Well, if you haven't guessed, I'll be heading back out to California for the Winkie Convention this year. This year, we will be celebrating the centennial of
The Patchwork Girl of Oz and the 50th anniversary of
Merry-Go-Round in Oz, Eloise Jarvis McGraw's first venture into Oz and the final of the Famous Forty Oz books.
There will, of course, be the welcome return of the Winkie Auction, the Costume Contest, the Quiz, the Treasure Hunt, Show and Tell, and the newly-renamed Winkie Swap Shop. All attendees are welcome to participate, as usual.
We'll also have a delightful return of Joe Cascone and David Haines, who presented a beautiful presentation of Oz songs in 2011. They'll perform the surviving songs from the abandoned
Patchwork Girl of Oz musical by Baum and Louis Gottschalk, and in the tradition of Oz conventions from long ago, we'll be screening an actual film copy of
The Patchwork Girl of Oz silent film, and like its original release, Joe will be playing the original score for it live. Even if you've seen it many times on its numerous home video releases, you won't be able to match this experience!
Atticus Gannaway will be presenting about the life and career of Dick Martin, illustrator of
Merry-Go-Round in Oz,
Yankee in Oz,
The Enchanted Island of Oz,
The Forbidden Fountain of Oz, the original version of
The Visitors from Oz and many other Oz books and projects. I'm sure there will be other presentations as well.
Unlike last year, I won't be doing so much. I haven't been asked to present, I'm not presenting a quiz, but I do plan on participating in the Costume Contest, and I think I'll be helping with the Swap Shop.
One thing I will also be participating in is the Oz Research Table. It was brought back last year, and I hope we have many submissions for artwork and works of Oz fiction and non-fiction. I've submitted a story that will also be appearing in
Oziana this year, and to be honest, I think it might be one of my best efforts at Oz fiction so far. But we'll see if it's the best at the table!
Go here to see the full details for submitting your work. There are cash prizes to be won!
So, want to go? Hurry and get your registration in! Room is filling up fast! (You can stay off-site, but its much easier to stay on the grounds.)
Go here for more information and the link for a printable registration form. See you at Oz!
Oh, I really hope you'll be helping out with the Swap Shop, since I know I can't do it all by my lonesome. And you forgot one of Dick Martin's books: The Ozmapolitan of Oz, which he not only illustrated, he wrote as well!
ReplyDeleteI have to try to make it to the Winkie Convention one of these years.
ReplyDeleteEric, I only said "I think I'll be" in case anything changes from then and now. I had a great time helping out last year. And yes, "Ozmapolitan" did slip my mind. I thought of it when I was getting read to write it, but when I actually typed, it didn't happen.
ReplyDeleteNathan, we'd be happy to have you!