Con du Lac II, Severus Snape painting, and more!

I had lots of fun at the second annual Con du Lac Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention, which was held at the Lake Charles Civic Center on June 12-13, 2010. I gave two Harry-Potter themed presentations at the event. The first was at 12:00 noon on Saturday in the Mystic Realm Room. It was called ”Sneaking Past the Watchful Dragons: Christian Themes in Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia.” The second presentation was at 12:00 noon on Sunday in Room 23: “Hallows, Hobbits, and Horcruxes: The Fiction of J. R. R. Tolkien and J. K. Rowling.” I also had an author table at the convention to sign copies of my book The Lord of the Hallows: Christian Symbolism and Themes in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.

 

                                                     

Here I am holding a copy of the book.

If you wanted to buy the book at Con du Lac and missed your opportunity, please see the sidebar for a link to my online bookstore, Silver Unicorn Books, and a link to the publisher’s website.

I met several other authors at this convention. I’m including links in this post if you are interested in finding out more about their works.

Author Judith Leger writes romance novels which include fantasy elements such as elves, dragons, and magic. Her website can be found at www.judithleger.weebly.com.

Science fiction writer Craig Callais, a native of my hometown of Houma, Louisiana, has published his first novel entitled Warlord: The Ordeal, which is available at www.amazon.com. Here’s a photo of Craig at his author table:

Science Fiction Author Craig Callais

 D. B. Grady of Baton Rouge has published his first science fiction novel, a murder mystery set on Mars. It’s called Red Planet Noir. You can visit http://www.dbgrady.com to learn more.

Author D. B. Grady

David Grady has a great sense of humor. It was his idea that various costumed sci-fi and fantasy characters pose for his series of photos called “Down and Out in Con du Lac.” lol!

D. B. Grady and my friend Wayne (Anakin Skywalker) are "Down and Out in Con du Lac."

D. B. Grady is "Down and Out in Con du Lac" with Hermione (that's me!), a Klingon, and Batman.

My friend Randy Richards, author of Dreadmire, took this one. As you could see we had a hard time keeping a straight face for the "Down and Out" photos.

Don’t let the photos deceive you. We were having a good time!

Author M. B. Weston was also at the convention promoting her fantasy series about angelic warfare called The Elysian Chronicles. I’ve read the first book A Prophecy Forgotten, and I’m currently reading the second book Out of the Shadows. If you like military fiction and epic fantasy, this series may appeal to you. Visit www.elysianchronicles.com to learn more. Michelle Weston is a non-denominational Christian author who is a huge fan of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and J. K. Rowling, so you know we got along really well. Michelle is also a terrific guest speaker and panelist. She and her assistant Rachel Stevens were having fun at the convention:

Author M. B. Weston and Rachel Stevens

M. B. Weston and her assistant at the Elysian Chronicles table.

Louisiana’s 501st Legion, the Bast Alpha Squadron, is the New Orleans-based chapter of the international organization. They are Star Wars costumers who do lots of charity work in our state and have a great time while doing it. The 501st had a fan table along with the Baton Rouge-based Star Wars club Red Stick Rebellion (of which I am a member). Here are some photos of their table.

Star Wars fan table

                                      

The Bast Alpha Squadron’s mascot is an alligator–how appropriate for south Louisiana!

 

My friends Karen and Wayne pose for a photos as Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker.

 Finally, I am posting a photo of an art print that I received from Jean Alexander. Jean is a talented artist that I met at ImagiCon in Birminghmam, Alabama last month. I’ve already blogged about the Snape painting that she did at ImagiCon. This is an art print of the first painting of Severus Snape that she did, and it’s my favorite of the two.

“Severus Snape” by Jean Alexander

 My next book signing will be June 26 at a Writers Conference in Ponchatoula, which will be followed by two convention appearances in July: MythCon 41 in Dallas and Infinitus 2010 in Orlando. Please look at the sidebar for link to the Mythopoeic Society’s website to find out more about MythCon 41. You will also find a link to the Infinitus 2010 website there as well.

Several of the authors that I met this weekend at Con du Lac  are on Twitter. I’m at www.twitter.com/DeniseRoper. You can also find David Grady at www.twitter.com/dbgrady. Michelle Weston is at www.twitter.com/mbweston. And Judith Leger is can be found at www.twitter.com/judithleger.

I recently added a link to the Imagicopter website to the sidebar of this blog. Imagicopter is an organization that promotes various writers and their works. I am one of their newest members. Visit their site to find out more about Imagicopter’s upcoming events.

 

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ImagiCon Convention Report

ImagiCon was an enjoyable multi-fandom science fiction and fantasy convention that I attended in Birmingham, Alabama on Friday, May 21 through Sunday, May 23, 2010. This is a description of the highlights of my ImagiCon experience.

Friday, May 21. Upon arriving at the McWane Science Center in downtown Birmingham, I met Hugo-award winning science fiction author Timothy Zahn, best known for his novels set in the Star Wars universe. He was very friendly, kind, humble, and polite; I would definitely say that he is one of the nicest authors I have ever met. He autographed my copy of Vision of the Future, which is one of my all-time favorite Star Wars novels, and he posed for a few photos with me. It was a pleasure to meet him.

My autographed copy of Vision of the Future

I took quite a few photos of the costumers at the convention, including members of the Star Wars costuming groups, the 501st Legion and the Rebel Legion, dressed as Stormtroopers, Boba Fett, Princess Leia, and various Mandalorians. I also snapped photos of superhero costumers Green Lantern and Spider-Man.  In addition, I got some great shots of the posters in the Star Wars panel room and of a multitude of Star Wars collectibles in the vendor’s room.

The Harry Potter Tri-Wizard Ball was where I saw the best costumes from the wizarding world, including various Hogwarts students, Bellatrix Lestrange, Narcissa Malfoy, and Professor Trelawney. I went dressed as Hermione Granger, of course. The party also included lots of Steampunk costumers, a Jedi couple, and few pirates. You just can’t have a party without pirates. (“Where’s the rum?”)

Saturday, May 22. I wore my Gryffindor robes again for Saturday’s many adventures, which included meeting many more costumers from around the “galaxy” of Alabama. I took many more photos of these creative fans in costume. There were several Starfleet officers, pointy-eared Vulcans, fierce Klingons, funny Ghostbusters, and young Hogwarts students. The superheroes in attendance included DC Comics’ Green Arrow, Aquaman, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman, and Marvel Comics’ Spider-Man, Wolverine, Dr. Strange, and Ms. Marvel. One of my favorite costumes was a Little Red Riding Hood, who was toting a rather large gun in her little wicker basket, presumably used to shoot the Big Bad Wolf on the way to Grandma’s house. In addition to the usual Star Wars Mandalorians, there was a Steampunk version of Boba Fett. Other Star Wars characters I met included a Jedi Knight, a Rebel Alliance X-Wing Pilot, and an Imperial officer who volunteered to choke himself for me. (Why isn’t Darth Vader around when you need him?)

Someone in Vader's fleet just got a promotion...

The Han Solo I met was also a Harry Potter fan. His little daughters were dressed as Hermione Granger and Luna Lovegood. (Who knew? And does Princess Leia know about these offspring?) I also met a Mara Jade and as soon as she arrived at the con I told her where to find Timothy Zahn’s author table. It’s always kinda surreal when a character gets to meet her creator.

The Star Wars panel Q&A with Timothy Zahn was fascinating. I asked him to talk about my favorite Star Wars couple–Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker, of course. I wanted to know who decided that they would end up together and when the decision was made. I was wondering if it was Zahn’s idea or Lucasfilm’s, and I added that Star Wars fans were writing Luke/Mara fanfics right after the Thrawn Trilogy was published in the early 1990s. Timothy Zahn said that he made the decision to have them become a couple back in 1993. He also wanted to end the war with the Empire, and if Lucasfilm wouldn’t give him those two things, then he would not write for them anymore. He got what he wanted, and I applaud him for standing up to Lucasfilm like that. Zahn rocks! Anyway, this panel made me appreciate my autographed copy of Vision of the Future even more.

The Harry Potter Books vs. Movies panel discussion was led by Denise Eichhorn, Jean Alexander, and myself. We got really great audience participation and had a wonderful discussion. The time we had just flew by, and I think all the panelists and the audience members had a great time. One topic that we covered was the casting choices made for Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Hagrid, Snape, Sirius, etc. In general, Michael Gambon’s Dumbledore was not well-liked, but Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley and Alan Rickman as Severus Snape were much-loved by the fans indeed. We also talked about scenes from the books which were omitted from the films, and how some of the omissions were detrimental to the plot of Prisoner of Azkaban. We had so much more to discuss, we could have gone on for another hour.

Artwork for Whomping Willow Harry Potter Programming Track by Jean Alexander

Jean Alexander, I discovered, is a very gifted artist. We watched her paint a portrait of Severus Snape in acrylics on a huge canvas coated with black gesso. She really captured the emotions of anguish, sorrow, and regret in Severus’ facial expression, especially in the areas of his eyes and mouth. I viewed more of her Star Wars and Harry Potter artwork in the fanart gallery on the second floor, and later looked at more samples of her work online at www.artworksbyjean.com. She is incredibly talented!

Severus Snape by Jean Alexander

On Saturday I also met fantasy author M. B. Weston. I bought a copy of her second novel, Out of the Shadows, and she autographed it for me. She is also a very nice person and a great public speaker. She bought a copy of The Lord of the Hallows from me on Sunday, much to my delight. M. B. Weston is a Christian and a fan of Harry Potter, Narnia, The Lord of the Rings, etc., so I think she will enjoy my book. She told me she does a Bible study using Harry Potter to teach the lessons. If you are curious about her fantasy novels, visit www.elysianchronicles.com.

Sunday, May 23. I took some photos of the Harry Potter panel room, which was conveniently located next to the Star Wars room. I loved that fact! My favorite photos of the day were of the 501st Legion.

Most LSU fans think that Alabama is part of the Evil Empire.

 The banner on their fan table read: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Bama, and one of the Stormtroopers posed for me holding a cardboard sign which read “MY FAMILY WAS KILLED ON THE DEATH STAR.” Gee, is everybody in the Bama 501st a commedian? I loved those guys.

Bama 501st Legion, you rock!

The very last event for me, which took place just before the Harry Potter programming track ended, was my presentation, “The Lord of the Hallows: J. R. R. Tolkien and J. K. Rowling as Sub-creators of Christian Myth.” The ladies from the Harry Potter and Star Wars panel rooms who were helping me to set up were having some technical difficulties with my laptop connecting with the huge widescreen TV monitor, but never fear, Timothy Zahn came to my rescue. He was preparing to do another panel in the Star Wars room next door, heard that we were having trouble with my old laptop, and then he came in the Harry Potter room and fixed the problem right away. What a guy! Anyway, my lecture was a success. I spoke on the surface similarities between The Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series, the similarities between Sauron’s Ring of Power and Voldemort’s Horcruxes, the effects on sin upon the immortal soul in the fiction of Tolkien and Rowling, the theme of death in both narratives, Frodo and Harry as Christ figures, Tolkien’s and Rowling’s similar views on the eternal nature of evil, and Tolkien’s “eucatastrophe” and where it occurs in Return of the King and  in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I also explained how an understanding of why the Biblical verses from the Gospel of Matthew chapter 6 and 1 Corinthians 15:26 were quoted  by Rowling in the seventh Harry Potter book.  One man who heard it said it was the best event in the entire convention, and two people told me when it was over that it made them tear up a few times. I was really touched by these admissions.  

I am back home in Louisiana today. Comments are welcome!

EDIT: I have posted some photos I took at ImagiCon at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=12635&id=110146322349729&saved#!/pages/The-Lord-of-the-Hallows/110146322349729. Please join The Lord of the Hallows on Facebook if you haven’t already.

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ImagiCon Whomping Willows Track

The ImagiCon Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention will be held May 21-23, 2010 in Birmingham, Alabama.  Among the usual sci-fi convention events for fans of Star Wars and Star Trek, ImagiCon will also feature a “Whomping Willows” programming track for Harry Potter fans. I am delighted to announce that I will be a panelist for Harry Potter “Movies and Books” Part I and II, and that I will be giving a presentation on Sunday afternoon on topics from my book The Lord of the Hallows. This is the schedule for the Whomping Willows programming track that was posted at the ImagiCon website.

 

Friday, May 21, 2010

10:00 AM Meet and Greet the Staff and Volunteers of the 2010 Whomping Willow (Harry Potter) programming track. Last up-to-the-minute changes in programming, register for the Sorting on Saturday morning, information on the Triwizard Ball & Costume Contest, and general hanging out.

11:30 AM  “So You Want to be a Death Eater?”  A discussion of what it takes to be a servant of the Dark Lord, based on the infamous Mugglenet article by the same name.

1:00 PM “Stories from the Burrow” (90 minutes)

2:30 PM “Harry Potter Collecting” Hard to find items? Where to go.

4:00 PM “Discord on Privet Drive” How did Harry’s life with the Dursleys on Privet Dr. influence his outlook on life, his relationships, etc.?

9:00 PM TriWizard Ball & Costume Contest at the Courtyard Marriott (UAB) with Jean Alexander.  Come to the TriWizard Ball for an evening of Harry Potter-inspired fun and frivolity! You can come dressed as your favorite Potter character, in which case you’re eligible to enter the costume contest on the same evening, or else come dressed as any other fantastical creature or character you wish. It will be a rollicking good time, with great music, including some Wizard Rock, lots of dancing, and interesting people! Good luck, and we’ll see you at the ball! (2 Hours)

 

Saturday, May 22, 2010

 

10:00 AM “The Sorting Hat Speaks” Come and be sorted into your house! You might be surprised where you are really supposed to be.

11:30 AM CLOSED

1:00 PM  “Costuming in the World of Harry Potter.” Wizards, Witches, Quidditch, and all the accessories. (Workshop – 90 minutes)

2:30 PM  “Movies and Books, Part I: Sorceror’s Stone & Chamber of Secrets”

What happened from written form to the movies (visual form)? What did you like? What didn’t you like?Or, what worked, and what didn’t?

4:00 PM  “Hogwars” Exploring the four houses and their relationships/feuds at Hogwarts

5:30 PM  “Movies & Books: Part II – Prisoner of Azkaban & Goblet of Fire” 

Sunday, May 23, 2010

10:00 AM  “Wizard Trivia” Smart, are you? Can you claim the prize at the end?

11:30 AM  “Wand Making” Amazing what a glue stick, paper, and a little paint produces. The wand will pick you, not the other way around! (Workshop)

1:00 PM  “The Lord of the Hallows” with Denise Roper.  Author Denise Roper has written a very intriguing book called The Lord of the Hallows: Christian Symbolism and Themes in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.  In this book, she compares J.K. Rowling’s series to The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia, and explores the ways in which J.K Rowling , C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien work together as sub-creators of Christian Myth.  Come join us in the Whomping Willow Track as we explore this intriguing concept.

2:30 PM  “Over the Years” The  lives of HP Characters since the end of book 7. 

I will also be doing a book signing for The Lord of the Hallows at ImagiCon. Among the authors of note appearing at this con are Hugo-award winner Timothy Zahn, well-known in Star Wars fandom as the author of the “Thrawn Trilogy,” the “Hand of Thrawn” duology, and other novels set in that galaxy far, far away. He’s the creator of one of my favorite Expanded Universe characters, Mara Jade Skywalker. I’m really looking forward to meeting him if I get the chance. The Star Wars programming track has some fun events scheduled.

 Friday, May 21, 2010

10:00 AM “Welcome to MotF” Meet and Greet the Staff and Volunteers of the 2010 MotF Programming. Last up-to-date changes on programming, information on the costume contest, and hanging out.

11:30 AM  “Lando and Lobot: The Odd Men Out”  How did these two become friends? What happened to Lobot at Cloud City?

1:00 PM  “Star Wars Chocolate:” with Cathy Bowden.   Making candy of your favorite characters.  (Workshop.  45 minutes.)

2:30 PM “Building a Lightsaber with Ray” with Ray Willis.  What does it take to build your own lightsaber? And most if it from the hardware store! (Workshop. 60 minutes.)

4:00 PM “Death Star Trivia” with Jerry Roberts.  So, you think you know Star Wars: Are you ready for the Death Star?  Come join the fun as Jerry does his famous trivia.

5:00 PM  “Lightsaber Limbo:” Limbo to favorite Star Wars music. Prizes in adult and children categories. (45mins)

6:00 PM “BUILDING DARTH VADER:” The 501st does a presentation on how this menace to the Rebellion was created from his helmet to his breathing apparatus. (60 mins.)

 

Saturday, May 22, 2010

10:00 AM  “Building Dioramas in the Star Wars Universe:” with Tom Thomas, Drew Sadler.  How to build a miniature universe of your own. (Workshop.  60 minutes.)

11:30 AM “The Realm of Tim Zahn” with Tim Zahn.  From his first Star Wars Novel to the latest, Tim has been a favorite among readers.

1:00 PM  “Merchandizing in the Star Wars Universe:” with Drew Sadler, Cathy Bowden.  Comics, Collecting, Trading Cards and more

2:30 PM  “Star Wars Ladies in Costumes” with Catherine Thomas, Kristina Howard.  There is more than armor out there. From Queens, Handmaidens, Royal Families, Senators to Rebel Legion Cheerleaders, ladies reign! (90 minutes)

4:00 PM  “The Clone Wars” Do we really have a beginning to this amazing family of Jedi?

5:30 PM  “501st Presents: Building Boba Fett” What does it take to build this all-time favorite Bounty Hunter? (Workshop)

7:30 PM  “Star Wars Costume Contest” MC: David Britt. Judges: Drew Sadler, Scott Merrill and Chris Muller.  MotF Presents IC’s 1st Annual Star Wars Costume Contest. From Bounty Hunters to Queens, Family Guy to Anikans, come join us as the Royal Court presents this years contestants. 1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes for adults and Royal Court membership for ages 12 and under.  (60 minutes)

10:00 AM  “Padawan’s Temple” with Children & Parents.  Prop Building; Stories with SW Characters, and Pod Racing

11:30 AM  “Rebel Legion Costuming: The X-Wing Pilot” with the Rebel Legion.  Ever wonder about those bright orange fighter costumes? Now is your chance to gather all the information on how to make one up front.

1:00 PM  “Why didn’t the Twins the ever visit Naboo?” with Tim Zahn, Cathy Bowden.  Do we really have a beginning to this amazing family of Jedi?

2:30 PM “Well, Chew Me Up and Spit Me Out!!” Discussion on the death of our favorite characters. Was it necessary?

Sunday, May 23, 2010

 Unfortunately, I am scheduled opposite one of Timothy Zahn’s panels that I’d really like to attend. Anyway, the convention’s website has more information about programming tracks for various fandoms, celebrity guests (including Buck Rogers’ Gil Gerard and Erin Gray), and much more.

Comments are welcome.

 

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ImagiCon Interview

This is my interview with Melissa Sleeman of ImagiCon, a convention that takes place in Birmingham, AL the weekend of May 22, 2010.

How did you first become interested or introduced to the worlds of The Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter?

 

I have been a fan of the The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings ever since I first read those books in my childhood and adolescent years. Throughout my years of reading, these books have set the standard in fantasy literature as far as I’m concerned, with very few series coming close to their level of quality.  It wasn’t until I re-read the novels of Lewis and Tolkien as an adult, however, that I fully appreciated the religious symbolism in them.

 

I wasn’t going to read the Harry Potter series at first, thinking they were mere children’s books and probably not very serious ones at that. Then I saw the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at the theater in 2001, fell in love with the three lead characters, and then immediately wanted to read the rest of the series to find out what else happened to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I bought all of the Harry Potter books that were available at that time–the first four had been published–and devoured them in less than a week. I re-read them as soon as I got to the end of the fourth one. I was hooked.

 

I also noticed that Lewis and Rowling used a lot of the same sorts of mythological creatures in the creation of their imaginary worlds. Many of Lewis’s and Rowling’s fantastic beasts have symbolic significance in the history of Christian art in literature. I also noticed that Rowling was subtly hinting at some of the same profound religious themes that are found in the fiction of both Lewis and Tolkien. I was eager to see if my theories about her were correct. The publication of the next two volumes of the Harry Potter series revealed further evidence that I might be correct in my assumption that Rowling is a Christian fantasy writer in the tradition of Lewis and Tolkien. The final novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, as I had anticipated, was revealed to be a story about self-sacrificial love overcoming death. Rowling was even bold enough to include two direct Biblical quotations in her narrative. Not even Tolkien and Lewis made their intentions that obvious! I was delighted when I read the seventh installment of the Harry Potter series.

 

What inspired you to look at the symbolism?

Before the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I read a book called The Hidden Key to Harry Potter by John Granger. He was one of the first Christian authors to write a book defending the Harry Potter series from the Christian critics who would see the series banned or even burned so that children couldn’t read it. Granger’s theories are absolutely brilliant. I believe he was the first author to compare Rowling with C. S. Lewis, and he had me convinced that my own theories were likely very valid ones. I started to do my own research at that point and began to keep notebooks of my findings and the theories that sprang from them. One rare book on Christian symbolism that I managed to track down was The Bestiary of Christ by Louis Charbonneau-Lassay. This book has a wealth of information on the symbolic significance of the lion, unicorn, stag, phoenix, and the weasel, which definitely influenced my interpretation of the Potter books.

I read that you’re a member of the Mythopoeic Society.  It sounds mysterious.  Is there anything you can tell the readers about it?  Has the Society influenced your writing or did you write your book before you joined.

The Mythopoeic Society is a group of scholars and fans dedicated to the study of the works of C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and their friend Charles Williams. All three were Christian writers of fantastic fiction, and all three were members of the famous Oxford-based literary club known as the Inklings. I discovered Mythlore, the journal of the Mythopoeic Society, while attending Louisiana State University as an undergraduate in the late 1980′s. I became a subscriber to the journal and a member of the society many years later though. But for decades I have been aware that the Inklings’ fiction is considered serious literature in many university literary circles. Mythlore features some very fine scholarly writing on my favorite authors’ works, and I think I did consciously try to emulate the tone used by that journal’s contributors when I wrote The Lord of the Hallows.

 

Also note that articles on J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books have been featured in Mythlore in recent years. After the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, I was thrilled to learn that Rowling had been honored with the prestigious Mythopoeic Society Award. It seems that I’m not the only person who thinks Rowling is a modern-day Inkling!

 

As a panelist in the Harry Potter: Whomping Willows Track, what can the attendees look forward to hearing?

I’ve got two power point lecture presentations ready for the convention. One is called “Sneaking Past the Watchful Dragons: Christian Themes in Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia.” The other is “The Lord of the Hallows: J. R. R. Tolkien and J. K. Rowling as Sub-creators of Christian Myth.”

Do you encourage questions at your panels?

Yes! I love listening to what other Tolkien, Lewis, and Rowling fans have to say. People come up with some really interesting theories.

Is the panel just for Christians or does the symbolism go beyond those boundaries?

The panels are for everyone. The first time I did a lecture on Harry Potter was back in 2007 at a science fiction and fantasy convention in Baton Rouge called Babel Con. The presentation was so well-received that many of the attendees–Christian, non-Christian, agnostic, and even athiest acquaintances of mine–were saying they thought it was fascinating and afterwards they were all saying to me, “You should write a book!” And so I did.

Are the following sites the only places to get your books? www.outskirtspress.com/thelordofthehallows, www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com

Those are all good places to buy the book. Autographed copies are available from http://stores.alibris.com/SilverUnicornBooks as well. Fans can certainly bring their copies of the book to me at the convention if they want me to sign a personalized message for them.

 

What are your hopes that people will come away with, from your book and from your panel?

I hope that my theories will encourage readers to look beyond the surface layer of meaning of any fantasy or science fiction text that they may encounter and search for the deeper meaning of the stories which they love. For me personally, it’s not enough to be a fan of a book or movie, I want to know why I’m a fan of a particular series. What moral or theological significance does the work have and how does it resonate with my personal beliefs? Ask yourself, “Does membership in this particular fandom enrich my life? Does it make me a better person?” I believe that the really great stories have the power to change people, transform society, even change the world. Young people especially need stories about good and evil, the moral choices we must make in our lives, and the consequences of those choices.

Do you have a Web site for more information about you and the book?

Please visit the publisher’s site at www.outskirtspress.com/thelordofthehallows for a synopsis of the book, and also visit my author blog at http://phoenixweasley.wordpress.com for more information about my writng, convention appearances, and upcoming book signings.

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2010 Convention Appearances

Updated on February 19, 2010.

This is a schedule of my 2010 convention appearances and book signings. I will update this information as I find out more about each event.

March 19 Art Walk: A Celebration of the Arts in downtown Thibodaux, LA. I will be signing copies of The Lord of the Hallows at “Author’s Row” which will be set up next to Fremin’s Restaurant across from the Lafourche Parish Couthouse.

March 20-21 Babel Con 4.5 @ the L. S. U. Cook Hotel in Baton Rouge, LA. I will be giving two presentations and will be doing a book signing.

April 10 Jubilee Jambalaya Writers’ Conference @ the Terrebonne Parish Public Library in Houma, LA. I’ll be doing a book signing at this event.

April 17 Art After Dark @ the Whitney Bank located on Main Street in downtown Houma, LA. This is the second time I’ll be signing at this event.

May 22-23 ImagiCon in Birmingham, AL. I will be giving two presentations and will be doing a book signing.

June 11-13 Con du Lac II in Lake Charles, LA. I will be giving two presentations and will be doing a book signing.

July 9-12 MythCon 41 @ Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. This is the convention of the Mythopoeic Society, an organization dedicated to the study of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and Charles Williams.

July 15-18 Infinitus 2010 in Orlando, FL. Hopefully, I will be presenting and doing another book signing at the 2010 Harry Potter symposium.

In other news…

Orthodox Christian author Logospilgrim gave The Lord of the Hallows a five-star review at amazon.com! Here it is:

5 out of 5 stars Informative and engaging, November 19, 2009 By  Logospilgrim “the quiet professor” (Quebec, Canada) – See all my reviews This wonderful book will delight not only Christians, but all students of spirituality and mythology. It is filled with fascinating arcane information, yet the author’s engaging and descriptive style results in a text that never feels weighed down by its rich content matter. I learned quite a few intriguing facts about a variety of Christian legends; Ms. Roper’s knowledge of symbolic lore and Christian history is impressive (I was particularly enchanted by her chapter about the Deathly Hallows, or holy relics -I loved the parallel she drew between The Elder Wand and The Spear of Destiny, that is, the spear reputed to have been used to pierce Christ’s side). Anyone interested in literature and religion will find this volume to be a valuable addition to their library.

Logospilgrim is the author of two excellent books about Professor Snape which I would like to recommend: Bring forth the best robes: a spiritual understanding of Severus Snape and The flawed master: lessons Professor Snape taught me.  Here are my reviews of these first two volumes of The Quiet Professor’s Snape Trilogy:

A Profound Meditation on the Redemptive Power of Love, November 24, 2009 Logospilgrim’s Bring Forth the Best Robes: A Spiritual Understanding of Severus Snape is a profound and beautiful meditation on the redemptive power of love, written by an Orthodox Christian author whose insight into the character of Severus Snape is both unique and enlightening. I would highly recommend this book for spiritual seekers who are fans of the Harry Potter series’ most complex and controversial character, as well as recommending it for those readers who wish to explore the Christian dimension of J. K. Rowling’s enthralling series of novels. Logospilgrim, the quiet professor, has painted a portrait of the Potions Master that is tender and deeply moving. In this book, the author’s writing style has seamlessly woven threads of saintly Christian wisdom into her own silken narrative of the life of Severus Snape. From this fine material, Logospilgrim has clad the repentant sinner, the misunderstood outcast Severus Snape, in the robes of the Prodigal Son of Christ’s famous parable.   5.0 out of 5 stars There is hope for us all., January 12, 2010 The flawed master: lessons Professor Snape taught me is author logospilgrim’s second collection of theological and mystical essays on Professor Severus Snape. Snape is, perhaps, the most complex character in J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, and logospilgrim has much to say about his transformation from antagonist to hero in this second volume of her “Snape Trilogy.” The flawed master is a follow-up to Bring forth the best robes: a spiritual understanding of Severus Snape, but it may stand alone as a volume of Christian spiritual wisdom, inspiration, and guidance for all Harry Potter fans, who, like logospilgrim and myself, read Rowling’s seven-part series with an overwhelming desire to see the redemption of Professor Snape–a bitter and broken man who had renounced his allegiance to the Dark Lord and pledged his service to one who would defeat him, not by violence, but through love and self-sacrifice. Snape, the flawed master, was proud, angry, sarcastic, and sometimes cruel, and yet he rose above his many flaws to become Harry’s secret protector and Dumbledore’s most trusted accomplice. He was the spy whose bravery and self-sacrifice contributed to Harry’s ultimate triumph over the evil Lord Voldemort. Logospilgrim’s insightful essays are a balm to soothe our wounded hearts. If a man as flawed as Severus Snape can find redemption, then there is hope for us all, even the greatest of sinners. This is an inspiring book for those who seek the deeper meaning that is to be found in the Harry Potter series. The spiritual treasures within it are not merely lessons learned from a flawed master; they are the great moral truths of the Gospels, lessons taught by the One True Master, the one who was without sin, the one who died to redeem us all.

To find out more about The Quiet Professor and her works, please visit http://logospilgrim.com.

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