Conference Recap Cleveland ConCoction 2017
Introduction
I attended the SF conference Cleveland ConCoction 2017 at 5300 Riverside Drive Cleveland, Ohio at the Sheraton Cleveland Airport Hotel from March 10, 2017, to March 12, 2017. The 2019 convention was from March 1 to 3, 2019 and I realized when I wrote a recap for that conference, I had not posted a recap for the 2017 conference. This is a recap of the 2017 conference. I attended three panels, two author showcases, two performances, the state of the con panel, and the closing ceremony. I also volunteered in the ConSuite for twelve hours.
The link to the ConCoction website.
http://www.clevelandconcoction.org/
Cleveland ConCoction Banner
Cleveland ConCoction 2017 Program Guide Cover. Even though the cover has 2016 listed, this was the 2017 program. The theme was Grimm’s’ Fairy Tales.
Picture of my badge from Cleveland ConCoction 2017
Summary
Friday, March 10th from 4 PM to 9 PM
I volunteered in the ConSuite Department for five hours on Friday. The ConSuite was in a back bar at the Sheraton Hotel.
Friday, March 10th at 9 PM
A concert by the Blibbering Humdingers
This duo played what they called wizard rock. Most of the songs in this concert dealt with themes from Harry Potter. The songs played were “Love Song of Sirius Black (Dementor in Love)”, “Voldemort made me crap my pants”, “Lily’s Worst Memory,” “Best Game Ever,” “Hot Girl in the Comic Shop,” and “Awkward Hug.” I thought “Best Game Ever” was the best song they played at this session.
They held the concert in the Orion A Room.
Saturday, March 11th from 9 AM to 4 PM
I volunteered in the ConSuite Department for seven hours on Friday. The ConSuite was in a back bar at the Sheraton Hotel. During this time, I was helping to make Rice Krispy blocks used in patterns. When I did that, I saw the coffee session with Glen Cook, but I didn’t hear much of the conversation.
Saturday, March 11th at 5 PM
Author Showcase (Session 4)
Four authors read from their works in the showcase.
Brent D. Seth read from his novel named Shortfuse.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25456172-short-fuse
Mary Turzillo read a short story from her short story collection named Bonsai Babies.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32269487-bonsai-babies
Addie J. King read from her novel Shades of Gray. It is about a rookie cop and werewolves.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26850087-shades-of-gray
Kathy Callahan read from her vampire novel.
They held the showcase in the Lyra room with 8 attendees.
Saturday, March 11th at 6 PM
Common Problems New Writers Encounter, a panel with Shannon Eichhorn, Sara Dobie Bauer, J. Thorn, and James Barnes.
J. Thorn outlined his process. He recommended the book The Story Grid by Shawn Coyne. Know what you need next he suggests. Look into getting a developmental editor, a line editor, a copy editor, and then beta readers. Other suggestions for new writers from the panel were as follows. Write what you are passionate about. Don’t have a fear of breaking rules. Be cautious of giving too much back story and info dumps. Know your genre. Books used as examples were Pet Semetary by Stephen King and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25455700-the-story-grid
They held the panel in the Pegasus room with 13 attendees.
Saturday, March 11th at 7 PM
Elevator Pitch Tutorial Session, a panel with Addie J. King, James Barnes, J. Thorn, Mary Turzillo, and Linda Robertson.
An Elevator Pitch explains the essence of a novel. The idea is to give the pitch to someone who could be interested in representing your book in the time it would take an elevator to go six floors. In the pitch, you want to describe what your book is about. Think about your ideal customer when you are designing the pitch. Think about how you would describe your book to an editor. The Pixar Pitch is a six-line template that can tell the story of your work developed by Emma Coats. You can find the pitch in Daniel H. Pink’s book named To Sell Is Human. The pitch fits for the Pixar movies but can be adapted to any written work. Linda Robertson gave out a handout. In it the main points were that you need a concept, a premise, ask questions, and understand the character’s stakes in your story. The concept and the premise when read together is your elevator pitch.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13593553-to-sell-is-human
They held the panel in the Lyra Room with 7 attendees.
Saturday, March 11th at 8 PM
A concert by the Blibbering Humdingers
I liked the first concert, so I came back to see them again. This duo played what they called wizard rock. Most of the songs in this concert dealt with themes from Harry Potter. The songs I saw played in this session were “Hufflepuff Sandwich,” “Zip Me Up,” and “Natural 20 (a song about playing the Dungeons and Dragons Game).”
They held the concert in the Orion A Room.
Sunday, March 12th at 10 AM
State of the Con Q and A
The Con Chairs talked about how Cleveland ConCoction 2017 went this week and about plans for 2018.
They held the panel in the Orion A Room with 10 attendees.
Sunday, March 12th at 11 AM
Post-Apocalypse–How Will It End?, a panel with J. L. Gribble, Weston Kincade, and Brent D. Seth.
The panelists talked about the novels Flood by Stephen Baxter and The Road by Cormac McCarthy. They also talked about the TV show called The 100.
They held the panel in the Pegasus Room.
Sunday, March 12th at 12 PM
Author Showcase (Session 5)
Four authors read from their works.
Linda Robertson read from her novel Jovienne.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32713330-jovienne
J. D. Blackrose read a story about Vampires and Valkyries.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/16065546.J_D_Blackrose
Adrian Matthews read from his novel Olivia’s Return (BloodDark Book #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31670766-olivia-s-escape
Cindy Matthews read from her novel Olivia’s Return (BloodDark Book #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34197040-olivia-s-return
They held the panel in the Lyra Room with 3 attendees.
Sunday, March 12th at 2 PM
Closing Ceremonies
The Guests of Honor were presented and thanked for Cleveland ConCoction 2017.
They held the panel in the Orion A Room.
Recommendation – Conclusion
I had a great time at Cleveland ConCoction 2017. It was my first time at this con. I worked twelve hours in the ConSuite and I don’t plan on doing that again because I missed events I wanted to see. My star of the con was the Blibbering Humdingers. I liked both of the concerts they performed. My other highlights were the Elevator Pitch panel and listening to eight authors who read their work in two showcases. I attended Cleveland ConCoction in 2018 and 2019 and I bought my pass for 2020.
Links
I attended Cleveland ConCoction 2019 at 600 North Aurora Road Aurora, Ohio at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center from March 1 to 3, 2019. Attended the opening ceremony, four panels, and the closing ceremony. I also volunteered in the Programming Department for four hours and in the ConSuite for four hours. This is a link to my conference recap.
I also attended Cleveland ConCoction at 600 North Aurora Road Aurora, Ohio at the Bertram Inn and Conference Center from March 9, 2018, to March 11, 2018. Attended the opening ceremony, five panels, two author showcases, a performance, and the closing ceremony. I also volunteered in the ConSuite for eight hours. This is a Link to my conference recap.