The AZSF.org Guide to the Tucson Festival of Books 2016
An AZSF Guide to the SF/F related panels and authors appearing.
University of Arizona Campus • March 12 – 13, 2016
IMPORTANT – With the increasing turnout for the festival, they have started doing free advance tickets to some of the more popular panels online with a limited number available for those who line up on the day of the panel. Look over the panel list carefully. Tickets become available to Friends of the Festival on Wednesday March 2 and to the general public on Monday, March 7. Full details are on this TFoB Page
Authors and General Information
The Tucson Festival of Books is one of the largest book festivals in the country now, and gets a very large turnout of authors of all genres. This guide focuses on the science fiction and fantasy genre for Adult and YA. They do have an author list by genre, so you can look at the specific categories you are interested in. A printed guide to the festival is handed out each year and the online App is usually quite helpful (and does appear to be updated for 2016 now). There is also plenty of information online on the website for advance planning each day.
Participating science fiction and fantasy authors include Charlie Jane Anders, Austin Aslan, Paolo Bacigalupi, Greg Bear, Zac Brewer,Terry Brooks, Rae Carson, Beth Cato, Diana Gabaldon, Jeffe Kennedy, Gini Koch, Jonathon Maberry, Jeffrey Mariotte, Weston Ochse, Aprilynne Pike, Adam Rex, R. L. Stine, David Lee Summers, Sam Sykes, Judith Tarr, Chuck Wendig, and Suzanne Young.
For other general festival information (parking, location, ATMs, etc), start with the main website at www.tucsonfestivalofbooks.com.
Signings – Following each panel, there is usually a signing at a designated signing area for that panel room. This is noted in the onsite guide/map and this year is added to the panel descriptions! Once the panel ends, the moderator should direct the attendees to the signing location (where people have likely already started lining up during the panel). The UA Bookstore does have books available to buy at the signing locations as well as at several large tents at the festival. They do not tend to have much more than current or recent books, so any older books you should bring. They usually have a limit of three books, but for more popular authors they may limit more.
There may also be some booth signings, although with the genre focused bookstores no longer exhibiting, there aren’t many with the genre authors. I will try to note any that I discover.
Book Vendors and other Exhibitors – As mentioned, the UA Bookstore sells a fair number of books by the participating authors. There are also other local bookstores as well as some used book vendors that may have things they don’t have. Check out the full exhibitor list on the TFoB website Exhibitor page.
Panel Schedule
For panels for each of the authors, you can go to their individual listings to see their schedule. There is also an online program grid for reference as well..
Here’s a schedule of panels featuring genre authors than fans and budding authors might be interested in catching:
SaturdayMarch 12
Fiction and Sci-Fi: City Nightmares
Finding redemption and hope in the bleak, imagined future.
UA BookStore (Seats 100)
Sat, Mar 12, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Multigenre
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – UA BookStore (following presentation)
Panelists: Paolo Bacigalupi, Matt Bell, JJ Amaworo Wilson
Moderator: Eve Cran
Writing Heroes of Diversity
We need more diverse books! These authors delivered.
Integrated Learning Center Room 130 (Seats 143, Wheelchair accessible) View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 12, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)
Panelists: Austin Aslan, Beth Cato, Jon Proudstar
Moderator: Toby Wehner
Online Reader Communities
Like any other interest group, book lovers have their own online social networks. On these networks bibliophiles of all stripes meet and interact with other like-minded readers; rate, review, and recommend books; share reading lists; and find their next great reads. There are sites, like Goodreads, dedicated exclusively to readers, as well communities of readers who congregate on large social networks, like Facebook and Tumblr. This panel will explore the latest developments in this rapidly growing social media phenomenon.
Koffler Room 216 (Seats 89, Wheelchair accessible)
Sat, Mar 12, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Book / Movie Biz
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Koffler Patio (following presentation)
Panelists: Ron Hogan, Jeremy Thomas, Chuck Wendig
Moderator: Mary McDonough
How I Got Published
Tales of strategy, persistence, and serendipity.
Student Union Ventana (Seats 100)
Sat, Mar 12, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – UA BookStore Tent (on Mall) (following presentation)
Panelists: Jeffe Kennedy, Yvonne Navarro, Weston Ochse, James A. Owen
Moderator: Scott Glener
Romance in a Mysterious World
Join Aprilynne Pike and Suzanne Young as they talk about Earthrise and Hotel Ruby and answer questions about writing romance in a world of magic and mystery.
Teen and Author Meeting Place (Seats 88)
Sat, Mar 12, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Central Mall (following presentation)
Panelists: Aprilynne Pike, Suzanne Young
Interview with Karen Bao
Teen Audio Tent (Seats 6)
Sat, Mar 12, 11:00 am – 11:30 am
Panelist: Karen Bao
WORKSHOP: Writers Coffeehouse
The Writers Coffeehouse is a meet up group for writers. Network, talk about writing, and ask Jonathan Maberry your burning questions about the writing life and craft.
Integrated Learning Center Room 137 (Seats 60, Wheelchair accessible)
Sat, Mar 12, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Integrated Learning Center (following presentation)
Panelist: Jonathan Maberry
Mars in Science and Science Fiction
How science fiction writers and scientists have inspired,informed,and influenced each other while imagining and actualizing expeditions to Mars.
Optical Sciences 410 (Seats 150, Wheelchair accessible)
Sat, Mar 12, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Multigenre
Signing area: Signing Area – Flandrau BookStore (Science City) (following presentation)
Panelists: Greg Bear, Chris Impey
Moderator: William Hartmann
EPIC Reads Author Meet-Up
Join authors Rae Carson and Danielle Paige as they dish about their books. Find out who their literary inspirations are, imagined worlds they’d love to live in, characters they want to have dinner with, and authors they want to meet. Bring your burning questions.
Teen and Author Meeting Place (Seats 88)
Sat, Mar 12, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Central Mall (following presentation)
Panelists: Rae Carson, Danielle Paige
A Fresh Start: Wrapping Up One Series and On to the Next
TICKETED
Three award-winning authors talk about writing the last book in a series and the new series they are starting. Join the authors of the Found series, Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy, and the Birthmarked trilogy.
Education Kiva (Seats 300)
Sat, Mar 12, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Children / Teen
Signing area: Signing Area – Children / Teen (following presentation
Panelists: Rae Carson, Margaret Peterson Haddix, Caragh O’Brien
Moderator: Susan Corapi
Star Wars, the Shannara Chronicles, and Outlander: From Book to Screen and Back
TICKETED
What’s it like to have your books become a TV series? Or to write a Star Wars novel? Three best-selling authors discuss behind-the-scenes experiences as their creative visions transformed through scripts, actors, and sets into live action drama. Fantasy author Terry Brooks worked with MTV on the Shannara Chronicles based on his epic Shannara series. Diana Gabaldon is involved with Starz transforming her acclaimed time-traveling Outlander novels into a highly successful T.V. series. Chuck Wendig, novelist and Hollywood screenwriter, wrote the best-selling novel, Star Wars: Aftermath, which set the stage for the latest movie in the Star Wars franchise, The Force Awakens.
Student Union North Ballroom (Seats 640)
Sat, Mar 12, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Student Union North Ballroom Foyer (following presentation)
Panelists: Terry Brooks, Diana Gabaldon, Chuck Wendig
Moderator: David Mariotte
The Science in Dystopia: Real or Imagined?
Dystopian worlds portray a dangerous future in which teens are in a fight for survival. Could those future worlds actually occur? Three authors will share how they use real science to create their worlds and how science intersects literature in their writing processes.
Education Room 353 (Seats 117, Wheelchair accessible)
Sat, Mar 12, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Children / Teen
Signing area: Signing Area – Children / Teen (following presentation)
Panelists: Paolo Bacigalupi, Karen Bao, Suzanne Young
Moderator: Holly Johnson
Crafting Fantasy through Storybuilding and Magical Systems: Workshop for Teens/Adults
Writing fantasy for teens involves the ability to build a story world as well as to create systems of magic that function logically within those worlds. Two award-winning authors will share their strategies and tips for writing fantasy.
Education Room 349 (Seats 46, Wheelchair accessible) View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 12, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Children / Teen
Signing area: Signing Area – Children / Teen (following presentation)
Panelists: Heidi Heilig, Aprilynne Pike
Moderator: Michelle Mohrweis
Kick-Ass Women of Sci-Fi
Writing strong women characters in a traditionally male-dominated genre.
Optical Sciences 410 (Seats 150, Wheelchair accessible)
Sat, Mar 12, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Signing Area – Flandrau BookStore (Science City) (following presentation)
Panelists: Beth Cato, Jeffe Kennedy, Yvonne Navarro, Judith Tarr
Moderator: Gini Koch
Interview with Rae Carson
Teen Audio Tent (Seats 6) View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 12, 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Panelist: Rae Carson
Interview with Paolo Bacigalupi
Teen Audio Tent (Seats 6)
Sat, Mar 12, 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Panelist: Paolo Bacigalupi
Tough Guys of Sci-Fi and Fantasy
Some characters are tougher than others.
Student Union Santa Rita (Seats 120)
Sat, Mar 12, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – UA BookStore Tent (on Mall) (following presentation)
Panelists: Jonathan Maberry, Weston Ochse, Jon Proudstar, Sam Sykes
Moderator: Scott Glener
Space Sagas: Star Trek, Star Wars, and Halo
Authors discuss writing novels for the biggest sci fi franchises: Star Trek, Star Wars, and the Halo game industry.
Chemistry Room 111 (Seats 247, Wheelchair accessible)
Sat, Mar 12, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Koffler Patio (following presentation)
Panelists: Greg Bear, Jeffrey Mariotte, Chuck Wendig
Moderator: John Muñoz
Layering Laughs: Writing Comedy
Adam Rex, Adam Mansbach and Crystal Allen know how to write comedy and they do it often. Learn about these writers, their books and comedy techniques.
Koffler Room 218 (Seats 142, Wheelchair accessible)
Sat, Mar 12, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Humor / Games
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Koffler Patio (following presentation)
Panelists: Crystal Allen, Adam Mansbach, Adam Rex
Moderator: Elliot Glicksman
Traveling through Time: Journeys to the Past and Future
Time travel takes characters on journeys across places that exist in the past, present and future. These journeys hold excitement as well as danger in their potential to negatively influence the present and the lives of the main characters.
Education Room 353 (Seats 117, Wheelchair accessible)
Sat, Mar 12, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Children / Teen
Signing area: Signing Area – Children / Teen (following presentation)
Panelists: Margaret Peterson Haddix, Heidi Heilig, Robin Palmer
Moderator: Marina Welmers
Sunday March 13
High Octane Adventure: Masterminds, Dragons and Aliens Search for the Seven Wonders
TICKETED
The thrill and danger of breath-taking adventures await you in books by four award-winning authors. Go inside the Masterminds of criminals, unlock the secrets of the Seven Wonders, fly high on wings of fire, and travel through space with Smek and the Boovs.
Education Kiva (Seats 300)
Sun, Mar 13, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Children / Teen
Signing area: Signing Area – Children / Teen (following presentation)
Panelists: Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis, Adam Rex, Tui Sutherland
Moderator: Michelle Parker-Rock
Magical Journeys across Time and Place
Two YA authors share from their new books, Yellow Brick War and Once a Kiss, and answer your questions.
Teen and Author Meeting Place (Seats 88)
Sun, Mar 13, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Central Mall (following presentation)
Panelists: Danielle Paige, Robin Palmer
Generations of Swords and Sorcery
A veteran fantasy author and next generation authors discuss trends in the fantasy genre over the past four decades and what’s happening now.
Chemistry Room 111 (Seats 247, Wheelchair accessible)
Sun, Mar 13, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Koffler Patio (following presentation)
Panelists: Charlie Jane Anders, Terry Brooks, Jeffe Kennedy, Sam Sykes
Moderator: John Muñoz
On Your Mark, Get Ready, Draw: Illustrator Draw-Off
This interactive session is a competition between illustrators to complete a drawing that incorporates suggestions from the audience. The session will end with a panel on the role of sketching and creativity in their books.
Education Room 353 (Seats 117, Wheelchair accessible)
Sun, Mar 13, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Children / Teen
Signing area: Signing Area – Children / Teen (following presentation)
Panelists: Nick Bruel, Elise Gravel, Don Tate, Tom Watson
Moderator: Adam Rex
Journeys of Magic into the Past
YA authors Rae Carson and Heidi Heilig talk about their new books, Walk on Earth a Stranger and The Girl from Everywhere, and answer your questions.
Teen and Author Meeting Place (Seats 88)View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 13, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Central Mall (following presentation)
Panelists: Rae Carson, Heidi Heilig
Diana Gabaldon and Outlander
TICKETED
Diana Gabaldon discusses the world of Outlander on page and screen with novelist Bonnie Marson.
Integrated Learning Center Room 120 (Seats 300, Wheelchair accessible)
Sun, Mar 13, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Fiction / Literature
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Integrated Learning Center (following presentation
Panelist: Diana Gabaldon
Moderator: Bonnie Marson
Writing and Selling Your First YA Novel
Three authors of debut YA novels will share their stories of writing and selling their books and the strategies that were successful for each of them both in writing their novels and gaining the attention of a publisher.
Education Room 333 (Seats 40, Wheelchair accessible)
Sun, Mar 13, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Children / Teen
Signing area: Signing Area – Children / Teen (following presentation)
Panelists: Heidi Heilig, Estelle Laure, Kathy Parks
Moderator: Michelle Parker-Rock
Surviving the Future
Tales of survival and courage in grimdark future worlds.
Chemistry Room 111 (Seats 247, Wheelchair accessible)
Sun, Mar 13, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Koffler Patio (following presentation)
Panelists: Charlie Jane Anders, Austin Aslan, Paolo Bacigalupi, Jonathan Maberry
Moderator: David Mariotte
World-Building in YA Literature
YA authors create alternative worlds that have their own sets of rules and characters. Four award-winning authors will talk about the worlds they created for recent books and the processes they use to build worlds that are believable and come alive for readers.
Education Kiva (Seats 300)
Sun, Mar 13, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Children / Teen
Signing area: Signing Area – Children / Teen (following presentation)
Panelists: Zac Brewer, Carol Goodman, Caragh O’Brien, Sara Raasch
Moderator: Celeste Trimble
Adam Rex and Chu’s Beach Day
Listen to Adam Rex read aloud from his new Chu book, Chu’s Beach Day
Story Blanket Tent
Sun, Mar 13, 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Panelist: Adam Rex
Terry Brooks: Lessons from a Writing Life
Best-selling fantasy author Terry Brooks discusses what he’s learned about writing and publishing fantasy novels after nearly 40 years in the business.
UA Mall Tent (Seats 205)
Sun, Mar 13, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Central Mall (following presentation)
Panelist: Terry Brooks
Moderator: James A. Owen
Murder, Mayhem and the Paranormal
Murder, detectives and paranormal powers. What’s not to love?
Koffler Room 218 (Seats 142, Wheelchair accessible)
Sun, Mar 13, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Koffler Patio (following presentation)
Panelists: Jonathan Maberry, Jeffrey Mariotte, Chuck Wendig
Moderator: Scott Glener
Facing Danger in Fantasy Worlds
Sara Raasch and Polly Shulman will talk about their new books of fantasy and sci fi, Ice Like Fire and The Poe Estate, and answer your questions.
Teen and Author Meeting Place (Seats 88)
Sun, Mar 13, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Central Mall (following presentation)
Panelists: Sara Raasch, Polly Shulman
What’s Trending in YA Literature
Young adult literature is constantly changing as an exciting area of publishing. YA authors will talk about what they see as currently trending and their predictions for the next big trends.
Education Room 349 (Seats 46, Wheelchair accessible)
Sun, Mar 13, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Children / Teen
Signing area: Signing Area – Children / Teen (following presentation)
Panelists: Karen Bao, Rae Carson, Danielle Paige
Moderator: Lisa Morris-Wilkey
Interview with Sara Raasch
Teen Audio Tent (Seats 6)
Sun, Mar 13, 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Panelist: Sara Raasch
My Hero Can Beat Up Your Hero
Anti-heroes, flawed heroes, and the grimdark direction of sci-fi and fantasy.
UA Mall Tent (Seats 205)
Sun, Mar 13, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
SciFi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area – Central Mall (following presentation)
Panelists: Paolo Bacigalupi, Greg Bear, Sam Sykes
Moderator: John Muñoz