I've just arrived home after my first World Fantasy Convention. I had a really fantastic time attending panels, going to readings, and meeting new people. Originally, I wasn't thrilled about having the con in Saratoga Springs, NY. However, after seeing the town and the surroundings, I was sold on the location. The con hotel was easy to get to and parking was free. The main street filled with lots of little shops and eateries was right outside – perfect for stepping outside for a quick bite to eat or a caffeine reload. All in all, it was a fine location.

The number of people who attended the con was staggering. I am the girl who doesn't like crowds. Put me inside a building with 1,000+ other people and I'm the one that will slip out the back door unnoticed. But WFC was different. For some reason, it felt like I was just hanging out with a bunch of friends. It was great! I have never seen so many writers, editors, and publishers all in the same place at the same time. It was utterly amazing to be surrounded by everyone from newbie writers to top tier publishers and authors like Gene Wolf and Jefferey Ford.

I went to several panels, but thought the best panel was "The Legacy of Shirley Jackson". There was some panelist switching and I think the final mix was Charlaine Harris, Alexandra Sokoloff, James Frenkel, Kelly Link, and John Kessel (who ended up being the moderator). John Kessel gave a brief introduction of Jackson's history and posed a variety of questions to the panel members that ranged from "Which of Jackson’s short stories is your favorite?" to "How has Jackson's work evolved in the public mind over time?" There were an array of other probing questions that examined horror themes, point of view, feminism, humanism, and more – all of which the panel really sank their teeth into. The answers were thoughtful and full of content that continuously spawned more discussion. I was very impressed by this group and the insight they brought to the topic. I wish all panels could be as intellectually stimulating as the Shirley Jackson panel.

( Click Here for More of Erin's WFC Report. )

Last Wednesday I had my mid-semester meeting with my Stonecoast mentor, Jim Kelly. I was a little nervous. I'm not sure why. I've known him for a while now, but this is the first time we got together to talk about all of my work. He spent a little less than 2.5 hours with me, which was so much longer than I had anticipated.

We talked about everything from what I'm currently working on to what I plan to work on over the course of my next three semesters at Stonecoast. He was glad to hear that I'm switching to writing science fiction and humorous fiction. I think I might have worried him a little with all of my twisted, dark fantasy! Sorry Jim!

My third semester project is focused on the adaptation of an original work (such as a poem) and turning it into a screenplay. My plan centers on adapting "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" into a screenplay. However, I'm starting to think that I might turn it into a novel instead. My end goal is to introduce new generations of readers to the beauty, fantasy, and horror of the Romantic Poets. Blake, Shelley, Coleridge - three of my all time favorite poets and storytellers. I’m going to have to really think about what to do with my project because it will mean a significant shift in the type of writing I'll be doing over the next couple of semesters (as well as after I finish the program).

I've also been doing a significant amount of research on European discovery voyages between the 15th and 18th Centuries. The information I'm learning is fascinating and it's encouraging me to think bigger than a screenplay. Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a fantastical, if not horrific, poem written about a Mariner who kills an albatross and then has to suffer through a series of terrible lessons before his penance is done. I feel like a movie can’t go deeply enough into the psychological depths that need to be explored to fully realize the significance of this poem. So, it’s decision-making time. Stick with the screenplay or switch to novelizing the poem. What to do?!

Next week is going to be insane. On Thursday, I'm heading to the World Fantasy Convention in Saratoga Springs, NY - it's one of those locations that just isn't easy to get to anyway you slice it. The schedule has been posted and there are a ton of readings, which should be terrific. I'm especially looking forward to the reading by David Anthony Durham. I was disappointed that he left Stonecoast the semester before I began. I would have loved a chance to study with him, but I can’t fault him for taking a tenured faculty position! Congrats David!

All right, so it's back to work now.