Part Two of World Fantasy Con 2022, and a few thoughts from a great panel that I was one of the speakers of – Just Who is the Villain? A deep dive into looking at the good, the bad, and everything between. Who doesn’t love morally grey villains that strike that uncomfortable chord?
Coming to the end of a wonderfully inventive, inspiring and truly imaginative World Fantasy Convention 2022. As we look for ways to break the mould, as well as barriers in our stories, international conventions are looking to do the same, finding platforms to raise a wonderfully diverse range of voices. It’s also a reminder of the inequity of barriers faced, as we search for those authentic voices. Hopeful, as we see gains made, reflected in my ever-going to-read list, while humbling in the knowledge of an uneven worldwide playing field. Still, there’s hope. If anyone knows how to find new and innovative solutions, it’s surely those that occupy the speculative fiction sphere.
Looking forward to the week ahead, because… it is WORLD FANTASY CONVENTION 2023, my third year there, and I will be tuning into New Orleans from the comfort of my writing room. Really excited for so many inspiring panels, and conversations with readers and writers alike. And of course, I’m looking forward to being a panelist again, programmed on Friday’s, Just Who is the Villain panel. Buzzing – but more on that later.
