It’s hard to believe WorldCon is only a couple weeks away. This year WorldCon is in Kansas City, Mo., and dubbed MidAmeriCon II.

And I’ll be there!

The official programming went live today, and I’m going to be a busy bee. This means more chances for you to come say hi. I’ll be speaking on panels Thursday, Friday and Saturday at MidAmeriCon II. You can view the full programming or skip to just my list, so you can add your favorite panels to your personal schedule.

Here’s where to find me at WorldCon:

Thursday, Aug. 18

11 a.m. – Great Characters in Young Adult Fiction (Room 2207)

There are groundbreaking characters in YA fiction: Katniss Everdeen, Percy Jackson, Clary Fairchild, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin, and more. Why do these teen characters ring true? Creating a believable teen vs adult characters — is the process and are the elements the same? Who are some of the other great, and overlooked, characters within YA fiction today?

4 p.m. – Debut Author Showcase (Room 2208)

Authors whose first published works have either just happened or are about to occur talk about their first sales, whether their perceptions of themselves as authors has changed, and what their next steps are as they break into publishing.

Friday, Aug. 19

11 a.m. – Female Friendships FTW (Room 2502A)

Female friendships are increasing in genre TV with nary a chat about boys in sight. Friends like Peggy Carter and Ana Jarvis, Laurel Lance and Felicity Smoak from Arrow. We ask whether this changes the flavor of television. Does having female friendships in the forefront change societal perceptions? Are females as platonic heroines and friends on the rise or is television still predominantly dominated by male characters?

3 p.m. – Legends and Myths in Urban Fantasy (Room 2503B)

Most urban fantasy draws upon folklore and legends. How do these old mystical beliefs inform modern fantasy? What place does magic have in downtown New York, Mexico City, or London? Do the rules of magic and the supernatural change between when you cross between city street and countryside?

Saturday, Aug. 20

12 p.m. – Inspiring the Creativity (Room 2204)

In recent years, many creators have made public the music playlists they used for inspiration while creating a work. But what else do creators surround themselves with when preparing to Make Art/Write Fiction? Is it art on the walls? TV Shows? Podcasts? Or is the greatest inspiration of all just switching off the internet?

1 p.m. – What’s So Interesting About the TV Show “The 100”?

When The 100 was announced, very few people took it seriously; it is after all a post-apocalyptic drama about 100 teenage prisoners sent to a poisoned Earth from humanity’s “safe” new home in the sky. Despite this The 100 defied critical expectations. What is it about this show that makes it work? Why are these angsty teens more than just angsty teens?  And why does The 100 matter?

MidAmeriCon II is Aug. 17-21 at the Kansas City Convention Center. You can get all the details on their official website.