Putting it on paper

Writers, artists, and fans gather next weekend in Redmond for Foolscap X — a literary convention devoted to "flat stuff; funny hats." The "flat stuff" is written and/or illustrated science fiction, fantasy and related-genre works.

Small and focused, Foolscap is an excellent way to check out the thriving and complex Northwest science fiction community and meet out-of-state guests of honor like author Esther Friesner and illustrator Michael Kaluta.

While more structured than an "unconference," Foolscap is very much a participants' event; come prepared to meet people and get involved in lively discussions, impromptu dining adventures, and an auction of one-of-a-kind original artworks and genre collectibles.

The conference's new location (the Marriott in the midst of the pedestrian-friendly Redmond Town Center) is likely to attract public interest. While most of the activities require conference membership ($45), there are two open-to-the-public panels:

"About Science Fiction Cons," in the hotel lobby, 5-6 p.m. Friday
"Why Science Fiction & Fantasy," in the hotel lobby, 4:30-6 p.m. Saturday

High recommended attendees-only panels include:

"Urban Fantasy" (2:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday)
"Stories that Shouldn't Be Written" (4-5 p.m. Friday)

I'm scheduled to be on a late-night panel discussion of "Vampire Romances: Jumped the shark?" If you plan to attend, please get all the "teeth" jokes out of your system first.

Yet more mystery

Part II of "Best of 2007: Crime Fiction" is up at January Magazine. You'll find some surprises on the list, not the least of which is my review of C. J. Sansom's Sovereign — it's not one of my usual noir reads, but a book of historical fiction set in Tudor England.

Unjustly overlooked

A few weeks ago J. Kingston Pierce, editor of the crime fiction literary blog The Rap Sheet, asked writers and reviewers to nominate "one crime, mystery, or thriller novel" they felt was unjustly overlooked. I wrote about a British paperback I'd discovered on one of my used-bookstore prowls many years ago, P. M. Hubbard's High Tide.

Read about it here and check out nominations from more than 100 other crime fiction authorities including writers George Pelecanos, Michael Connelly and Ian Rankin and critics Tom Nolan and Adam Woog.