This weekend is shaping up to a busy one: I’m a guest at Emerald City Comic Con, and also taking part in a free public panel and signing at Brick & Mortar Books. If you’re able to attend any of the events please stop by and say hello so I can feel slightly less alone in this vast, cold universe, however fleetingly…and we can shoot the shit about books or whatever!

It’s also worth noting that whether I’m listed as Jesse Bullington or as Alex Marshall I’ll be keeping some pretty righteous company, too, check it out:

Thursday, March 1st: Brick & Mortar Books in Redmond

Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors in Action!
6:00 pm

We’re thrilled to be hosting a panel to talk with three authors in town for Emerald City Comic Con who write some of the best action scenes in science fiction and fantasy! Join us at 6pm on Thursday, 3/1 to meet Chuck Wendig (Star Wars AFTERMATH: Empire’s End), Fonda Lee (Jade City), and Alex Marshall (A War in Crimson Embers) and hear the secrets of writing exciting fictional fights in a panel moderated by our own Casey Blair. If you’re not going to make it to Emerald City Comic Con this year, this is a rare chance to meet amazing SFF authors on the Eastside. And if you ARE going to Emerald City Comic Con, we have your Thursday evening plans covered!

Friday, March 2nd: ECCC

The Darker Side of Fantasy
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, WSCC 603- Writers Block Presented by PRH

Grimdark, horror, and dystopian stories bring readers to the darker side of fantasy fiction. Join these authors as they discuss the gritty, horrific, and bloody details in some of today’s most popular stories. Featuring Ed McDonald, R.A. Salvatore, Todd Lockwood, Cherie Priest, Delilah Dawson, Josh Malerman, and Jesse Bullington.

The Darker Side of Fantasy Author Autographing
12:15 PM - 1:15 PM, Writers Block – Autographing Table 1

Total Rebellion
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM, WSCC 603- Writers Block Presented by PRH

From David and Goliath all the way to the Rebel Alliance versus the Empire, stories of incredible characters fighting against impossible odds are a mainstay of science fiction and fantasy. Rebellion is a classic SFF plotline—but in the world of today, stories of rising up against the oppressive, outdated institutions has taken on a completely new significance. What does it take to create an uprising? Why do we love rebels so much, and what is it about a good old tale of rule-breaking and resistance that readers find so satisfying? Featuring Amy S. Foster, Tamora Pierce, Rachel Hartman, Fonda Lee, and Jesse Bullington.

Total Rebellion Author Autographing
5:15 PM - 6:15 PM, Writers Block – Autographing Table 3

Saturday, March 3rd: ECCC

10 Points to Slytherin: Why Good Fans Love Evil Characters
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, TCC L3 – Room 2

Get in touch with your Dark Side! Forget the boring heroes - fandom loves it’s villains. Loki, Harley Quinn, Darth Vader - with their fascinating backstories, dangerous aesthetics, and devil-may-care attitudes, it’s easy to see why many fans self-identify with the bad guys. But what does it say when you proudly claim allegiance to Slytherin House, the 501st, or Hydra? This panel - moderated by podcast host Adron Buske (Nerd For A Living) - will explore fan fascination with fictional antagonists. Featuring Adron Buske, David Accampo, Desiree Proctor, Erica Harrell, Annalee Newitz, and Alex Marshall.

Many thanks to ECCC and Brick & Mortar Books for hosting me, and hope to see you there!