Book Blogger New Year's Challenge of 2014 - What Cons or Events Do You Hope to Attend in 2014?

What Cons or Events Do You Hope to Attend in 2014?

I am lucky enough to live in an area within a reasonable distance of many excellent conventions. BaltiCon and CapClave in Maryland. MystiCon and RavenCon in Virginia. Philcon in Pennsylvania. In terms of larger conventions, there is also Dragon Con in Atlanta, and Gen Con in Indianapolis. Given the opportunity, I would gladly attend each and every one of these, as well as Readercon, which will be held in Massachusetts this year, the World Science Fiction Convention, which will be held in London this year at LonCon, and the World Fantasy Convention, which will be held in Washington D.C. this year. I also have a soft spot for InConJunction and Starbase Indy, both of which are held in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, I simply don't have the financial resources to attend all of these events.

As a result, sadly, I have to limit my attendance to only a few of these events. I am definitely going to Gen Con this year, as it is both the best gaming convention in the country, and I have some very nice friends who attend that I would like to see. I am also going to go to CapClave, both because it is an excellent literary science fiction convention, and it is located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, which is close enough to me that I don't have to incur the costs associated with travel and accommodations in order to attend. I went to both of these conventions last year, and both were great experiences, so I am looking forward to both of them this year.

I would like to go to the World Fantasy Convention, as it is being held in Washington D.C. this year, and is therefore local to me. It would seem almost criminal to miss the opportunity to attend the premier fantasy fiction convention when it is in my own backyard - once again this would allow me to attend without incurring the additional (and often prohibitive) cost of travel and accommodations. The only real obstacle is the expense of the convention itself, which is fairly substantial. If I can make the finances work out, I will definitely be going.

There is an outside chance that I will go to Starbase Indy, because of its proximity to Thanksgiving, and I might be in Indiana for other reasons during that time frame. I would enjoy going, because one of my favorite nerdy bands - Five Year Mission - always performs at the convention. The chance that I will actually be able to attend Starbase Indy is fairly remote, as several factors would all have to line up just right for me to do so, but stranger things have happened.

I am also planning on attending the Baltimore Book Festival, which has the distinct advantage of being a free event. Due to scheduling conflicts I have not been able to attend this event in the past, but it seems like a very well-run book festival, and the fact that the SFWA always hosts a pavilion just makes it that much more enticing.

Go to Day 8: What Was Your Favorite Book Blogger Moment of 2013?
Go to Day 10: What New Things Will You Be Doing This Year?

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