My Fencon Panels...

Fencon is coming up in a couple of weeks, and I got my listing of panels this week-end.

Friday 6:00 PM Trinity 1/2
Defending the Creative Life

Description: "So, are you still doing that writing (art, music) stuff?" How you can respond to your friends and family telling you to get a real job.

I have actually been asked "Are you still doing that little writing thing?" ::sighs::
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Friday 9:00 PM Addison Lecture Hall
Why Is This Crap Lodged in My Brain - and What Can I Do to Get it Out?

Description: You can't remember your own phone number, but you can remember the name of that obscure Trek actor without hesitation. Or, you forget that the kid has soccer practice every Wednesday, but you can sing the theme from "The Banana Splits" on cue. What makes our brains work like this? Is there anything we can do about it?

Since I've actually taught the retention curve (although I usually use Captain Kangaroo's "Blue-Footed Booby" song as my example) I understand this topic mathematically.
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Saturday 12:00 noon Addison Lecture Hall
Blended Genres

Description: Mixing "Gilligans Island" with "X-Files" might sound like a great idea...but does it always work? How can a writer successfully combine two or more established genres? When should they leave well enough alone?

This will be a weird panel. No doubt about that. Any deep thoughts, anyone?

Little Help....

So, I've decided I want to push my way through all these non-fic books I've had sitting around here by the end of the year. I'm honestly inclined to start with Robert Kurson's "Crashing Through" (the story of a blind man who is given sight as an adult).

However, I can't help but wonder what the hive mind thinks. So, here are the books I want to get read. Which should I read first?

( I've put a blurb for each beind the cut )

[Poll #1265522]

You can make other suggestions in the comments, but seriously folks, I won't get to anything NEW until next year.