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Thursday, September 18, 2008

  • Reason #26 to attend Mountain-Con: It's STILL that cool! (Because of You)

     

    As we said at the beginning of these "Reasons", Mountain-Con is just that COOL ... and it still is. The reason behind Mountain-Con's cool-ness? YOU!

    Conventions such as Mountain-Con are just more fun when more people attend. In our four years of doing conventions we have seen our membership grow from just about 150 attendees (for our first, one-day only convention) to over 500 (last year).

    Mountain-Con was started by a group of fans that wanted to share their fandom with like-minded people. The greatest thing about this whole adventure is that the more people that attend the convention, the greater the diversity and the greater the possibility that you (or I) will find a new fandom to fall in love with.

    So spread the word, get your friends to share the gas & hotel room, and join us tomorrow (we already know you're coming). Who knows... you might just find yourself on the following podcasts:

    • Brandon Sanderson (Mountain-Con guest)
    • Kerry Jackson (X-96 DJ & Mountain-Con Emcee)
    • I-Sci-Fi (Mountain-Con supporter since before it existed)

    ... and to quote one of our regular attendees from Wyoming, "Because you will regret it for the rest of your life if you don't come! Mwha ha ha!"

    Note: Mountain-Con wishes to thank Mr. Kevin Sorbo and Mr. Mark Goddard for sending autographed photos for us to sell at Mountain-Con this year, even though they were unable to attend.

     

    Final recap:

    Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

    Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

    Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon

    Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

    Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo*

    Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

    Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

    Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

    Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

    Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

    Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con: Herb Jefferson Jr.

    Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con: Banquet with the Stars

    Reason #13 to attend Mountain-Con: Fan Film Festival

    Reason #14 to attend Mountain-Con: "Starfleet Academy" classes at the Wasatch Campus

    Reason #15 to attend Mountain-Con: Costume Contest & Masquerade

    Reason #16 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Mull

    Reason #17 to attend Mountain-Con: Mark Goddard*

    Reason #18 to attend Mountain-Con: Richard Herd

    Reason #19 to attend Mountain-Con: Scott Schwartz

    Reason #20 to attend Mountain-Con: Victor Brandt

    Reason #21 to attend Mountain-Con: SHINY! (New Stuff)

    Reason #22 to attend Mountain-Con: David Reddick

    Reason #23 to attend Mountain-Con: Penny Johnson Jerald

    Reason #24 to attend Mountain-Con: Klingons and Hobbits and Pirates, Oh My!

    Reason #25 to attend Mountain-Con: Local guests and Friendships (old & new)

    Reason #26 to attend Mountain-Con: It's STILL that cool! (Because of You)

    * Due to professional commitments, Mr. Kevin Sorbo is no longer able to attend Mountain-Con. Also, Mr. Mark Goddard has a personal conflict with our convention dates.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

  • Reason #25 to attend Mountain-Con: Local guests and Friendships (old & new)

    Reason #25 to attend Mountain-Con:
    Local guests and Friendships (old & new)

    Never attended a convention? Try Mountain-Con!

    As evidenced by our previous "Reasons to Attend Mountain-Con", we'll have a variety of people, props, and professionals. Whether it is acting, model making, costuming, producing, or something entirely alien you can probably find it with us. And who knows, you may just be introduced to some new friends along the way.

    Mountain-Con is a place for friendships. It is a place to meet new friends and to renew old acquaintences that you see only on the convention circuit. Whether it is meeting interesting people,finding that perfect club who shares your enjoyment of a particular genre, or getting to know a star of a favorite show, Mountain-Con has it.

     

    We've spoken so much about the guests who are coming from out-of town in our previous "Reasons" that we've left out a whole group of our guests. Let's speak about guests who are local to Utah.

    In addition to the two local guest authors we've already spoken of (Brandon Mull and Brandon Sanderson), Mountain-Con has invited several other local guests.

    • Paul Genesse is a registered nurse at a local hospital as well as an author. He has written several short stories published for anthologies and his first novel "The Golden Chord" was published this past April. Look for Book 2 soon!
    • JoSelle Vanderhooft's poetry tends to be on the macabre side. Her poetry and fiction have appeared in print and online in several publications. She has also been nominated for the Bram Stoker Award, the Rhysling Award and short listed for the Gaylaxtic Spectrum Award for her anthology "Sleeping Beauty, Indeed".
    • Rebecca Shelly is the author of the Red Dragon Codex and the Brass Dragon Codex. Look for Rebecca in several of our panels including "Twisting the Knife", "Foreshadowing", "Evil Overlords" and "How to Write Fanfic that Doesn't Suck".
    • Larry Correia, an "admitted B-movie nerd", is the author of "Monster Hunter International". Mountain-Con will be Mr. Correia's very first convention (at least as a guest), so do your best to help him feel welcome!
    • Eric James Stone is a science fiction enthusiast and political science major who loves creative writing. He has had several short stories published by "Analog" and "Phobos Books".
    • Anna del C. Dye is the author of "The Elf and the Princess". Anna will be on several panels at this year's Mountain-Con.

    One last thing...

    Mountain-Con begins in one week ... September 19, 2008. That date also happens to be "International Talk Like a Pirate Day".

    If you decide to wear a costume that day, think about doing a pirate version ... you never know who will be watching.

    To recap:

    Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

    Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

    Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon

    Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

    Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo*

    Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

    Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

    Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

    Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

    Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

    Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con: Herb Jefferson Jr.

    Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con: Banquet with the Stars

    Reason #13 to attend Mountain-Con: Fan Film Festival

    Reason #14 to attend Mountain-Con: "Starfleet Academy" classes at the Wasatch Campus

    Reason #15 to attend Mountain-Con: Costume Contest & Masquerade

    Reason #16 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Mull

    Reason #17 to attend Mountain-Con: Mark Goddard*

    Reason #18 to attend Mountain-Con: Richard Herd

    Reason #19 to attend Mountain-Con: Scott Schwartz

    Reason #20 to attend Mountain-Con: Victor Brandt

    Reason #21 to attend Mountain-Con: SHINY! (New Stuff)

    Reason #22 to attend Mountain-Con: David Reddick

    Reason #23 to attend Mountain-Con: Penny Johnson Jerald

    Reason #24 to attend Mountain-Con: Klingons and Hobbits and Pirates, Oh My!

    Reason #25 to attend Mountain-Con:
    Local guests and Friendships (old & new)

    * Due to professional commitments, Mr. Kevin Sorbo is no longer able to attend Mountain-Con. Also, Mr. Mark Goddard has a personal conflict with our convention dates.

Monday, September 08, 2008

  • Official Mountain-Con 4 T-shirt is Hot Off The (Cafe) Press!

    Greetings all fans, friends and attendees of Mountain-Con!

    This year we've decided to do our t-shirts a little differently and have put them up on Cafe Press. This way our out-of-town fans who can't make it to the convention this year will still have the opportunity to support the convention.

    The shirts are only $19.99 and can be shipped directly to your quarters, abode, dormitory, home, domecile, workplace, hotel, or wherever you choose. There is time enough to order them to wear at the convention on the 19th.

    The art on the front was designed by Mr. David Reddick (known for "Trek Life" among other noteworthy web comics) and the back lists all of our guests this year. This art will also be used for our program cover.

    Click here to view the t-shirt and place your order: http://www.cafepress.com/mountaincon.245158607

    Once again a HUGE "thank you" to Mountain-Con 4 guest David Reddick for desigining the art for this year's t-shirt and program book.

    Note: There is a LIMITED RUN on both the t-shirts and the program books, so get yours now!

Saturday, September 06, 2008

  • Reason #23 to attend Mountain-Con: Klingons and Hobbits and Pirates, Oh My!

    Reason #24 to attend Mountain-Con:
    Klingons and Hobbits and Pirates, Oh My!

    If the title feels a little bit like "The Wizard of Oz", there is a reason (pun intended). It's that we have so much going on during our event! But before we get to that, here are a few announcements:


    • Extended Deadline: Mountain-Con's latest discounted rate ($40 per adult/$20 per child for the 3-day admission) has been extended until September 12, 2008. Visit http://www.mountaincon.org/NOW to get your discounted tickets. (Prices increase at the door.)
    • Banquet Price Reduced: We have decided to drop the price of our popular "Banquet With The Stars" from $100 per person to $85 per person. Remember, the Banquet includes a mix & mingle as well as a photo with the stars.
    • Auditions Class: Richard Herd, who has been a working actor for decades, is offering a 90-minute class on how to audition for jobs. This exciting opportunity to learn from a "name" in the industry is just $25 per person (with paid admission to Mountain-Con). The class will be held Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
    • Salt Lake Area billboards: Mountain-Con has finally caught up with 21st Century advertising ideas and has purchased time on two electronic billboards this year. Because of the nature of these billboards, you can actually see our ads by going to the Digital Advertising Company's website: http://dacsigns.com/ ... one in downtown Salt Lake City, the other in Sandy. (Just click the appropriate link.)


    Now back to the Klingons...and the Hobbits...and the Pirates... and the Vampires... and Wookies... and the Justice League... etc.


    Mountain-Con has a wide variety of things to see and do...things that will fit every taste. The schedule includes Question & Answer sessions from all of our guests, panels on everything from writing to film-making to world-building (for gaming and/or for writing) to games, and miniature contests.


    Some of the panel titles include "I Need a Hiro" (a discussion of NBC Television's Heroes), "Pirates in Science Fiction" (enjoying pirate-based stories in the science fiction genre), "How to Write Fanfic That Doesn't Suck", "Sci-Fi Jeopardy" (a Jeopardy-like game with science fiction based answers), "What the Filk Is Going On?" (a discussion of filking), and "POTCO and DDO and W-O-W, Oh My!" (a discussion of massively online multi-player role playing games and their appeal).



    Additionally there are Photo Ops with the individual stars, special screenings of "Star Trek: Of Gods and Men" and "InAlienable", the Banquet with the Stars, Sarah Douglas's special event "Resident Alien" and Richard Herd's auditions class.



    None of the aforementioned titles includes our gaming schedule, our media room or our anime room, each of which is running without a break from open until close. This year our gaming chairs are proud to offer some special gaming tournaments, including a "Magic: The Gathering" tournament and "Living Forgotten Realms". (See our website for scheduling information under "About Mountain-Con" and then the appropriately named tab.)


    We'll also have our costume contest/masquerade, dealer's room, a "meet the clubs" section, KidCon (for the under-twelves), and either a dance or karaoke.



    If tradition holds out, many of the attending clubs will be throwing "room parties". This will be a time to get to know the individual clubs in and around the area. It is also a time to meet new friends and renew old acquaintances. It is also another reason to reserve a hotel room. (wink, wink)



    To recap:

    Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

    Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

    Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon
    Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

    Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo*

    Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

    Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

    Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

    Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

    Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

    Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con: Herb Jefferson Jr.

    Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con: Banquet with the Stars

    Reason #13 to attend Mountain-Con: Fan Film Festival

    Reason #14 to attend Mountain-Con: "Starfleet Academy" classes at the Wasatch Campus

    Reason #15 to attend Mountain-Con: Costume Contest & Masquerade

    Reason #16 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Mull
     
    Reason #17 to attend Mountain-Con: Mark Goddard*

    Reason #18 to attend Mountain-Con: Richard Herd

    Reason #19 to attend Mountain-Con: Scott Schwartz

    Reason #20 to attend Mountain-Con: Victor Brandt

    Reason #21 to attend Mountain-Con: SHINY! (New Stuff)

    Reason #22 to attend Mountain-Con: David Reddick

    Reason #23 to attend Mountain-Con: Penny Johnson Jerald

    Reason #24 to attend Mountain-Con:
    Klingons and Hobbits and Pirates, Oh My!


    * Due to professional commitments, Mr. Kevin Sorbo is no longer able to attend Mountain-Con. Also, Mr. Mark Goddard has a personal conflict with our convention dates. Please stay tuned to our Web site for up-to-date information on replacements.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

  • Reason #23 to attend Mountain-Con: Penny Johnson Jerald

    Reason #23 to attend Mountain-Con:
    Penny Johnson Jerald

    Mountain-Con is excited to announce two brand-new guests to our convention... Penny Johnson Jerald and her talented husband Gralin Jerald.

    PENNY JOHNSON JERALD’s biography describes her as a “nasty piece of work, Penny’s from heaven, hell on wheels, powerful, and just plain talented.” She played the scheming, conniving, JR of television character, Sherry Palmer, on the Fox television hit, 24. Ms. Jerald won critical acclaim for her role as Sherry and made the list of television’s “50 Most Powerful Divas.” She recently completed two seasons as Dean Etwood on ABC’s drama series, October Road.

    Ms. Jerald has also recurred on the sitcom, Eve, as the sassy, sexy, and outspoken mother of the young star. She was nominated for both a Cable Ace Award and NAACP Image Award for best actress in a comedy series while creating the quick-witted assistant, Beverly, on the Larry Sanders Show for HBO. Ms. Jerald spent four seasons on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Captain Kasidy Yates, Commander Sisko’s love interest and then loving bride. (She also did a single guest role on TNG’s “Homeward.”) She is proud to have a huge Trekkie following and honored to add her incorrigible role in the hit sci-fi series, The 4400. Penny Johnson Jerald has had the pleasure of portraying the most powerful African-American woman in U.S. politics, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, in both Showtime’s and ABC’s reenactment of September 11.

    When not shooting film or television, Ms. Jerald can be found working side by side with husband Gralin for the couple’s theatre group, OCTC (Outreach Christian Theatre Company). She may be directing a play, teaching a class, producing vocals with her manager/husband in their recording studio, Behind the World Productions (http://www.behindtheworld.net/), or imparting knowledge in areas of strength to those who seek it. She continues to do public speaking engagements, personal appearances, and charities close to her heart. Ms. Jerald is currently producing a documentary, Women in Power, a story about an historical political event in Baltimore, Maryland, Penny’s hometown. For the first time in history, Baltimore’s top government positions are filled by African-American women: mayor, city council president, city states attorney, and city comptroller.

     

    GRALIN JERALD is the “behind the scenes tour de force” of the hard-working husband and wife duo at Behind the World Productions, Inc. Mr. Jerald is CEO of BTWPROD and heads all engineering at BTWPROD Recording Studio. He is the silent leader of the company, making final decisions in budgets, projects, travel engagements, and scheduling. He serves as the musical director and producer of OCTC (Outreach Christian Theater Company) in Los Angeles. The company is a non-union corporation specializing in projects that present moral issues using original works from up-and-coming playwrights and innovative music.

    Mr. & Mrs. Jerald founded the company in 1994. Having written songs for Renee Geyer and Billy Davis & Marilyn McCoo early on, Mr. Jerald felt a certain freedom and passion for what a career in music would afford him. However, marriage and fatherhood had plans of their own. He would end up managing his wife’s career while extending his talents outside of the home by teaching.

    Gralin Jerald holds a BA in classical guitar and an MM in commercial music, and has served on staff at various colleges in the Los Angeles area, teaching voice, all genres of guitar, arranging, songwriting, and music business for the past 20 years. With over 100 songs written and having engineered other artists’ ideas and efforts, Gralin Jerald is ready to hang up his professorship and give us an idea about what the “real” Gralin Jerald is all about. He is now geared up to showcase his own talent in BTWPROD’s newly released “400 YEARS REMEMBERED.” Partial to the music of the oppressed Black American, Mr. Jerald has intertwined his musicianship, ancestral background, rich-rooted voice, and quest for equality to create a body of work that should be heard and embraced throughout this country.

    We look forward to meeting Gralin and Penny in person at Mountain-Con 4 in (can you believe it) three short weeks! Please visit their table as well for special Mountain-Con rates on their CDs.

    To recap:

    Reason #1 to attend Mountain-Con: "Because it's just that COOL!"

    Reason #2 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Sanderson

    Reason #3 to attend Mountain-Con: KidCon

    Reason #4 to attend Mountain-Con: "Location, location, location!"

    Reason #5 to attend Mountain-Con: Kevin Sorbo*

    Reason #6 to attend Mountain-Con: Cool props

    Reason #7 to attend Mountain-Con: Club Fahrenheit 451

    Reason #8 to attend Mountain-Con: Sarah Douglas

    Reason #9 to attend Mountain-Con: Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

    Reason #10 to attend Mountain-Con: "We are YOUR people!"

    Reason #11 to attend Mountain-Con: Herb Jefferson Jr.

    Reason #12 to attend Mountain-Con: Banquet with the Stars

    Reason #13 to attend Mountain-Con: Fan Film Festival

    Reason #14 to attend Mountain-Con: "Starfleet Academy" classes at the Wasatch Campus

    Reason #15 to attend Mountain-Con: Costume Contest & Masquerade

    Reason #16 to attend Mountain-Con: Brandon Mull

    Reason #17 to attend Mountain-Con: Mark Goddard*

    Reason #18 to attend Mountain-Con: Richard Herd

    Reason #19 to attend Mountain-Con: Scott Schwartz

    Reason #20 to attend Mountain-Con: Victor Brandt

    Reason #21 to attend Mountain-Con: SHINY! (New Stuff)

    Reason #22 to attend Mountain-Con: David Reddick

    Reason #23 to attend Mountain-Con:
    Penny Johnson Jerald

    * Due to professional commitments, Mr. Kevin Sorbo is no longer able to attend Mountain-Con. Also, Mr. Mark Goddard has a personal conflict with our convention dates. Please stay tuned to our Web site for up-to-date information on replacements.

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Pulse

  • The official Mountain-Con 4 t-shirt is up on Cafe Press. Artwork by Mr. David Reddick of "Trek Life" and "Legend of Bill".
  • Our NEW website is finally up...and all of the "Reasons" need to be re-posted to the new forums page. AND there are only 4 weeks left.
  • Finally finished with the fireworks tent. (It was lots of hot, thirsty work...but worth it!)

Chatboard (1)

  • mountaincon
    Mountain-Con welcomes your questions an comments. Also, feel free to visit us at our Web site. Our Web site (http://www.mountaincon.org) has the latest Mountain-Con news as well as forums where you can comment and ask questions. Visit us today!