public speaking

FREE Virtual Cog Match Game this Saturday! Theme: CHEESE

Posted by on Jul 6, 2021 in Blog, public speaking, whimsy | Comments Off on FREE Virtual Cog Match Game this Saturday! Theme: CHEESE

cog match game

If you follow me on social media, you may be aware that I have a deep and abiding affection for cheese. My reputation is leading to fun and interesting opportunities!

A bunch of steampunkers, myself included, are taking part in a cheese-themed version of the classic game show Match Game this coming Saturday July 10th at 8pm Pacific. It’s free and online. When you sign up, you can indicate if you want to be audience or maybe participate. No pressure either way. You better brie-lieve this will be a game packed with hilarity and cheese wisdom you’ll want to share with everyone you meet in the coming days!

Sign up over here!

tillamook beth


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Poetry reading and interview on YouTube: “A Purring Cat is a Time Machine”

Posted by on Mar 29, 2021 in anthology:poem, Blog, online publication, public speaking, writerly advice | Comments Off on Poetry reading and interview on YouTube: “A Purring Cat is a Time Machine”

Todd Sullivan is accumulating a wonderful number of author showcases and interviews on YouTube, and included me in his series on How to Read Poetry. I read my poem “A Purring Cat is a Time Machine,” originally published in Daikaijuzine, and then answer some interview questions on poetry. Enjoy!

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My Capclave Online Schedule for October 17-18

Posted by on Oct 12, 2020 in Blog, public speaking | Comments Off on My Capclave Online Schedule for October 17-18

I’m happy to announce that I’m taking part in Capclave’s online convention over the weekend of October 17th and 18th. This con only costs $10 for a membership! For two packed days of convention! Do note that the convention is Eastern time–that’s important for me to be mindful of, as it means I need to be ready for my first panel at 5:45am. *gulp*

In addition to several panels AND a reading and a kaffeeklatsch shared with friends, I’ll also be watching the WSFA Small Press Award Ceremony on Saturday because my story “The Blighted Godling of Company Town H” is in the running! (You can read it or listen to the podcast over at Beneath Ceaseless Skies.)

The full schedule is available here. Below are my events, which are, of course, subject to change, especially in the topsy-turvy year of 2020. Follow my Twitter and Facebook for the latest news.

Saturday

9:00 am Eastern / 6:00 am Pacific Speculative Poetry

Participants: Beth Cato, Ada Hoffmann, B. Sharise Moore, Samusara, Catherynne Valente

There is a lot of poetry with speculative and horror themes, but it doesn’t always receive a lot of love at conventions. Our panelists discuss their themes and may even share some brief recitations of their favorites.

1:30 pm Eastern / 10:30 am Pacific Author Reading – Cato, Colter, & Greenblatt

Join Cato, Colter, & Greenblatt for an hour-long reading of their fiction.

4:30 pm Eastern / 1:30 pm Pacific Kaffeeklatsch – Cato, Colter & Greenblatt

Join Beth Cato, L.D. Colter and A.T. Greenblatt for a small-group discussion on anything of interest. Limited spaces, advanced sign-up required.

6:00 pm Eastern / 3:00 pm Pacific WSFA Small Press Award Ceremony

Sunday

1:30 pm Eastern / 10:30 am Pacific When To Outline and When To Pants It

Participants: Beth Cato, Scott Edelman, Mary Fan, Carolyn Ives Gilman, Alan Smale (M)

“Fleshing out a detailed outline” versus “Diving right into an idea and seeing where the story goes” is one of the perennial debates of the writing craft. What are the advantages of each approach? What are the weaknesses and limitations? Our panelists will discuss when to prefer one approach over the other, and when it’s a good idea to switch to the opposite style even when it’s not your preferred method.

3:00 pm / Noon Pacific Best Fiction of 2020

Participants: Beth Cato, Andy Duncan, Sarah Pinsker, A.C. Wise (M)

Best Novels & Short fiction of 2020. What is the best new fiction you read (or heard about) in 2020. Suggestions for what should be nominated for various awards.

#SFWAPro

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r/Fantasy Virtual Con

Posted by on Apr 9, 2020 in Blog, public speaking | Comments Off on r/Fantasy Virtual Con

The Fantasy community on Reddit is hosting a virtual convention throughout April. The posts are completely free and available to the public. Just show up each day and follow along! You don’t have to be registered on Reddit, but if you are, you can participate in the con and other threads as well.

I’m scheduled for two panels thus far:

Sat Apr 11: Short Fiction Panel w/ Ken Liu, John Wiswell, Beth Cato, Zen Cho, Amal El-Mohtar

Mon April 20: Fantasy Romance Panel w/ Stephanie Burgis, Beth Cato, J. Kathleen Cheney, Jeffe Kennedy, Quenby Olson, C.L. Polk

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CoKoCon 2019 Schedule

Posted by on Aug 23, 2019 in Blog, public speaking | Comments Off on CoKoCon 2019 Schedule

CoKoCon takes place over Labor Day weekend at the Doubletree at MetroCenter in north Phoenix. I’ll be there Friday until Monday morning, with a packed schedule of panels. This is a fantastic small con. If you’re in the area, grab a membership and come by.

I have one scheduled booksigning time on Sunday but really, so long as I don’t need to rush to a panel or to eat, I’m happy to stop, talk, and sign stuff. There’s an awesome local bookseller on-site named Duncan who will have lots of my books for sale, too.

Yes, I will have cookies BUT note that if it’s like last year, I cannot feed people in common areas or the con could get in trouble with the venue. I can only share cookies in the con suite or in party rooms.

A mobile device-friendly version of my schedule can also be found here and includes full descriptions. Changes to my schedule will be posted on Twitter and Facebook.

Friday, August 30

5pm
Selling Yourself: Author Branding for Fun and (Hopefully) Profit
Canyon 3, 5pm – 6pm

8pm
Twisted Tropes: Writing Stale Tropes Like Unicorns and Vampires in Fresh New Ways
Canyon 3, 8pm – 9pm

Saturday, August 31

10am
Book Discussion: All Systems Red
Lobby Pit, 10am – 11am

11:30am
A Courtesy of Compliments
Terrace, 11:30am – 12:30pm

1pm
Steampunk Round Table
Terrace, 1pm – 2pm

7:30pm
Writing and Gaming: How RPGs and Video Games Influence Your Writing
Canyon 3, 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Sunday, September 1

11:30am
Author Self-Care: Spoon Management
Canyon 3, 11:30am – 12:30pm

1pm
Signing: Beth Cato and Judith Starkston
Dealers’ Room, 1pm – 2pm

2:30pm
How to Critique
Canyon 3, 2:30pm – 3:30pm

6pm
Surviving Historical Fiction Research
Canyon 3, 6pm – 7pm

#SFWAPro

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Interview with F&SF about my poem “My Ghost Will Know the Way”

Posted by on Jul 18, 2019 in anthology:poem, Blog, public speaking | Comments Off on Interview with F&SF about my poem “My Ghost Will Know the Way”

My poem “My Ghost Will Know the Way” is in the July/August issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine. (Allow me to pause and happily flail about that for the hundredth time.) I was recently interviewed about the inspiration behind the poem. Read that here!

This is a very personal poem for me (as the interview explains), and the positive reactions to it have added much-needed brightness to my life this month.

#SFWAPro

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