CopperCon 28 Literature Programming
(all information is subject to change at any time up to,
during and even after the convention )
Updated 08/05/2008

(Note: Thursday programming is open only to those who have pre-registered)

LIT-LITERATURE

LIT/MED - ARTHUR & CAMELOT. A discussion of all things Arthurian from books to movies. A roundtable, audience participation, on the Arthurian legends.
Sun noon-1p, Palo Verde 1. Wyllow Ravenscroft

LIT/SOC - BRINGING SF INTO THE CLASSROOM. Which schools are already using SF in their literature - or science - programs? Which books do they use, and why? What results do they get? Do students go on to read more SF? How does the introduction to SF affect them? Should this become a market niche? Some writers wrote specifically with school age readers in mind: Heinlein, Asimov, and Rowling certainly; which others?
Sat 11a-noon, Ballroom B. Paul Cook (Moderator), Emily Hogan, Chris Paige, Rick Novy

LIT - DIALOGUE VS. DESCRIPTION. MaryJanice (our Author GoH) is dynamite with dialogue - her characters would be so one-dimensional without her voice. But Anthony (our Special GoH) seems to think description is more important. Come listen to these two pros duke it out.
Sun 10a-11a, Palo Verde 2. MaryJanice Davidson GoH, Anthony Alongi

LIT/MED - DOES SF LIT EVER TRANSLATE WELL TO FILM? A short story might make a good two hour movie but you need a mini-series or a TV show to do a novel right. When has Hollywood done it well? War of the Worlds? Or Hitchhiker's Guide? Narnia?
Sat 130p-230p, Palo Verde 2. Kevin Birnbaum (Moderator), Tabitha Bradley, Summer Brooks, Rick Novy.

LIT/FAN - FANFICTION THRU THE AGES. FanFic meant something different in the 1950's thru 1960's than it means today. How has the accepted definition changed? How did Star Trek change Fanfic? What motivates someone to write fanfic? Why does Stargate SG1 garner more fanfic now than all of Star Trek? Where to go on the Internet to find it and how do you tell if it's any good?
Sat 2p-3p, Ballroom B. Ken St. Andre (Moderator), Don Markstein, Craig Porter

LIT/MED - FILM VS. LITERATURE: WHICH ONE LASTS LONGER?Movies might make a big impression on the population but are they remembered after 10 or 20 years? Does Matheson's "I Am Legend" last because of the book or the movies? Which did we love more: Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles novel or the movie? But then there's Dr. Who - the TV series definitely overshadows the books.
Fri 7p-8p, Ballroom A. Emily Hogan (Moderator), Paul Cook, Ernest Hogan, Sue Martin

LIT/MED/SCI - FOOLISH SCIENCE IN FILM & LIT. It's true that a lot of our early science fiction looks foolish now - but how many budding scientists were inspired by pulps and movie serials? Are they still being inspired by the idea of a "transporter?" Do we really need to be "science nazis" in our fiction or is there still room for wonder?
Fri 5p-6p, Palo Verde 2. Anna Paradox (Moderator), Ernest Hogan, Dr. David Williams, Walter Sanville

LIT/SOC - GOD AND SCIENCE FICTION. There's no reason not to include religion in your science fiction, religion has a place in our history and our culture. How much is too much? And what flavor? When does it contribute to the story and when does it just turn into preaching?
Fri 5p-6p, Ballroom A. Chris Paige (Moderator), Steven Brust, Charles Lesher, Michelle Welch.

LIT - HOW TO WRITE TO YOUNG ADULTS & KIDS. With such a surge in interest from Harry Potter - is there an equally burgeoning market for YA writers? What are the particular tips & tricks to writing in this market?
Fri 5p-6p, Palo Verde 1. MaryJanice Davidson, GoH(Moderator), Emily Hogan, Don Markstein.

LIT/MED - MALE ARCHETYPES IN FILM AND LITERATURE. There are nine recognized male archetypes. How do you identify them in literature and media? How many can you find in Serenity or Star Trek? Did Heinlein make use of many? Can female writers use them effectively?
Sat 11a-noon, Palo Verde 2. John J. Miller (Moderator), Tabitha Bradley, Adam Niswander

LIT - MEET MARYJANICE DAVIDSON. Here's your chance to meet and chat with our Guest up close and personal. Her husband and partner, Anthony, will moderate. MaryJanice writes great funny paranormal romance, she was on a best-seller list by the time she was 34. And she talks like she writes.
Thurs 7p-8p, Palo Verde 1. Anthony Alongi-moderator.
Sat 1130a-1p, Palo Verde 1. Anthony Alongi-moderator.

LIT/MED - MINORITIES IN SF/F. Do we have representation in our genre of minorities? Women are now an integral part of the genre but do we see much of people of color? And how about handicapped persons? Do they only get center stage in literature or media if they are the focus of the story?
Sat 3p-4p, Ballroom B. Summer Brooks (Moderator), Ernest Hogan, Rick Novy.

LIT - MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL: SF often reflects present truths. Which authors and stories tell it like it is; even if the plot involves aliens or magic and monsters? Some writers hold up a mirror to human nature and show us our own hearts and minds; the best and the worst. Telling the truth has long been one of fiction's functions.
Authors to quote and discuss might include Rudyard Kipling, James Alan Gardner, Bruce Sterling, our writer GoHs, Mercedes Lackey and any others that come to your mind.
Sat 10a-11a, Ballroom B. Anna Paradox (Moderator), Steven Brust, Jack Mangan, Adam Niswander.

LIT - MOTIVATION IN YOUR STORY. How do you define your character's motivation? Is it critical to the story?
Sat 330p-430p, Palo Verde 2. MaryJanice Davidson, GoH (Moderator), Kevin Birnbaum, Steven Brust, John J. Miller.

LIT - NATIVE AMERICANS IN SF. The Sioux Spaceman! The Martian Incan! Portrayals of Native Americans and their myths in science fiction tells us more about our culture, perhaps, than indigenous culture. A powerpoint show of representative book cover art accompanies a discussion of both good and bad use of Native Americans in SF.
Sat 10a-11a, Ballroom A. Kevin Dahl

LIT - SF/F HUMOR. What authors and stories make us chuckle out loud? Robert Asprin, Jody Lynn Nye, Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett? Who are/were your favorites? Do you think most writers steer clear of this because it's hard to write?
Sat 5p-6p, Palo Verde 1. MaryJanice Davidson, GoH (Moderator), Emily Hogan, Ken St. Andre.

LIT - SLEUTHING AND CRIME SOLVING IN SCIFI AND FANTASY. We see a lot of detective stories pop up in our genre. Wen Spencer, Paul Levinson, Jim Butcher and Tee Morris...they have to have their inspirations! So listen to our panelists talk about their favorite cop shows and detective novels, figure out who would be their favorite sleuth to solve today's biggest and baddest cases, and reminisce over successful crossovers like THE X-FILES, FOREVER KNIGHT, ALIEN NATION and BLADE RUNNER.
Sat 7p-8p, Palo Verde 2. Summer Brooks, John J. Miller.

LIT - THE NEW WEIRD. Just a critics' fad or marketing gimmick? What is it? Who writes it? And do I want to read it?
Sun 10a-11a, Ballroom B. Adam Niswander, Ken St. Andre

LIT/MED - WHAT FUTURE SCIENCE ARE WE MISSING? We missed predicting the Internet or cellphones or palm computers (aside from a tricorder). What are we missing now that our kids kids will be using?
Sun 2p-3p, Palo Verde 2. Paul Cook, Ken St. Andre

LIT - WHY ENDINGS MATTER. Would Lord of the Rings have been better if Frodo had lived happily ever after? Does it make a difference whether or not Dorothy's travels in Oz are just a dream? The panel explores story endings and how to avoid cliches or endings that feel forced.
Sun 2p-3p, Ballroom A. Anna Paradox (Moderator), Steven Brust, John J. Miller, Michelle Welch.