I really love going to readings at science fiction conventions. There’s always a new story, something interesting, and a chance to talk with the authors one-on-one. As I did at SoonerCon in June, I went to lots of readings at FenCon XVI. And, as usual, I discovered some real delights.

I caught four Friday readings at FenCon XVI. All were delightful, but I was having a terrible time with my access to Facebook and Twitter. In the process, I lost some of the specifics about the selections being read. I was able to recover most of it, however. Enough to share with you here.

Rhonda Eudaly

After recent posts, you probably won’t be surprised that I made a point of going to hear Rhonda Eudaly’s reading. As I’d hoped, she read her short story “Peri Potter and the Sorcerer’s Bowl.” It is quite entertaining (did you read it from its link in Monday’s post? If not, here it is again.) The story hasn’t been published elsewhere, as far as I know.

Monalisa Foster

After Rhonda’s reading, I stayed. I didn’t know who Monalisa Foster was, but I was primed to hear another story, and I’m glad I stayed.

She read “Catching the Dark,” a fascinating alternate history that involved the amazing Russian “Night Witches.” They were a daring group of women ,so feared by the Nazis that anyone who downed one of their biplanes was automatically awarded an Iron Cross. The story has been anthologized in Slip the Surly Bonds, edited by Chris Kennedy and James Young, and released earlier this month.

If the rest of the anthology is as interesting as Monalisa’s story, it belongs in the library of anyone who loves alternate history. For a fairly comprehensive list of this interesting author’s work, visit her website and her Amazon page.

Kimm Antell

The next author to arrive, Kimm Antell, discovered long ago that “Brownies are my thing.” That is, they’re her favorite “monster” to write about. They weren’t really all that monstrous in her story “Brownout,” but they were true-to-form in many ways. These particular brownies inhabit the cubicles of computer programmers. Assorted hilarity and life-change events ensue, after Cedric, the kind-hearted but shy protagonist discovers them.

I try to remember to ask permission to photograph, write about someone, tweet, and utilize Facebook. I was particularly glad I asked before I started taking photos of Kimm. She told me she didn’t normally allow anyone to photograph her. But she felt comfortable enough, because I asked, to allow me the liberty. I deeply appreciate her permission! It allows me to share my discovery of another wonderful talent.

Julie Czerneda

Turns out  Julie Czerneda, one of FenCon XVI’s headliner guests, is an accomplished dramatic reader. She’s as fun to watch as she is to listen to. No one photo of her in action will suffice, so I offer a “gallery” of them.

You’ll note she’s not reading only from one book in these photos, either. She offered up intriguing glimpses from several different projects. As you’d expect, she did read from her latest release, The Gossamer Mage. But she also shared excerpts of other projects, including A Thousand Words for Stranger.

All in all the Friday readings at FenCon XVI were funny, gripping, dramatic. And altogether a delightful way to spend a large part of my afternoon.

IMAGE CREDITS:

All photos are by me, Jan S. Gephardt, taken 9/20/2019 in Irving, TX. Please feel free to reblog or share them, but please always with an attribution and a link back to this page, their original source.