Now at last, it can be told...

[thatcrazycajun]

GAFilk 12 is now history; more information will follow later. And with it goes the last constraint on me making the announcement I've been going absolutely batshit sitting on for weeks now: the guest list for GAFilk 13, to be held at this same time and place one year hence.

The Guest of Honor? None other than our very own Pegasus-winning fllk music artist and new-fledged best-selling pro fantasy novelist, cadhla.

The Interfilk Guest? A Canadian filker named Howard Scrimgeour, about whom I am looking forward to learning (and hearing) more. ADDENDUM, Mon. 1/11, 5:14p: janeg informs me that Howard helped found FilkOntario, has been a part of it each year since and will chair their upcoming 20th-anniversary con in mid-April. One of the few times my Google-fu has failed me...

And the Toastmaster? Er...ahem...well, me. And in the fine GAFilk tradition of honoring local talent with this job who then move somewhere else, I may well have to fly back from freakin' Africa to do it.

But if need be, I will. This has already become a favorite con for me in the few years I've attended—and not just because I could go without spending $$$ on travel and lodging. Now a team of Satan's own flame-maned Clydesdales couldn't keep me away. Thanks to autographedcat, kitanzi, sffilk and the rest of the concom for giving me only my second such invite in three decades and change of fanac (the first was Fan GoH at a 1980s con in New Orleans); I will do my dead-level best to be worthy of it.

Memberships are now available at the low, low introductory rate of $35 US; they will go up as the time draws near. Get yours now and avoid the rush...and I'd say this even if my name wasn't on the flyer.

Comments

[allisona.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your ToastMaster gig!

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

what? what? you've got moving plans??

[mshollie.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Now we'll have to get you into a Toastmasters club. ;)

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Don't look now, but there's a Nairobi local chapter: #1197334 :)

[banjoplayinnerd.livejournal.com]

Makes me wish Atlanta wasn't a bazillion miles from Seattle. Only been there twice, would love to go again.

[trektone.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. Congratulations, ace! :)

[kitanzi.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to it already!

[osewalrus.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the Toastmaster gig! I'm sure it will be a most excellent con.

[janeg.livejournal.com]

Lovely to see you as a toastmaster! Seanan makes a terrific GoH; just provide diet Dr Pepper and she'll take it from there. And I am quite sure you and Howard will get along great. Did you know he is a founder of FKO - there from year one, and chair of the upcoming FKO20.

I'm going to have to think about finally making a GAFilk.

[banjoplayinnerd.livejournal.com]

LOL . . . reminds me of Conflikt I. Seanan was in the open filk room, just putting a can of diet DP to her lips when someone cracked her up. (The words "Om nom nom nom" were involved, but whether they involved her drinking the soda or something else, I can't say.) She promptly spit soda out her nose, which of course got everyone's attention; then she got a pained look on her face, turned to the guilty party, and wailed, "You just made me waste perfectly good Diet Dr Pepper!!" And of course her delivery got everyone laughing. Seanan's just like that.

[thatcrazycajun.livejournal.com]

No, I didn't know; thanks ever so for the kind words and the dope on Howard -- I wasn't able to turn up much on him via a hurried Google search, else I would have mentioned those things for sure. I'd never heard of him before this, but then my knowledge of Canadian filkers is limited to a tiny handful of people, three of whom are Urban Tapestry. And I would dearly love to see you attend next year, whether or not I was on the bill. May Ghu will it so.

[janeg.livejournal.com]

Howard is less active online than most of our ConCom so you wouldn't find much through Google.

He sings a lot of trad filk, accompanying himself on the bodhran, and has a wicked sense of humour. He often sings about dogs, science and military stuff, including Dorsai. He's a vet, and animals love him. He is mostly a circle player but did a quite good concert at Anticipation. He doesn't have a CD but who knows a year from now?

Howard is a regular at OVFF, ConFusion, ConClave and probably some others I am forgetting (Marcon?) that are also within driving distance. He runs Ops at FKO.

In terms of Canadian filkers, I think you also know Caroline Brown, and perhaps the Haymans and Dandelion Wine. Some will probably make it down to cheer on Howard; I'll have to see how my finances are by then as they aren't good now.

[sffilk.livejournal.com]

Matt, you more than deserve it.

Congratulations from The Stone Dragons

[sexybass.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!!! and Sue and I are planning on going next year since it is the Con where we first got together!!! Also it would be great to see and hear you and Seannan again and my good friend Howard is Interfilk Guest!!! What more could you ask for?

[tokyosteven.livejournal.com]

Congrats! I'll be there.

[ladymondegreen.livejournal.com]

Mazel tov! I'm hoping to get out there to see you.

[jodimuse.livejournal.com]

Congratulations, Matt! I'll be there - as per usual. :) I know you'll do an awesome job! :D

[filkferengi]

Squee!