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| american science fiction writers | |
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| 1954 births | |
| living people | |
| baháí individuals | |
| american women writers | |
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PERSONAL LIFE WRITINGS Short Writings Bohnhoff has written several dozen short stories and novelettes in most of the well known publishing magazines: (winner to be announced in August 2007). Long Writings In addition to her shorter works Bohnhoff has written several full length novels which elaborate on her interests in examining/promoting feminist and religious concepts in science fiction, fantasy and related genres. Her most well known novel may be ''The Meri'' which became a trilogy and has been published twice (1992 and 2005) and was a finalist for by Tom Evslin . Feminist and Religious Themes ''The Meri'' series revolves around the period of transition among the people who live on a peninsula. The chapters are headed with quotes from scripture presented as those of the religion of the people but many are in fact quotes from and a chosen few have always acted as the personification of the Spirit of God, or "Meri". The first book focuses on a young girl destined to take on that role. While similar to other stories of the triumph of women it has several unique qualities most particularly a central male character being her benefactor and teacher and not an obstacle she has to overcome. The second book focuses on the return of the prior "Meri" who takes it as her mission as the head of the renewed religion to promulgate the new paradigm of the role of women. The third book focuses on her transition to being a head of state but wrestling with several of the same issues from among as well as beyond her people. Another novel she has written called ''The Spirit Gate'' has many of the same features but is written in a different context - a fantasy work set in a historical time and place of roughly 1000AD in the area today of Poland and Ukraine where two forms of Christianity (Eastern Orthodox and Catholic) and Islam met the pagan older religion. Bahá’í themes, especially in the respect granted other religions, are largely identified with the older religion. Several of these themes are also in Bohnhoff's shorter writings - "Infinite Sky, Infinite God" highlights a Catholic future. Several short stories center on women - like "The Doctor's Wife" and "The White Dog" and both have reference to a religion. PROFESSIONAL ADVANCEMENT Bohnhoff has worked in a number of venues to contribute to the field of authorship and relevance of Science Fiction and Fantasy at SciFi/Fa Conventions. She has participated in and moderated panel discussions for over a decade:
: "Mythic roots of fantasy", with panelists Kara Dalkey , Heather Hudson , Adrienne Martine-Barnes , Anthony Pryor-Brown : "Coping with and/or embracing change" with panelists John Cramer , Kij Johnson , Sonia Orin Lyris , Mike Moscoe , : "The Rise and Fall of Civilization: Which way are we going? How do we tell with any assurance?" with panelists Steve Barnes , Betty Bigelow , Margaret Forsythe , Andrew Nisbet , : "Historical Fiction: Call it fantasy, and they'll buy it. Will readers--and thus editors--only buy historical fiction when you add magic and fairies?" with panelists Kara Dalkey , James Fiscus , Patrick Nielsen Hayden , Teresa Nielsen Hayden , Kristine Kathryn Rusch : "Intro to Filk - Who are those people sing weird songs?" with panelists Heather Alexander , John Bunnell , Steve Dixon , Cecilia Eng , Roy Torley : "Science and Religion: Harmony or Discord. Can we avoid being affected by this battle?" with panelists Amy Casil , Lenora Good , Andrew Nisbet , Mike Tanaka , Theo Williams . : "Cardinal Richelieu revisited - the good and evil priest in literature." with panelists Dan Berggren , Loren Joseph MacGregor , Mari-el Mor , Irene Radford , Rhea Rose : "Research for alternate history. Sources to use so good history can make good fiction." with panelists James Fiscus , Eileen Gunn , Jean Lamb
: "Is it now chic to be geek - Is this the age of the geek?" with panelists Janice Gelb , Melinda Hutson , Bridget Landry , Irene Radford : "Steal That Tune - Filkers have borrowed tunes from folk sources, rock singers, Broadway shows, you name it. And not all of the results are parodies...." with panelists Jeff Bohnhoff , Steve Dixon , Jeffrey Hitchin : "And Now for Something Completely Different - Breaking the European medieval mindset: Asian-themed fantasy, urban fantasy, maybe even Roman fantasy? Getting creative with one's imagination" with panelists Irene Radford , Kevin Radthorne , and Deborah K. Strub : "Disenchantment - Fantasy novelists portrayals of Christian and Christian-like faiths often seem harsh and authoritarian or as a totalitarian backdrops to stories. What's the source of the antipathy?" with panelists John C. Bunnell , Mark Ferrari , Ashley J. Harper : "Evolution - Science vs. Religion why do they disagree? And if people can re-engineer themselves where does that leave God?" with panelists Cat Faber , Ken Scholes , Dave Trowbridge
: Thursday Program "Tolkien vs Jackson" moderated by Bohnhoff with panelists Vladimir Verano , Robert J. Grieve ::"Filk and the Mainstream" moderated by Jeff Bohnhoff with panelists Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff, Karen Rall : Friday Program "Parody Writing" moderated by Jeff Bohnhoff with panelist Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff :: "Show me - Don't tell me" moderated by Bohnhoff with panelists Sharon Turner Mulvihill , Jak Koke : Saturday Program - "Plot, Settings, and Characters" moderated by Bohnhoff with panelists Mike Shepherd-Moscoe , Susan Stern Grossman
: "How to Write the BEST First Line" moderated by Bohnhoff, with panelists Valerie Estelle Frankel , Howard Hendrix , Kage Baker : "The Wiccan Culture: An Introduction" with panelists Diana L. Paxson , Deirdre Saoirse Moen : "The Short Story as an Art Form" moderated by Bohnhoff with panelists Deirdre Saoirse Moen , Michael J. Swanwick , Lori Ann White , Howard Hendrix : "Getting Your Writing to Grow Up" moderated by Bohnhoff with panelists Howard Hendrix , Beth Meacham , Michael J. Swanwick
Bohnhoff has also contributed to professional writing magazines LPS Design - Some Thoughts on Subplots by Lisa Paitz Spindler references Bohnhoff's thoughts on subplots and online presentations. Muse Online Conference lists Bohnhoff offering a workshop/private forum and realtime chat examining ''Systems of Faith and Magic''. PUBLICATIONS
MUSIC
Though Bohnhoff's interest in music as a career stretches back to her high school years and her mother, her avocation as a musician was started by 1980 when she was a member of a band called "Talisman" playing a mix of original Progressive Rock and Top 40 and got some airtime on KZAP , a radio station in Sacramento, California . The Bonhoffs later reformed as part the band "Syntax" through which they released a cassette tape "Silent Planet" in 1990 - "Syntax" using a substantial amount of MIDI based music. They were introduced to Filk music in 1991 and predominantly use Acoustic Guitars in their live shows. In 1991 the Bohnhoffs had been invited to a science fiction convention for Maya's "Hand-me Down Town" publication in Analog magazine because Maya was up for the Nebula Award . At a party for the event Jeff had the opportunity to a Jam Session with founding filk musicians Dr. Jane Robinson , Cynthia McQuillan and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough . After other conventions mostly for Maya's writing, Jeff and Maya were spontaneously invited to play music at the 1995 Baycon by Kathy Mar . It was after a long evening of music that they wrote "Knights in White Satin". Filk and parady have become their main musical presence, though now they perform through their own production company, MysticFig and as a duo predominantly. Mrs. and Mr. Bohnhoff have given concerts at various science fiction conventions and conference for many years and have won awards doing so. They have attended conventions Norwescon , Worldcon , LepreCon , Consonance , OryCon , the Ohio Valley Filk Fest and others. They have produced several of their own tapes and CDs through their own production company. They also play often at the local Bahá'í events and Centers. Maya also participated in a panel discussion "Intro to Filk - Who are those people sing weird songs?" at the 1997 OryCon and "Steal That Tune - Filkers have borrowed tunes from folk sources, rock singers, Broadway shows, you name it. And not all of the results are parodies...." with her husband and others. Releases
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