Packing for Pantheacon

Packing for Pantheacon

As many of you already know, I’m getting ready to head out to San Jose, California to attend my third Pantheacon convention. Pantheacon is a huge four-day meet-up of Pagans from around the country, with total attendance of over 2,000. It is also so much fun, it should probably be illegal.

To begin with, Pantheacon is held at the Doubletree Hotel, which is simply a lovely place. They give you a warm chocolate chip cookie when you check in. ‘Nuff said. But that is just the beginning. Add in hundreds of workshops, rituals, and musical performances—some by famous (or semi-famous) authors, and some by everyday folk—and the chance to hang out with a bunch of people who believe more-or-less the same things I do, and it is a little slice of heaven.

Some of the highlights of this year’s trip are particularly special for me. I get to see my step-daughter Jenn, who moved out to San Jose last year (after attending Pantheacon with me for the second time). I also get to spend time with my main critique/writing partner, Lisa, who is taking the train down from her home in northern CA to join me. I am REALLY looking forward to that. And as always, the chance to hang out with my wonderful editor from Llewellyn, Elysia Gallo, is a major treat. Not to mention all the other fun authors I will see, and the chance to meet some of my fans in person. (I have fans. No, really.)

I will be taking part in three panels/workshops during Pantheacon, so if you’re going to be there, you have a few chances to catch me. Saturday night at 9PM, Llewellyn will be hosting a 110 year anniversary party and a “Meet the Authors” event. I will be there with lots of other great Llewellyn writers, and Elysia, of course. Also, I heard a rumor that there might be CAKE.

Here is the official description of the event:
When & Where: Saturday - 09:00 PM - Fir

Title: Llewellyn's 110th Anniversary Author Fair

Description: To celebrate our 110th year of independent metaphysical publishing, we're hosting a very special author event here at PantheaCon. Meet Llewellyn authors Mary K. Greer, Amber K, Azrael Arynn K, John Michael Greer, Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, Tess Whitehurst, Lon Milo DuQuette, Donald Michael Kraig, Deborah Blake, Alaric Albertsson, Melanie Marquis, Ruth Barrett and Jhenah Telyndru as they introduce their latest and forthcoming Llewellyn books. Share your ideas, questions, and suggestions with Llewellyn staff, and join us for mini-readings, book signings, light refreshments, door prizes and other goodies!

Presenter: Llewellyn Author Panel

Bio: Barring any scheduling conflicts, our featured authors will include John Michael Greer, Azrael Arynn K, Amber K, Donald Michael Kraig, Alaric Albertsson, Mary K. Greer, Tess Whitehurst, Deborah Blake, Melanie Marquis, Ruth Barrett, Lon Milo DuQuette, Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and Jhenah Telyndru. Llewellyn staff Elysia Gallo, Acquisitions Editor, and Brandi Palechek, Marketing Specialist, will emcee and handle prize drawings.



Sunday morning at 9 AM (which will probably seem early after staying up late the night before), there is a Llewellyn panel on “Publishing” which I will also be a part of. If you have any interest in writing for the Pagan audience, or are just curious about the way the whole thing works, you will want to come to that one.

Here is the official description of that one:
Title: Book Publishing 101

Description: Thinking of getting published? Don't miss this workshop! Get all your questions answered, including: how to submit your proposal, the timeline and the process, the money question, the agent question, covers and titles, publicity, and much more. Published authors Donald Michael Kraig, Lon Milo DuQuette, Amber K and Azrael Arynn K, Deborah Blake, Tess Whitehurst, and Alaric Albertsson will give you the author's perspective, while Elysia Gallo (acquisitions editor) and Brandi Palechek (marketing specialist) from Llewellyn Worldwide will provide information on acquisitions, publicity, marketing, and distribution from the perspective of a mid-sized publisher. Q & A will follow presentation.

Presenter: Publishing Panel hosted by Llewellyn Worldwide

Bio: Panel members include Elysia Gallo, Acquisitions Editor for Witchcraft, Paganism and Magick at Llewellyn; Brandi Palechek, Online Marketing Specialist at Llewellyn; and esteemed authors Donald Michael Kraig, Lon Milo DuQuette, Amber K and Azrael Arynn K, Deborah Blake, Tess Whitehurst, and Alaric Albertsson.


Sunday at 11AM, I will be doing my own workshop on “Spiritual Spring Cleaning” to help everyone prepare for the season to come. There will be a ritual with a banishing spell from the new Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook, and I will be selling and signing books at the end of the session.

In between, I will be socializing, and going to workshops, and generally enjoying being in California for a few days, away from the nasty New York State weather. (Thank goodness for cat sitters!) I hope I’ll see a few of you there! Be sure and come by and tell me if you know me from the blog, or Facebook, or Twitter…

And just in case you didn’t believe I was really packing, here is the proof: