The Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS) and the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) will jointly host a Writers’ Gala at Balticon on Friday, May 24 from 5–7 p.m.

Both BSFS and SFWA invite everyone to join professional and aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers from all across the nation as they socialize, snack, perform readings, and listen to musical performances. Nebula, Sapphire, and Prism Award winner Dr. Catherine Asaro will host the event, with music by the jazz ensemble, The Greg Adams Trio. There will be giveways of books and other prizes. The event will be held in Frankie and Vinnie’s and is free to enter, though you must buy a convention membership to attend the rest of the convention.

Balticon is a thousand fan convention being held over Memorial Day weekend, May 24–27.

The full press release follows the jump.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, contact Social Media Coordinator Alexander Mathew Harris, [email protected]

For the Science Fiction Writers of America, contact Dr. Catherine Asaro, [email protected]

BALTIMORE SCIENCE FICTION SOCIETY AND SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS OF AMERICA PRESENTS A WRITERS’ GALA AT BALTICON

Baltimore City, Maryland – May 13, 2013

The Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS), and the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) are pleased to announce a joint event: a Writers’ Gala at the science fiction convention Balticon on Friday, May 24th from 5 – 7 P.M.

Both BSFS and SFWA invite everyone to join professional and aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers from all across the nation as they socialize, snack, perform readings, and listen to musical performances. Nebula, Sapphire, and Prism Award winner Dr. Catherine Asaro will host the event, with music by the jazz ensemble, The Greg Adams Trio. There will be giveways of books and other prizes. The event will be held in Frankie and Vinnie’s and is free to enter, though you must buy a convention membership to attend the rest of the convention.

Organized by the BSFS, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention Balticon is a four day celebration of science fiction and fantasy with over 300 hours of multi-track programming featuring authors, publishers, editors, artists, scientists, musicians, and over a thousand fans. It will be held on Memorial Day weekend, May 24th – 27th 2013. BSFS is happy to work with the premiere professional organization for authors of science fiction, fantasy, and related genres, SFWA, to organize a Writers’ Gala at Balticon that will bring together fans and writers in a literary and musical celebration.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. was founded in 1965 by the American science fiction author Damon Knight. Today, SFWA is home to over 1800 authors, artists, and allied professionals, and is widely recognized as one of the most effective non-profit writers’ organizations in existence. Each year the organization presents the prestigious Nebula Awards® for the year’s best literary and dramatic works of speculative fiction. For more information, see www.sfwa.org.

The Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a 501(c)(3) literary organization focusing on science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. A not-for-profit literary society based in Baltimore, MD, BSFS holds many events such as anime socials, business meetings, gaming days, book discussion groups, writing critique circles, and day-long writing workshops regularly throughout the year, and also produces Balticon, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention. The official BSFS website is at www.bsfs.org.