That’s how SteamCon was. I arrived Friday afternoon for the Steampunk Reimagines Fairy Tales. This was a writing-focused panel, and I’d like to see future SteamCons make a wider space for a writing track, since this was jam-packed with attendees. Lisa Mantchev was our excellent moderator, and J.R. Boyett, a fellow participant in the FairyPunk project, was another panelist. We talked about how to create stories that best take advantage of the steampunk setting, without making it seem as though you’re just gluing a gear on it.
Later that evening, I had the first of my three panels on Victorian explorers. This was the best of them, because it focused on women explorers, and that’s an area I am reasonably well-read in, because I love some of those stories so much. That session included moderator Carmen Beaudry, Lori Edwards and another exquisitely garbed woman whose name, unfortunately, I didn’t catch. It was AWESOME and we all had a lovely time. I’ll mention some of the names we touched on, and urge you to go look these ladies and their amazing stories up: Harriet Chalmers Adams, Gertrude Bell, Isabelle Eberhardt, Mary Kingsley, Annie Smith Peck, May French Sheldon, and Lady Hester Stanhope, among many others.
Saturday was two more panels on expeditions, first one with Joshua Merrill-Nach on Great Quests of the 19th Century and later one on cryptozooological expeditions with a last minute substitute panelist whose name I know only as “Sean,” unfortunately, but who was terrific. Both panels were pretty full, the second one standing room only.
Sunday morning, I read from “Her Windowed Eyes, Her Chambered Heart” to a small but select audience that included the fabulous Sandra M. Odell. And then I made one last pass through the wonders of the dealer’s room and retreated home. Adieu glitter and goggles!
9 Responses
Yes, Wonder Woman was there.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jputnam/10531962983/
What a fabulous picture!! I am so sorry I missed her, that is an awesome costume.
Closer view of Wonder Woman from inside the Vendor hall when their league had only grown to 4….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jputnam/10616265234/
And lots of other great images from Steamcon V at
http://www.flickr.com/groups/2089276@N24/
I am actually in that photo….just not visible. My wifes arm is visible just behind the woman in the grey coat on the far right hand side of the photo. My wife has a pink coat over her arm.We were in line for the Brian Kesinger signing. I was very taken with super girls costume. Very cool.
If you were there, you probably saw me — my wife wanted to be Dorothy, so of course I was the Tin Man. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jputnam/10484360346/
Unfortunately I did not see you. That is a brilliantcostume. I am guilty of constructing costume pieces mostly from plastic. All of the time and effort that went into so many of the costumes at steamcon made me want to learn some new skills.ti
We were pleased to attend! Thank you for a wonderful reading.
I’m so happy to have had you on the women adventurers panel. I think we could have told stories for hours.
I think the missing panelist is Ruth Margo Lowes.