Darlene Marshall, author

There aren't many things that could lure me to travel from sunny, warm Florida to Boston in February, but Boskone 51 is one of them. I've been attending this regional, high quality science fiction convention for over ten years, and each time I come away from it with enhanced writing skills and recharged batteries. In addition, I get to see a lot of my friends and enjoy good times.

I'll be on the program at Boskone, and here's my schedule. Where you see the (M) next to my name, it means I'm moderating that panel. 

Bleeding Hearts
Friday 18:00 - 18:50
A Valentine's Day panel about romance in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. What are some of our great love stories for the ages? What stories turned out to be tragedies -- or worse? Panelists will discuss how love can turn a character’s world upside-down.
Darlene Marshall (M) , Ellen Asher, Leigh Perry, Steve Miller

Reading -- Darlene Marshall
Saturday 14:00 - 14:25

Reduced William Shakespeare _Star Wars_ Reading
Saturday 21:15 - 22:45
A reading of Ian Doescher's Shakespearian _Star Wars_ mashup with droids, heroes, heroines, villains -- and rhyming couplets. Abridged and directed by Laurie Mann.
Laurie Mann (M) , Darlene Marshall, Bob Kuhn, David Palumbo, Kate Baker, Bruce Coville , Mary Crowell, Jane Yolen, David G. Grubbs

Humor in SF
Sunday 10:00 - 10:50
Comedy is hard. Trying to write humorously in science fiction, fantasy, or horror takes iron nerve but a light touch. You run risks ranging from committing self-parody to simply (horribly) falling flat. How can it be done skillfully (situations, characters, plot, etc.)? Who’s writing funny right now?
Janice Gelb (M), Darlene Marshall, Ian Randal Strock, Jennifer Pelland, Bruce Coville

Wicked Good Villains!
Sunday 13:00 - 13:50
A look at the awesome antagonists who make their stories come alive. What makes a good bad guy or girl? From Maleficent to Sauron, magic-wielding villains have been a staple of the fantasy tradition. But what makes them tick? Why do we find them so compelling? And when do they cross over the wicked good line to join the best villains in fantasy literature?
Daniel P. Dern (M), Myke Cole, Darlene Marshall, Rosemary Kirstein, Scott Lynch

Writers on Writing: Sex Versus Romance
Sunday 14:00 - 14:50
Writers share their ideas and experiences on the difference between writing sex and writing romance. How do you do it? It is difficult? How much should you reveal? How do you distinguish between the two? And does that line between the two shift from YA to adult novels, or between male and female protagonists?
Darlene Marshall (M), Charlaine Harris, Nancy Holder, Anna Davis