Life, the Universe, & Everything 31 starts today in Provo

The local symposium (read: convention) on science fiction and fantasy starts today. I was planning to be there, but instead I'm on tour. I'll be in Vancouver tonight and Toronto tomorrow. But if you're in Utah, you should check out LTUE!

The guest of honor this year is Megan Whalen Turner and special guests are Tracy and Laura Hickman, Larry Correia, David Farland, L. E. Modesitt Jr., James A. Owen, Eric James Stone, and Brad R. Torgersen. The symposium will be at the Provo Marriott Hotel & Conference Center (while the UVU student center is under construction) and it's free with a valid student ID or $45 at the door for the whole convention. (Preregistration is closed.) There are lots of great panels; you can find a list here. Sorry I can't see you there this year, but as always, it's going to be awesome!

I also have an announcement from my old friend Loralee (she was editor at the Leading Edge magazine back before I was):

Giant gummi worms, M&M comets, and cotton candy slime—it's not science fiction, it's candy science! Loralee Leavitt will be signing her new book Candy Experiments, full of fun science experiments using candy, at Life, The Universe, and Everything in Provo on Friday, Feb 15, 8–10 pm, and at the King's English bookshop in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Feb 16, at 2 pm.