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At MidAmeriCon, I'll be on four panels (two of which I'm moderating). I also hope to attend most of the WSFS Business Meetings (where they'll be voting on issues like the E. Pluribus Hugo proposal), and the Hugo ceremony, and the Tiptree auction.

Here are my panels:

What WON'T You Write / What WON'T You Publish?

Thursday 13:00–14:00, 3501H (Kansas City Convention Center)

Many authors enjoy pushing the envelope, seeking new challenges in their writing. Yet sometimes they find that there are things that they can't, or won't, write. It can be similar for publishers. What are the limits and the taboos? How do authors deal with their own limits, and what do publishers refuse to buy?

Jed Hartman, Cait Spivey (M), Steve Rasnic Tem, Rob Chilson, Mr Lee Harris

Asexual Viewing and More!—Beyond the Binary Gaze

Thursday 21:00 - 22:00, 2209 (Kansas City Convention Center)

Thor stands at a window, muscles rippling. Arrow strips and Teen Wolf shows a montage of bare-chested men. There is a growing awareness of the female gaze in attracting viewers (not to mention the female dollar) and as a result, film and television often caters to female (hetero)sexuality. This could be seen as fun and long overdue...but what about LGBTQI gaze(s), asexual, polyamorous or pansexual viewing? Our panel discuss the move from appropriation to representation.

Jed Hartman, Bogi Takács, Tex Thompson (M), Cait Spivey, Jay Wolf

Navigating Online Calls for Writing

Friday 11:00–12:00, 3501D (Kansas City Convention Center)

How to navigate the minefield of calls for writing online [and in what ways is it a minefield?] and how to know what (and whether) to submit, how to deal with rejection, and how to progress your career after getting accepted.

Jed Hartman (M), Catherine Krahe, Scott H. Andrews, John R. Douglas

Queering Heroic Fantasy

Friday 17:00–18:00, 2204 (Kansas City Convention Center)

What makes gay heroes and heroines different from their straight counterparts? Do common tropes found in Tolkien and Arthurian fantasy still apply, or does the protagonist's sexual identity, well, queer the hero's journey? Let's discuss queer fantasy and what makes it stand out from traditional expectations. What would we like to see done in queer fantasy that isn't being done?

Tex Thompson, Evey Brett, Jed Hartman (M), Heather Rose Jones, Amanda Downum