard Stephens, Theresa Halbert, Carmen Beaudry

Will Asteroid Mining Ever Happen?
6–7 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Long a staple of fiction authors, asteroid mining is being taken seriously. Several companies have expressed an interest in finding a likely candidate asteroid and mining its mineral resources. But will it ever happen? What are the problems? Are there better ways to find resources?
Dr. Dana Andrews (M), Dan DeLong, Peter N. Glaskowsky, John Cramer

Reading: Dean Wells
6:30–7 p.m. Cascade 2
Through the Looking-Glass, Darkly. Rated PG
Dean Wells (M)

Doors Open for Opening Ceremonies
6:30–7 p.m. Grand 3
Come and get a seat!

Opening Ceremonies
7–8 p.m. Grand 2&3
Welcome to the official kickoff to your Norwescon 40 at the Opening Ceremonies! Enjoy interviews with our Guests of Honor, get a preview of events and essential information, and enjoy general shenanigans and merrymaking.
Nancy Kress (M), Catska Ench, Cory Ench, Ethan Siegel, Ian McDonald, Marc Gascoigne, Mike Underwood

Reading: Lilith Dawn
8–8:30 p.m. Cascade 2
"The Ogg-Nat War: Lucy's Story". Lucy wants to move to Mars. To get there, she must defy her parents, dodge cultists, mine asteroids—and alter her genes. This story is a prelude to The Ogg-Nat War, set 150 years in the future, when Earth's "Natural" residents and Mars' "Augmented" colonists find themselves on the brink of interplanetary conflict. Rated PG
Lilith Dawn (M)

History with a Twist
8–9 p.m. Cascade 3&4
Sci-fi and fantasy deal with the "what ifs," but what if that takes place in a real historic setting? From Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Miss Peregrine, to Fantastic Beasts, these and other movies have costumes that have a historic root but are cunningly different because of a fantastic or magical twist. How does one dress to fight the zombie hordes in the Regency era? We look at some of our favorite historical retrofittings.
Richard Stephens (M), Adrienne Carlson, Carmen Beaudry, Deborah Strub

Getting There: Transportation Tech
8–9 p.m. Cascade 5&6
Trains and planes and cars and boats: The ways we move from here to there are mostly old in concept, but new in detail. What's happened since the last time you looked? What will be new the next time?
Dr. Dana Andrews (M), Arthur Bozlee, Russell D. Campbell, David Shoemaker

The Rhythm of Fiction
8–9 p.m. Cascade 7&8
Narrative flow has three elements: story rhythm to separate plot from random events; equal parts action and reaction (yang and yin); and movement, either internal or external. In this panel we will explore how these elements can be incorporated into your own stories.
Dean Wells (M), Jude-Marie Green, Joseph Malik, Carol Berg

Make A Villain: Sci-Fi Edition
8–9 p.m. Cascade 9
Join our panelist as they work with the audience to create a relatable, compelling antagonist.
G.R. Theron (M), Crystal Connor, Bill Gruner

Adult Comics vs. Mature Comics
8–9 p.m. Cascade 10
When Justice Potter Stewart was asked to define pornography in the '60s, he admitted he couldn't and then said, "but I know it when I see it." Where does the line lie between smut and 'mature' content? Are there topics other than sex that render a comic offsides to younger readers?
Mickey Schulz (M), Brenna Clarke Gray, Ogre Whiteside, Nathan Crowder

Adapting to Climate Change
8–9 p.m. Cascade 11
There is no debate among climate experts that our planet is heating up; the only real question is how we can adapt to a warmer climate. Between rising ocean levels, croplands becoming desert, an increasing number of wildfires, and larger, more destructive storms, what must humanity do to survive?
Jake McKinzie (M), Nancy Kress, Alan Andrist, Kurt Cagle, Norman K. Moss

Wigging Out: The Art of Wigs
8–9 p.m. Cascade 12
Your costume is perfection and the shoes are a spot-on match, but your hair is not cooperating. Maybe it's the wrong color or length. Perhaps you need a specific part in the middle or a strand to fall in just the right place. Whatever the reason, it's time for a wig. But how? This class will help guide you through the thought process of buying, styling, and storing your wig.
Foxy Squire (M)

U.S. Military Overview
8–9 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Basic review of the missions of the land services: Army/National Guard; the sea services: Navy/Marines/Coast Guard; and the Air Force. Intended to provide those with either limited or no military experience with a grounding in who is supposed to do what during peace and war. This is a highly visual presentation so come to see and experience the services.
Russell Ervin (M), Elliott Kay, Alan Paulsen

Karaoke
8–11 p.m. Evergreen 3&4
Do you enjoy quality singing? Do you sing with quality? Neither of these things matter. Join us to both give and receive the gift of music; well, at least singing (or something close enough).

Reading: Christopher Bodan
8:30–9 p.m. Cascade 2
Floodstage (working): Micah's mother always said he wasn't the only one born the year the river rose. He never thought much about that, until the river turned to salt and he had to go find the other. Rated PG.
Christopher Bodan (M)

Make A Villain: Fantasy Edition
9–10 p.m. Cascade 3&4
Join our panelists as they work with the audience to create a relatable, compelling antagonist.
G.R. Theron (M), Crystal Connor, Erik Scott de Bie, Esther Jones, Frog Jones

Paranoia (Will Destroy Ya)
9–10 p.m. Cascade 5&6
They're all out to get you. Who can you trust? Certainly not this panel of experts who will explore the use of paranoia in horror and how to add a bit of it to your own writing.
Julie McGalliard (M), Nathan Crowder

Pre-Masquerade Meeting
9–10 p.m. Cascade 7&8
If you plan to enter the Masquerade, you must come to this or the Saturday meeting (8–9 am) to get all the information you need to compete and turn over your music. If you have not already registered online, we will have a computer available for you to do so. If you are just curious and have some questions, we will have the answers.

Cyborg by Choice
9–10 p.m. Cascade 10
A watch embedded in the back of your hand; a Wi-Fi connection that feeds directly into your brain; implants that make you stronger, faster, and smarter. These are common in stories about a cyberpunk future. Are they part of a future we can realistically expect?
Sean Hagle (M), David Shoemaker, Matt Hammond

Identities and Terminology Are Important
9–10 p.m. Cascade 11
Why is the terminology of marginalized identities so important? How does this play into representation in fandom and SF/F media? Asexual, Transgender, Pansexual, Biromantic, Gay, Lesbian, Queer, Cisgender, and many more. Why is it important to have terms like Full Spectrum or Quiltbag that are more inclusive than the previous LGBT? Come learn about new terms and experiences! Note: Norwescon has a "no outing" policy toward sexual identities. Each person gets to decide when they're ready. So, just don't do it.
Sar Surmick (M), Mickey Schulz, Wednesday Phoenix, Sheye Anne Blaze

My Favorite Fictional Spacecraft
9–10 p.m. Cascade 12
We all have our favorite from the Enterprise to the Planet Express. What is your favorite? Audience participation strongly encouraged!
Jason Bourget (M), Lilith Dawn, Tim McDaniel, Brian D. Oberquell

Escher Girls & the Hawkeye Initiative
9–10 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Our heroines are too often subjected to hypersexualized poses and crimes against anatomy—for reasons irrelevant to their character or kickassitude. Jim Hines' book cover project, Escher Girls, and The Hawkeye Initiative are just three of a number of movements humorously deconstructing these problematic images. Let's point and laugh, and talk about how to fix things.
Jeliza Patterson-McGuire (M), Lee Moyer, Liz Argall, Marta Murvosh

Lazer Tag/Nerf Free Play
9 p.m.–1:30 a.m. Grand 2
Free play will open with Laser Tag for the first half of the session, switching to Nerf for the last half. Rules for each session will be posted.
Underage players must have a parent present to play. Equipment is provided at the play area.

Concert: Shubzilla x Bill Beats
9 p.m.–10 p.m. Grand 3

Friends of Bill W.
10–11 p.m. Cascade 3&4

BDSM 101
10–11 p.m. Cascade 7&8
Interested in BDSM? Want to find out what it's all about? What are these limits, boundaries, and play people keep talking about? We will endeavor to answer your questions, or if we can't, we'll point you to a resource that can. We will also discuss BDSM etiquette and resources for you to find out more. 18+ only, please.
Sar Surmick (M), Mickey Schulz, Ogre Whiteside

The GameMaster's Manifesto Podcast: Put Your Phone Down!
10–11 p.m. Cascade 11
Bring your books and dice and join us for a live recording of The GameMaster's Manifesto podcast! In this episode, Jacob and Troy will be interviewing some of our gaming pros on the topic of how to deal with the technological world impinging upon game time. Facebooking at game, virtual tabletops, and video games stealing players! Oh my! Can technology be used for good or is it simply incompatible with traditional tabletop?
Jacob Osterhaus & Troy Lenze (M), Jeremy Zimmerman, Dylan Templar, Matt Hammond, Donna Prior

Concert: Kadesh Flow
10 p.m.–11 p.m. Grand 3

Thursday Night Open Filk
11 p.m.–2 a.m. Evergreen 3&4
Come get shrieked at in the inaugural Norwescon 40 Open Filk! This is where you can come sing or play whatever you want, alone or with friends; to the most supportive crowd you will ever run into ever, anywhere. Seriously, you have no idea. Bring your instrument, bring your voice, and put some of that participation into participatory culture!

Concert: Dogwood 11 p.m.–12 a.m. Grand 3

Friday, 4/14	9	9:30	10	10:30	11	11:30	Noon	12:30	1	1:30	2	2:30	3	3:30	4	4:30	5	5:30	6	6:30	7	7:30	8	8:30	9	9:30	10	10:30	11	11:30	Mid	12:30	1	1:30
Cascade 1	Pro Check-in/Stage Management
Cascade 2- Readings			Alex Irvine	David Levine	Matt Youngmark	Randy Henderson	Spenser Ellsworth	PJ Manney			Cat Rambo	Sonia Orin Lyris	Susan diRende	Adam Rakunas			Curtis Chen	Caroline M. Yoachim	Kristi Charish	Tina Connolly	Julie McGalliard	John Lovett	Manny Frishberg	Marta Murvosh	J.F. High	Frog Jones
Cascade 3 & 4			Comics and Kids' Real Lives		Paging Dr. Dolittle		Filmmaking Workshop: Make a Movie With Us		Self-Publishing Comics		Filmmaking Workshop: Pre-Production		Filmmaking Workshop: Production!		Standing Up to the Mob		Future Propulsion Systems		Worldbuilding: Clothes & Costumes		GM Podcast: Gming From the Hip		Pre Masquerade Meeting		Collecting vs. COLLECTING		Friends of Bill W.
Cascade 5 & 6			Beginner's Guide to Self-Publishing		Worldbuilding: Geography		The Miltary of Tomrrow		Failing Upward		A Call to Action by Any Other Name		Faceoff: Magic Rumble		Advanced Self-Publishing		Alternative History		The Kids Aren't All Right		Outlining for Pantsers		Conflict and Cost - Fantasy Edition				Consentual Non-Monogamy
Cascade 7 & 8			Story Form Pros and Cons		Choosing the Right Game for My Group		Internet and Real-Life Trolls		Small Pox		I Am a Teenage Geek		Fandom in Daily Life		Inclusive Voices in Horror		It's All About You		Researching the Military		Card, Board, RPGs: Game Prototyping		Diversity 101		How to Tackle a Revision		Social Responsibility in Horror
Cascade 9			Geek Identiy and Geek Policing		The Geek Life		Designer Humans		Horror's Role: Fear of the Other		Being an Engaged Parent		Psychology of Single Combat		Citizen Science		Let's Build a Dungeon		Hive Mind		How to Critique Art		Pop Culture & FB		Hated It!
Cascade 10			Dystopia/Utopia		The Nature of Artificial Intelligence		Fashion of the Future: 50 Years of Trek		Bamboo		Future Weapon Systems		Food Tech for the Future		Video Game Genres: Room for More?		Shuffling Off the Mortal Coil		Dialects in Fiction		Fake It Till You Make It		Worldbuilding: Alien Cultures		Grounded Sci-Fi
Cascade 11			New Con Member 101		Costuming Minions		What's Beautiful on Neptune?		Worldbuilding: Coin of the Realm		Raising the Stakes		The Trauma of Travel		Shady Characters		LGBT Characters in the Post-Patriarchy		Literary Analysis for Young Adults		The Evolution of the Secret State Police		Alien & Fantasy Biology		Flirting 101
Cascade 12			Picture Book Basics		Escaping the Cage: Short Story in an Hour		Fear and Writing in Les Genres		Principles of Branding: Publishing		Diversity and Narrative Voice				A Writer's Toolbox for Description		Filmmaking Workshop: Lights & Sound				Intro to Leather Tooling - Demo		Sexing Up/Down Your Sex Scenes		Screenwriting 101
Cascade 13			Bead Embroidery Workshop			Model Rocket Construction Workshop (Kids and Their Parents)				Monster Mash for Adults					Figure Drawing		Figure Drawing Workshop		Glass Fusing Workshop 1				Going Rogue
Evergreen 1 & 2			Nuclear Power		Bread, Cheese, and Microbrews		Character and Transformation		Secret Space Stations		The Art of Cory and Catska Ench		Nancy Kress Reading		Best Vacation Spots in the Solar System		Eye in the Martian Sky		Charismatic Mega-Catastrophes		Why is Spaceflight So Expensive?
Evergreen 3 & 4			Weapons and Armor of the Middle Ages				Mad Libs Filk		I Could Never Cosplay That!		What-Ifs of Ancient & Medieval History				Glossary Fashion Show		Diversity in Media: Why Is It Important?						Star Dance
Olympic 1	Sensory Open Time	Story Time for Pre-Schoolers	Build a Journal		Ask a Fae		Fin-tastical Story Time	Wands for Wizards		Wizard Duelling		Art and Craft Open Time		Swords and Storytelling		K. K. w/Lisa Mantchev	Making Plastic From Milk		Dress-Up Intro to RPG		Fandom on an Allowance				Stitch & Bitch & Costume 911
Olympic 2					LGBTQ Meetup				Movie Trends Meetup				Time Travel Star Trek
Grand 2					Ian McDonald Reading		PK Dick Award - What it Is, What it Means		Interview and Q&A With Angry Robot												PK Dick Awards					Burlesque				Open Filk
Grand 3			Movie Previews				The Latest View of Pluto				Concerts		Concert: Betsy Tinney		Alexander James Adams															Rocky Horror Picture Show
Maxi's Ballroom			All-Ages Scheduled Gaming																				Floor Closed		21+ Gaming
Maxi's Salon			All-Ages Game Demos																						Floor Closed
Rotunda 1	Pathfinder/D&D AL
Presidential Suite	Scavenger Hunt		K. Klatch: Cathy Plesko; Jonnalyhn Wolfcat		K. Klatch: Mark Teppo; PJ Manney										K. Klatch: Mark Ferrari; Sonia Orin Lyris		K. Klatch: Wendy N. Wagner; Tod McCoy
Poolside									Mer-ing 101		The No-ers Just Be Jelly				Mer-ing 102

Youth Art & Craft Contest
8–8:30 a.m. Olympic 1
Submit your craft, costume, story, or art on the theme Over The Hills and Far Away by Friday morning. Submissions will be judged in categories of type of submission and by age categories (Newest Fen 0–2, Pre-Fen 3–5, Kid Fen 6–8, Young Fen 9–12). Items will be on display until Sunday, when awards will be given and submissions will be returned to their creators.
Danielle Gembala (M)

Sensory Friendly Open Time
9–9:30 a.m. Olympic 1
Olympic 1 will be filled with sensory-friendly items and activities for our neurodivergent members and their caregivers to drop-in to a safe space to slow down, stim, or just be themselves.
Danielle Gembala (M)

Pathfinder and D&D Adventurer's League
9 a.m.–2 a.m. Rotunda 1
Pathfinder Society and Dungeons and Dragons' Adventurers League will be running games throughout the weekend. Check the gaming schedule for details.

Story Time for Preschoolers
9:30–10 a.m. Olympic 1
Join us for stories and activities for our preschool-aged fen (3–5 years, younger siblings welcome).
Kate Ristau (M)

Reading: Alex Irvine
10–10:30 a.m. Cascade 2
TBD
Alex Irvine (M)

Comics and Kids' Real Lives
10–11 a.m. Cascade 3&4
Every day children in this country face horrible realities alone, including starvation, sexual and physical abuse, and bullying. They come to terms with their gender identities and sexual orientations, or the fact that they have to hide them. So why do we try to sanitize the media we let them consume, and how can we instead use comics to help them explore these topics?
Mickey Schulz (M), Spencer Ellsworth, Brenna Clarke Gray, Dylan Templar

Beginner's Guide to Self-Publishing
10–11 a.m. Cascade 5&6
Self-publishing 101! Curious about self-publishing but unsure if it's for you? Want to self-publish but don't know where to start? Pros will outline the basics of self-publishing: finding editors and cover artists, avoiding common pitfalls and scams, formatting your books for e-readers and print, and putting your work up for sale. Have questions or concerns? Come ask!
Dale Ivan Smith (M), Tori Centanni, Scott James Magner, Shannon Page

Story Form, and the Pros and Cons of Each
10–11 a.m. Cascade 7&8
Novel, flash, short story, novelette––narrative fiction comes in multiple forms. How do they differ, other than word count? How are they alike? Join our panel of writers as they discuss the benefits and constraints that each form brings to the table.
Mark Teppo (M), Caroline M. Yoachim, Peter Orullian, Esther Jones

Geek Identity and Geek Policing
10–11 a.m. Cascade 9
What are Geek Identity, Geek Policing, and Gatekeeping? Why is it important when we're staying active and proud of our fandoms to not dip into policing and gatekeeping? How do we bridge the age gap in SF/F and include younger generations? We, all of us, nerds of all races, genders, orientations, and ages need to stop the gatekeeping and start building bridges.
Donna Prior (M), Sar Surmick, Sheye Anne Blaze

Dystopia / Utopia
10–11 a.m. Cascade 10
As science fiction looks forward, some see a bleak, broken world while others find a utopia. Our panelists discuss this dual outcome and how what we say about tomorrow reflects on how we view today.
Susan R. Matthews (M), Nisi Shawl, Brenda Cooper, Kurt Cagle, Dr. Dana Andrews

New Con Member 101
10–11 a.m. Cascade 11
Congratulations on your first steps into fandom! This may be a scary yet exciting adventure and we want to make you feel welcome. This panel is about all the benefits as a member of a convention and how your continued support and/or volunteering can ensure the success for future new members.
Jennifer Baker (M)

Picture Book Basics for Aspiring Authors: Writing Workshop
10–11 a.m. Cascade 12
Put your pointy thinking caps on and learn the steps to plotting, pacing, and formatting a 32-page picture book with the award-winning author of Strictly No Elephants. Ages 8+. Space is limited and advance sign up is required in Cascade 1.
Lisa Mantchev (M)

Bead Embroidery Workshop
10–11:30 a.m. Cascade 13
This hands-on workshop will cover the basics of bead embroidery, the supplies needed, and options for fabric, stabilizers, needles, and thread. In addition, we can discuss where you can use bead embroidery, and how to apply it to anything from costumes to broaches, bags and quilts. You get to do hands-on experience with at least 3 different bead embroidery stitches. Worksheet and supplies will be provided.
Theresa Halbert (M), Bethany Roullett

Weapons and Armour of the Middle Ages
10–Noon Evergreen 1&2
See and feel how hand weapons changed and developed, and how body armour evolved, from late Roman times until the Renaissance. All weapons will be explained and presented for safe handling by the participants. Various types of armour will be displayed and described. Participants will be able to freely handle real pieces of armour and modern replicas. This experience will be like a museum where you can try on the artifacts. Handouts will be available.
Bill Gruner (M), Mark Chapman, Brian Snoddy, Ann Shilling, Norman K. Moss, Alan Andrist, Alan Paulsen, Peter Fuller

Nuclear Power—Then, Now, and Beyond
10–11 a.m. Evergreen 3&4
It was the Power of the Future; now some say it is past its time. What has nuclear power looked like, and what might it look like in the future?
Mike Brennan (M), Peter N. Glaskowsky, David Shoemaker

Build Your Own Journal
10–11 a.m. Olympic 1
Learn to use scrap paper, magazines, photos, and more to make your own journal for capturing your thoughts, story ideas, and all the memorable events of life. Brought to you by Swords for Scribes.
Kim Switzer (M), Matthew Howden

Keith and Alan's Movie News and Previews: One Eye Open!
10–Noon Grand 3
Keith and Alan return for the first of two shows this year! Get up early and join us for the latest previews, news and rumors–the hot topics and the latest trends–out of Hollywood. We highlight the latest info, innovations, and challenges and also the wider entertainment culture: TV shows, home video, theme parks–the whole gamut! Grab your seat early for all the latest.
Keith Johnson (M), Alan Halfhill

All-Ages Game Demos
10 a.m.–8 p.m. Salon
All weekend there are dealers and game developers running demos of games in Maxi's Salon. Come up and see the latest and greatest games and talk to game developers.

All-Ages Scheduled Gaming
10 a.m.–8 p.m. Maxi's Ballroom
Come sign up for a game run by our DMs or check out games from our lending library. We have RPGs, computer games, LARPs, card games, board games, and so much more! Need ADA access for a game? Please speak to our staff when you sign up so we can be sure to meet your needs.

Koffee Klatch: Cathy Plesko
10–11 a.m. Pro Suite
A small, informal social gathering for coffee and conversation. Space is limited. Sign up in Cascade 1.
Cathy Plesko (M)

Koffee Klatch: Jonnalyhn Wolfcat
10–11 a.m. Pro Suite
A small, informal social gathering for coffee and convsersation. Space is limited. Sign up in Cascade 1.
Jonnalyhn Wolfcat (M)

Reading: David D. Levine
10:30–11 a.m. Cascade 2
Arabella and the Battle of Venus: Get a sneak preview of Arabella and the Battle of Venus, sequel to Arabella of Mars, coming in July! Rated G.
David D. Levine (M)

Reading: Matt Youngmark
11–11:30 a.m. Cascade 2
Spellmonkeys: The first chapter of my upcoming novel, Spellmonkeys, a humorous fantasy romp with ONLY ONE ENDING LIKE A REGULAR BOOK, OMG I'M SORRY IN ADVANCE TO ALL MY HARDCORE FANS! Rated PG.
Matt Youngmark (M)

Paging Dr. Doolittle
11 a.m.–Noon Cascade 3&4
More than just the ability to communicate, some animals seem to have actual language: nouns, verbs, adjectives, even regional dialects. Will we ever be able to communicate with other species, or would our differences be too great for mutual understanding?
Kurt Cagle (M), Manny Frishberg

Worldbuilding: Geography Meets Story
11 a.m.–Noon Cascade 5&6
The setting in fantasy can often play as much a part of the story as the characters. Join our panelists as they discuss fantasy geography and what kinds of specifics create a compelling setting.
Django Wexler (M), Carol Berg, Alex C. Renwick, Kay Kenyon, Joseph Brassey

Choosing the Right Game for My Group
11 a.m.–Noon Cascade 7&8
You formed a group to play something, and then you finished it. Now what? One player doesn't like themed games, one player won't play cooperatives, and that player only likes things where they can hit something with their axe. How do you find the right game for your specific group of people? Come hear our panelists talk about different types of games and players and strategies to bring them together.
Ogre Whiteside (M), Donna Prior, Jeremy Zimmerman, Sar Surmick

The Geek Life
11 a.m.–Noon Cascade 9
It's a hard Geek Life for me. Let's examine geek culture in the 21st century and why it's good to be a geek now.
Shannon (M), Shubzilla, Mike Underwood, Jason Bourget

The Nature of Artificial Intelligence
11 a.m.–Noon Cascade 10
Some of the first science fiction was about artificial intelligence, or the faking thereof. There have been some advances since then. Where are we now and what does the future look like? When will Siri not only be able to tell you where to go on a date, but actually go on a date with you?
Sean Hagle (M), Michael Ormes, Cory Ench

Minions (and we don't mean the little yellow guys).
11 a.m.–Noon Cascade 11
Costuming all those characters that aren't the hero.
Kat Marier (M), Melissa Quinn, Carmen Beaudry, Deborah Strub

Escaping the Cage: Write a Short Story in an Hour: Writing Workshop
11 a.m.–Noon Cascade 12
This hands-on workshop leads you through a timed and moderated one-hour freewrite. At the conclusion, you'll have a rough draft (or at least the bare bones) of a short story. Bring your writing notebook, tablet, or laptop, prepared to write nearly the full hour. Ages 13+. Space is limited and advance sign up is required in Cascade 1.
Patrick Swenson (M)

Bread, Cheese, and Microbrews
11 a.m.–Noon Evergreen 1&2
Since ancient history, humans have made use of yeast, bacteria, and mold to preserve food. Our panelists will discuss the culinary history of microorganisms and their importance to human civilization, and how they might let us live in space.
Dr. Ricky (M), DameRuth, Catska Ench

Ask a Fae
11 a.m.–Noon Olympic 1
Do you have a question that only the Fae can answer? Or maybe you just want to know what fairies wear to the Fairy Queen's Ball? Our fairy writers will be on hand in Olympic 1 to dictate your message to the Fae with their magickal tools. A genuine letter from a Fae is guaranteed to be available for pickup in Olympic 1 at 11:00 a.m. Sunday morning (or by arrangement).
Lisa Mantchev (M), Kate Ristau, Amélie Mantchev

LGBTQ Meet & Greet
11 a.m.–Noon Olympic 2
Come hang out with your fellow LGBTQ fans in a casual mixer environment. Meet n' greet and find new folks to wander the con with.
Eric Starker

Guest of Honor Reading: Ian McDonald
11 a.m.–Noon Grand 2
Guest of Honor Ian McDonald reads from Luna: Wolf Moon. The Theory and Practice of Baking Cakes on the Moon.
Ian McDonald (M)

Art Show Tour with Cat Grey
11 a.m.–Noon Grand 1
Cat Grey talks in-depth about her work in the show and shares her thoughts about selected other works as well. Come enjoy an artist's perspective on the Norwescon Art Show!
Cat Grey

Koffee Klatch: Mark Teppo
11 a.m.–Noon Pro Suite
A small, informal social gathering for coffee and convsersation. Space is limited. Sign up in Cascade 1.
Mark Teppo (M)

Koffee Klatch: PJ Manney
11 a.m.–Noon Pro Suite
A small, informal social gathering for coffee and convsersation. Space is limited. Sign up in Cascade 1.
PJ Manney (M)

Reading: Randy Henderson
11:30–Noon Cascade 2
Smells Like Finn Spirit Reading Party! Non-drowsy Daytime Reading Formula! Q&A! Prizes! Come hear Randy read from the third book in the Finn Fancy series from Tor (US)/Titan (UK), Smells Like Finn Spirit! There will be laughs, knowledge dropping, and prize giving! Rated G.
Randy Henderson (M)

Model Rocket Construction Workshop (for kids and their parents)
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Cascade 13
Learn the basics of model rocket construction and build a rocket of your very own to fly! Materials supplied.
Dave Davis (M), Eric Snyder

Reading: Spencer Ellsworth
Noon–12:30 p.m. Cascade 2
Spencer reads a selection from an upcoming work! Rated PG.
Spencer Ellsworth (M)

Norwescon Filmmaking Workshop: Make a Movie With Us!
Noon–1 p.m. Cascade 3&4
Come make movies with us! Every year since 2000, we've planned and filmed a short film, right here at Norwescon! We pull actors, grips, and helpers of all stripes. We then run around frantically for two hours on Saturday filming, filming, filming! Then, through the magic of tiny editing elves, we show the completed movie Sunday at our Norwescon Film Festival! This is our planning session! Help us come up with our story and plan it, just like a real Hollywood bigwig!
dQniel Kaufman (M), Ryan K. Johnson, Brian D. Oberquell, Eric Morgret, John Medlong

The Military of Tomorrow… And the Day After
Noon–1 p.m. Cascade 5&6
Geared for writers and those curious for what is coming in the near and far future. We'll extrapolate current trends and speculate on the impact of rapidly evolving technical and social systems. We will review force structure, organization, and equipment. We'll study how masters such as Tom Clancy and Robert Heinlein gazed into to the future and what shaped their vision of what was to come.
Dr. Dana Andrews (M), Russell Ervin, Joseph Malik, Alan Paulsen

Internet and Real Life Trolls
Noon–1 p.m. Cascade 7&8
From Doxxing to Cyber-bullying, to the people who just don't think that being "PC" is important or has a place in SF/F. How does this affect the real people who are being subjected to mistreatment? What can we do take a stand against it? Should we and how should we?
Mickey Schulz (M), Donna Prior, Brenna Clarke Gray, J. F. High

Designer Humans
Noon–1 p.m. Cascade 9
Emerging technologies for gene editing are set to turn science fiction into science fact. What will start as a way to cure genetic diseases before birth could easily become a way to order custom-built children: taller, stronger, more intelligent, and less prone to infection. Maybe they will be modified to live in a hotter world with fewer resources, or perhaps adapted to life on a space station. What limits, if any, should be placed on these technologies?
Jake McKinzie (M), Vickie Bligh, Sar Surmick, David Shoemaker

Fashion of the Future: 50 Years of Trek
Noon–1 p.m. Cascade 10
Star Trek has always mirrored so much about the culture of the time, hopes, fears, and aspirations and this was certainly true fashion wise. We look back on fashions high and low throughout the Trek universe.
Theresa Halbert (M), Kathryn Brant, Melissa Quinn

What's Beautiful on Neptune?
Noon–1 p.m. Cascade 11
Different cultures value different things. Join our panelists as they discuss the different conceptions of beauty and wealth that exist in sci-fi and what kinds of different characteristics may appear in the future.
Alex C. Renwick (M), Arthur Bozlee

Fear and Writing in Les Genres: Writing Workshop
Noon–1 p.m. Cascade 12
Humor, horror, and dark fantasy author Evan J. Peterson will lead students in exercises to reduce their fears around writing and publishing. What have you always wanted to write about, but fear has stopped you? What styles are you too embarrassed to try your hand on? Open to writers of all genres and levels of experience. TRIGGER: We may discuss or read samples from authors writing about abuse and other trauma. Presented by Clarion West. Ages 18+. Space is limited and advance sign up is required in Cascade 1.
Evan J. Peterson (M)

Character and Transformation
Noon–1 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Transformation is the reinvention of the self by the self. It represents the hero's search for wholeness. Discuss with our panelists this integral process of your character becoming a more complete human being.
Mark J. Ferrari (M), Peter Orullian, Tina Connolly, Randy Henderson

Mad Libs Filk
Noon–1 p.m. Evergreen 3&4
Filk in the blanks. Our pros will take words from the audience and plug them into existing filk songs. The results are sure to be as far flung as the imaginations of the participants.
Jen K (M)

Fin-tastical Story Time
Noon–12:30 p.m. Olympic 1
Bring your guppies over to Olympic 1 for some Fin-tastically magical stories, and possibly songs and games.
Mermaid SIF (M)

Philip K. Dick Award: What It Is, What It Means
Noon–1 p.m. Grand 2
Administrators and nominees for this year's award discuss the PK Dick Award and the legacy of Philip K. Dick.
Gordon Van Gelder (M), Susan diRende, Kristy Acevedo, Matt Hill, Claudia Casper

The Latest View of Pluto
Noon–1 p.m. Grand 3
All 50 gigabytes of data from the New Horizons encounter with Pluto has been downloaded to scientists on Earth. What have we learned about this mysterious outpost at the fringe of the solar system?
Bridget Landry, Cathy Plesko, Ethan Siegel

Reading: PJ Manney
12:30–1 p.m. Cascade 2
(ID)ENTITY. The sequel to the PK Dick Award-nominated (R)EVOLUTION finds a new country and world for Thomas Paine, aka Major Tom. When his friend and identity broker, Dr. Who, is kidnapped and the seasteads of the world are attacked, he must come out of hiding and stop the destruction of all the newly evolving ways of life his revelations enabled. But who will win? The powers-that-once-were, who want the world to go backwards? Or those striving for a new life? Rated PG.
PJ Manney (M)

Wands for Wizards
12:30–1:30 p.m. Olympic 1
Come decorate your own training wand and get ready for Wizard Dueling. Open to wizards of any and all genders. Brought to you by Swords for Scribes.
Kim Switzer (M), Eric Snyder, Matthew Howden

Self-Publishing Comics: Online and On Paper
1–2 p.m. Cascade 3&4
Our panelists will talk about the ins and outs of drawing, writing, and producing your own comics without the support of a bigger company.
Julie McGalliard (M), Matt Youngmark

Failing Upward
1–2 p.m. Cascade 5&6
Let's be honest: publishing is full of failure. Failing to sell a book (or five), failing to get your dream agent or publisher, or failing to find readers for your book… the list goes on. But there's a silver lining: we learn from failures, adapt, grow, and move on to greater successes. Pros will discuss their own failures and disap.pointments, and how those things actually helped get them where they needed to be, as well as strategies you can use to cope with failures of your own.
Kat Richardson (M), Lisa Mantchev, Jack Skillingstead, Scott James Magner

Small Pox: The Great Devastator
1–2 p.m. Cascade 7&8
The disease ravaged Europe and Asia repeatedly. Many of the survivors were badly disfigured. But when the disease was transported to lands that had not had the disease, the effects were catastrophic. What is this now largely extinct disease, and how did it ravage the New World?
Alan Andrist (M), Bill Gruner, Adrienne Carlson, Vickie Bligh

Horror's Role in Perpetuating Fear of the Other
1–2 p.m. Cascade 9
At the root of horror is the fear of the unknown. On this panel we'll explore examples of how, both openly and through metaphor and allegory, horror creates an Us vs. Them narrative, and how that can ripple out into a larger cultural narrative.
Arinn Dembo (M), Tegan Moore, J. F. High, Evan J. Peterson, Jason Bourget

Bamboo!
1–2 p.m. Cascade 10
Back by popular demand! It is hard to overstate how cool bamboo is, and how well it can fit into sf/f stories. Come see it, touch it, listen to it, and maybe take a piece or two home with you.
Mike Brennan (M)

Worldbuilding: Coin of the Realm
1–2 p.m. Cascade 11
"Coin of the realm" is a metaphor for how the economic structure of your world operates. Do your characters hunt or farm, barter or buy? Do they use currency? Where are goods manufactured? How are they paid for? Come discuss how this one layer of detail can inform your entire story, regardless of its plot.
Laura Anne Gilman (M), Nancy Kress, Renee Stern, Wendy N. Wagner

Picking Up the Pace in YA: Writing Workshop
1–2 p.m. Cascade 12
Fast-paced is currently the calling card of best-selling young adult novels. But how do we pick up the pace without leaving the reader in the dust? In this hands-on workshop, we'll discover how dialogue and description can work to keep your reader engaged. Presented by Willamette Writers. Ages 18+. Space is limited and advance sign up is required in Cascade 1.
Kate Ristau (M)

Secret Space Stations
1–2 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
In the 1960s both the United States and Soviet Union were deeply involved with building military space stations. The U.S. station called MOL never flew manned, but the Soviets launched and operated two such stations code named ALMAZ. The veil of secrecy is finally being lifted on these stations and they tell a story of changing capabilities, changing technology, and changing focus. Come take a peek inside a very dark, very seldom viewed slice of space history.
Dan DeLong, Arthur Bozlee

I Could Never Cosplay That!
1–2 p.m. Evergreen 3&4
Too often we hear costumers lament how, for whatever reason, they could never recreate a favorite media character because "it would be too expensive," "I'm the wrong shape," "I'm the wrong gender," or "I'm too old." Bring your wish list and we will tackle the challenge. Cosplay is a celebration and there is no one right way to depict your favorite character. It's a big sandbox and we all get to play!
Richard Stephens (M), Bethany Roullett, Ethan Siegel, Anita Taylor

Movie Trends Meetup
1–2 p.m. Olympic 2
Talk with Keith Johnson (of Keith & Alan's Movie News) about the state of movies and the entertainment industry. We'll take a deeper look at trends and issues than we can during our panels.
Keith Johnson

Interview and Q&A with Angry Robot
1–2 p.m. Grand 2
Adam Rakunas (M), Marc Gascoigne, Mike Underwood

Principles of Branding in Publishing
1–2 p.m. Baker
Branding applies to small presses and book series as well as to you as an author. Understanding all the details of publishing and branding will help you whether you plan to work with one of the big six or self-publish. Participants will come up with five words they want people to think of when they walk into a room and bring those to the workshop. Focus will be placed on how to achieve a persona based on those five words. Come ready to discuss how tying social media, your personal appearance, and even demeanor help create your professional persona. Presented by Cascade Writers. Ages 18+. Space is limited and advance sign up is required in Cascade 1.
Lee Moyer (M)

Mer-ing 101
1–2 p.m. Poolside
Come meet some fun Merfolk and learn more about the mer-life. (Please enter poolside from Concourse 2.)
Mermaid SIF (M), Zir0, Melissa "Merlissa" Thomas, Triton Mahtlinnie, Cuddlefish

Monster Mash for Mature Mad Scientists
1:30–3:30 p.m. Cascade 13
Don your best mad scientist outfit and come create marvelous monsters and creative chimera! We will take cute fluffy stuffed animals and hack them into pieces only to reassemble them in wholly unnatural ways. WARNING! Not for the easily distressed or children! We will be working with scissors and needles and as such only mature mad scientists will be allowed to participate. The only skills required are rudimentary sewing skills (plush is very forgiving) and a sick sense of humor. There will be a $5 materials fee per participant to cover the cost of DNA splitters, splicers, and experimental specimens.
Mimi Noyes (M), Liv Rainey-Smith

Wizard Dueling
1:30–2:30 p.m. Olympic 1
Bring your newly decorated training wand and learn to use it to defeat your opponents. (Extra wands will be available if you didn't make it to Wands for Wizards.) Open to boys, girls, and other magical creatures. Brought to you by Kim Switzer and Matthew Howden of Swords for Scribes.
Eric Snyder, Kim Switzer, Matthew Howden

Reading: Cat Rambo
2–2:30 p.m. Cascade 2
Wizards of West Seattle. Come find out why you don't mess with the magical denizens of West Seattle. Rated PG.
Cat Rambo (M)

Norwescon Filmmaking Workshop: Pre-Production Planning!
2–3 p.m. Cascade 3&4
Without planning, shooting a film is an exercise in chaos and disappointment. Preproduction is where you hire the right people, lock down your script, plan your shots, gather your materials and props, get your locations, and do all that boring paperwork. Preproduction is the single most important step in filmmaking, so come learn how master it!
dQniel Kaufman (M), Brian D. Oberquell, Eric Morgret, Ryan K. Johnson, John Medlong

A Call to Action by Any Other Name Remains the Same
2–3 p.m. Cascade 5&6
A discussion regarding a character's core call to action, regardless of race, gender, and orientation. What kinds of common motivations can unite diverse characters and make them relatable to all?
G.R. Theron (M), Peter Orullian, Joseph Malik, Kristi Charish, Joseph Brassey

I Am A Teenage Geek
2–3 p.m. Cascade 7&8
Sometimes parents just don't understand. What is it like to be a geeky teenager in the 21st century? Come join some actual teenagers to discuss what is cool today, what you need to be playing, watching, and reading, and what your pop culture future looks like.
Wednesday Phoenix (M), Amélie Mantchev

How Being an Engaged Patient Can Save Your Life
2–3 p.m. Cascade 9
Patients around the world are changing the healthcare model by becoming partners in their own care. What is an engaged patient, how can you become engaged, and why should you care?
Jude-Marie Green (M), Vickie Bligh, Matt Hammond, Sean Hagle, Alan Andrist

Future Weapons Systems: Physics and Engineering
2–3 p.m. Cascade 10
Deep dive into future weapons systems. We'll look at the basic physics of kinetic, particle, and energy based weapons and how we anticipate current and projected evolutionary vectors to unfold into the engineering of tomorrow. We'll emphasize how writers can maintain technical authenticity without requiring advanced physics or engineering degrees.
Bart Kemper (M), Jon Rogers

Raising the Stakes
2–3 p.m. Cascade 11
High stakes in fiction add tension and create character development, as well as help make readers care about what happens. What are stakes and how do you raise them? Learn how to add stakes into your work effectively as pros discuss their methods for elevating tension and increasing the stakes in their writing.
Mark Teppo (M), PJ Manney, Kat Richardson, David D. Levine

Diversity and Narrative Voice: Writing Workshop
2–4 p.m. Cascade 12
Learn how to use narration to represent non-standard speech patterns and make settings based on non-dominant cultures vividly real. Dual focus on techniques both familiar and unfamiliar to the author. Lecture/discussion, in-class exercises, homework, and further recommended reading. Presented by Clarion West. Ages 18+. Space is limited and advance sign up is required in Cascade 1.
Nisi Shawl (M)

The Art of Cory and Catska Ench
2–3 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Catska Ench, Cory Ench

What-Ifs of Ancient and Medieval History
2–4 p.m. Evergreen 3&4
Alternate timelines, quantum universes, or just plain-old time machines—all of these concepts create a way for an author to play with history. This will be an interactive panel where the audience will choose a significant event in history and come up with alternatives—and their consequences. A lively dialogue always ensues.
Russell Ervin (M), Bill Gruner, Peter Fuller, Ann Shilling, Kurt Cagle, Adrienne Carlson, Brenda Cooper

Concert: Dogwood
2–3 p.m. Grand 3

The "No"-ers Just Be Jelly
2–3 p.m. Poolside
ANYONE can Mer! Haters just be jelly(fishes)! Swim on down to the poolside to discuss personal insecurities and 'everyone issues' with our Mers! (Please enter poolside from Concourse 2.)
Zir0 (M), Mermaid SIF, Melissa "Merlissa" Thomas, Triton Mahtlinnie, Cuddlefish

Reading: Sonia Orin Lyris
2:30–3 p.m. Cascade 2
Excerpt from Book 2, Seer Saga. Rated G.
Sonia Orin Lyris (M)

Art and Craft Open Time
2:30–3:30 p.m. Olympic 1
Drop by for crafts and activities for our young members.
Wendy N. Wagner, Adia, Raven J. Demers

Reading: Susan diRende
3–3:30 p.m. Cascade 2
Unpronounceable. A Jersey waitress-with-attitude is chosen by lottery to be Earth's ambassador to the Unpronounceable Planet of the Blobs. Set up as the patsy for an interstellar takeover, Rose discovers the secret of the blobs and figures out how to face down the U.N., the world, and even her sister, the hatefully angelic Alice. Rated PG.
Susan diRende (M)

Norwescon Filmmaking Workshop: Production!
3–4 p.m. Cascade 3&4
You've done all your Preproduction and now it's time to shoot! That opens up new problems: who's in charge on set, who's bringing the food, what do you do with these actor people, and how do make sure you have all the shots you need? Come learn how to manage a set and make production controlled chaos, instead of just chaos. Production is the single most important step in filmmaking, so come learn how master it!
dQniel Kaufman (M), Ryan K. Johnson, Brian D. Oberquell, Eric Morgret, John Medlong

Face Off: Magic Rumble
3–4 p.m. Cascade 5&6
Join our two panelists and moderator as they do battle (figuratively) using only magic spells provided by our audience.
G.R. Theron (M), Peter Orullian, Frog Jones

Fandom In Daily Life
3–4 p.m. Cascade 7&8
Are you weird, geeky, or a total nerd, and proud of it? Do you express your fannishness in daily life, or do you tone it down for your day job? Come participate in a discussion and share how you show your fannish colors.
Jason Bourget (M), Brenna Clarke Gray, Shubzilla

The Psychology of Single Combat
3–4 p.m. Cascade 9
Why does the person who is supposed to win sometimes lose? What can turn a journeyman into a champion? What could make a champion just give up? When the match seems even, what makes the difference that allows someone to win? Will include examples from modern sports.
Mark Chapman (M), Joseph Malik, Bart Kemper, Norman K. Moss, Joseph Brassey

Food Tech For the Future
3–4 p.m. Cascade 10
Between political unrest, climate change, economic shifts, and the constant change of technology, it's a fair bet that the ways we make food and get it to the people who will eat it are going to be as different 30 years from now as they were 30 years ago. What will the Food of the Future look like? What trends will grow, and which will wither?
Dr. Ricky (M), Mike Brennan, Jak Koke

The Trauma of Travel
3–4 p.m. Cascade 11
The rigors of space travel vary from isolation to hibernation, physical debilitation and mental strain, and everything in between. Our panelists discuss the impact such mental stress may have on characters, how strain and illness can be realistically but respectfully depicted, and their inclusion in fiction.
Jude-Marie Green (M), Jake McKinzie, Arthur Bozlee, V Whitlock

Guest of Honor Reading: Nancy Kress
3–4 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Guest of Honor Nancy Kress reads from Tomorrow's Kin, based on the Nebula Award-winning novella, Yesterday's Kin, coming out in July.
Nancy Kress (M)

Time Travel Star Trek Costume Meetup
3–4 p.m. Olympic 2
Did you dress up in a period Star Trek costume? Come be part of a costume group!
SunnyJim Morgan

Concert: Betsey Tinney
3–4 p.m. Grand 3
Betsy Tinney, recipient of the 2012 Pegasus Award for best performer, is a Northwest cellist known both for her graceful musicality and her broad versatility. She has performed and recorded with many different groups, from solo acoustic performers to large rock bands; her contributions to each are unique and, as she explains, "whatever the song wants." Betsy also performs solo, using a combination of acoustic cello and electronic looping that creates an interwoven tapestry of sound. Her solo cello work has been called "captivating," "mesmerizing," and "a rich texture for the ear, reminiscent of dark chocolate and fine red wine."

Art Show Tour with Lee Moyer
3–4 p.m. Grand 1
Lee Moyer talks in depth about his work in the show and shares his thoughts about selected other works as well. Come enjoy an artist's perspective on the Norwescon Art Show!
Lee Moyer (M)

Reading: Adam Rakunas
3:30–4 p.m. Cascade 2
The Throne Oath. Six student magicians lead a revolution against their government. It does not go as planned. Rated PG.
Adam Rakunas (M)

Swords and Storytelling
3:30–4:30 p.m. Olympic 1
What's the difference between a rapier and a long sword? Would your Viking warrior use a dagger? How do you hold a fighting cane? Come get a hands-on look at some favorite weapons from books and movies, learn how they're used and who would use them, and do some storytelling from prompts. Brought to you by Swords for Scribes.
Matthew Howden, Kim Switzer

Standing Up to the Mob
4–5 p.m. Cascade 3&4
How do you support female creators who are being harassed online by the ravening hordes of the unenlightened? Tips for voicing your support in ways that mean something.
Cat Rambo (M), Torrey Stenmark, Minim Calibre, Arinn Dembo, Mickey Schulz

Advanced Self-Publishing
4–5 p.m. Cascade 5&6
Self-publishing 201! Already self-publishing but want to take your career to the next level? This panel is for you. Pros will discuss how best to brand your books, how to increase sales and visibility, and how to avoid the newest pitfalls. We'll talk strategy, branding, and how to manage your career so that you have the greatest odds of success.
Tori Centanni (M), Annie Bellet, Mark Teppo, K. M. Alexander, Elliott Kay

Inclusive Voices in Horror
4–5 p.m. Cascade 7&8
It's not enough to just have diverse characters in horror (though it's a start). We're going to talk about the importance of creating real inclusion, finding and promoting diverse voices, and letting them tell their own stories.
Crystal Connor (M), Laura Anne Gilman, Julie McGalliard

Citizen Science
4–5 p.m. Cascade 9
A surprising amount of important research is done by non-professional scientists: backyard birdwatchers tracking bird populations and migration patterns, recreational sailors reporting data on plankton levels and marine debris, amateur astronomers finding comets. Our experts will share how you can become a citizen scientist.
Alan Andrist (M), DameRuth, Dr. Ricky, Jake McKinzie

Video Game Genres: Room For More?
4–5 p.m. Cascade 10
It's been said that there are only so many electronic gaming genres because of existing technology. The same has been said about the player base. Is this true? Or are there untapped markets out there to be explored? Could a first-person baseball game be fun, especially if it had a story? Let's talk about it.
Alex Irvine (M), Ogre Whiteside, Veronica Hamilton

Shady Characters
4–5 p.m. Cascade 11
They're not heroes, they're not villains, but inhabit the twilight areas in between. Discuss with our writers what goes into the creation of scoundrels, tricksters, and rogues, and why they are fan favorites.
Raven Oak (M), Kat Richardson, Tod McCoy, PJ Manney

A Writer's Toolbox for Description: Writing Workshop
4–5 p.m. Cascade 12
Science fiction and fantasy are all about worldbuilding. One aspect of worldbuilding is setting. In this workshop we'll hone skills around describing setting, both by exploring how bestselling writers use setting and by completing some simple writing exercises in class. Come be creative! Ages 13+. Space is limited and advance sign up is required in Cascade 1.
Brenda Cooper (M)

Figure Drawing Workshop: Models in Costume
4–6 p.m. Cascade 13
Models in costume will do a variety of short and medium length poses (3 to 10 minutes). Everyone is welcome to come and sketch or paint. Please bring your own drawing and painting supplies. An excellent follow-up panel to the Figure Drawing Workshop.
Anita Taylor (M), Lee Moyer, Richard Stephens, Elizabeth Adams, Melissa Quinn, Torrey Stenmark, Vandy H. Hall

Best Vacation Spots in the Solar System
4–5 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Imagine spaceflight becomes cheap, common, and as routine as air travel today. Where in the solar system would you like to spend a vacation? Climbing Olympus Mons? Strapping on wings and flying in the thick atmosphere of Titan? Cliff diving on Miranda? Through our robotic explorers we can now show you these places and more. Where would you like to go? Audience participation strongly encouraged!
Cathy Plesko (M), Bridget Landry, Lilith Dawn, Arthur Bozlee, Dan Dubrick

The Glossary Fashion Show and Tell: Hosted by Beyond Reality Costumers Guild
4–5 p.m. Evergreen 3&4
Imagine many, many years from now that alien fashion anthropologists came to Earth and tried to reconstruct human fashion based on terms they read in historical records. With a basic understanding of our language but perhaps limited idiomatic understanding, how would they interpret 'Single Breasted Jacket' or 'Lobster Bustle'? Join us for a funny fashion cavalcade showing the outlandish and preposterous reimagining of eccentric fashion terms.
Richard Stephens (M), Jonnalyhn Wolfcat, Deborah Strub, Anita Taylor

Concert: Alexander James Adams
4–5 p.m. Grand 3
Alexander James Adams, the fiery Celtic fiddler, has now teamed up with Matthew R.R. Morrese, creator of Canticles, to bring you more than just his songs and stories of the otherworld, but the myths and legends of another world entirely—the Realms of Aegis! Inspiring dreams, wonder, and independent imagination, AJ now composes for the Canticles Arias and Canticles web series! You can find all of his new work at www.canticlesproductions.com; listen to them for free online or subscribe to add them to your library of the faerie tale minstrel! "Now, we'll walk over a thousand miles / A thousand words are gonna tell our tale / A hundred songs written all the while / Whether we succeed or whether we fail." – "Heroes of Our Days."

Mer-ing 102
4–5 p.m. Poolside
Jump in, don't be afraid to take a risk! We're talkin' throwing yourself into a new world, and discovering your other side. Selkies, Merfolk, Demigods, Hippocampi, etc. What's your MERsona like? (Please enter poolside from Concourse 2.)
Mermaid SIF (M), Zir0, Melissa "Merlissa" Thomas, Triton Mahtlinnie, Cuddlefish

Koffee Klatch: Mark Ferrari
4–5 p.m. Pro Suite
A small, informal social gathering for coffee and convsersation. Space is limited. Sign up in Cascade 1.
Mark J. Ferrari (M)

Koffee Klatch: Sonia Orin Lyris
4–5 p.m. Pro Suite
A small, informal social gathering for coffee and convsersation. Space is limited. Sign up in Cascade 1.
Sonia Orin Lyris (M)

Kookie Klatch with Lisa Mantchev
4:30–5 p.m. Olympic 1
Join author Lisa Mantchev for a reading of her book Strictly No Elephants and an interview from our youth pros; and there will be no elephant-related questions or activities from our young audience.
Amélie Mantchev (M), Lisa Mantchev, Eric Snyder

Reading: Curtis C. Chen
5–5:30 p.m. Cascade 2
Kangaroo Too, sequel to Waypoint Kangaroo (Thomas Dunne, 2016). A suspicious spacecraft accident sends our favorite superpowered secret agent to the moon hunting for information, but there are more secrets buried there than he suspected. Rated PG.
Curtis C. Chen (M)

Future Propulsion Systems: Physics and Engineering
5–6 p.m. Cascade 3&4
Deep dive into future kinetic and energy propulsion systems. We'll focus on the current and expected systems of the near future and extrapolate new science and engineering to support tomorrow's science fiction. For instance, how to postulate faster than light (FTL), the needed physics and engineering to be consistent with the rules of your world's tomorrow.
James C. Glass (M), Dr. Dana Andrews, Jon Rogers

Alternative History
5–6 p.m. Cascade 5&6
Join our panelists as they discuss historical fantasy and what elements they use in the creation of their own alternative events.
Spencer Ellsworth (M), Renee Stern, Nisi Shawl, Kay Kenyon, Bill Gruner

It's All About You (Without It Being At All About You)
5–6 p.m. Cascade 7&8
Independent musicians, writers, and artists can all now be their own labels, their own imprints, their own galleries. But in the modern era how do you, a tiny fish, get noticed in the sea of information and other stage-grabbing attention whores like yourself? What if you're just really bad at that? Some of our independent musicians, writers, and artists talk about being heard on the internet stage.
Stephanie Weippert (M), Raven Oak, Alexander James Adams, Shubzilla

Let's Build a Dungeon
5–6 p.m. Cascade 9
A dungeon? Of course! Where else are we going to put all the fiendish monsters and devious traps? I don't have anywhere else to put all these chests and this huge family of mimics that looks like chests, do you? Join the panelists and other audience members in what's sure to be the creation of one of the most bizarre dungeons of all time. It takes a committee to really make a monstrosity, right?
Ogre Whiteside (M), Dylan Templar, Erik Scott de Bie, Ann Shilling

Shuffling Off the Mortal Coil
5–6 p.m. Cascade 10
Fictional characters die, but what if that character is your protagonist? Is killing them a decision that you, as a writer, take lightly? Should you change the outcome for a more positive resolution? Listen to our pros share how they've come to terms with their characters' life-and-death decisions.
Scott James Magner (M), Patrick Swenson, Rhiannon Held, Carol Berg

Writing LGBT Characters in the Post-Patriarchy
5–6 p.m. Cascade 11
Genre fiction—be it television, movies, comics, or books—has seen a tremendous increase in the number of LGBT characters. Is this a natural maturation of the writing process, or a conscious decision in the name of diversity? Our panelists will discuss their own LGBT characters and how these characters came to be included in the narrative.
Dean Wells (M), Evan J. Peterson, Sienna Saint-Cyr, John (J.A.) Pitts

Norwescon Filmmaking Workshop: Lights and Sound!
5–7 p.m. Cascade 12
You've all seen badly lit movies and you've all heard bad audio in videos. These crucial elements aren't nearly as hard as you may think, yet they're the two biggest mistakes beginning filmmakers make. Come learn the basics of lighting and recording clean sound. We'll share tips, tricks, and horror stories about the times it went wrong. Lights and sound are the single most important steps in filmmaking, so come learn how master it!
Ryan K. Johnson (M), Eric Morgret, John Medlong

Eye in the Martian Sky
5–6 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
MRO has been in orbit around Mars for over 10 years and has returned over 250 terabits of data about its surface and atmosphere. Come hear a former member of the operations team describe the project, its accomplishments, and what's up next.
Bridget Landry (M), Cathy Plesko

Diversity in Media: Why is it important?
5–6 p.m. Evergreen 3&4
From heartbreaking videos of "The Doll Test," and both young children and adults who feel they can't be accepted as they are, why is it important that our books, media, games, and cultures are diverse? Why isn't the status quo good enough? The goal is to empower people of all stripes and diverse experiences, and to show characters and role models that help us all to feel like we can be a part of both that world and fandom.
Crystal Connor (M), Brenna Clarke Gray, Sheye Anne Blaze, Donna Prior

Making Plastic From Milk
5–6 p.m. Olympic 1
Did you know milk can be made into plastic? Come to learn how, and make your own small figure or tag from cow's milk!
Eric Snyder (M)

Koffee Klatch: Tod McCoy
5–6 p.m. Pro Suite
A small, informal social gathering for coffee and convsersation. Space is limited. Sign up in Cascade 1.
Tod McCoy (M)

Koffee Klatch: Wendy N. Wagner
5–6 p.m. Pro Suite
A small, informal social gathering for coffee and convsersation. Space is limited. Sign up in Cascade 1.
Wendy N. Wagner (M)

Reading: Caroline M. Yoachim
5:30–6 p.m. Cascade 2
"Dreams as Fragile as Glass." A story of mothers and daughters, sea glass, and dreams. Rated PG
Caroline M. Yoachim (M)

Reading: Kristi Charish
6–6:30 p.m. Cascade 2
Owl and The Electric Samurai, the third novel starring the unforgettable antiqui.ties thief Owl, a modern-day 'Indiana Jane' who reluctantly navigates the hidden supernatural world. The International Archaeology Association (IAA) has opened a bounty on the two designers of World Quest, the online RPG that is much, much more than it seems. Owl needs to locate the notorious gaming duo before mercenaries do. Meanwhile, undercurrents of supernatural politics are running amok in Tokyo, dragging Owl and her friends into a deadly game of wits with an opponent who calls himself the Electric Samurai. The cost of losing? All-out civil war between two powerful supernatural factions. All in all, just another great day on the job. Rated G
Kristi Charish (M)

Worldbuilding: Clothes and Costumes
6–7 p.m. Cascade 3&4
You can demonstrate so much about a culture through the clothes that its inhabitants wear. We peer into the different realms and kingdoms of Westeros to review the unique and iconic fashion styles in Game of Thrones to see how different design choices help to define regional identity.
Theresa Halbert (M), Bethany Roullett

The Kids Aren't All Right
6–7 p.m. Cascade 5&6
From Ray Bradbury's Small Assassin (1946) to Children of the Corn and beyond, some tykes just aren't to be trusted. Join us for an examination of the Bad Seed trope and evil children in horror fiction and film.
Nathan Crowder (M), Arinn Dembo, Julie McGalliard

Researching the Military
6–7 p.m. Cascade 7&8
Where do you go to find out about unclassified military sources? Tom Clancy was a master of combing through professional journals and publications to build remarkably clear views of the state of the military arts and where they were going. Come learn how to ask the right questions and find accurate answers in a timely manner to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of your stories. This is a '101' level course designed to put you on a solid foundation for your way forward.
Susan R. Matthews (M), Alan Paulsen, Russell Ervin, Elliott Kay, Joseph Malik

Hive Minds and the Unary Consciousness
6–7 p.m. Cascade 9
The Insectoid race, where drones are mere extensions of the queen. The disembodied brain that unites all people into a single will, united in peace and order. The Gaia mind, bringing all life on the planet into a single organic whole. If we were ever to encounter a hive mind, would communication be possible? Might humanity someday achieve such a state, and would that be a good thing?
DameRuth (M), Jason Bourget, Caroline M. Yoachim, Sean Hagle

Dialects in Fiction
6–7 p.m. Cascade 10
The voice-of-the-character is an integral part of the narrative process in any story, but what happens when you try to reproduce the sounds of a dialect or accent phonetically on the page? Do you go all-in with incoherent spelling and apostrophes, or trust in the reader's imagination to do the heavy lifting?
Dean Wells (M), Nisi Shawl, Veronica Hamilton, Kat Richardson

Introduction to Literary Analysis for Young Adults
6–7 p.m. Cascade 11
An introductory workshop to literary analysis using science fiction and fantasy classics, specifically for a young fen and young adult audience.
PJ Manney (M), Raven J. Demers

Glass Fusing Workshop Part 1
6–8 p.m. Cascade 13
Learn glass fusing with acclaimed space glass artist Joy Day. Participants will create a small, fused glass piece, which will be fired overnight and available for pick up the following day. Space is limited: please sign up in Cascade 1.
Joy Alyssa Day (M)

Charismatic Mega-Catastrophes
6–7 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Frankly, Zombie Apocalypses (Apocalypsi?) have been overdone. Let's talk about the mega-caldera eruptions, the pole-reversals, the gamma-ray bursters, the coronal-mass ejections, the cosmic impacts. You know, the ones that can REALLY happen.
Kurt Cagle (M), Peter N. Glaskowsky, Mike Brennan, Mickey "Meowse" Phoenix

Dress Up Intro to RPG
6–7 p.m. Olympic 1
Come dressed up as your favorite hero, or build a character with some costumes on hand, so that we can go on an adventure together!
Dale Ivan Smith (M)

Reading: Tina Connolly
6:30–7 p.m. Cascade 2
Tina Connolly reads flash and YA, probably funny, possibly with marshmallows. Rated PG
Tina Connolly (M)

Reading: Julie McGalliard
7–7:30 p.m. Cascade 2
Stripping Down to Scars. Preview of the sequel to her werewolf novel Waking Up Naked in Strange Places. Rated PG.
Julie McGalliard (M)

The GameMaster's Manifesto podcast: GMing From the Hip
7–8 p.m. Cascade 3&4
Bring your books and dice and join us for a live recording of The GameMaster's Manifesto podcast! In this episode Jacob and Troy will be interviewing three of our gaming pros on the topic of GMing with little to no preparation. That's right, no maps, no pre-built NPCs, no 300 page plot writeups! How is that even possible??!? The mind boggles!
Jacob Osterhaus & Troy Lenze (M), Ogre Whiteside, Nathan Crowder, Veronica Hamilton

Outlining for Pantsers (And Everyone Else)
7–8 p.m. Cascade 5&6
Outlining isn't everyone's favorite way of plotting their stories. Some people flat-out hate it. But there are countless ways to plot yourself a course without losing the magic of discovery writing. Learn different methods for creating an outline that can work for you, no matter your writing process.
Manny Frishberg (M), Evan J. Peterson, John (J.A.) Pitts, Jude-Marie Green

Card, Board, and RPG's: Prototyping Your Game
7–8 p.m. Cascade 7&8
So you have a great game design, now what? You need a prototype or playable draft. Putting together something that evokes the feel and play of the game, and shows off its strengths, can be hard. But you're in luck! Our panelists have done this before and can help you figure out how to do it yourself without breaking the bank.
Barry Wilson (M), David Fooden

How to Critique Art
7–8 p.m. Cascade 9
Critique is a valuable tool, but it's not a skill set we're usually taught. We'll discuss good practices for critique, and how to most usefully apply the critiques you receive to improve your work.
Jeliza Patterson-McGuire (M), Lee Moyer, Mimi Noyes, Marta Murvosh, Laura Tempest Zakroff

Fake It 'Til You Make It
7–8 p.m. Cascade 10
Thanks to ebook readers and the internet, writers are just beginning to discover what musicians started figuring out a decade ago: you don't have to deal with the gatekeepers between you and an audience anymore. What does it take to launch an independent writing or music career? How do you become your own label, or imprint? Talk to some of our writers and musicians who are figuring this out themselves.
Jonny Nero Action Hero (M), Christian Lipski, Jessica F. Hebert, Hollyanna McCollom

The Evolution of the Secret State Police
7–8 p.m. Cascade 11
There was once a time when you were only watched by your neighbors, your priest, and the seneschal. But with the rise of cities and social and economic dissatisfaction, the Church and the aristocracy began to hire individuals and groups to watch their fellow citizens. These watchers evolved into organized agencies to police crime, coerce, report, and suppress dissidents. How did an informal beginning evolve in a tightly controlled system in the 19th century that monitored everything from personal mail to social clubs?
Bill Gruner (M), Arinn Dembo, Bart Kemper, Frog Jones

Intro to Leather Tooling: Demo
7–8 p.m. Cascade 12
Decorating leather is one of the oldest fashion embellishments. We'll show you some of the basic tools and techniques you can use to turn plain ordinary into extraordinary.
Torrey Stenmark (M), Jonnalyhn Wolfcat

Why is Spaceflight So Expensive?
7–8 p.m. Evergreen 1&2
Everyone knows spaceflight, especially manned spaceflight, is staggeringly expensive. Why is it so costly? What, if anything, can be done to bring down the cost and who is currently making the most progress in bringing down costs?
Dr. Dana Andrews (M), Dave Davis, Dan DeLong, Arthur Bozlee, Dr. Rob Hoyt

Fandom on an Allowance
7–8 p.m. Olympic 1
Or: I Spend All My Money At Hot Topic. Come by Olympic 1 to listen to tween, teen, and adult panelists who have been there, and discuss the struggles of budgeting for gear when you don't have a car or job.
Lisa Mantchev (M), Amélie Mantchev, Raven J. Demers

Philip K. Dick Awards
7–8:30 p.m. Grand 2
Presented annually at Norwescon, with the support of the Philip K. Dick Trust, for dis.tinguished science fiction published in paperback original form in the United States. The award is sponsored by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society and the Philip K. Dick Trust and the award ceremony is sponsored by Norwescon and the Northwest Science Fiction Society.
Gordon Van Gelder, Kristy Acevedo, Matt Hill, Susan diRende, Claudia Casper

Reading: John Lovett
7:30–8 p.m. Cascade 2
Witchka. Witchka is an original, unproduced screenplay which is about a police detective who reconnects with humanity through the love of a younger woman who happens to be a witch. Rated R.
John Lovett (M)

Reading: Manny Frishberg
8–8:30 p.m. Cascade 2
"Fair Trade." A noir fantasy in which a private eye searches for a changeling's real mother in post-WWII San Francisco. Rated PG
Manny Frishberg (M)

Pre-Masquerade Meeting
8–9 p.m. Cascade 3&4
If you plan to enter the masquerade, you must come to this (or the Friday or Saturday meeting) to get all the information you need to compete and turn over your music. If you have not already registered online we will have a computer available for you to do so. If you are just curious and have some questions, we will have the answers.

Conflict and Cost: Fantasy Edition
8–9 p.m. Cascade 5&6
Join our panelists as they create conflict and costs for different, audience-generated characters across diverse fantasy settings. This is a great opportunity to see the kinds of things professionals consider when creating tension for characters.
Kristi Charish (M), John (J.A.) Pitts, Sonia Orin Lyris, Catherine Cooke Montrose, Joseph Brassey

Diversity 101
8–9 p.m. Cascade 7&8
Diversity is a topic that is often discussed. To facilitate better and deeper discussions, come learn some of the basics. Let's define things like Intersectionality, Derailing, Tone Arguments, and more. Let's ask the questions that might feel difficult to ask in more advanced panels.
Sheye Anne Blaze (M), Crystal Connor, J. F. High, Evan J. Peterson, Lilith Dawn

Pop Culture and the Facebook Phenomenon
8–9 p.m. Cascade 9
Has social media changed how we look at pop culture? With Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, and Reddit, information, and the opinions of the screaming hordes, is at our fingertips more quickly than it has been in the past. Is this a good or a bad thing?
Brenna Clarke Gray (M), Donna Prior

Worldbuilding: Alien Cultures that Don't Dehumanize
8–9 p.m. Cascade 10
Set a cowboy-and-Indian yarn on another planet. Swap the cowboys for space rangers and the indigenes for monstrous aliens—the premise for countless space operas of the pulp era. The metaphor is clear: Native Americans are monstrous. How do you mirror alien societies with their Earthly counterparts without portraying non-Western races and religions as inhuman themselves?
Liz Argall (M), Stephanie Weippert, K. M. Alexander, Rhiannon Held

Alien & Fantasy Biology
8–9 p.m. Cascade 11
What can artists do to create new and unusual life forms? How does our understanding of human and animal biology help us take the known and twist it to create the unknown? Come meet some artists who excel in making realistic creatures that do not actually exist and make us believe that they could.
DameRuth (M), Jake McKinzie, Catska Ench, Cory Ench

Sexing Up/Down Your Sex Scenes: Writing Workshop
8–9 p.m. Cascade 12
Sex is a part of our lives. It's something that most of us can connect to. When added to a novel or short story, an intimate sex scene can offer a lot of insight into your characters. Does your character hide under the sheets and insist the lights are off? Do they shout wildly as they engage? Do they like an audience? How about if you're writing a young adult novel and don't want things so obvious? When do you choose to add more detail and/or fade to black? Come prepared to work your sex scenes! We'll discuss what kind of sex scene is right for your written work and just how much detail to put into it based on genre and what the author would like to achieve with the scene. Presented by Cascade Writers. Ages 18+. Space is limited and advance sign up is required in Cascade 1.
Sienna Saint-Cyr (M)

Going Rogue
8–9 p.m. Cascade 13
A new Star Wars movie! Of course we are going to parse and review all of our new favorite characters and what they wore. Love those new elite storm troopers!
Richard Stephens (M), Bethany Roullett

Friday Dance: Stardance
8 p.m.–2 a.m. Evergreen 3&4
Celebrate 40 years of Norwescon with a special anniversary edition of the Stardance! mc00baud returns to spin a mix of dance tracks and convention classics from the 70's to today, providing a window to our past and a glimpse into the future.

Reading: Marta Murvosh
8:30–9 p.m. Cascade 2
"Bottled Aggression." Marta will read from "Bottled Aggression," a story that she co-wrote with Jude-Marie Green (who is another Norwescon panelist.) It is a police procedural set in a near-future world somewhat like our own. Rated R
Marta Murvosh (M)

Reading: J. F. High
9–9:30 p.m. Cascade 2
A reading from an unnamed piece. Rated R
J. F. High (M)

Collecting vs. COLLECTING
9–10 p.m. Cascade 3&4
Do you really need to keep your comics in acid free plastic bags with special backings if really all you want to do is pull them out and read them while sipping a soda and eating Cheetos? Do you really need to "wash your hands, then turn the page, then wash your hands…?" We'll have panelists from both sides of the spectrum.
Matt Hammond (M), Mickey Schulz, Brenna Clarke Gray, Dylan Templar

How to Tackle a Revision
9–10 p.m. Cascade 7&8
So you finished your first draft. Now what? Writing a first draft is a huge accomplishment, but it's also just the beginning. How do you revise it? How do you even know where to start? Learn how to take your messy draft and turn it into a completed, polished manuscript. Panelists will talk about what they do, what hasn't worked for them, and what might work for you.
Laura Anne Gilman (M), Jude-Marie Green, Jak Koke, Andrea Howe

Hated It!
9–10 p.m. Cascade 9
Everyone loves geeky movies, TV series, comics, and games these days. Here's a panel for the curmudgeon in all of us. Listen to pros tell you what they hate about Star Trek, Walking Dead, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and more. No recording allowed.
Jason Vanhee (M), Jason Bourget, David Fooden

Grounded Sci-Fi
9–10 p.m. Cascade 10
Join our panelists as they discuss Sci-Fi that isn't set in space, and the unique benefits and challenges such stories present.
Liz Argall (M), Crystal Connor, Wendy N. Wagner, Marc Gascoigne

Flirting 101
9–11 p.m. Cascade 11
Whether you're married, available, gay, straight, queer, or all that and more, this workshop is for you. We'll explore the rules of social engagement between sentient beings and how to break them—the rules, not the sentients. Starting with the terror of "hello," we'll dive into taking risks, making mistakes, rejection, and how these are stepping stones to success.
Sonia Orin Lyris (M)

Screenwriting 101
9–10 p.m. Cascade 12
If you want to learn everything you need to know to start your feature screenplay, this panel is for you. You will get taught every step of the screenwriting process—how to choose a genre, build captivating characters, create conflict, and more! This is the first step, and step two is on Saturday. (Please feel free to bring your laptop or notebook and pen; we'll have paper and pens available as well.)
Canticles Productions

All-Ages Scheduled Gaming
9 p.m.–2 a.m. Evergreen 1&2
Come sign up for a game run by our DMs or check out games from our lending library. We have RPGs, computer games, LARPs, card games, board games, and so much more! Need ADA access for a game? Please speak to our staff when you sign up so we can be sure to meet your needs.

Stitch & Bitch and Costume 911
9 p.m.–midnight Olympic 1
Bring your projects and join us. Successful costuming means being able to problem solve quickly and efficiently. Not an easy thing to do when you are desperately trying to finish up before you go on stage or you run short of material or you lost a sleeve, etc. Our seasoned costume veterans have been through all these emergencies and more, and are here to troubleshoot your crisis and help get you to completion. Bring your challeng.es, your hang ups, your creative blocks and we can help get you back on the course of completing your ensemble.
Carmen Beaudry (M), Tammie L. Dupuis

21+ Scheduled Gaming
9 p.m.–2 a.m. Maxi's Ballroom
Come sign up for a game run by our DMs or check out games from our lending library. We have RPGs, computer games, LARPs, card games, board games, and so much more! Need ADA access for a game? Please speak to our staff when you sign up so we can be sure to meet your needs. 21+ ONLY WITH PHOTO ID.

Reading: Frog Jones
9:30–10 p.m. Cascade 2
The Gift of Grace. Frog gives a sneak peek at the next book coming out in the Gift of Grace series. Rated PG
Frog Jones (M)

Burlesque: Intense Fires
9:30–11 p.m. Grand 2
You've heard stories of strange creatures that are said to be found in Seattle, if you know where to look. The moth woman of the Duwamish River or the witch of Bitter Lake. Some say a succubus lays claim to the men of Pioneer Square and that the fae folk have forged a warrior of flesh and steel to protect the entrance to the Summerland that can be found in Woodland Park. If only you had someone to act as your guide? Fortunately for you, you're in luck! Lilith van Dyke is your guide to some of the incryptid population of Seattle! Even though you should already know this, never touch a strange incryptid. It could end up disastrous for you, like it did to poor Vivian Page. Come to Intense Fires: Burlesque in the Urban Fantastic on Friday night to discover some of these amazing creatures, and perhaps a heart wrenching story or two, with performances from Bella La Blanc (from Reston, Virginia), Foxy Squires (from New York City), Mercy Stackhouse, Miss Violet DeVille, Taryn Luce, Tawdry Quirks, Whisper De Corvo, and a living legend of burlesque who is no stranger to fandom, Pillow! Intense Fires is included with your membership to the convention and is Friday night in Grand 2 and Grand 3.
Lilith von Fraumench (M), Whisper De Corvo, Violet DeVille, Tawdry Quirks, Taryn Luce, Pillow, Mercy Stackhouse, Aurora Darling, Foxy Squire, Bella la Blanc

Friends of Bill W.
10–11 p.m. Cascade 3&4

Consensual Non-Monogamy
10–11 p.m. Cascade 5&6
What is consensual non-monogamy? Is it polyamory, swinging, polygamy, or relationship anarchy? Why would anyone want more than one partner? What important advice is there for starting out? How do you do you minimize hurt feelings? Can you? How do more conservative family members react to these plural relationships? Should you, shouldn't you? What are the pros and cons?
Sar Surmick (M), Sienna Saint-Cyr, Wednesday Phoenix, Sheye Anne Blaze, Jen K

Mass Hysteria: The Social Responsibility of Horror
10–11 p.m. Cascade 7&8
In which we explore how a fear of clowns, sharks, and people with mental illness can be created and exacerbated by well-crafted horror. Sometimes these fears even take on a life of their own beyond the author's influence. What, if any, responsibility does the author bear? Can it be controlled? Should it?
Morgue Anne (M), Arinn Dembo, Jason Bourget, Eric Morgret

Friday Night Open Filk
11:30 p.m.–2 a.m. Grand 2
Come celebrate the culmination of Friday Filkfest by filking the night away! This is where you can come sing or play whatever you want, alone or with friends, to the most supportive crowd you will ever run into ever anywhere. Seriously, you have no idea. Bring your instrument, bring your voice, and put some of that participation into participatory culture!

The Rocky Horror Picture Show
11:30 p.m.–1:30 a.m. Grand 3
You know the deal. The bridge is out, I guess we'll have to spend the night. Damn it, Janet! Let's do the Time Warp again. Join a live cast performing this classic on our backstage screen.

[Art by Cory & Catska Ench of cats perched on a tree branch in a misty grotto near a waterfall and a large statue of a cat.]

Norwescon 40 Pocket Program Thursday & Friday