Midori Snyder is an American writer of fantasy, mythic fiction, and nonfiction on myth and folklore. She has published eight novels for children and adults, winning the 2001 Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for The Innamorati (2000), a novel inspired by early Roman myth and the Italian “Commedia dell’Arte” tradition. Snyder’s first novel, Soulstring (1987), is a fairytale fantasy loosely inspired by the Scottish legend of Tam Lin. This was followed by an imaginary world trilogy: New Moon, Sadar’s Keep, and Beldan’s Fire (1989–1993). The Flight of Michael McBride (1994) is a work of mythic fiction set in the old American West, drawing upon Irish-American, Mexican, and indigenous folklore. Hatchling (1995) is a children’s book set in the world of Dinotopia. Hannah’s Garden (2004) is a contemporary fantasy for young adult readers about fairies, folk music, and family dynamics, set in rural Wisconsin. With Jane Yolen, Snyder co-authored the novel Except the Queen (2010), a contemporary urban fantasy featuring two fey who are banished to the World as elderly women, where they find themselves embroiled in a much larger struggle for power. Her short stories have appeared “The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror,” as well as numerous adult and young adult anthologies. Her nonfiction essays on fairy tale and folklore have appeared in folklore anthologies, magazines, and the Journal of Mythic Arts online. In addition to writing, she co-directs the World Fantasy award winning Endicott Studio for Mythic Arts with Terri Winding.

Andrew Lazo co-edited Mere Christians: Inspiring Stories of Encounters with C.S. Lewis and has contributed articles and reviews on C.S. Lewis and other Inklings to several books and journals, including Mythlore. More recently, he transcribed and edited the landmark “Early Prose Joy,” which has definitively corrected the accepted dating of Lewis’s conversion to Theism. Lazo regularly speaks in Houston and around the country and has taught Lewis in both Oxford and Cambridge. He also teaches English and a course on Lewis at Houston Christian High School and is currently researching and writing a book on Till We Have Faces. This is his first appearance at Mythcon.

Inspired by the 60th anniversary of C.S. Lewis’s Till We Have Faces and The Last Battle, this year’s theme focuses on the mythology that has shaped and “given faces‧ to so many of our beloved characters, ranging from the myths of the Ancient Greeks to the legends of the Middle Ages and even to the modern mythology of the American Southwest. Similarly, this mythological influence is also evident in the works of many of our favorite mythopoeic authors, from J.R.R. Tolkien to J.K. Rowling, from Ursula K. Le Guin to Alan Garner, and many, many more.

Papers dealing with the conference theme are especially encouraged. We also welcome papers focusing on the work and interests of the Inklings (especially J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams), of our Guests of Honor, and other fantasy authors and themes. Papers from a variety of critical perspectives and disciplines are welcome. Papers from graduate and undergraduate students are encouraged; we offer an award for “Best Student Paper.” See details here.

Each paper is generally given a one-hour slot to allow time for questions, but individual papers should be timed for oral presentation in 40 minutes maximum. Participants are encouraged to submit papers chosen for presentation at the conference to Mythlore, the refereed journal of the Mythopoeic Society. Paper abstracts of no more than 300 words, along with contact information, should be sent to the Papers Coordinator at the address below (e-mail preferred) by May 15, 2016. Please include your A/V requirements and the projected time needed for your presentation. You will be notified if your paper is accepted after that date.

Participants are encouraged to submit papers chosen for presentation at the conference to Mythlore, the refereed journal of the Mythopoeic Society. All papers should conform to the MLA Style Manual.

All paper presenters must register for the conference; please see the Mythcon 47 web page for information and rates.

Jason Fisher
Mythcon 47 Papers Coordinator
visualweasel@yahoo.com

Download Mythcon 47 Call For Papers as a PDF.

The Mythopoeic Society is an international literary and educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and mythopoeic literature. We believe the study of these writers can lead to greater understanding and appreciation of the literary, philosophical, and spiritual traditions which underlie their works, and can engender an interest in the study of myth, legend, and the genre of fantasy. Find out about the Society’s activities at: www.mythsoc.org.

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