Highlights of the 2013 Winkie Convention

In addition to the podcast we posted, here's a video containing most of the footage I filmed at the Winkie Convention this year.


Sam and I just recorded the new Movies of Oz podcast, filling in some foreign language Oz movies that you probably haven't seen, and I'm already editing, but keep an eye out for some book reviews and "The Characters of Oz: Mombi" coming soon.

The Royal Podcast of Oz: The 2013 Winkie Convention!

Jared and Sam report live from the 2013 Winkie Convention, celebrating the centennial of The Patchwork Girl of Oz! Plus, some appearances by Eric Gjovaag and Shawn Maldonado.

As always, you can listen and download at the podcast site or use the player below!

                       

   
   
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Winkies again!

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!

The Royal Podcast of Oz: The 2012 Winkie Convention

Sam and Jared meet up at the 2012 Winkie Convention and report on the goings-on. Introduced by David Maxine, plus Sam asks Eric Shanower even more questions.

As always, you can listen and download at the podcast site, or use the player below!

       

    
  
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Winkies 2012: A Different Report

Okay, most Winkie Con reports cover the programming, and a thorough one is available at the Winkie Newsletter Webiste. Sam and I recorded another podcast and got a couple guests on there, so there's no need for me to do the same thing again here. Also, for non-Oz fans Winkie Award winner Laura Gjovaag wrote up a report on her blog. I'm also sure the newsletter and The Baum Bugle will have excellent reports as well. So, as I'm back and editing the podcast, why not look at some things you won't see on normal Winkie Con reports?

For some Winkie Con attendees, Winkies begins before Friday. Some arrive Thursday or earlier, and this year, I decided I would arrive a day early. Unlike past years, my trip went just fine, buses on time and everything, and I got to Asilomar pretty early and got to hang out with Tim Tucker and Bill Thompson by the pool while Peter Hanff and Mike O. Reilly pointed out how you could get into the Embers, Hearth, and Afterglow buildings from the underground parking garage by using the elevators. (This came in handy for those late-night Winkie parties...)

Instead of purchasing tickets for the Crocker Dining Hall, all early Winkies went to Pizza My Way, a local pizzeria. By the end of dinner, there were twelve of us. We were informed we had been such delightful guests that they'd given us the pizza on the house.

Returning to Asilomar, Bill mixed up a cocktail for us while we waited for Eric Shanower and Freddy Fogarty to arrive. We also saw the delightful Caren off to bed as well. After a drink and greeting Freddy and Eric, I went off to bed somewhat early and missed out on helping stuff convention bags.

The next day, David Maxine and Freddy drove me to a local supermarket where they picked up things for breakfast for themselves and Caren and I picked up some emergency shavers and a toothbrush and toothpaste as mine had slipped out of my bag at home. I helped set up and decorate Fred Farr Forum for the convention, though this meant I had to exile myself from the Treasure Hunt as I saw Freddy Fogarty hiding the pieces.

The convention began with all the otherwise well-noted events.

The after parties were fun as usual, and on the last night, we moved to a larger room instead of cramming into a bedroom and spilling into the hallway, which also encouraged some people to join us. It was a lot cozier than usual.

And at Winkies, we meet new friends as well as renew old friendships and transform Facebook friends into real friends. Aside from Sam, we had three other international visitors: Colin Ayres and his husband Neil Eardley from England, and Rei Shaw from Canada. I wasn't sure what to think of Colin given his humorous postings and messages on Facebook, but turns out, while he may have a wacky sense of humor, he was pretty down-to-earth, really, and shared some fun stories and anecdotes with me.

After Winkies, when we'd split up, I was invited by just-returned Winkie Jeff Bjur to hang out with him rather than take the bus around Monterey. We went up to Santa Cruz and did a bit of shopping at record stores and Goodwills before heading to Gilroy for the Garlic Festival, where I tried garlic ice cream. (Don't knock it 'till you try it.) Finally, I caught The Amazing Spider-Man in Salinas before catching the bus back out to Missouri.

So, what about next year? Winkies is going to look at expanding to four days due to the Club's board meeting on Thursday. They're looking into light programming.

The past couple years, friends have asked if I plan on sticking around in California for bit afterward. Eric Shanower even asked why I don't just move down there. (To be honest, I don't have any ties to Missouri save family, and no one's depending on me, so it's not impossible, just it'd take some doing. Either I'd have to stay with a friend until I'd get out on my own again or I'd have to somehow get a scad of money to get set up.) I might see what I can do, but no promises.

Dates for next year are June 20-23 (quite possibly with an option for just the 21-23). It was explained that the early date in June was due to scheduling at Asilomar, taking into consideration scheduling of school and other events (such as the San Diego Comic Con). But you should keep an eye on the Hungry Tiger Press blog because they'll have the most up-to-date information. And if you're on Facebook, like the official Winkie Con page!