Media Alert
1 July 2015
Press contact: Lizbeth Dison
Shiny, Inc.
ldison@shinycomm.com
678.372.8164 (mobile)
Writer Jonathan French Scheduled to Appear at Congregate
Fantasy author will participate in panels, book-signing at North Carolina sci-fi event
WHO:
Jonathan French, author
WHAT:
ConGregate
WHEN:
Friday, 10 July to Sunday, 12 July 2015
WHERE:
Radisson Hotel
135 South Main Street
High Point, North Carolina 27260
336.889.8888
WHY:
Fantasy author Jonathan French is scheduled to appear at
ConGregate, North Carolina’s premier sci-fi and fantasy
convention. This is Jonathan’s first appearance at the convention.
Jonathan will be joining other authors and personalities of sci-fi,
fantasy and horror, speaking on panels and meeting fans in person.
His event schedule is below.
Friday, 10 July 2015
2.00 to 2.50 p.m.
Queen Anne - Salon B,C,D
Writers’ Roundtable
This will be an open discussion among our literary guests about
everything related to writing. This is the place to ask all those
burning questions that you have. What they find to be the most
difficult aspect of writing, why they derive joy out of this craft, and
how they think the future of writing will evolve.
Jonathan moderates this panel and shares the table with Emily
Lavin Leverette, Misty Massey, Michael Stackpole, Darin Kennedy,
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Chris Kennedy and John Hartness.
4.00 to 4.50 p.m.
Provincial A
Warrior Women From A To Z: Arwen To Zelda
From Xena and Wonder Woman to Brienne of Tarth and even
Zelda, warrior women can be very different. What defines them?
What critical aspects of a character make them "warriors?"
Jonathan shares the table with moderator JT The Enginerd, Ron
Garner, Allegriana, Alicia McCalla and Rhonda Oglesby.
8.00 to 8.50 p.m.
Provincial B
Privilege: The Prince And The Pauper
Race, class, gender, sexuality and economic assumptions in epic
fantasy... who holds the power and who is powerless? Who has
agency—the ability to move around freely and take action that
makes a difference—and who doesn’t? Who is inside the system
and who is outside of the status quo? How did some people outside
the norm find ways around the status quo? Let’s talk about the
assumptions we make reading/writing epic fantasy—the past was
more interesting, varied and weird than you might think!
Jonathan shares the table with moderator Gail Z. Martin, Ron
Garner, Stephen J. Simmons, and Leona R. Wisoker.
9.00 to 9.50 p.m.
Provincial A
The Evolving Role of Authors
Given the rapidly evolving role of authors in publishing, particularly
in regards to means of publication — i.e., self-publishing, sharedresponsibility publishing, traditional publishing, etc., how does a
new author decide what is the best path for them?
Jonathan shares the table with moderator Michael G. Williams,
Karen McCullough and Stephen Mark Rainey.
11.00 to 11.50 p.m.
Provincial A
Successful Self-Publishing: Tricks And Traps
This presentation will provide an overview of what prospective
self-published authors need to know (editing, sales, marketing,
etc.) followed by an in-depth discussion with panelists on their
insights and experiences as successful author/publishers.
Jonathan shares the table with moderator Chris Kennedy, Rebecca
Ledford, Thomas A. Mays, Karen McCullough and Michael G.
Williams.
Saturday, 11 July 2015
9.00 to 9.50 a.m.
Provincial A-B
Death Of Characters: Story Progression Or Authorial Sadism?
In the course of events, an author sometimes has to eliminate a
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character. At times, depending upon the character, this causes
readers great distress. We will discuss why this has to happen and
learn a little about the art, methodology, psychology, and science of
character-killing. Through the course of the panel, we will also
delve into the greatest deaths in the Harry Potter, Lord of the
Rings/Hobbit, Narnia, and other novels that are near and dear to
fans everywhere.
Jonathan moderates this panel, and shares the table with Paula
Jordan, Chris Kennedy, Darin Kennedy, Emily Lavin Leverett,
Dahlia Rose and Michael Stackpole.
4.00 to 5.00 p.m.
Victorian A
Jonathan French: Book Signing/Meet and Greet
Come meet Jonathan one-on-one. Ask him questions. Get your
book signed. Buy his books. Or just tell him how wonderful his
panels were.
Sunday, 12 July 2015
11.00 to 11.30 a.m.
Suite 207
Reading: Jonathan French
Jonathan reads selections from his Autumn’s Fall Saga series –
and maybe a surprise selection!
He’ll also answer questions, sign some books and have books for
sale.
1.00 to 1.50 p.m.
Victorian A
Jonathan French: Book Signing/Meet and Greet
If you missed Jonathan at Saturday’s signing (or if you want to see
him again), he’ll be up for one-on-ones, handshakes, hugs,
questions, book sales and, of course, signings.
2.00 to 2.50 p.m.
Queen Anne - Salon B,C,D
Other Loves
How does the other stuff you love influence your fiction? How do
other arts, sports or hobbies flavor the lives of your characters?
And have the other loves of your characters influenced you?
Jonathan shares the table with moderator Paula Jordan, Karen
McCullough, Margaret S. McGraw, Dahlia Rose and Michael G.
Williams.
For full schedule details and registration, visit https://congregate2015.sched.org/
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About Jonathan French
Jonathan French is the author of the Autumn’s Fall Saga, an epic fantasy series. His debut novel, The
Exiled Heir, has been hailed as “…a combination of pen strokes that successfully resurrect the old
world fantasy concepts of Beowulf, Prydain, Oz and Masters of the Universe.” His second book, The
Errantry of Bantam Flyn, launched in July 2014 on the Kindle bestseller lists at #6 in Norse/Viking
fantasy and #36 in Myths/Legends. Like many fantasy novelists, he originally developed his magical
setting as a backdrop for the roleplaying games he ran for his friends. After submitting his creations to
a once-mighty RPG company, he received an offer to purchase his intellectual property. Ultimately, he
chose to keep his brainchildren close to home and began writing the Autumn’s Fall novels in earnest.
An outspoken advocate on the merits and future of independent publishing, Jonathan has led panel
discussions at conventions across the Southeast, with subjects ranging from marketing to art
direction. He currently lives in Atlanta with his wife and toddling son, who can already throw a mean
d10.
His third novel, a gritty sword and sorcery book, is scheduled for release in Summer 2015.
About ConGregate
ConGregate is a completely volunteer run, science fiction and fantasy convention produced by
ConGregate Productions. Many of our staff members have extensive experience running
conventions like RavenCon, ConCarolinas, StellarCon, Trinon-coN and DragonCon.
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