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Octocon 2022
From 15-16 October 2022 I'll be attending Octocon in Croke Park, Dublin.
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Attending Octocon 2021
I am beaming into Octocon again this year - it's taking place virtually, from 1-3 October, and all events are free, but you must register to attend.
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Octocon 2020
From 9-11 October I'll be attending Octocon 2020, which is taking place online. Here is my schedule of panels.
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Octocon 2017
The National Irish Science Fiction Convention, Octocon 2017, is taking place this coming weekend. Here’s my schedule for the convention: FRIDAY 06 OCTOBER 08:00 PM ‘You Don’t Scare Me Anymore’ in the Salusa Secundus room Paul Anthony Shortt, Maura McHugh, Frank E Whelan, Lynda E Rucker SATURDAY 07 OCTOBER 06:00 PM ‘Plug In to Fear’ in the Salusa Secundus room Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Nik Vincent-Abnett, Frank E Whelan, Dan Abnett, Maura McHugh 07:00 PM ‘David Lynch Panel’ in the Salusa Secundus room Phil Dyson, Maura McHugh, R B Kelly, Lynda E Rucker SUNDAY 08 OCTOBER 02:00 PM ‘Golden Blasters’ in the Arrakis room I’ll be attending this event as a member…
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Octocon 2016
It’s time for Octocon, in the Camden Court Hotel, again! It’s one of my favourite conventions in the calendar. Here’s the schedule of events in which I’ll be participating this year: Saturday, 15 October Space X Time; Plot in Graphic Novels Dave Ferguson, Maura McHugh, Anthea West, Leeann Hamilton, C.E. Murphy, Paul Bolger 11:00, A. Tivoli/Yeats Development in a Static World Maura McHugh, Diane Duane, Peter Morwood, Michael Carroll, Allen Stroud 12:00, A. Tivoli/Yeats The Arc of Women’s Fandom Fionnuala Murphy, Ruth F. Long, Maura McHugh, Celine Kiernan 14:00, E. Wexford Sunday, 16 October Interview with Guest of Honour, Rhianna Pratchett Rhianna Pratchett, Maura McHugh 15:00, A. Tivoli/Yeats To Every…
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Octocon 2015
September is in its twilight now, which means the annual Irish science fiction convention, Octocon, which takes place in the Camden Court Hotel, Dublin from 9-11 October, is almost upon us. This year I’m one of the two co-Guests of Honour at the convention (along with Emma Newman), which is something I’m still humbled about. As usual it should be a fun weekend, full of lively panels and wonderful conversations about an array of topics across literature, film, comics, TV, videogames, and cosplay. The other guests who will be along to offer their expertise and insight on the subjects are: Paul Bolger, Michael Carroll, Rob Curley, Celine Kiernan, Ruth Long,…
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GoH at Octocon 2015
I’m pleased to announce that I’ve been invited to be Guest of Honour at Octocon 2015, which is taking place in the Camden Court Hotel from 10 – 11 October 2015. So far the other GoH who has been announced is young adult novelist Emma Newman. I started attending Octocon as a fan, and then progressed to running the convention for a period, so all these years later it means a great deal to me to be a GoH at the convention which was my foundation for sf/fantasy/horror appreciation. The convention seems a long way off at this point, but I’m already looking forward to it.
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First Jennifer Wilde Cosplay
I haven’t had much time to blog about my time at Octocon 2013 (great fun!), but before I head off to Brighton for World Fantasy Con 2013 tomorrow, I figured I should at least mention one of the highlights of the event for me: This is Róisín Breathnach, a costume designer and pattern drafter, who cosplayed Jennifer Wilde at the convention. Jennifer is the comic book character I write for Atomic Diner, and I believe this is the first time that any Atomic Diner character has been cosplayed (but it won’t be the last!). Roisin not only did a great job replicating the costume (plus the locket), but possesses a…
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Octocon 2013 schedule
It’s that time of the year again, which means I’ll be in The Camden Court Hotel in Dublin this weekend (12-13 October) attending one of my favourite conventions: Octocon. There are two terrific guests of honour that I’m very excited about meeting: comic book writer Gail Simone, and author Richard K Morgan. Both of them have created work I both enjoy and admire, so it will be a privilege to hear them talk about their interests. Here’s my schedule: Saturday 13:00 – Masterclass in Contemporary Fantasy (Pavilion) with Peadar Ó Guilín and Liz Bourke 15:00 – I Don’t Believe It, But It’s True (Abbey) with Ruth Frances Long, Leann Hamilton,…
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knotting threads
There have been a number of dangling threads I haven’t knotted off lately, so here are a few things I should mention. First off, FantasyCon in Brighton at the end of last month was a fun and enjoyable convention. I love the city, and a wonderful crowd of people attended. The fire alarm in my hotel went off at 3.30am one morning, and after a late night in the bar this was not a fun wake-up call. I have never heard such a terrible din. My cognitive faculties weren’t the best, but the alarm seemed designed to disrupt any ability to think. I looked like a demented hobo as I…
