Inspired by the daring adventures of women characters and compelled by the brilliant works of women authors, Sirens is a conference dedicated to women in fantasy literature. The conference, both scholarly examination and professional retreat, welcomes academics, authors, professionals, and readers to attend—and provide varying perspectives on fantasy books by women, female characters in fantasy works, the market for fantasy by and about women, and how to support women in fantasy literature.

Our Guests of Honor in 2009, our inaugural year, include authors Tamora Pierce, Sherwood Smith, and Kristin Cashore, each of whom has written of strong, smart women warriors. Each guest will present a keynote as well as her work during the weekend. In addition, our attendee-proposed presentations encompass a range of topics and approaches including folklore, literary analysis, film/television studies, fan studies and the craft of writing, including varied analyses of Sirens's 2009 focus on warrior characters and the women who write them. The submissions deadline was June 7; we expect to have our programming schedule available soon.

Sirens will be held October 1–4, 2009, at the Vail Cascade Resort and Spa in Vail, Colorado. Yellow aspens and warm fires will welcome you to the Rocky Mountains, and your free time during the conference can be spent relaxing in the resort's acclaimed spa, traveling the wilderness, or shopping in Vail Village's many boutiques.

Our website's sections describe all you need to know to attend Sirens, so please use the navigation buttons above to explore your options for programming participation, registration, travel, and meeting other attendees both before and during the conference. If you need more information or assistance, we look forward to hearing from you. We hope you join us for our first year of Sirens!