Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 11:25:22 -0500 (CDT)
From: <samlubell at verizon.net>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Ravencon ?
To: Michael Walsh <MJW at press.jhu.edu>, WSFAlist at keithlynch.net,
        wsfa-forum at yahoogroups.com
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

I had a wonderful time at Ravencon.  It was very well-organized, even for an experienced con, for a first time convention the organization was a marvel (okay, the program books were a little late, but we're in no position to comment on that).

There were three tracks of programming, going late on Friday night, starting at 9 am on Saturday and Sunday (except for Saturday evening where there was one track plus the masquerade).  And the three program rooms were all right next to each other (and across the hall from the dealer's room and the game room).  And the programming was of very high quality with some good ideas worth borrowing (I'll write more on that when I'm home). There were lots of new writers and small press writers who I've not seen before on panels (which is actually a good thing since new people mean new ideas).  Terry Brooks, the GoH, was by far the biggest name.  Aside from Brooks, the biggest name there probably was John Ringo (who was scarily intense when he talked about male-female differences).  Other names people might recognize were Tee Morris, John Wright, Bud Webster, Michael Burstein, CJ Henderson, and Tony Ruggiero.

In a small hotel and with a first time crew, they put together a con with three tracks of programming (so there's no reason why we shouldn't be able to do the same), a masquerade, a video room, a dealer's room (albeit a small one with only a few book dealers), tiny con suite, game room, and a full size program booklet with a color cover (although stapled).

>From: Michael Walsh <MJW at press.jhu.edu>
>Date: Tue Apr 25 09:35:47 CDT 2006
>To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net, wsfa-forum at yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [WSFA] Ravencon ?

>So, would any WSFAn who attended care to share?
>
>mjw