Conflux 8

For people who have been anxiously awaiting the ability to book their hotel room, hope is on the horizon! We’ve been told the website should be ready to go in a couple of weeks (head office is a bit backed up). We’re also busy organising our Christmas in July celebration (information available soon). Feauting a presentation by historian Gillian Polack on Christmas, it should be loads of fun! So keep your eyes peeled for more info.

Last night, Conflux 4 hosted its first social event – a Friday the 13th dinner. It was at the Skyview restaurant at Rydges Lakeside, a nice venue with great food. It’s pricey, but if you’re looking for somewhere nice to eat during the con, it’s definitely an option.

We had 16 people there, including con guest Donna Maree Hanson. The special guest on the night, however, was horror writer Rob Hood, who gave us two presentations.

The first was information on the true history of Canberra. Did you know that Canberra was a prehistoric outhouse, and the home of the world’s largest dung beetle? As to where the dung is now, well, Parliament House is built on a hill… It was very entertaining and the artwork that accompanied it was terrific.

In his second chat, Rob talked about what horror was. It was an interesting and interactive discussion of the genre and whether it actually exists. Everyone present really enjoyed it.

There were lucky door prizes and lots of chatting and laughter and drinking. All in all, a terrific night.

The next planned Conflux 4 event is a Christmas In July function. Keep your eye peeled for more information. 

 

 

A few people have tried to make bookings at Rydges Lakeside and have found they can’t. It’s lead to some concern that the con won’t be there but there’s no reason to worry. It’s simply been a case of people being too busy to make the final arrangements. I’m meeting with the hotel this week to finalise things. Hopefully you’ll be able to book your rooms within a couple of weeks.

Conflux is hosting a Friday the 13th dinner at Rydges Lakeside. Horror writer Rob Hood will be giving us a suitably horrifying speech (it will be scary, not that it will be bad ) and there will be lucky door prizes and fancy dress prizes. If you’re in Canberra, come along. Book your place by emailing chair @conflux.org.au (without the space naturally) by April 4. Prices will be confirmed later.

Unfortunately, Sharyn November isn’t going to be able to make it to Conflux 4. It’s disappointing, Sharyn is great value and a professional editor on the cutting edge, so we’ll miss her. But we’ve still got eight of the best guests around coming, so make sure you don’t miss Conflux 4!

Conflux 4 is attempting to get in touch with Conflux 3 members. If you have not recieved an email from Conflux 4, please email chair @conflux.org.au (without the break, of course)

Negotiations have concluded, agreements have been reached, and meetings to plan have begun.

Rydges and Conflux have come to an understanding, and you’ll soon have the official price of hotel rooms. Rydges is currently undergoing an upgrade (including new beds) so the hotel will be extremely comfortable, and still terrific value. Expect a price of around $159 a night, including two breakfasts.

Rydges are doing up a website so you can book online, as well as by calling. Note that this time of the year is extremely busy in Canberra – it’s the time of Floriade, the huge flower festival. Rydges happens to be the closest hotel to Floriade, so it’s a popular place to stay. In other words, there’ll be a limit to how long they’ll hold the rooms at the special price for us. So to make sure you don’t miss out, get in quick!

We’re really excited to be having the entire con at Rydges, and they’re really looking forward to having Conflux again, so we know they’ll be really great in helping us put on a terrific con.

With thanks to Garth Nix for his assitance, Conflux 4 is also going to be graced by the presence of Jonathan Strahan. Jonathan is one of the pre-eminent editors in the world, well respected and admired with a finger on the pulse of what’s happening in speculative fiction all over. We’re delighted that Jonathan is coming, he’s a valued addition to what is now a fantastic line-up of guests (not to mention the amazing authors, editors and fans coming as members, people like Karen Miller, Richard Harland, Maxine McArthur, Keith Stevenson and members of the ASIM crew). If you miss Conflux 4, you’ll be kicking yourself for years (after I’m finished with you, of course )

Conflux 4 is proud to announce that Kevin J Anderson and Rebecca Moesta will be joining us in Canberra in September. Kevin is the author with Brian Herbert of the Dune prequel series, his Jedi Academy trilogy were the top selling sci-fi books in 1994 and his X-Files books were voted some of the best sci-fi books of their years. He’s currently writing the Saga of the Seven Stars series. With wife Rebecca, he wrote the 14 book Young Jedi Knights series. Rebecca has written a number of movie and television tie-in novels, including Buffy and Star Gate.

We’re really excited to have Rebecca and Kevin coming along. Conflux is definitely the place to be at the end of September.

2006 has passed, 2007 is here, the year of Conflux 4!

We’re ready to throw ourselves into the organising of the con. In particular, work on the Regency Banquet is moving apace, with recipes being tested left, right and centre. If you’re interested in testing recipes, go to www.foodpast.com and have a chat to Conflux’s very own historian and culinary genius Gillian Polack. If, like me, your thoughts have already turned to your costume, look out for some links to some great sites, coming soon to the Conflux website.

 The first progress report will be out later in the month, and it’s going to be a great read, with information, interviews and more. Make sure you don’t miss it. It will go up on the website in February.

And look out soon for announcements on the film festival and art show. Yep, Conflux will be the place to be in 2007.

 Have a great year!

Nicole