Hello, Everyone (or No One), Welcome!
So, I'll start this post off right with some good old fashioned self-depreciation and let you know that it's kind of a running joke around my friends group that I have had about 1000 blogs, most of them regrettable, all of them with and intro and two other posts, followed by sudden death. Promising, I know!
I have, however, decided to take this one a bit more seriously, since I've started to do a lot more public speaking and writing, and I'm going to need to a place to send all of you in the event you want to see more of my work and opinions!
This blog came about because I have a lot of things happening in my life, professionally and personally, that are too long to tweet, and too cool to limit to just my Facebook friends.
One really awesome thing that happened back on November 13-15th was CONjuration! Conjuration is an Atlanta-based, Harry Potter themed convention (it also includes Buffy, Lord of the Rings, Supernatural, and so much more!). I was really impressed with the amount of good panels and activities they had. There was a smattering of talented local authors, designers, gamers, and performers. I'm not exaggerating when I say there was something for everyone!
I greatly enjoyed panels on writing and woman in fantasy and role playing games, Diagon Alley (I got a wand and so much swag!), Nerdlesque featuring Hysteria Machines doing "Sexpelliarmus," "Once More, with Bunnies," and Hunt for the Horcrux (I died, womp-womp!).
One awesome thing I learned about there and have since joined is the Hogwarts Running Club, a virtual racing club that supplies actual, really cool medals, the proceeds from which go to their corresponding charity! There are no races currently available until January, BUT, you can still join the group for your house of Facebook and use the app Charity Miles to help your house win the House Cup! I can honestly say HRC is a group of supportive, kindhearted people who want to help you succeed!
I also met a really cool lady named Lacey who runs Nerd Yoga, an inviting yoga class that incorporates fandom into your practice! I can also confirm she is the sweetest Slytherin I've ever met.
I actually got to speak on a panel with authors Ben Herr, and A. R. Cook about female role models in popular culture, due purely by virtue of me talking a lot at one of their panels, which was very sweet of them. I hope next year I have a book ready and we can do it all again!
So, yes, I had a fantastic time, and would do it again!
I hope I have even more exciting opportunities and events to tell you all about soon!
