Joyous ICFA to all - Nisi Shawl

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			Joyous ICFA to all - Nisi Shawl




			08:45 pm November 16th, 2009

nisi_la


	Joyous ICFA to all
	Joyousness is mine and so I want to share it with you. I applied for and received a scholarship to attend the International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts. ICFA is a small, academic kinda science fiction convention held annually in Orlando, FL. Next one is March 17 - 21, 2010, and the topic is "Race and the Fantastic." There will be papers and readings and luncheons. Nalo is one of the Guests of Honor, and the other two are Lawrence Yep and Takayuki Tatsumi. I was invited to attend, sans membership charge, and rashly said yes, though not possessed of airfare, hotel cost, or food dollars. Then three friends in a row told me about a privately offered scholarship, and I asked for it. And I got it! According to the people who made the offer (of their private funds), they said controversial things during Race Fail. I don't know what they said, because I went lalalalala during most of both recent RaceFails--not because I think racial issues are unimportant (they matter, and I really know that), but because I dreaded rehashing them in a format that can make even intelligent remarks look whacked out and clueless. So I don't know what the controversy was. I will find out when I meet the scholarship offerers in person. At ICFA. (If you know what they said, don't try to tell me unless we're sitting down together face-to-face somewhere quiet for a while.) I will read a story I've written and appear on a panel at ICFA and do my best to get everyone there to sing songs with me, and play guitar or piano or wine glasses or whatever else is handy. I'm betting I'll receive excellent cooperation. Tags: appearances, fantasy, science fiction

24 comments or Leave a comment


	Comments




			Comment by Anonymous

From: (Anonymous)	Date: November 17th, 2009 05:38 am (UTC)		(Link)

My opinion which is only mine:

1) You deserve the scholarship and you're a great choice.
2) The people giving it are doing their flawed best, and you're handling it intelligently and compassionately. They won't cheat you or misuse you.

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			Comment by Maevele

	From: maevele	Date: November 17th, 2009 06:03 am (UTC)		(Link)

I know nothing of the drama other than there was drama and people were concerned it would affect who they gave the scholarship to, and i think the fact that you got it shows they used good decision making

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			Comment by Luke McGuff

	From: holyoutlaw	Date: November 17th, 2009 06:45 am (UTC)		(Link)

Here's a third vote for "couldn't have gone to a better person."

This is great news!

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			Comment by woman who reads too much

	From: boxofdelights	Date: November 17th, 2009 07:20 am (UTC)		(Link)

Yay!

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			Comment by shweta_narayan

	From: shweta_narayan	Date: November 17th, 2009 09:27 am (UTC)		(Link)

Great news, Nisi! Congratulations!

I'm absolutely bouncy that you got the scholarship :)

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			Thread started by it's a great life, if you don't weaken

	From: matociquala	Date: November 17th, 2009 12:41 pm (UTC)		(Link)

See, here you are making a con sound tempting. And I don't even like cons.

Have fun, and congratulations, and hug Nalo for me.

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	From: nisi_la	Date: November 17th, 2009 01:22 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Thanks,joy-sharers. You are multiplying it for me.

Other omo, I hope to see you and sing with you before then, at a nearby awon.

Bear, cons can be no fun, yeah, but maybe you and me should hit one together some time. Despite living on opposite coasts. When will you next be a GOH?

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	From: matociquala	Date: November 17th, 2009 01:33 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Sweden, in 2011. PROBABLY undoable. *g*

Oh, except maybe--it's not formal yet--Gaylaxicon in Montreal in 2010? But that's an awfully long poke for you.

(I'm going to try to make 4th Street next year, and Readercon next year is looking quite good.)

And just so you know, I adore you, and I am delighted you have this opportunity!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

	From: nisi_la	Date: November 17th, 2009 01:47 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Hmm. Sweden. I have always wanted to go to Norway, which is right next door....Never been to Montreal, either.

Thank you for your delight and kind adoration. Same back at ya.

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			Comment by deliasherman

	From: deliasherman	Date: November 17th, 2009 02:07 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Wow. Oh, I'm so glad. Makes me wish I could go this year. I've loved ICFA for a long time, but it comes at a strange time of year for me.

Happy wine, song, and conversation. YOu should get plenty of both.

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			Comment by nihilistech

	From: nihilistech	Date: November 17th, 2009 02:32 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Very cool! It's cool to see how much ICFA has grown. I used to go when I was in high school and it was held in Boca Raton. It is where Brian Aldiss offered to fall into the hotel pool for me (so I would know how far away from my chair it was.) Also where I saw Harlan Ellison be rude to ... Frederick Pohl (I think) and subsequently be very embarrassed, and heard Stephen King do a reading of a short story.

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			Comment by oracne - Victoria Janssen

	From: oracne	Date: November 17th, 2009 02:38 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Yay! Congratulations!

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			Comment by Peg

	From: mechaieh	Date: November 17th, 2009 02:48 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Yay! Mazel tov!

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			Comment by shekkara

	From: shekkara	Date: November 17th, 2009 04:52 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Yeah for scholarships! Sounds like a great conference.

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			Comment by e_bourne

	From: e_bourne	Date: November 17th, 2009 05:16 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Wonderful! Go enjoy and stun everyone with your fabulousness!

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			Comment by E.C. Myers

	From: ecmyers	Date: November 17th, 2009 07:59 pm (UTC)		(Link)

That is so wonderful! Congratulations!

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			Comment by Anonymous

From: (Anonymous)	Date: November 18th, 2009 12:55 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I hope you have a wonderful time and that the people behind this learn something from you, instead of using giving you money as an excuse to cause more pain and annoyance online.

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			Comment by fjm

	From: fjm	Date: November 18th, 2009 03:51 pm (UTC)		(Link)

We'll very much look forward to seeing you.

(Farah)

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			Thread started by Friend of the Ood.

	From: bork	Date: November 19th, 2009 07:27 am (UTC)		(Link)

This is wonderful, and I hope you have a great time there!

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	From: nisi_la	Date: November 19th, 2009 07:36 am (UTC)		(Link)

Thank you all again!

One of the many cool things about this is that it looks extremely likely that the woman I've been co-editing the anthology about Octavia E. Butler with (it's called "Strange Matings") will attend ICFA as well. Dr. Rebecca Holden is her name, and she lives in DC, so we don't run into each other every day. If she goes, we may well room together. This would be so good.

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	From: bork	Date: November 19th, 2009 07:44 am (UTC)		(Link)

OK.

That is so awesome. And the networking opportunities you're going to have there!

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			Thread started by et in Arcadia egoboo

	From: apostle_of_eris	Date: November 19th, 2009 04:07 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	hurrah for all concerned

You'll very much enjoy the acquaintance of your benefactors, and have an excellent time in Orlando.
And “lalalalala” is one of the most sensible responses I've encountered (from my very safe distance with my back turned).

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	From: nisi_la	Date: November 19th, 2009 04:56 pm (UTC)		(Link)
	Re: hurrah for all concerned

I will add that while "lalalalala" was my response, I don't think it was the only valid one. I know some smart people who rolled up their electronic sleeves and bravely wrote deeply-felt and well-thought-out messages for both RaceFails.

And I am *really* looking forward to doing ICFA, meeting the scholarship funders, rooming with Dr. Rebecca Holden (she's coming!), working out with Nalo, and maybe getting in some swimming in the hotel pool between panels.

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			Comment by Alexfandra

From: alexfandra	Date: November 19th, 2009 05:37 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Congratulations! I know you'll make the most of your time there -- and hey, FLORIDA in March -- we here in the Northwet will be duly envious.
-Alex MacKenzie

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