Category: Cons

Calling for a Disbanding of Cliques and the Culture of Fear

On By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Cons, publishing, This blog's posts, WritingLeave a comment

For the past several days I’ve been incensed, heartbroken, and triggered to the nth degree over the allegations posted by professionals who worked for/with ChiZine Publications (CZP). It was one thing for me to read about the alleged mismanagement of funds and/or nonpayment of royalties, but quite another to read multiple posts* that mentioned abuse, harassment, and a working culture that made them afraid to speak out about it.

If you’d like to know more about the allegations and the first-hand experiences of those affected by CZP, Michael Matheson has been writing informative articles on their blog. Here’s the latest one I’ve read.

What has shaken me up even more than the content of these stories—which I believe because people who come forward often have far more to lose than to gain—was some of the responses from authors in the speculative fiction community. Things like not wanting to lose a spec fic publisher because we need spec fic publishers in Canada. (Um, what? Did you really mean to share that thought with other humans?) And there are those saying we’re all piling up on CZP because they’re a little late on royalties and running a small press is hard. (I…I got nothing.) Then there are the “two-siders,” who want to hear CZP’s side of the story. (Honestly, I can’t even imagine what that perspective could look like.) The entire time I’m going through these responses, I’m thinking, “Hurting people are hurting! Can’t we maybe focus on the soul-crunching part of these stories?”

I am a survivor of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse that happened in various points of my life. I’m also Irish, so I’m not exactly a “keep my tongue in my pocket” type of human. Ah, folks, I’ve been so angry about all of this. Like, massively sweary angry. F-bombs have happened when I’ve shared posts on Facebook. It’s because I’m triggered all the way into the middle of next month, and I feel for those who have spoken up.

I am part of the Canadian speculative fiction community. When I saw some of the selfish and insensitive responses to those pain-filled posts, I got fed up and was ready to quit being an author altogether. Just up and leave spec fic and never look back.

I was really gonna do it, too.

Then the glorious Tonya Liburd (seriously, follow her on Twitter at @somesillywowzer) posted a GIF on Facebook that said: If you’re going to stay alive, please do it for spite.

And despite my anger and being weak from empathy for all those hurting souls, I laughed. I laughed my head off. This would be the reason I wouldn’t quit: I’ll exist, just for spite. Thus, I say to those who have been hurt, please, keeping existing to spite the trolls. Let your amazingfulness shine. You have allies who want to see you soar.

After taking a deep breath, I read more. This time, I really noticed the strength of those coming forward, even if they perhaps didn’t know their own strength. I wanted to hug each one for apologizing for not coming forward sooner. (Hey, no apology necessary, even if you never publicly come forward. This is extremely complex and difficult stuff here.).

There was something else I observed as well: almost every story spoke about the culture of fear surrounding that publisher.

One thing I despise with a passion is a clique. In my opinion, cliques never lead to anything healthy. They are exclusive and so high school. Aren’t we supposed to be adults? Can’t we grow out of that “club” feeling? We’re not secure enough to welcome people into our sphere? Come on, seriously. You look ridiculous. If you’ve won awards and sold a billionty books, good for you! You did a thing! But don’t trot around as if brand-new emerging authors should be grateful you cast your shadow in their direction. It’s a wee bit pathetic. Experienced people sharing knowledge is beautiful and newer people sharing a fresh persective is also gorgeous. Everyone can learn from everyone else. (I used to facilitate problem-solving teams back in the day in telecommunications. I always gave equal opportunities for everyone to offer their input, regardless of their rank or years with the company. You should have seen the amazing solutions they came up with.) Collaboration and inclusion is healthy. Cliques are just so ugh.

I’m pro #DisbandTheCliques. Wish that could be a hashtag everyone would get behind.

And if you are conspiring on building and upholding a culture of fear, I hope people call you out on it big time. There’s nothing so douchbaggy as doing that. A culture of fear only gives birth to trauma, and trauma never really goes away. You can learn to live through it and even thrive, but the triggers can still come up. So, if you revel in adversely affecting people for the rest of their lives, [insert string of eloquently constructed Scottish insults here.] Because if you’ve never been insulted by a Scot feeling righteous indignation, honey, you’ve never been insulted. I might be Irish, but I highly respect the Scottish finesse of taking down a bully.

And listen, it’s not just the small presses out there, but also the conventions. If you truly want to build an inclusive culture, then that’s great. It’s a good start. But perhaps also take some time to reflect on your team. Does it celebrate diversity, and is it open to the input and concerns of your attendees? None of us knows everything. Diversity is complex and nuanced, and if you’re not a marginalized person in our society, that means you need to work even harder to listen to and consult with those who are. (Better yet, expand your team with more lived-experience representation.) Also, for the love of all things good, make rock-solid policies about harassment. Don’t shame or blame victims. And whatever you do, don’t make up feeble excuses for why an abuser should still be welcome at your con. If you truly want to be awesome, then go for it. Put your foot on the gas pedal and drive all the way to Awesomeland. Make people feel you are safe to approach and that your door is always open.

Lastly, through these stories I’ve learned about something called “the whisper network.” That’s when people who have been mistreated go to find consolation with others who they find to be safe. I don’t blame them one bit for doing this, if they fear that things will go against them if brought to light.

So, considering all that’s happened, as a Young Crone, my opinion is that every one of us must strive to be safe people for others. If we focus on that, we could build a community that is open and healthy. Cliques would die, fear would disappear, and there wouldn’t be a need for a whisper network.

Because in the end, we are creatives. Why not cultivate a culture where we can create in peace, share in each other’s joy, and give encouragement whenever anyone feels low? Isn’t that much nicer than cliques and a culture of fear? I think so.

Anyway, I sincerely hope this horribleness pushes us all to work toward something good. It can really happen if we want it to. We just have to want to. (Spoiler: I want to. Who’s with me?)

* Edit: I accidentally used the word testimonies instead of posts in the first version of this article. I’m fatigued and my brain isn’t braining goodly right now.

Cait Gordon, in a black and white digital sketch
Cait Gordon

Cait Gordon is a disability advocate and the author of Life in the ’Cosm and The Stealth Lovers. When she’s not writing, Cait’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She also teamed up with Kohenet Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the Nothing Without Us anthology (available in audiobook, ebook, and paperback).

Can-Con 2019: October 18-20, 2019 - Sheraton Hotel, Ottawa, Canada

I’ll be at Can*Con 2019, doing stuff!

On By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Cons, Events, This blog's posts, WritingLeave a comment

Hey, there! Can*Con 2019 is happening at the Sheraton Ottawa (150 Albert Street) this weekend, October 18-20. Here’s where you can find me:

Friday October 18: Sheraton Ottawa, Renaissance table, from 2-4 pm, Vendor Room.

Open to the public! I’ll be there, promoting The Stealth Lovers and Nothing Without Us. My first book, Life in the ’Cosm will also be sold there. If you buy my books, I’ll gladly sign them for you! I’ll recommend books by all the other awesome authors as well!

Saturday October 19: Sheraton Ottawa, Salon B, 12:00 pm, Nothing Without Us readings.

Con*Con attendees only. Co-editor Talia C. Johnson and I will be introducing several of our authors as they read from their stories in our anthology!

Saturday October 19: The 3 Brewers, 240 Sparks Street, Ottawa book launch of Nothing Without Us, 3pm.

Open to the public! Please support disabled, Deaf, neurodiverse, and Spoonie authors by coming to our book launch. There will be readings, signings, and prizes! Hope to see you there!

Sunday October 20: Renaissance table, from 12-1 pm, Vendor Room.

Open to the public. I’ll be there again! Come and say hi and buy some lovely books!

Cait Gordon, in a black and white digital sketch

Cait Gordon is a disability advocate and the author of Life in the ’Cosm and The Stealth Lovers. When she’s not writing, Cait’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She also teamed up with Kohenet Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the Nothing Without Us anthology in an attempt to take over the world. Narf.

WSBM cover

The Hilltop Gathering will be the subject of an academic paper, presented this November!

On By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Cons, This blog's posts, WritingLeave a comment

I’ve known this for a good while, but I am so massively excited to tell you all! Derek Newman-Stille will be presenting their paper, Desiring Disability: Frankensteinian Bodily Potential in Cait Gordon’s The Hilltop Gathering, at this international symposium:

The Gothic, the Abject and the Supernatural:
200 Years of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

October 31- November 2, 2019, Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

You might know Derek from the eight Prix Aurora Awards they’ve won for Specualting Canada, or for their classes at Trent university, or for their many panels and papers that examine disability representation. Oh, and they are also completing their PhD at the Frost Centre for Canadian Studies. So, in short, Derek is kind of a big deal.

In late 2018, Derek’s anthology, We Shall Be Monsters, was published, and it might contain a little ol’ story from me called The Hilltop Gathering. When the call for submissions came out in 2017, I noticed the invitation for disabled authors to explore disability with their submissions. So, I was motivated to create a teenage monster who uses a rollator, like I do. Frank E. (Frances Elizabeth) was the first disabled protagonist I’d ever written. It felt so good to have her be the star that it vindicated me to go forward with Nothing Without Us, where 22 authors did the same—they wrote stories with main characters who are disabled, Deaf, neurodiverse, and/or who manage mental illness.

Now, if I ever won an award for writing, that would be cool. But I must tell you, having a piece of mine discussed at an academic level feels like an award times a billion. I love learning, and if people can learn from a paper that mentions my work…ah, that’s heaven to me.

It matters so much that my disabled voice is elevated by another disabled voice. We are so often talked over by abled folks. Let’s face it—almost every policy about us is not created by us. So, disabled people need our community. We encourage each other, promote each other, and remind each other that yes, we’re frustrated as heck, and it’s not all in our imagination.

I took the character of Frank E. in The Hilltop Gathering and wrote the story I wanted to write. No inspiration porn, no cure narrative. And Derek got it. They not only accepted it as part of the anthology, but they also felt it was worthy to discuss among their peers.

Thank you, Derek. What you’re doing really matters. FrankenCrips unite!

WSBM cover: Black fabric with stitches. In the middle is a stitched-together heart. Text reads: We Shall Be Monsters, Edited by Derek Newman-Stille. (A list of authors appears under the heart.)

Would you like to get a copy of We Shall Be Monsters? Here’s where you can buy it!

Ebook

Buy now

Paperback

Buy now

And by the way, We Shall Be Monsters is also an Prix Aurora Award nominee for Best Related Work! How amazing is that?

I’m going to go squee for a bit now. And maybe eat some chocolate.

Cait Gordon, in a black and white digital sketch

Cait Gordon is a disability advocate and the author of Life in the ’Cosm and The Stealth Lovers. When she’s not writing, Cait’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She also teamed up with Kohenet Talia C. Johnson to co-edit the Nothing Without Us anthology in an attempt to take over the world. Narf.

Cait Gordon

Masking: The Fine Art of Faking Being Neurotypical

On By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Cons, Health, Spoonie challenges, This blog's posts2 Comments

I’m autistic.

You don’t know how freeing it is to write that. Every single time I do, I feel like a little more of that burden I’ve been carrying for decades is being lifted off my shoulders. I’m one of those cases (as happens to many autistic cisgender women) where I only discovered this last year at age 49. Yup, I went my whole life knowing that my brain operated in its own way; not much at all like my friends or teachers at school, nor my work colleagues as an adult. I had a unique way of perceiving my surroundings and often wondered why people didn’t get where I was coming from.

I was on the fringes in school—the misunderstood musician. I was loud and passionate (yay for being extroverted and neurodiverse), but I didn’t understand many social constructs. If social rules made no sense to me, I dismissed them. And I’m talking about ridiculous made-up things that cause the exclusion of others. I also rebelled on a religious level at age 15. (I am not really into the adulation of “human heroes”—I don’t care how famous they are. So, I never went to see the Pope in Montreal in the mid-80s. My Catholic parents were shocked, but they didn’t stop me.)

Sensory overload and the need to withdraw into quiet spaces has probably always been there with me. With the invention of the Sony Walkman™ back in the day, I found solace in listening to music, so I could focus on a singular, comforting sound. Even today, I rarely go outside without my headphones on. However, I’ve not worn them at crowded events. The onslaught of noise from cons, for example, can make me feel like someone is beating up my brain from the inside. Last year, I had to flee, in what felt like desperation, to a place of solitude in a less populated part of a hotel at a writers’ convention. I was shaking from The Overwhelm. It never occurred to me that I needed to upgrade to noise-cancelling headphones as an aid in sensory crises.

Cait Gordon
I need my space opera, but I also need a quiet space!

This type of overload, accompanied by the brain fog associated with fibromyalgia, takes over my ability to concentrate and hear. I cannot pick out human voices very well. One time on a writers’ panel, my friend had stated their pronoun was they, and when I immediately forgot (I’m like Dory the fish), they tried whispering it to me, and I couldn’t hear it until my other friend to the right cried: “They!” How embarrassing. I have now learned the ASL for the word, by the way. And at home, the Closed Captions are always on. Human voices have been a challenge for me, again, for decades.

Most of my life I’ve pretended to hear words when I could not. Most of my life I’ve tried to blend in to the constructs around me when I figured it might be easier that way, but I could not mask that long, and my true self always came back. Sometimes I’d completely burn out from just “trying all the time.” I also cannot often accept the status quo and/or injustices. A Québecois expression roughly translated is: I don’t keep my tongue in my pocket. (Thanks to my friend Nate for that one.) It’s really difficult for me to say nothing while myself or others are being excluded, and these days my passions are focused on accessibility and the inclusion of all the humans who identify with the Disabled/Deaf/Neurodiverse/Spoonie/Mad culture.

If you meet me in person, there might be a good chance my words might seem disjointed, or I have a difficult time collecting them. My brain is constantly processing the load of chronic pain stimuli, as well as trying to navigate speech through whatever is going on with my neurodiversity on that particular day. I’m just saying this as a fact—not to incur sympathy. I do not feel sorry for myself in the least. I know I’m intelligent and that my voice matters, regardless of whether my brain is fully braining or out of spoons.

There are people who might not want our voices heard, or they want them curtailed to fit into neurotypical boxes or even into ableist perceptions of how we should be. Don’t subscribe to that. My internalized ableism has held me back for so long. It was responsible for me waiting years to get a mobility device, and it kept me masking my neurodiversity.

You can’t really fake things. Faking puts such a strain on a person and you’re basically living a lie. I totally get sometimes we mask for survival, so I won’t judge anyone who still feels they need to mask. I’ve been in that place, too. Be safe, by all means.

But if you feel you can, do connect with other autistic and neurodiverse people. There are so many on Twitter, for example. And for the most part, they are extremely supportive.

It feels good to remove the mask.

And these days, instead of faking it, I’ll say a phrase my BFF uses a lot: “My brain isn’t braining today.” That expression really works for me. Perhaps you have one that suits you even better.

Cheers!

Cait Gordon, in a black and white digital sketch
Cait Gordon

Cait Gordon is a disability advocate and the author of Life in the ’Cosm and The Stealth Lovers (September 2019). When she’s not writing, Cait’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She’s also teamed up with co-editor Talia C. Johnson on the Nothing Without Us anthology (September 2019.)

Aqua square background. Red circle with line through it in the "Do not" symbol. The word Hugs is in the middle of the circle.

When It Hurts to Hug

On By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Cons, Health, Random stuff, This blog's postsLeave a comment

Changing gears from booky things, I wanted to discuss why I’ve recently had to make a decision about receiving physical affection from friends, family, as well as folks I meet at cons. I have fibromyalgia, and its symptoms are getting worse for me each year. To put it simply, hugging people who aren’t my husband causes me way too much neuropathic pain.

There have been so many times when I’ve felt nerves shoot through my neck, shoulders, and spine from what I assume are regular-type hugs. I’m just too sensitive. And I can feel pain for hours, or sometimes even days later, if I’m hugged the wrong way. (Wrong for my body, that is.)

My husband is a Professional Cait Handler™, and even he knows to listen when I say I can’t be hugged on a certain day. I usually just say, “Put your hands on my bum. My bum rarely hurts.”

But, erm, telling my friends or colleagues to place their mits on my backside is not a particularly appropriate thing to request. (And no, I don’t want you to, either. My butt is dedicated to one pair of hands only. Two, if I ever need a proctologist.)

Aqua square background. Red circle with line through it in the "Do not" symbol. The word Hugs is in the middle of the circle.
It would be lovely to receive hugs, but it’s far too ouchy.

So, if you’d like a hug from me, please don’t feel bad if I say no. If we’re good friends, I might ask to hold your hand gently in my two hands. That could be how I hug from now on. Even better, maybe we can do a Jedi Hug, where we pretend to hug from a distance! It’s the thought that counts, right?

I loved hugging, but I love not being in severe nerve pain that much more.

Sometimes withdrawing or not giving consent is because to give consent would hurt too much. And respecting one’s pain is really important. Especially as a woman, since we are often taught to endure physical pain for all sorts of reasons.

Thanks for understanding!

Cait Gordon, in a black and white digital sketch
Cait Gordon

Cait Gordon is a disability advocate and the author of Life in the ’Cosm and The Stealth Lovers (September 2019). When she’s not writing, Cait’s editing manuscripts and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She’s also teamed up with co-editor Talia C. Johnson on the Nothing Without Us anthology (September 2019.)

ID: Blue space background with streaks of light and stars. Text reads: Can-Con, October 12-14 2018, Sheraton Hotel, Ottawa, Canada.

I’ll be at Can-Con 2018!

On By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Cons, This blog's posts, WritingLeave a comment

It’s getting close to that time when my favourite annual conference happens! I’ll be doing a reading and will sit on two panels this year at The Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature, also known as Can-Con. Their 2018 schedule looks really interesting, too!

Can-Con 2018 will be held from October 12-14, 2018 at the Sheraton Hotel, Ottawa, Canada. See Can-Con’s website for more info!

I love Can-Con because I not only get to spend time with author buds who live elsewhere, and it’s like a great big family reunion (that doesn’t suck), but I also get to meet more people. It’s such a great place to learn about writing, publishing, own-voice perspectives, and more. There’s also a pretty awesome vendors room, too, where you can buy books and get them signed. They even have pitch sessions with agents and publishers!

I’ll always hold Can-Con in a special place in my heart because that’s where I met my first book (Life in the ’Cosm) in person for the first time! It made its debut on the Renaissance table that year! And I gave my very first public reading at Can-Con, too! Good times.

Can-Con 2016 was also where I noticed a lot of writers who used mobility devices, and it got me thinking, These are only the disabilities I can see. I bet there are more folks who manage invisible disabilities. And two months later, I launched The Spoonie Authors Network. (It’ll be two years old this November!)

Wanna listen to me or meet me?

I’ll be around most of the conference, but here is where you can listen to me read or talk about stuff on panels:

Always refer to the Can-Con website for the latest schedule!

Friday October 12, 2018—Alice Unbound Readings (5:00-5:50 p.m.)

Join me and authors Geoff Gander, Kate Heartfield, Elizabeth Hosang, Dominik Parisien, and Andrew A. Sutherland to listen to excerpts of our short stories from the Alice Unbound Beyond Wonderland anthology!

Saturday October 13, 2018—So We Should Talk: Critiquing Without Bloodshed (6:00-6:50 p.m.)

I’ll have my editing hat on and so will my BFF, Talia. With us both on the same panel, what could possibly go wrong? *cough*

Can-Con’s Panel Description:

It might be up there with getting a root canal or sleeping in a room full of spiders, but critiques can be essential to the writing process. A well-delivered critique leads to a much-improved manuscript. This panel explores how to deliver criticism in a constructive way, and how to find people to give you that necessary root canal. Anita Dolman, Cait Gordon, Talia C. Johnson, Douglas Smith, Costi Gurgu (Moderator).

Sunday October 14, 2018—Frankenstein, an Assemblage of Flesh (12:00-12:30 p.m.)

I’m giddy with excitement as I am such a huge fangirl of Mary Shelley and love Frankenstein, or, The Modern Prometheus to bits. (My short story, The Hilltop Gathering will be in the We Shall Be Monsters anthology, edited by Derek Newman-Stille!)

Can-Con’s Panel Description:

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is celebrating its 200th anniversary. The monster is the ultimate outsider, rejected from humanity at every encounter; it is a sewn together assemblage of flesh, a quilted mosaic of bodies, and this integration of parts allows it to be a figure who is read to be multi-gendered, multi-racial, multi-sexual, and multi-ethnic. Panelists will explore the multiple adaptations and re-imaginings that have made Mary Shelley’s creation so changeable and so continually relevant to our society and the way we think about marginalized people. JF Garrard, Cait Gordon, Derek Newman-Stille, Caighlan Smith, Sean Moreland (Moderator)

Hope to see you there!

It’s really such a blast. If you’re coming, I hope we run into each other!

Cait Gordon

Cait Gordon is the author of Life in the ’Cosm, a story about a little green guy who’s on a quest to save half the person he loves. Cait has recently submitted the prequel to ’Cosm called The Stealth Lovers, a military space opera about legendary warriors Xaxall Knightly and Vivoxx Tirowen. When she’s not writing, she’s editing manuscripts for indie authors and running The Spoonie Authors Network, a blog whose contributors manage disabilities and/or chronic conditions. She also really likes cake.

 

To my fans, readers, fellow authors, and those who tolerate me…

On By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Author appearance, Cons, Interviews, Random stuff, This blog's posts, WritingLeave a comment

pressie
Happy Christmas and have a fantastic 2018!

I wish you a safe and peaceful holiday season and all the best for the new year. This year had its challenges, but knowing you were out there supporting me gave me the motivation to continue writing and doing all the things!

In 2017, some cool writer stuff happened:

  • My first book, Life in the ’Cosm, had a second print round. (The latest edition includes words of praise on the back cover by two authors I really respect!)
    ..
  • Speculating Canada’s Derek Newman-Stille interviewed me on Trent Radio. We talked about writing characters with disabilities, cosplaying, Life in the ’Cosm, and then spent the rest of the time laughing.
    ..
  • I discovered a new joy with writing short stories. Two of my stories are awaiting a verdict as to whether they’ll appear in anthologies!
    ..
  • I moderated my first panel at Limestone Genre Expo called When to Listen to and When to Ignore Writing Advice. I also sat on two other panels.
    ..
  • My poem Invisible was published in Lady literary magazine.
    ..
  • I participated in a couple of super-cool panels at Can-Con 2017: Spooning with Spoonies: Disability and Sexuality (a Spoonie Authors Network panel) and Absurdist British Humour in Speculative Fiction.
    ..
  • Author and presenter Mony Dojeiji interviewed me on The Author’s Journey. We talked about my story as a writer and other cool things, like The Spoonie Authors Network. (Video coming in early 2018!)
    ..
  • Renaissance press invited me to provide words of praise for S.M. Carrière’s Daughters of Britain and John Haas’ The Reluctant Barbarian. (It made me feel so important, like my opinion mattered!)
    ..
  • I had mad fun at the Renaissance table during Ottawa Geek Market, Ottawa Comiccon, and Queer Between the Covers in Montreal. It’s fun meeting people and being silly with my fellow authors and the Renaissance press staff.
    ..
  • I met or got to know more authors this year who I am proud to call my friends, like Jamieson Wolf, Stephen Graham King, and ’Nathan Burgoine, to name a few. (Meeting authors is FUN!)
    ..
  • Contrary to belief (in myself), I wrote just over 50,000 words during my first-ever NaNoWriMo for the Xax and Viv biography, The Stealth Lovers. Once again, I engaged on a “well, I’ll try this” journey, and so far, I am loving the manuscript. What’s really been nice is that people have volunteered to beta-read it, and I’m not even done! That makes me happy.

While I loved discovering short stories, NaNoWriMo helped light the fire back under my butt for novel writing. My plan is to submit (God-willing) The Stealth Lovers in 2018, and then go back to Life in Another ’Cosm.

But in the meantime, I am going to enjoy my holidays, eat perhaps a little too much cake, and chill like an ice cube at the North Pole.

Again, all the best to you! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! My best hopes for you and yours in 2018. ❤

cgauthorCait Gordon is the author of Life in the ’Cosm, a comedic space opera where boy meets girl, but girl doesn’t notice boy because she’s sharing a body with another boy. She is also the creator and editor of the Spoonie Authors Network. You can follow Cait on Facebook and Twitter.

 

SpAN folks at Can-Con 2017

#CanConCold2017, but still, I had a blast!

On By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Cons, Events, Health, This blog's posts, Writing2 Comments

It’s Monday morning, and Can-Con 2017 is over. I MADE IT, I MADE IT! WHOOOPIEEEE!

Oh, let me explain. The one thing I really wanted to do no matter what was attend Can-Con this year. I’ve had a wonderful 12 months of networking with amazing authors, many of whom are now friends, and I knew this conference would be like a class reunion that didn’t suck. This time around, I’d be more actively involved by sitting on two panels and giving a reading. There’d be one activity each day where I had to speak, but then the rest of the time I could learn and socialize. Easy on the spoons, I thought.

Yeaaaaah.

Two weeks before the conference I had a freak accident and did something ungood to my right foot when Noola (my rollator) bucked after getting her front wheels stuck in an unexpected crack-indent-rift-in-space just before a curb. The back wheel smashed into my right foot. As I tried walking home, things felt worse and worse and when I removed my sock, I almost barfed at the sight. But, a late-night walk-in clinic later, I was told it was mostly likely a nasty contusion and x-rays confirmed that. Whew. I would be okay to go to Can-Con.

The Friday before Can-Con, I was Google hang-outting with a writers group when I noticed a fever. But only a slight one, so I took Tylenol and rested. I’d be fine for Can-Con.

Okay, by Monday my throat was sore, but it’s probably a little bug. I’d still make Can-Con.

On Tuesday, both my eyes were running like a faucet, but at least my sore throat was better. I mean, I had a wee sinus cold. But I’d be fine for Can-Con.

On Wednesday, HOLY FUCK, WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LEFT EYE? WHY IS THERE GRUNGE AND PUSS AND WHY IS IT PINK? Maybe it’s just a viral side effect. I should be okay for Can-Con.

On Thursday, MY LEFT EYE IS SHUT! HOW DO I GET IT OPEN? OH, NO, MY RIGHT EYE HAS TURNED PINK! At this point my husband yanked me to another walk-in clinic where I was diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis. Never had it in my life. Got it in both eyes, the day before Can-Con. Ohhhhh, crap. I might not make it to Can-Con.

IMG_5471
Friday night. I swear, I did regenerate! 

Friday comes around as Fridays are wont to do, and I cautiously look in the mirror. Hey! My eyes look like eyes again! Thank you, Jesus! Of course, the viral part of my cold makes me feel like total crap, but dammit, I’m going to Can-Con!

And I did. Even though moments before I sat on the Absurdist British Humour in Science Fiction panel I wasn’t too sure if I could put a sentence together, I went in anyway. And had so much fun discussing the mad funny shows and books that influenced our absurd lifestyle as humour writers. Really well-moderated by Ira Nayman, too. (We even bought each other’s books!) After panel, I went home to sleep.

I woke up at 4:35 a.m. hacking up a lung and spitting out unholy things. I had a book signing at 10:00 a.m. and my panel was at 9:00 p.m. Um. Yipes? However, resilient soul I imagine myself to be, I got into the car and went to the conference. Btw, I love wearing eye makeup and felt naked without it. Also, even my hair looked sick. I’m convinced my hair gets sympathy illnesses when I’m not well. My face was puffy, too. Nevertheless, I persisted!

But you know? Hanging with my friends, meeting online friends in person for the first time, listening to great talks, having deep discussions over lunch, gorging on pizza in my BFF’s room for supper, and then sitting on a panel that was 100% spoonie peeps was worth it. The Spooning with Spoonies: Disability and Sexuality panel was not only fantastic, but it also symbolized a dream come true for me. Last year at Can-Con, I saw many people with visible disabilities and knew there had to be more with invisible disabilities. I thought to myself, What if we had a network? I created the Spoonie Authors Network (SpaN) last November, eventually acquired 15 other contributors, and all six people on the spoonie panel were SpAN contributors! Wow! I was so happy having all these amazing humans up there with me, and their responses to questions were intelligent, insightful, and educational. Not to mention hilarious. I went home happy.

SpAN folks at Can-Con 2017
These goofballs are my spoonie friends. (From left to right: Talia Johnson, Caro Fréchette, ‘Nathan Burgoine, Stephen Graham King, and Derek Newman-Stille.)

Sunday morning was my reading. I love doing readings. Annnnd, I woke up with laryngitis. GO ME! I was also running on maybe two spoons, so I stayed sitting and managed to eke out enough voice to get through it. Still fun, though. So glad people laughed. #cakeblocked

Cait and Splot-Poop tshirt
I think I’m making a Splot face before my reading.

After the conference ended, I had a couple of quiet one-on-one meaningful chats. So nice to grasp onto those precious bonding moments. It was lovely.

My long-suffering husband then collected me, we picked up an untold amount of wings, and questioned our safety when a weird windstorm/thunderstorm created almost zero visibility on the rural road near our burb. BUT WE’RE OKAY, FOLKS! I ate my own weight while wear my minion onesie. Finally, I could rest.

Sooooo. Why didn’t I just stay home and nurse my double-eye infection and virus like a reasonable person? By now if you think I’m reasonable, you don’t know me very well. Yes, it was super annoying to have to put my eyedrops in at certain times and hork up goop, but I feel that the endorphin boost from so many people happy to see me and the building of friendships and the camaraderie of my fellow authors was totally worth it. We often write in isolation, so it’s nice to come together and share our experiences and some hugs! Also, I learn so much from these workshops and convos. The information I gain there helps me understand people better, makes me a strong writer, and helps me become a compassionate person. Most of the panels I attended were #ownvoices, and did I ever get a lot out of them. It’s so important to get the right message from people’s own mouths!

So, Can-Con . . . totally worth being patient zero for! (I managed to keep my germs well to myself, so yay!) Now, I don’t recommend risking your health for a conference and I would have stayed home if I had a fever. (Be smart with your health and listen to your doctor. Mine told me to enjoy the conference, so I knew I wasn’t in real danger.) But you can see how much I love this yearly event. To learn more about Can-Con, visit their website and follow them on social media!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a furry blanket.

cgauthorCait Gordon is the author of Life in the ’Cosm, a comedic space opera where boy meets girl, but girl doesn’t notice boy because she’s sharing a body with another boy. She is also the creator and editor of the Spoonie Authors Network. You can follow Cait on Facebook  and Twitter.

 

I’ll be at Can-Con 2017!

On By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Cons, Events, This blog's posts, WritingLeave a comment

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It’s the most wonderful time of the yeeeeear! Yes, it’s October, and that means The Conference on Canadian Content in Speculative Arts and Literature (a.k.a., Can-Con) is upon us! Can-Con will probably always hold a special place in my heart because it’s where my book first appeared for sale in paperback format! I also gave my first-ever reading, too!

This will be my second year at the conference, and I’ll be attending every day! When I’m not listening to other awesome authors, I’ll be doing these things:

  • Panel—Absurdist British Humour in Speculative Fiction (Friday October 13, 8-8:50pm)
  • Panel—Spooning with Spoonies (Saturday October 14, 9-9:50 pm)
  • Reading of Life in the ’Cosm (Sunday October 15, 1:15pm, but the readings start at 1pm)
  • Book signing (open to the public)—check the Renaissance website for more information!

Please consult the schedule on the Can-Con website for more information.

Hope to see you there! I’ll be with my trusty rollator, Noola!

cgauthorCait Gordon is the author of Life in the ’Cosm, a comedic space opera where boy meets girl, but girl doesn’t notice boy because she’s sharing a body with another boy. She is also the creator and editor of the Spoonie Authors Network. You can follow Cait on Facebook  and Twitter.

 

I’ll be at the Ottawa Geek Market on Saturday September 30, 1-6 pm!

On By Cait (like Kat) GordonIn Cons, This blog's posts2 Comments

Cait Jem
And I plan on being truly, truly, truly outrageous.

In Ottawa this weekend? Wanna meet  me? You can!

I’ll be at the Ottawa Geek Market on Saturday September 30, from 1-6pm, in cosplay of course! Drop by the Renaissance booth and say hello, buy some books, or bring your copy of Life in the ‘Cosm and I will gladly sign it!

Hope to see you there!

Ottawa Geek Market
Nepean Sportsplex
1701 Woodroffe Avenue
Ottawa, ON 

cgauthorCait Gordon is the author of Life in the ’Cosm, a comedic space opera where boy meets girl, but girl doesn’t notice boy because she’s sharing a body with another boy. She is also the creator and editor of the Spoonie Authors Network. You can follow Cait on Facebook  and Twitter.