Programming Deadline Extended
Because we had some reasonable requests for a little extra time, we’ve extended the deadline for programming proposals to June 7, 2009. We’ve also extended this option to all comers, so if you didn’t have time to submit a proposal earlier, please do consider sending one in. If you need help or assistance, please feel free to contact (programming at sirensconference.org). Whether your proposal is accepted or not, we truly appreciate what you have to offer–and we want to include diverse viewpoints. Here’s an excerpt from the call for proposals:

Sirens, a conference focused on literary contributions by women to the fantasy genre and on fantasy works with prominent female characters, will take place October 1–4, 2009, in Vail, CO. The conference seeks papers, panels, interactive workshops, roundtable discussions, and other presentations suitable for an audience of academics, professionals, educators, librarians, authors, and fantasy readers.

The theme for 2009 is “warriors,” and programming prompted by the theme is encouraged; presenters are not limited to this theme, however, and proposals that address specific aspects of a work or series, works related by other themes, and studies of the fantasy genre across all disciplines are encouraged as well. A non-exhaustive list of sample topics includes literary analyses of novels; studies of genre history; use of fantasy works in schools and libraries for education; examination of related business and legal issues; media and fan studies; craft-based workshops in writing, art, and publishing; and overviews of how fantasy works fit into larger contexts.

We’re also pleased to receive interactive afternoon classes. Share your related hobbies and activities with other attendees!

Programming Panels
Our programming team is arranging several panels to bring together presenters who have submitted proposals on some of the most popular topics. We’ll open these up to other presenters as well. Information on applying to be a panelist will be published at sirenscon.livejournal.com only, so keep an eye on our LiveJournal for more.

General Chat
We’ll have staff available to answer your questions about programming and to help you work through ideas. You’re also welcome to come and connect with other Sirens attendees. We’ll hold a few more chats before Sirens at different times and on different days of the week if you can’t make it to this one.

DATE: Monday, June 1
TIME: 9-11 p.m. Eastern/6-8 p.m. Pacific
LOCATION: www.sirensconference.org/chat/

You don’t need to download anything or have any special software to participate–the page will turn into a chat room when the chat begins.

Vail Cascade Resort and Spa
Roommates wanted! If you’re seeking a roommate, or if you’re looking for someone to share a room with, check out the Sirens message boards for advertisements.

Did you see? The Vail Cascade has completed their multi-million dollar renovation and October is a beautiful time to visit.

The Vail Cascade is committed to eco-friendly tourism. Here are just some of our venue’s practices:

• Sourcing environmentally sensitive products and services locally, and purchasing organic, environmentally friendly/responsible and recycled supplies, whenever possible.
• Purchasing fresh, and sustainable foods locally grown, whenever possible.
• Using environmentally responsible building materials and strategies for renovations to reduce environmental impact.
• Using energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, as well as water-saving devices.

Quick Links
The Sirens Website and Tell a Friend Link
Registration
Travel
Become a Supporter
Read the FAQ

For More Information
Please feel free to contact us at (help at sirensconference.org). We’re happy to answer any questions you might have.

See you in Vail!

Programming
As you know, the deadline for proposals is coming soon. Remember that you don’t need to be registered before you submit a roundtable, workshop, paper, panel, or afternoon class. We occasionally put together additional panels and the like, and we’ll be looking to those people who have already offered programming proposals. Please don’t be afraid to offer yourself up!

In the meantime, please look here and here for people who are looking for others to partner with for programming. Are you looking for a co-presenter or some panelists? Leave us a comment and we’ll play matchmaker.

Programming and General Chat
Next week, we’ll hold a chat for those interested in Sirens. We’ll have staff available to answer your questions about programming, to help you work through ideas, and to suggest topics for you to present. You’re also welcome to come and connect with other Sirens attendees. We’ll hold a few more chats before Sirens at different times and on different days of the week if you can’t make it to this one.

DATE: Sunday, April 12
TIME: 1-3 p.m. Eastern/10 a.m.-noon Pacific,
LOCATION: www.sirensconference.org/chat/

You don’t need to download anything or have any special software to participate–the page will turn into a chat room when the chat begins.

Reading List
On the Sirens website, we keep a reading list. Most of our staff have read most of these books–some of our staff have read all of these books!–and many of our attendees will have as well. Some were chosen for their influence, some for their controversy, and some simply because they’re a great read! We’ve recently updated this list, so we invite you to take a look at what we put together as a starter selection of fantasy works. We also read–a lot–so if you have favorites that aren’t on the list, please review them!

Vail Cascade Resort and Spa
Despite the economy, travel is cheaper than ever this year as airlines, hotels, and car rental companies run specials designed to make vacations affordable. Still, everyone has a budget. Here are some ideas for splurging and saving on lodging.

Splurge
Your very own room at the Vail Cascade. Beautiful views of aspen on the mountainside or the glittering creek. No one stealing the spa-provided shampoo before you get to it, the refrigerator all to yourself, and all the coffee and tea you can drink while you lounge in a plush bathrobe. Cost: $109 a night for three nights, 1-2 people, totaling $327.

Save
Roommates! There’s something especially fun about snuggling under the covers and chatting while you and friends drop off to sleep. You can sleep up to four people in a room, and still have all of the amenities. Cost: $134 a night for three nights, 3-4 people, totaling $100.50 per person split four ways.

These examples do not include tax or resort fee. More information can be found here.

The special room rate at the Vail Cascade is good from September 26 to October 6, 2009. If you have any problems making your reservation, please contact Sirens for help.

Also, we’re pleased to offer this rate to your friends and family–you don’t have to be a Sirens attendee to stay with us over the weekend. While Colorado weather is notoriously unpredictable, during the autumn in the mountains you might be able to swim in the outdoor pool in the daytime but still want a sweater and a hot drink in the hotel bar by evening. Vail offers a quiet retreat for writers, a quaint haven for shopping, and a multitude of outdoor activities, so you’re more than welcome to bring a crowd along.

Quick Links
The Sirens Website and Tell a Friend Link
Registration
Travel
Become a Supporter
Read the FAQ

For More Information
Please feel free to contact us at (help at sirensconference.org). We’re happy to answer any questions you might have.

See you in Vail!

Programming
As you’ve noticed, we’re hosting a series on how you can participate in programming as a presenter on the Sirens LiveJournal. We encourage you to become a presenter yourself, whether this is your first conference or your hundredth. The majority of the presentations at Sirens will be designed, proposed, and presented by you–and they will represent your interests, research, work, and passions.

You can see the current posts on programming right here. We know of one person on the Sirens message boards who’d like to collaborate on a presentation about fantasy book covers. Join her–or post your own messages to discuss ideas.

Keep an eye out for upcoming posts on programming! Later this week, we’ll provide how-to information for papers and panels, and next week, we’ll focus on workshops, roundtables, and afternoon classes. In the meantime, you can visit the programming page of our website for programming proposal instructions. Proposals are due April 12, 2009.

Programming Chat
We’re having a chat, and you’re invited!

Next week, we’ll hold a chat for those interested in Sirens. We’ll have staff available to answer your questions about programming, to help you work through ideas, and to suggest topics for you to present. You’re also welcome to come and connect with other Sirens attendees. We’ll hold a few more chats before Sirens at different times and on different days of the week if you can’t make it to this one.

DATE: Tuesday, March 24
TIME: 9-11 p.m. Eastern/8-10 p.m. Central/7-9 p.m. Mountain/6-8 p.m. Pacific
LOCATION: www.sirensconference.org/chat/

You don’t need to download anything or have any special software to participate–the webpage will turn into a chat room when the chat begins.

Twitter
Sirens has a Twitter account, but we don’t plan to use it except during the conference, and then only for information that’s really vital to disseminate quickly. In fact, we hope we won’t need to use Twitter at all! That said, please feel free to follow the account–all tweets will be public, and the account won’t follow or add anyone. (If you don’t use Twitter, you can also subscribe to sirens_con’s RSS feed.) For more information about Twitter, please see their website.

Vail Cascade Resort and Spa
As a reminder, rooms at the Vail Cascade Resort and Spa need to be reserved well in advance. You can find out how to do that via the Vail Cascade page on our website. By the time Sirens arrives, the Vail Cascade will be finished with a multi-million dollar renovation–and our rate of $109 (single/double) or $134 (triple/quad) for standard rooms is simply amazing. We hope that you and any traveling companions will take advantage of this discounted rate. You’ll have the most convenient conference lodging and you’ll help Sirens fill our room block, which means that we can have more space for programming, events, and activities.

Should you encounter any difficulty in making a reservation, please contact us; we can help clear up any confusion or problems.

Banner Exchanges
We’re excited to be exchanging banners and buttons with a number of sites, including newsletters, archives, conferences, artists, and online stores. To see the offerings or to exchange a banner, visit the Banner Exchange page on our website.

Quick Links
The Sirens Website and Tell a Friend Link
Registration
Travel
Become a Supporter
Read the FAQ

For More Information
Please feel free to contact us at (help at sirensconference.org). We’re happy to answer any questions you might have.

See you in Vail!

Latest News
We’re very pleased to announce that Kristin Cashore, Tamora Pierce, and Sherwood Smith will be our guests of honor in 2009. To find out more about these amazing authors, please visit the guests of honor page on the Sirens website.

Programming
This second issue of the Sirens newsletter is also our kickoff for programming! Over the coming weeks–right up until the proposal deadline of April 12, 2009–we’ll be hosting a series of posts on our LiveJournal and message boards that will guide you through the process to become a presenter. (You’re welcome to post want ads for co-presenters on Facebook, but we won’t post all of the series there.)

Here are some things you should know right away:

• Everyone is welcome to submit a proposal for a paper, panel, roundtable, workshop, or something similar. It makes the schedule more interesting when there are presentations by scholars, professionals, and readers–we want to feature lots of different perspectives. It’s great if you’ve presented elsewhere and it’s great if it’s your very first time to step out of the audience.
• We’ll be hosting some topic exchange posts on LiveJournal and our forums, where you can drop off ideas and pick up something that sounds interesting. Nearly all of our programming comes from the proposals attendees make and participate in!
• We have some guidelines for presenters as far as format, length, and so on, because like all conferences, we need to fit into our reserved space and time. You can get a jump on planning by visiting the programming section of the Sirens website and reading through the links on the left.
• As you plan your proposal, we’re happy to help with technical difficulties, answer procedural questions, and advise on special situations. The programming team is always available at (programming at sirensconference.org).
• If you’re interested in leading a class or demonstration in the “warrior arts,” be sure to find out more about afternoon classes, too.

Keep an eye out for upcoming posts on programming!

Travel Tip
There is no direct rail service to Vail, but Amtrak does serve Denver on the California Zephyr route. Greyhound provides bus service directly to Vail and stops at the station there three times daily. Passengers can transfer from the Amtrak train station in Denver. Please note that neither the Amtrak station nor the Greyhound terminal is near Denver International Airport. Transferring by shuttle or taxi from the airport to the train or bus stations costs $20–65.

Quick Links
The Sirens Website and Tell a Friend Link
Registration
Travel
Become a Supporter
Read the FAQ

For More Information
Please feel free to contact us at (help at sirensconference.org). We’re happy to answer any questions you might have.

See you in Vail!

Latest News
Keep an eye out toward the end of the month for information on our guests of honor. We’re very excited–and we think the news will be worth the wait!

Get Connected
Welcome to Sirens! You probably have a strong interest in women in fantasy literature as both authors and characters, from the perspective of a longtime reader, a scholar, or a publishing or other creative professional. You probably read a lot, and you know great books to recommend. We want you to connect with others who are interested in the same things. We have a variety of ways for you to get involved and meet people who might be going to Sirens. On LiveJournal, we have an off-topic journal that anyone may comment on (you must be a member to post). You can also join our Facebook, mailing list, and message boards here.

Volunteer
Most volunteer work for Sirens will happen next October, but in the meantime, we do have some projects you can work on from the comfort of your computer–and we always appreciate having volunteers, who help make the conference run smoothly. To volunteer, please fill out the intake form and continue on to join the volunteers group with the same e-mail address you used on the form. It may take a bit before you’re added to the group, but once you are, you can volunteer your time to short- and long-term projects, get news about the conference, and find out about volunteering during Sirens. Thank you very much for your help!

Show Your Colors
If you can’t volunteer time, can you volunteer online space? Part of making Sirens happen is spreading the word, and if you can post a link or use a graphic to help let others know about the conference, we’d be incredibly grateful. We have a variety of icons, desktops, buttons, and banners that you can use on your blog, website, signature, or even with your instant messenger program.

Download these and more in the Artwork section of the Sirens website. And even if you don’t have a place to host a button or a banner, please do let your friends and families know about our newest event!

Favorite Books
Have a favorite to recommend? Share it–or get a recommendation–right here!

Programming
It’s never too early to think about presenting at Sirens. You have about three months to prepare your essay, roundtable, panel, or workshop for consideration. Take a look at the Programming section of the Sirens website so that everything you’ll need can be turned in by the deadline of April 12, 2009. If you’re interested in leading a class or demonstration in the “warrior arts,” be sure to find out more about afternoon classes, too.

Vail Cascade Resort and Spa
The Vail Cascade Resort and Spa, a AAA Four-Diamond hotel, is one of Vail’s premier venues, and we’re very excited to host Sirens at this location. The friendly staff looks forward to having Sirens as much as we’re looking forward to a newly remodeled pool area, the pillow-topped mattresses, the views of the Rocky Mountains, the discounted spa services, the cozy fireside lounge, and the wired in-room high speed internet. The Vail Cascade has extended us an amazing room rate of $109 for 1-2 people and $134 for 3-4 people per room per night, not including tax and resort fee. Reserving and paying for a resort room is a little different from the usual hotel reservation process, so be sure to reserve your room early, and see our hotel information page for rules and restrictions. And don’t forget to check out the photo gallery for a preview!

Quick Links
The Sirens Website and Tell a Friend Link
Registration
Travel
Become a Supporter
Read the FAQ

For More Information
Please feel free to contact us at (help at sirensconference.org). We’re happy to answer any questions you might have.

See you in Vail!