BayCon Is Back in July 2022

My favorite local convention returns on the weekend of July 4th in the Bay Area, California, at the San Mateo Marriott San Francisco Airport location. The Guests of Honor are author Steven Barnes, artist Galen Dara, and Jean Batt representing the fan community. Bonnie Gordon is this year’s toastmaster. The convention is requiring full COVID precautions in all public spaces, a mandatory policy that makes it possible for me, and many of you, to attend. I hope you’ll join me for a weekend of fascinating panels, a dealer’s room full of curiosities, wondrous creations in the art show, and more.

I’ve been invited to participate as a panelist. Check out my panel schedule at the end of this post.

I will also be at the Liminal Fiction table in the dealers room on and off during the convention, so if you’re interested in a copy of one or more of my books, please drop by. We’ll have many interesting titles to peruse.

Don’t forget you can add the panels you’re interested in to your profile on Grenadine, the mobile and online con schedule app. You can find more than just those panels I’m on in Grenadine, but to save your choices, I believe you must register for the con here: https://baycon.org/ . Both weekend and day passes are available.

Time Zone: (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Friday 1 July, 2022

The Office Space of the Future is a HoloDeck 

1 hour 15 minutes, 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM in Synergy 4

Panelists: DrWanda Kurtcu, SJSU (Moderator); Margaret McGaffey Fisk, TTO Publishing; and Vanessa MacLaren-Wray, RPG Power Systems

What’s work really going to be like in the future, now that workers have learned the benefits—and disparities—of the work-from-home modality? What does that mean for the workplace of the future, in the stories we read and tell and in the world we’re designing for ourselves? Panelists discuss how changing our perceptions of a “workplace” may affect our culture long term.


Saturday 2 July, 2022

Creative Tools as Lifesavers 

1 hour 15 minutes, 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM in Engage

Panelists: Margaret McGaffey Fisk, TTO Publishing (Moderator); Colin Fisk; DrWanda Kurtcu, SJSU; and Katharine Kit Kerr (Panelist)

Panelists discuss which of their creative tools helped them survive the pandemic so far. The category includes creative techniques, physical tools, software, and mental tricks using their creativity. Join them to pick up a few tips to help you weather the last few months or years, whatever it turns out to be.

The “Art” of Backstory 

1 hour 15 minutes, 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM in Synergy 1

Panelists: Margaret McGaffey Fisk, TTO Publishing (Moderator); Fred Wiehe; and Colin Fisk (Panelist)

Panelists will accept suggestions from the audience and craft backstories on the fly, either as a group or taking turns. These will be quick, but telling, elements that demonstrate the value of backstory while offering a chuckle. Bring your best one-sentence character descriptions and see what the skilled hands of the panelists can do.


Monday 4 July, 2022

Technological Solutions Save the Day 

1 hour 15 minutes, 10:00 AM – 11:15 AM in Engage

Panelists: Margaret McGaffey Fisk, TTO Publishing (Moderator); Galen Dara; Kimberly Unger; and Q Fortier

Many options previously declared impossible were implemented when businesses, organizations, and governments had to figure out a way for society to continue during lockdown. We don’t yet know whether they’ll remain available after the pandemic. Panelists discuss various examples, exploring the limitations, benefits, and how this proof of concept might affect the post-pandemic future.

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