This weekend (July 22-23rd, 2011) I’ll be attending Pittsburgh’s annual Literary Science Fiction convention, Confluence. Here’s my schedule of events:

Friday July 22, 5:30pm Jr Suite
Michael Arnzen Fiction Reading

Friday 6pm Jr Suite
Literary Beer: informal chat about the book, MANY GENRES, ONE CRAFT: LESSONS IN WRITING POPULAR FICTION with editors Heidi Ruby Miller & Michael Arnzen

Friday 10pm Willow Room
HORROR PANEL: “Growing up Scared: How What Scares us Changes as We Age”
Michael Arnzen (Moderator); Paul Anderson; John Alfred Taylor; Lawrence Connolly
Description: “From monsters and gore to conspiracy and untrustworthy senses, the things that scared us as children may not have the same impact the older we get. We take a look at the changing items and ideas that frighten us as our lives evolve.”

Saturday July 23, 2pm Willow Room
HORROR PANEL: “Poe, Bierce and Saki: The Flavor of Gothic Horror”
Paul Anderson (Moderator); Michael Arnzen; Eric Beebe; Chris Pisano; KT Pinto
Description: “Time was, horror was more about the state of mind, or maybe the lack of mind to have a state. Are the writers still as scary as they used to be and what do they have to do with what is scary today?”

Saturday 4pm Oak Room
LITERARY PANEL: “I Know The Cat Who…”
Mary Turzillo (Moderator); Paul Anderson; Michael Arnzen; Brea Ludwigson
Description: “Cats in various genres of literature. Cats have been well represented in Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy and even mystery. Catlike aliens are a staple of SF. I even heard a theory about dragons – that our distant ancestors feared three things most: snakes, large birds, and big cats, and that the dragon is a chimera of these three. Sacred Cats and why people idolized, venerated, and deified cats.”

Saturday 7pm MF Room
Book Signing (for MANY GENRES, ONE CRAFT and others) with Michael Arnzen & Heidi Ruby Miller

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Participants at Confluence this year include: Guest of Honor Robert J. Sawyer and Featured Filk guest Alexa Klettner along with: Paul Anderson, Andina & Rich, John Anealio, Michael Arnzen, Bonfire Night, Ed Chamberlain, Ken Chiacchia, Brenda Clough, Lawrence C. Connolly, Kathryn Cramer, John DeChancie, Devo Spice, Richard Errington, Tim Esaias, Charles Gannon, Max de Groot, Pete Grubbs, David Hartwell, Bruce Hoffman, Alan Irvine, Alan A. Katerinsky, Herb Kauderer, William H. Keith, Jr, David Barr Kirtley, Fruma Klass, Brian Koscienski, Josh Kronengold, Lackzoom Acidophilus, Geoffrey Landis, Timothy E. Liebe, Gary McGath, Heidi Ruby Miller, Judi Miller, Robin Nakkula, Lisa Padol, KT Pinto, Chris Pisano, Michelle Sagara, Kathy Sands, Bud Sparhawk, S. Andrew Swann, Michael Swanwick, Jon Sprunk, John Alfred Taylor, Mary Turzillo, Patricia Wake, Michelle Sagara West and Wild Mercy.
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I’ll post I’ve posted photos at the Michael Arnzen Social Network page. Keep up with my author apperances at booktour.com