As per the usual, it’s already August and I’m just now starting to get my ish together for Dragon Con 2018…but I’ve made a lot of progress in the past couple of weeks and my schedule is coming together, so I’m nearly at the point where all I have left to do is wait…impatiently, of course.

First things first, the second annual Drinkin’ Con webcast is scheduled for Saturday August 18th at 5 PM Eastern! I definitely suggest following the Facebook event I created for it to get updates and so that you can post any thoughts or questions you might have between now and the 18th. Like last year, this webcast will feature news and tips as well as Dragon Con 2018 prep discussion.

Now, barring any schedule changes on the part of the three tracks I’m working with, my Dragon Con 2018 panels – and events! – are pretty much set in stone:

Friday 8/31
@ 1 PM Author Reading: Excerpts from The Way of Reckoning, How to Start Living in the Zombie Apocalypse, and She’s Kinda Hot, But Then She Talks: Essays & Insight from a ‘Fake Geek Girl’ (Hyatt Vinings)
@ 2:30 PM Join the Resistance: Dystopias of Change (Apocalypse Rising (Westin Chastain F-G)
@ 4 PM Sons of the Dragon: A Song of Ice and Fire Novella (Marriott L401-403)

Saturday 9/1
@ 4 PM Friend Zone: The Importance of Platonic Relationships in an Apocalypse (Westin Chastain H)
@ 5:30 PM There Must Always be a Stark at Dragon Con (Marriott L401-403)
@ 10 PM The North Remembers How to Party: A Game of Thrones-Themed Bash (Hilton Grand East Ballroom)

Sunday 9/2
@ 2:30 PM Religion in High Fantasy (Marriott L401-403)
@ 10 PM Loony ASOIAF/Game of Thrones Theories (Marriott L401-403)

Monday 9/3
@ 1 PM White Walkers, Wargs, & Weirwoods (Marriott L401-403)

Cosplay-wise, most of my ‘schedule’ for this year involves repeats. A couple of these will have some minor upgrades, and I have two entirely new costumes, although one of them is just a party cosplay for Friday night, so it’s not stressing me out TOO much (minus some drama with the wig I ordered).

Of course, I say all of that, and just this past weekend I realized that the belt I was going to use for one of my new costumes is suddenly about two sizes too big, so who knows what will happen between now and the convention itself!

THURSDAY
Day: It’s Always Sunny-themed t-shirt
Night: Suicide Squad-style Poison Ivy

FRIDAY
Day: A Disney-themed Dapper outfit – possibly not the one pictured, but it will be close…
Night: Secret Cosplay!

SATURDAY
Day: Aurora-as-Prince-Phillip
Night: “Hot Mess” Party Melisandre

SUNDAY
Day: Victorian-era Captain America
Night: Steampunk Hufflepuff

Finally, a Reddit user who clearly doesn’t know me at all has been going on a rampage, reporting every single thing I post to my local subreddit…and when they make these reports, they leave some pretty interesting comments to go along with them. Some have been more rude than others, but my favorite ‘epithet’ of the lot was “Fantasy Bitch”. So if you see me at Dragon Con, ask me for one of my Fantasy Bitch stickers! (Just please don’t approach me after a panel that I’m on, as I’ll almost always be rushing off to another panel or to do a quick costume change.)

I also have some Fantasy Bitch koozies to give away at my author reading on Friday, so if you’re interested in one of these bad boys, make sure to come to the Vinings room in the Hyatt at 1 PM on the 31st! (And yes, I might also have some Ice & Fire Con water bottles on hand…)

So yeah, 23 days until Dragon Con (at least for those of us arriving on Wednesday)! I can’t wait!