Looks like it’s been a long time since I’ve done an event wrap-up, so here goes:
2012:
April
This was a huge month for me, acting as one of three organizers of the first edition of the Fantastic Literature Odyssey in Porto Alegre, Brazil. We received around 500 visitors for this first event, a huge success!
May
As an invited speaker at SENAC college, I discussed transmedia and The Elephant and Macaw Banner.
June
I was invited by the state government to speak on the creative industry in a major event related to the subject.
August
A visit to Chicago and Chicon 7, the 70th Worldcon, where I did a reading and participated in a load of programming.
September
A visit to Fantasticon, where I launched the third pocket book based on The Elephant and Macaw Banner and shared a roundtable on the Hydra Competition.
November
Things heated up this month with invites to three book fairs in the cities of Porto Alegre, Passo Fundo and Novo Hamburgo. In Passo Fundo, I spoke to several hundred students and had a book among the event’s best-sellers, a first for me. I also participated in a roundtable organized by an association linked to the Education and Cultural Ministries.
2013:
April
April meant the second edition of the Fantastic Literature Odyssey, this time with 1000 participants, 400 of them visiting from local schools. I personally spoke with around a hundred students, who had read my book leading up to the event. I also did three writing workshops at Pio XII high school in Novo Hamburgo.
May
In RPGCon Portão, I lectured on nerd culture. I also served on the jury at Fantaspoa, the International Fantastic Cinema Festival of Porto Alegre, perhaps the largest of its kind in South America.
June
At Multiverso ComicCon, I spoke on video games and comics.
August
A busy month where I participated in LoneStarCon 3, and gave a workshop on nerd culture in the classroom to teachers from the state education system.
September
An even busier month, with a lecture at SAP Brasil, two book launches (one at Fantasticon), one workshop for teachers and a workshop at the Caxias do Sul Book Fair.
October
A speaking engagement at Ildo Meneghetti high school, where the students packed in on a Saturday morning to hear me speak. I also had the honor of speaking at Tekoá Anhetenguá, a Guarani village.
November
This was a big month, with my participation in the Porto Alegre Book Fair and “Lord Byron’s Challenge”, a night where writers from around the world were locked in the state’s public library for a night and had to produce terror stories for an anthology. Unforgettable!
I also presented a talk on media adaptations at the first Adaptation Studies Journey.
Summary:
I think that about wraps it up. These have been a spectacular two years, with so many invites from so many places. Thanks so much to everyone involved. Every opportunity is an honor, and I hope to keep up in 2014!
