Symposium Adds Bookseller for Gen Con 2014

For the first time ever, the Writer's Symposium will be hosting it's own bookseller's booth in the exhibit hall! This is a big accomplishment for us, and I'm really excited to finally let everyone know. It will be located right next to the signing tables in the exhibit hall, and you'll be able to get copies of books by most of our talented authors!

Even better, the booth is being run by Indy Reads Books. Indy Reads Books is an independent bookstore (a great one!) in downtown Indianapolis that exists to provide revenue for the not-for-profit organization Indy Reads. The mission of Indy Reads is to improve the literacy skills of adults in central Indiana. All of the profits Indy Reads Books makes running the booth will go directly to their literacy program.

Needless to say, we're really excited, both about the booth and the partnership. When you're in the exhibit hall this year, make sure to stop by and check out the booth!

You can read the official press release below!

Symposium Adds Bookseller for Gen Con 2014

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana - The Gen Con Writer’s Symposium is excited to announce that it is hosting a bookseller’s booth at Gen Con 2014. They’ve partnered with local independent bookstore Indy Reads Books, the commercial arm of the Indy Reads non-profit organization, to operate the booth. For the first time in the Symposium’s twenty-year history, Gen Con attendees will have a dedicated, on-site location to find and buy books by Writer’s Symposium authors.

“We're excited to finally offer a bookseller as part of our program,” said Marc Tassin, Director of the Writer’s Symposium. “It’s something we’ve always wanted to do, but we’re finally big enough that we can make it happen.”

Over the past three years, the Writer’s Symposium has experienced incredible growth, and they expect more than 2000 unique visitors in 2014. This year they're offering 160 hours of panels and workshops, and more than 80% of the programming is free to anyone with a Gen Con badge. 70 authors and experts speak on the panels, including New York Times bestselling authors Jim Butcher, Scott Westerfeld, and Larry Correia.

“It's great to be involved. The Writer’s Symposium is an excellent program for both new and aspiring authors,” added Alyssa Newerth, Director of Advancement at Indy Reads. “And running the bookseller’s booth is a great opportunity for us, since all of our profits will go directly into the Indy Reads literacy program.”

Gen Con and the Gen Con Writer’s Symposium will take place from August 14th to August 17th at the Indiana Convention Center. People who wish to attend the Writer’s Symposium can register for their Gen Con badge and event tickets by visiting the Gen Con website at www.gencon.com.

About the Writer’s Symposium

The Gen Con Writer’s Symposium is one of the largest writing conferences in the world. Established in 1995, it offers more than 160 hours of events for both new and experienced authors, and it has served as a springboard for the careers of many accomplished writers. For more information on the Symposium, visit www.genconwriters.com or email Marc Tassin (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).

About Indy Reads and Indy Reads Books

Indy Reads Books is a source of revenue for the not-for-profit organization Indy Reads whose mission is to improve the literacy skills of adults in central Indiana who currently read at or below the sixth grade level. The profits from Indy Reads Books go directly toward improving literacy in the community through Indy Reads. You can learn more about Indy Reads and Indy Reads Books at http://indyreadsbooks.org/

About Gen Con

Gen Con, LLC produces the largest consumer hobby, fantasy, sci-fi and adventure game convention in North America. It was acquired in 2002 by former CEO and founder of Wizards of the Coast Peter Adkison, who owns the company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Gen Con is a consumer and trade experience dedicated to gaming culture and community. www.gencon.com

Baen Books: Symposium Gold Sponsor

The official news about this went out via the Gen Con newsletter last week, but I wanted to take a moment to mention this here as well. As the Writer's Symposium grows, support from organizations like Baen Books is going to become more and more important in the effort to maintain our mission of keeping most of the programming free. 

Thank you to Baen Books and ALL of our sponsors! You're a growing part of what makes this program possible!

The Gen Con Writer's Symposium is delighted to announce that Baen Books has agreed to be a Gold Sponsor of the 2014 Gen Con Writer’s Symposium, as well as sponsoring the Get Literal track at this year’s convention. “Baen Books has been at the heart of fantasy and science fiction publishing for thirty years,” said Baen Senior Editor James Minz. “We’re thrilled to able to celebrate the Symposium's 20th anniversary at Gen Con, which has been at the center of the gaming universe since well before Baen published its first novel.”

“When Baen Books first approached us about this sponsorship, it was a no-brainer,” added Marc Tassin, Director of the Writer's Symposium at Gen Con. “Baen Books is synonymous with science fiction and fantasy that is steeped in the action and adventure that our gaming audience craves.  Baen books feature some of the most memorable characters in the genre, whether it’s Honor Harrington, Miles Vorkosigan, Mike O’Neal, Jake Sullivan, Daniel O’Leary or the residents of Grantville…and that’s just scratching the surface.”

In addition to featuring Larry Correia as a Special Guest, Baen will be giving away hundreds of books to the attendees of the Writer’s Symposium, as well as sponsoring the inaugural Baen Fantasy Adventure Award (for more information visit www.baenfantasyaward.com). “I can’t wait for Gen Con to start,” Minz said. “Can you?”

About Baen Books

Baen Books is known for its New York Times bestselling science fiction and fantasy, including David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, Eric Flint’s Ring of Fire alternate histories, John Ringo’s hard-hitting military SF, Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter International urban fantasies, and Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga. Baen’s paper titles are distributed by Simon & Schuster. To download dozens of free ebooks, including works by Drake, Flint, Ringo & Weber, visit the Baen Free Library at http://www.baenebooks.com/c-1-free-library.aspx

About the Writer’s Symposium

The Gen Con Writer’s Symposium is one of the largest writing conferences in the world. Established in 1995, it offers more than 160 hours of events for both new and experienced authors. The Symposium features more than sixty authors and experts, and it has served as a springboard for the careers of many accomplished writers. The Symposium will be held August 14th to 17th, 2014, in Indianapolis, Indiana as part of the annual Gen Con gaming convention. For more information on the Symposium, visit www.genconwriters.com.

About Gen Con

Gen Con, LLC produces the largest consumer hobby, fantasy, sci-fi and adventure game convention in North America. It was acquired in 2002 by former CEO and founder of Wizards of the Coast Peter Adkison, who owns the company headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Gen Con is a consumer and trade experience dedicated to gaming culture and community. www.gencon.com

Announcing Special Guest Larry Correia

I’m excited to announce Larry Correia as a 2014 Writer’s Symposium's Special Guest! Larry Correia is the New York Times bestselling author of the extremely popular Monster Hunter series from Baen Books. Many Gen Con attendees will also know Larry for his tie-in work for the Iron Kingdoms game from Privateer Press. 

Larry’s first novel, Monster Hunter International, despite being self-published reached the Entertainment Weekly bestseller list in April 2008, after which he received a publishing contract with Baen Books. Monster Hunter International was re-released in 2009 and was on the Locus bestseller list in November 2009. The sequel, Monster Hunter Vendetta, was a New York Times bestseller. The third book in the series, Monster Hunter Alpha, was released in July 2011 and was also a New York Times bestseller. Correia was a finalist for the John W. Campbell award for best new science fiction/fantasy writer of 2011. The Dead Six series started as an on line action fiction collaboration with Mike Kupari (Nightcrawler) at the on line gun forum, The High Road as the "Welcome Back Mr Nightcrawler" series of posts. These works predated publishing of Monster Hunter.  

Correia's works tend to include monsters, such as vampires, werewolves, etc., as well as a strong magical theme. They are action-oriented and notable for the amount and accuracy in detail of their firearms usage.  

Located in Utah, Correia now spends his time as a writer and accountant, as well a part-time firearms instructor.

2014 BAEN FANTASY ADVENTURE AWARD ANNOUNCED

Baen Books, in association with the popular gaming convention Gen Con and the Gen Con Writer's Symposium, has launched a new annual fantasy genre contest that will present the winning entrant with the inaugural Baen Fantasy Adventure Award. The contest will be centered on adventure fantasy short stories, whether epic fantasy, heroic fantasy, sword and sorcery, or contemporary fantasy.

“We are very pleased to be presenting this award in association with Gen Con and its Writer’s Symposium,” said Baen senior editor Jim Minz. “Gen Con is the best-attended gaming convention in the world, and it is the perfect place to seek out and showcase great fantasy talent.”

The contest opens for submissions on May 1, 2014 and all entries must be received June 30, 2014.  Each entry is limited to a short story of no more than 8,000 words, and there is one entry per author. 

“We're looking for the best piece of original short fiction that captures the spirit and tradition of such great storytellers as Larry Correia, Robert E. Howard, Mercedes Lackey, Elizabeth Moon, Andre Norton, J.R.R. Tolkien, David Weber and Marion Zimmer Bradley,” said Minz. “We want fantasy adventures with heroes a reader wants to root for. We're looking for warriors, either modern or medieval, who solve problems with their wits as well as their swords.”

“We're delighted to be working with the leading independent SF publisher in the US,” added Marc Tassin, Director of the Writer's Symposium at Gen Con. “Baen Books is synonymous with strong, action-oriented adventures featuring the kind of heroes that hook readers from the moment they take the stage. It's an honor to us that they chose to take part in our program's 20th Anniversary. Along with welcoming Guest of Honor Jim Butcher, and Special Guests Larry Correia & Scott Westerfeld, we anticipate 2014 to be the biggest Writer's Symposium's we've ever had.”

Baen Books is known for its New York Times bestselling science fiction and fantasy, including David Weber’s Honor Harrington series, Eric Flint’s Ring of Fire alternate histories, Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter International urban fantasies, and Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga. Baen’s paper titles are distributed by Simon & Schuster.

Gen Con is the original, longest-running gaming convention in the world. Last year, more than 49,000 people attended, with more than 10,000 events, making it truly The Best Four Days in Gaming™! In 2014, Gen Con will be held in downtown Indianapolis, from August 14^th through the 17^th.

For more information visit www.baenfantasyaward.com