Equality Now thanks Browncoats

Yasmeen Hassan, Global Director for Equality Now, thanks the Browncoats and volunteers of Can't Stop the Serenity, and talks about some highlights in the fight for equal rights worldwide in 2011. Many of these have been made possible by the money donated to Equality Now by CSTS events every year.

CSTS-Raleigh founder now also local SF author

J.L. Hilton -- aka Jen, or "Flame" as she is known on Fireflyfans.net -- is the founder of the Raleigh Can't Stop the Serenity event, coordinator in 2006, 2007, and 2008, co-organizer in 2010 and 2011, and global sponsor in 2009 and 2012. Those who attended the events will remember her as the emcee from 2006-2011 (except in 2009).

Many of you will also know her as the maker of Firefly- and Serenity-inspired jewelry, as well as cosplay replicas and steampunk, some of which she's donated to CSTS over the years.

Her new novel Stellarnet Rebel is available on Amazon, B&N, and Google Books, and will be available soon on Audible.

There will be a party at Tir na nOg Irish Pub from 7-9pm on Thursday January 5 to celebrate the book's release. Meet the author, hear an excerpt, and learn more about eBooks. 10% off coupons for publisher Carina Press and other promotional materials will be distributed. Wifi will be available and assistance with various eReader platforms — Kindle, Nook, smartphones, tablets, etc.

Enjoy live Irish music by Kilcarragh featuring Hunter Murray on the Irish Button Accordion and Mark Van Sciver on guitar, bodhrán (the Irish frame drum), bones and vocals. Kilcarragh specializes in playing Irish house music – the music of the small pubs and local gatherings so popular in Ireland, and which plays a role in the novel. “Aileen’s Pub” in the Asteria space colony was inspired by Tir na nOg and the author’s Irish heritage.

Click here to RSVP for the event on Facebook.

Christmas SERENITY Screening at the Colony! Thursday December 1st!

It's our annual Browncoat Christmas Screening of SERENITY! This is a no stress fun event at one of Raleigh's landmark theaters The Colony. Tickets are only $5.50 and available at the door night of show. The Colony has a capacity of 400 so there is plenty of room. Doors will open at 7:00, Movie at 8:00 on Thursday December 1st.

The Colony has sodas, popcorn of course, beer & wine and a great selection of reasonably priced candy.

This year a local rising artist Iron Jaiden will be creating an original poster just for this Screening. A limited number of these will be available for sale at the Colony night of the screening. His website is:
http://kingdomofnonsense.com/

Please note that The Colony does not accept Credit Cards so remember to bring cashy money! The Colony is located at 5438 Six Forks Road, Raleigh 27609. 919-847-5677.

Spread the word and hope to see everyone there!

We raised $4,308

$3,231 (75%) goes to Equality Now

$1,077 (25%) goes to Kids Need to Read

See more photos of the event at Penny Photography.

CAN'T STOP THE SERENITY 2011

SOLD OUT

Every year, Browncoats around the globe hold charity screenings of the sci-fi movie SERENITY to raise money for Equality Now and other worthy causes. In Raleigh, we also support Kids Need to Read. Click here for information from last year's event.

COSTUME CONTEST: Judges were award-winning costumer Jennie Faries, sci-fi author Mark L. Van Name, and Sam Montgomery-Blinn, editor of Bull Spec magazine. First-, second- and third-place trophies donated by Wake Forest Awards & Engraving.



CHRISTIANA ELLIS award-winning local author and podcaster donated signed copies of her book, "Nina Kimberly the Merciless," a fantasy novel with a modern sense of humor, about the headstrong teenage daughter of a barbarian conqueror. The podcast was an inaugural nominee for the 2006 Parsec Award for Best Speculative Fiction Long Form and was also nominated for a Podcast Peer Award. In 2010, Foreword Magazine awarded Nina Kimberly the Merciless with the Bronze Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Novel of the Year.

2011 RAFFLE PRIZES AWARDED

Special guest sci-fi author Mark L. Van Name will autograph a copy of his book CHILDREN NO MORE for one lucky winner. This is the fourth and latest installment of Van Name's series featuring nano-enhanced mercenary Jon Moore and sentient assault vehicle Lobo. Van Name is donating every cent he receives (including the advance) from the sale of both hardcover and paperback copies of the CHILDREN NO MORE to Falling Whistles campaign for peace in the Congo, to help rehabilitate and reintegrate child soldiers.


This beautiful, one-of-a-kind "Ladies of Serenity" necklace was designed and handmade by Durham artist Diana Keever just for our raffle. It features kimono fabric cord, bullet casing, black leather, buddha charm, pistol charm, heart, key and Swarovski crystals, representing Zoe, Inara, Kaylee and River.

A replica of River's sword.

Kaylee's shiny prize bucket with one hand-painted rice paper parasol from Firefly Cargo Bay, Kaylee letter "K" Scrabble tile pendant on hand-dyed pink silk cord and Simon letter "S" Scrabble tile pendant on leather cord from JLHjewelry, "SHINY" bumper sticker, "Everything is Shiny" button, screwdriver, and teddy bear patch from Washosaurus. (Total value of this prize is $65.)

Steampunk prize package donated by Jen Hilton of JLHjewelry: Two steampunk books featuring her work, "Steampunk Style Jewelry" and "1000 Steampunk Creations," and a handmade acid-etched and hammered brass and copper "serenity" pendant. (Cover price for each book is $25 apiece, retail value of necklace is $38. Total prize value of $88.)

11x17 print of Mike Henderson's drawing of Mal and Serenity.

Handmade glass pendant created by Cary artist Linda Searcy, featuring a real, vintage Japanese postage stamp.

A cast iron tea set from Japan, with a dragonfly design, for your own companion welcoming ceremony.

Jason Palmer's "River vs Reavers" prints.

A limited edition reaver ship ornament.


Shepherd Book prize basket includes a copy of Serenity: The Shepherd's Tale graphic novel, Shepherd Book necklace by JLHjewelry, rosemary, serenity pen, and an authentic autographed card from the Serenity trading card series by Inkworks signed by Ron Glass. (Total value of this prize is more than $50.)
Serenity Alliance Currency Money Packs -- fan club exclusive edition with Miranda map -- from Qmx.

A "Serenity Sake" pint glass and t-shirt (size L) by artist Ian Leino. Value $27.50 (both items will go together to one lucky winner).

Fruity Oaty Bar prize bag is one BlueQ "Yum!" tote filled with fruity treats from Japan and Singapore, temporary tattoos, and two 4x6 acrylic magnets featuring the Fruity Oaty Bar girls. (Total value of this prize is more than $20.)

Limited edition Browncoats t-shirt (size XL) by Teefury.com.


Firefly hairsticks courtesy of LaRachelle Designs.

Other raffle items include...

Jayne's bunk junk prize pack with a very cunning knitted hat from Illusionext, a brand new Cabela's safari shirt (size XL) with an Army pilot pin on the pocket (similar to the shirt and pin he wore in the Maidenhead bar), Alliance replica money, a deck of cards, a replica of his forged medical badge (from the Firefly episode "Ariel") and other goodies from the Hero of Canton. (Total value of this prize is more than $80.)

Browncoat prize basket which includes a sterling silver "serenity" pendant from Dragonweave, Browncoat soap by Geeky Clean, brown wax candle, reusable Browncoat grocery bag from Washosaurus, "Serenity" comic by Dark Horse, "Space Age Loser" CD by the Browncoats band, goodies from Firefly Cargo Bay, items from Cats Dreaming -- fabric fortune cookie, serenity bookmark and "leaf on the wind" pendant, and a ceramic "serenity" magnet by Earthenwood Studio. (Total value of this prize is more than $85.)

* Firefly/Serenity patch collection, including Serenity logo patch, Independents military patch, limited edition 2009 CSTS patch, "Keep Flying" Firefly patch, and Blue Sun patch. (Total value more than $35.)

Pfaltzgraff "SERENITY" votive candle holder

Framed Serenity trading cards donated by Metropolis Magazines

Framed Buffy trading cards donated by Metropolis Magazines

Framed 11x17 "Bellerophon Fire" poster by John Anderson. The Bellephoron Fire design was originally created for the webseries COURAGE, and appeared in promo shots of the production. It's a sport based on 'hoopball' which the cast plays in hold of the ship.

Done the Impossible DVD

Bedlam Bards "On the Drift" autographed CD

Browncoats: Redemption Fan Film DVD

Finding Serenity a collection of essays edited by Jane Espenson

Serenity Found another collection of essays edited by Jane Espenson

SERENITY on the big screen in December

If you missed this year's "Can't Stop the Serenity" event in June, you still have a chance to see SERENITY on December 9, 2010. Doors open at 6:30pm, movie begins at 8:00pm.

There is usually a prize giveaway at this event, but it's NOT a charity thing. It's just for fun, part of the "Cool Classics" series at the Colony Theater on Six Forks Road in Raleigh. Only $5 per person, at the door, and a 400 seat theater -- twice the size of Raleighwood, our CSTS venue, so there should be room for everyone.

There's a nice write-up about it at IndyWeek.com

For information about next year's CSTS charity event, check this website in 2011 or join the NC Browncoats Yahoo group to keep up with the latest goings on in our neck of the 'verse.

Support your local steampunk vampire novelists

Clay and Susan Griffith will be at Flyleaf books in Chapel Hill at 7pm Saturday November 20, for a book signing of their novel "Vampire Empire Book One: The Greyfriar."

Susan is a Browncoat, and in this interview with Marjorie M. Liu, the authors talk about how the look of one of their characters was modeled on Inara from Firefly.