Fans to attend Gala Dinner with their favorite author, enjoy full weekend of activities July 20-22

Tulsa, OK, May 8, 2007: New York Times bestseller Laurell K. Hamilton will be returning to Tulsa as guest of honor at Conestoga 2007, Oklahoma’s longest running science-fiction and fantasy convention. This year the convention will be held July 20-22, 2007, at the Radisson hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Other featured guests include Elizabeth Moon, John Picacio and Eric Flint. Events scheduled from Friday to Sunday include the Conestoga International Film Festival Awards, a Gala Dinner with Laurell K. Hamilton, a Harry Potter release party, and swordplay demonstrations by the School of Stage Combat. The weekend and convention will also extend beyond core programming events to include a writer’s workshop, game playing, anime watching, and a book release event for 11 local, regional and national authors with new science fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy and paranormal romance releases.

“The last time bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton came to Tulsa for a signing, hundreds of people lined up for hours just to get her autograph,” said Randy Farran, Conestoga Convention Chair. Hamilton was in Tulsa March 1st 2006 for a book signing at Barnes and Nobles. “She even had to stop signing to ice her writing hand. Because of the lines, some people left without even getting a chance to meet one of their favorite writers. This time the lines shouldn’t be so long because Laurell will be spending an entire weekend with us, with many opportunities for her fans to see and meet her.”

Laurell K. Hamilton, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of two series that mix mystery, fantasy, magic, horror and romance is the Conestoga Author Guest of Honor. Her Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels from Berkley Books began with GUILTY PLEASURES (now a hugely successful graphic novel from Marvel/Dabel Brothers - the first sexy paranormal comic ever), and continues with the THE HARLEQUIN - June 5th, number fifteen in the series. There are now more than 6 million copies of Anita in print worldwide, in 16 languages. Hamilton’s Ballantine series features Fey princess and private investigator, Merry Gentry and there are now five novels exceeding one million copies in print.

“We’re especially excited about the Gala Dinner Friday evening,” said Kathy Wentworth, local author and convention liaison. “Eighty lucky fans will join Laurell for dinner the first evening of the convention. We have people flying in from as far away as California and Montana for this unique opportunity, so spaces at the dinner are filling quickly.”

Conestoga’s Artist Guest of Honor is John Picacio, an award winning illustrator who has created covers for works by Harlan Ellison, Robert Silverberg, Neil Gaiman, Charles DeLint, Hal Clement and many more. Elizabeth Moon, a Nebula Award winner for SPEED OF DARK, will serve as Toastmaster. Special Guest Eric Flint is the author of dozens of novels and best known for his 1632 series. Other guests include Brad Denton, P.C. Cast, Robin Wayne Bailey and Shanna Swendson.

The entire weekend is packed with both organized and unstructured events, from a seminar on Birds of Prey featuring the educational birds of Royal Gauntlet, a Masquerade fashion show, to game rooms, video rooms, dealers’ room, and art show. Conventioneers and costumers will be given chances to win their own applause during the Masquerade costume contest. During the weekend, conference rooms will be packed with panels on topics ranging from “Crossing the Romantic Divide - Paranormal Romance to Fantasy Chicklit, What’s Selling And Why Now?” to “Kill them dead. Swords and Guns for Authors”. In between these planned events, numerous diversions and rooms will be available; guests and conventioneers can watch science-fiction, play both new and well-loved games, and browse and purchase art and merchandise.

About Conestoga

Conestoga, a 501c3 corporation, is Oklahoma’s longest running science fiction and fantasy convention. All convention events will be held at the Radisson Tulsa, located on 41st street east of Hwy. 169. Conestoga 10 begins Friday, July 20, 2007 and runs through Sunday, July 22 and benefits Safari’s Sanctuary. Registration is $35 for the weekend. A special registration package which includes the Gala Dinner with Laurell K. Hamilton is $125. Further details, including a schedule of events and information on how to register, can be found on the Conestoga website: http://conestoga.sftulsa.org.