You can now book rooms online – go to the accommodation link and you’ll find the link. Note that Rydges only has single, twin or Queen bedrooms – if you want to sleep three, you’l need to get a fold-out in a roon, and it’s best in a Queen room. If you’re lucky, you might get a suite. Note that there will be adjustments of prices for these special arrangements, but you’ll find all that out when you book.
12 of the workshops are now available for bookings. Click ont he workshops link to the left 
The mini-con finished at midday today, but it’s still up for people to go and look at.
It was loads of fun – there was insight and inspiration, as you normally find at a con, and socialisation and fun as well. We found out some secrets, got some scoops and had a terrific time.
Go have a look (www.conflux.org.au/forum) and don’t forget, the real con itself will be even funner!
The full timetable will be available at www.conflux.org.au in the next week. There will also be a lounge area for people to just hand and chat (the online equivalent of the bar at a con, except you have to provide your own alcohol). Hope to see you there.
I’ve just found out I’ve been telling people the wrong dates for the virtual mini-con. It’s taking place August 4 to August 5, Saturday midday to Sunday midday. It was always my intention to run it Saturday to Sunday, I just got the dates wrong. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.
Just three months until Conflux 4, and here are the things we are confident are going to happen (can never guarantee of course, anything can happen in the next three months, but still…)
* Our guests are all booked and ready to fly/drive into town – Graham Joyce, Kevin J Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, Jonathan Strahan, Garth Nix, Simon Brown, Kaaron Warren and Donna Maree Hanson are all looking forward to meeting you all
* Regency Gothic Banquet – the menu has been presented to the hotel and we’re just waiting on the final say-so, but the chef is really excited about it. It’s the same team that put together the much-lauded medieval feast last year, so it’s going to be great.
* Film festival – Rob Hood has been pulling together some fantastic films, and information about one of the features we’ll be showing is now available on the website.
* Podcasting – Joffre Street Productions are coming up from Tasmania to podcast the panels at the convention, and they’ll be available on the website following the convention.
* Dealers room – we’ve had some bookings, it’s going to be a finite space so if you want to be part of the fun, best get in as soon as possible.
* Workshops – it looks like we’re going to have 13 workshops, most of them free for members, covering a whole range of things.
* Panel program – we’re working hard to ensure that we cover as many things as people suggest as we can, keeping to the theme of Heroes from Near and Afar.
And we’re working on other aspects – art display, other social events, souvenir book, tshirts and lots of fun.
So, do you have your membership yet?
If you’re planning on coming to the Conflux Christmas In July lunch (Saturday, July 7), here’s some of the stuff you could be feasting on – turkey, pork, ham, roast vegetables, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, fruite and cheese platter, egg nog and mulled wine. And there’s more, I just can’t remember. A great meal, plus an engrossing presentation by Gillian Polack, lucky door prizes and more. Who knows, since it’s Christmas, maybe a game of backyard cricket!
It’s $50 a head, and final bookings must be in by next Thursday. So email chair @conflux.org.au (without the gap, of course)
The Conflux 4 Virtual Mini-con will be run from midday August 3 to midday August 4, 2007.
Featuring:
Each hour, a new person will appear in the forums at www.conflux.org.au. You can get online, have a chat, find out more about some of the people who will be appearing at Conflux 4. The vitual mini-con will be free for anyone interested in coming along. There will also be a forum set aside as a con lounge, for people to drop in and chat to whoever happens to be there. There could also be lucky door prizes (yes, here at Conflux, we aren’t above bribery).
For more information and the timetable, check the website, www.conflux.org.au, in the week before the mini-con. Hope to see you all there.
Thanks to Nathan Russell for pointing out you can book by calling the hotel. That’s great! The number is 02 6247 6244. Book under the name of Conflux. The prices are: $159 for a double room with two breakfasts, $149 for a single room with one breakfast. This price is available from Thursday September 27 to Tuesday October 2.