Tolkien Moot, formerly MerpCon, has firmed on their 2011 dates and location; the event will now be in July instead of June.

At the first PhauxCon I attended back in 2009, the guest of honor was paranormal/fantasy author Leslie Esdaile (L.A. Banks). Sadly, this talented author (who also happens to be a wonderful lady), has has been diagnosed with late stage adrenal cancer.

Half the fan conventions this weekend are here in the Southwest region; from TrekExpo in Oklahoma to CombatCon in Nevada.

The buzz is that the major movie studios are looking to avoid Comic Con 2011 in San Diego this year. Film such as Sucker Punch, Tron and Scott Pilgrim were heavily advertised at SDCC last year…who could forget the 30 story Scott Pilgrim banner that took the whole side of the Hilton on the Bay Front? It was impressive at the time, but it did not translate at the box office.

This family friendly celebration of monster films from the silent movie era through the 1950s has a vampire theme for June, 2011.