Coordinator Mike Brotherton has announced the line-up of attendees for this year’s Launch Pad Astronomy Workshop (see this article for more information on the NASA-funded seminar for science fiction writers). This year’s attendees will include: Pat Cadigan, Carolyn Clink, Andy Duncan, Tara Fredette, Owl Goingback, N.K. Jemisin, Julie V. Jones, Marc Laidlaw, Ed Lerner, Brian Malow, Robert J. Sawyer, Gord Sellar, and Scott Sigler.
Brotherton writes “You may not recognize all the names. They’re not all well known science fiction/fantasy writers, although many are. We have writers/performers for science-based comedy, video game writers, a poet, a couple of best sellers, and a couple of up and comers who promise to be much better known in a few years.” He notes that deciding among the applications has gotten very difficult, as the workshop has become better known and more popular.
He’s also going to try to video record some “portions of this year’s workshop in an effort to provide some aspects of this experience vicariously.” And, for those who didn’t get in yet, “We’ll also have Launch Pad at least one more time based on current funding, and perhaps beyond that if we can secure future funding.”
His full commentary is available in this blog post.