Vanessa MacLaren-Wray

Vanessa MacLaren-Wray writes science fiction and fantasy exploring the challenges of communication and attachment in a diverse, complex universe. She’s the author of the Patchwork Universe series, including All That Was Asked, The True Son, and the upcoming duology Shadows of Insurrection and Flames of Attrition. She’s also a member of the Truck Stop at the Center of the Galaxy shared-universe consortium. Her short fiction has appeared with Dragon Gems and in the award-winning anthology Fault Zone: Reverse. She hosts regular online open mics for the California Writers Club and acts as a guest host for the podcast Small Publishing in a Big Universe. She is also an active member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). When not arguing with her cats, she works on new stories, her email journal Messages from the Oort Cloud, and her website, Cometary Tales.

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Related Events

Writing in a Shared World

Kansas City Local Time:
May 22, 2022 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

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It’s your book, but it’s their world. How do you follow the rules of the literary universe and still contribute in a creatively fulfilling way? People hosting and writing in shared worlds talk about their experiences and give advice for those wanting to join an established property.

The Value of Versatility

Kansas City Local Time:
May 22, 2022 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm

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Some agents, editors, and publishers advise authors to develop a brand. This branding sets the expectation that an author will stick to one genre, one style, or one format. But there’s a value to being versatile, too. This panel will discuss how and why authors should make and break their own mold.

The Middle Path: Small-Press Publishing

Kansas City Local Time:
May 12, 2023 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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In between traditional publishing and self-publishing lies the land of small press. Authors who’ve been published by small publishers and editors or directors of small publishing companies discuss the joys and stresses of taking part in this alternative path to publication.

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Poetry and Prose

Kansas City Local Time: June 6, 2025 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
June 6, 2025 11:00 am to 12:00 pm

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Writers of all types have so much in common: the love of a precise word, a complex rhythm, an agonizingly well-turned phrase. Where do poetry and prose overlap, and how do they differ—most importantly, what can these writers learn from each other?

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