Announcing the ConGlomeration 2012 Featured Guest: Michael Z. Williamson

ConGlomeration is proud to announce that Michael Z. Williamson (our 2010 Guest of Honor) will be returning as a featured guest in 2012.

In Michael's own words, he is the author of "an eclectic body of work. That means I've never pinned myself down to one genre. I apologize to the marketing people, because I know they hate that and I hate to see them cry. It also makes it hard to categorize my works for my bibliography. However, subjects I've written in do include politics, firearms, the military, science fiction, military fiction, fantasy, humor and nonfiction. Most of my articles aren't cataloged -- there are too many."

You probably know him best for his novels Freehold and The Hero, the latter of which was written with John Ringo.

Michael is also a professional armorer, creating and selling custom weapons of both the bladed and firearm variety. You can see some of his work at SharpPointyThings.com. You can also check out Michael's irregularly updated homepage here.

For updates on our Guests of Honor, follow the Guests of Honor label.

About ConGlomeration

ConGlomeration is Louisville, Kentucky's own multimedia science fiction and fantasy convention. (It's true; just ask Wikipedia.)

• History of ConGlomeration
• ConGlomeration Rules and Policies
• Organizing Committee
• Photo Album
• In Memoriam
• Official Convention Blog

We who are ConGlomeration pride ourselves on being a product of the local fan community, and for our convention's family-friendly atmosphere. We took up the Louisville convention mantle after Steve and Sue Francis (our Fan Guests Emeritus...or is it Emeritii?) retired RiverCon in 2000. ConGlomeration was a fixture in the local science fiction calendar from 2001 to 2008 before going on a forced hiatus in 2009 (our host hotel went bankrupt and shut its doors at the last minute). On April 9, 2010, ConGlomeration returned, and our next convention will throw down April 13-15, 2012.

So what makes ConGlomeration so great?

ConGlomeration is a convention for fans, by fans. Our entire staff is volunteer, and actually pays for the privilege of busting their humps to put on a great convention. Moreover, as a non-profit labor of love, once you pay for your admission, we don't charge for additional features or activities. No "Gold Club" restricted access to guests; they wander the halls and hang in the Con Suite like every one else. No "exclusive" dance parties or autograph sessions; once you're inside ConGlomeration it's all-access, all the time.

Our Hospitality Suite is legendary not just for the free quality snacks (chocolate fondue fountain, anyone?) but for the unfettered access to our convention guests. Harry Turtledove has built diet-coke-and-Mentos fountains in the courtyard outside, and Walter Koenig seemed to subsist entirely on handfuls of Con Suite M&Ms. And we don't impose these concessions on guests; the writers, artists, and celebrities that have visited ConGlomeration almost invariably thank us for the access and amicability our convention affords both them and our members.

Our Art Show is one of the largest and most respected in the region. Our Dealers Room is the size of a high school gymnasium and sells out with enthusiastic vendors every year. Our Masquerade takes over an entire ballroom and is the lynchpin our family-friendly activities. Our Game Room never closes; it's open, staffed, and has hosted games 24 hours a day from the beginning of the convention until the end.

That said, there's always room for improvement. Got ideas? Contact the appropriate member of our Organizing Committee. Beyond suggestions, we need your help. ConGlomeration is made for fans by fans. Join the Platypus Army and help us build a better convention! Got a local business that would like to reach our legions of loyal fans? Sponsor ConGlomeration.

Keep up to date on the latest ConGlomeration info via the official ConGlomeration blog or by following the About Us label.

UPDATED: ConGlomeration Returns April 13-15, 2012!

Mark your calendars, fellow platypi, as ConGlomeration has staked its claim to the weekend of April 13-15, 2012!

Previous reports in this space revealed an original return date of April 20-22, but a scheduling snafu by our host venue made those dates untenable. Not to worry, the hotel has expressed their apology by lowering the ConGlomeration discounted room rate to $69 per night!

The revised date also has a few advantages. First, ConGlomeration is no longer in direct competition with Thunder Over Louisville for Saturday supremacy. Secondly, our dates now overlap with the final weekend of Jefferson County Public Schools Spring Break, and the same is true for several other regional school systems. The whole family can now attend without pulling the padawans out of the local academy.

As to the hotel, Louisville's favorite fan-run multimedia sci-fi and fantasy convention will resume operations at the Ramada Plaza hotel (formerly the Clarion) -- the same hotel where we've redefined Derby City geekdom for most of the last decade. You may not recognize the place, however, as the venue is under new management and is in the throes of a pervasive makeover in facilities -- including the addition of an in-house Wick's Pizza parlor.

It is now safe to register for ConGlomeration 2012 and book your room nights (the latter makes ConGlomeration possible). Our next convention may be half a year away, but it just got one week closer. If you still can't stand the wait, sign on the the Platypus Army that plans and organizes the event and pass the days by helping to make ConGlomeration stronger, brighter and geekier than ever.