The 52nd World Fantasy Convention

I’ve kept a lighter schedule of author events this last year, aiming to spend more time on writing itself after a few years of having other tasks take my attention. But I will be appearing at World Fantasy this coming weekend in Oakland, CA! The convention runs Thursday, October 22, through Sunday, October 25.

This will be my first ever World Fantasy! It is practically in my own backyard, and two of my friends, Rina Elson Weisman and Audrey Williams, are the convention co-chairs, so I knew this was not an event to miss. Plus, I got to write the dining guide! Here’s a direct link to that PDF on the World Fantasy 2026 website, if you'd like some restaurant, bar, and cafe recommendations.

Here is my schedule this weekend:

5:00pm, Thursday, October 22
Broad Universe Reading, Room 203

For this Rapid Fire Reading, I’ll be representing Broad Universe along with my fellow broads, Valerie Estelle Frankel, Rebecca Inch Patridge, Clara Ward, and Vanessa Maclaren-Wray. Rapid Fire readings cycles fast through the authors, giving the audience just a taste of our different works and styles. The organization supports the work of female speculative fiction writers.

8:00pm, Friday, October 23
Mass Autographing Session, Grand Ballroom

This is a party and massive group signing of all the authors attending World Fantasy, and there are many! Guests of Honors will have assigned tables, but the rest of us will mill about, signing books if members so desire and just having a fun time out with our excellent fellow fantasists.

10:30 AM, Saturday, October 24
Reading Moderator, Room 201

I’ll be hosting this group reading for authors Rebecca Hunter, Diana Paxson, and Julie Phillips. I’ve not read any of their work before, but it looks to be an interesting mix of fantasy romance, biography on speculative fiction greats, and fairy and fae fiction and mythology. Come listen to their works!

9:00pm, Saturday, October 24
Panel Moderator, “To Ode or Not to Ode,” Room 202

I’ll be moderating this panel of distinguished poets and poetry editors Linda D. Addison, Betsy Aoki, Felicia Martinez, and Dominica Phetteplace. Here’s the topic: “Fantasy and horror poets weigh in on which poetic traditions and forms best lend themselves to speculative elements. Is an ode spooky by nature? Is an epic a natural fit for fantasy? How do poets play with these forms to find the best fit for their own poetry?”

Outside of those events, I will definitely be attending the World Fantasy Awards Banquet on Sunday, and I’ll be hopping around from volunteer shift to volunteer shift. There are 800+ attendees so far, so we will be busy! But do feel free to come say hi if you see me, and if I’m free, I’d be happy to join you for a coffee, drink, or meal.

Interested in joining fellow fantasy authors and fans in Oakland this weekend? Memberships are still available at the website (membership form here). Come out and learn more about fantasy in downtown Oakland! It’ll be a fantastic event.