My (tentative) Dragon*Con schedule

NOTE: This is a tentative schedule. The final will not be sent until later this month. 

Title: 15 Minute Mentor Sessions

Description: A chance for budding authors to talk one-on-one with a successful industry professional about business, promotion, the writing process, & career advice. Sign up in the Writer's Track. (Embassy E/F)

Time: Fri 01:00 pm

Title: You're So Eighties: What We Read and Watched in 1986

Description: Labrynth, Landover, Amber, Conan and more. The eighties were a decade of adventure and discovery for High Fantasy fans. Some of our most beloved classics were released in 1986.

Time: Sat 05:30 pm

Title: Battling Yourself - Fighting Imposter Syndrome

Description: Many writers suffer from imposter syndrome: the feeling of not being qualified, good enough, etc. It can strike anywhere on our journey, even if we've been doing it for ages. Come hear our panelists talk about how they combat this common experience & maybe even learn how to use it to your advantage!

Time: Sun 10:00 am

Title: AI and the Future of Writing

Description: It's here. It's not going away. In many aspects, AI is a danger to writers & other creatives. We'll discuss that as well as what parts of this technology we might use to our advantage, if any. Please come with a mind open to ideas you may not have considered, whichever side of the fence you're on.

Time: Mon 10:00 am

Title: Writing Tiny: Flash and Microfiction

Description: Don't know what flash fiction is? You're about to find out! Panelists will talk about the unique challenges in writing flash/micro fiction, markets that accept them, and give you a chance to try it out!

Time: Mon 01:00 pm

Panels I'll be doing at Stellar Fest!

Blood in the Gut: Visceral Fiction 

Panel discussion on how to make your writing engage the guts and not just the brain.

Creative Cussing and Other Writing Hacks 

A panel discussion on ways to write better swearing so the reader doesn't get buried in f-bombs but does get quotable sass. Samples provided. 

Old Time Radio... On the Spot

Panelists and those who come to enjoy the panel will be assigned roles for an old-time radio drama. Nobody except me will know what that drama script is. Fun ensues, particularly because a lot of things are now double entendres. 

Old Time Radio... ReRun

So much fun we're doing a second day! Panelists and those who come to enjoy the panel will be assigned roles for an old-time radio drama. Nobody except me will know what that drama script is. Fun ensues, particularly because a lot of things are now double entendres. 

40 Years of Howard the Duck 

Forty years ago the genius behind Star Wars gave us something SO BOLD that many audiences just couldn't handle the awesomeness. If you love Howard the Duck, come join us as we look back at Quack Fu, Dark Overlords, and love conquering all like no one had ever seen before. If you're a hater, you're welcome too, but be warned: you might walk out a changed person! 

Self-Publishing and Writing: Horror Stories 

Panelists will describe the writing, editing, and publishing processes along with mistakes that that almost got published as self-published authors. The audience will be encouraged to contribute things they’ve read that horrified them. 

I'll update with dates and times as the final schedule is done.

I'll be at Multiverse. Will you?

My schedule for Multiverse convention this coming weekend. See ya there, right? 

Friday, October 17

Writing Tiny: Flash and Microfiction

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Canterbury

Friday Night Writing Workshop
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Canterbury

Saturday, October 18

Poetry: A Rose By Any Other Name
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Canterbury

Sunday, October 19

Questioned Faith
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
McIntosh Ballroom A

Jukebox Thrillers Anthology Signing
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Campbell

Podcasting for Writers: From Guest to Creator
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Canterbury

My ConCarolina's Schedule

 

Friday, May 30

In the Public Domain... Using characters in the public domain
6:00-7:00 PM

Saturday, May 31

Build a Superhero
10:30-11:30 AM

Poetry Slam
11:30-12:30 AM

Fiction As a Tool of the Resistance
1:30-2:30 PM

For a full schedule, click here.

The Multiverse Con Pictorial Recap

 My Set-Up

This year's badge art.

Posing

Good Neighbors

Cosplay

Appearance confirmed! Let's go to Multiverse!

 

Pulp Convention to Create New Characters and Anthology!

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATTENDEES AT WINDY CITY PULP TO WITNESS THE CREATION OF NEW CHARACTERS ON NEW PULP SUNDAY WITH ANTHOLOGY TO FOLLOW

Lombard, Illinois – February 8, 2024

Every year, the Windy City Pulp and Paper convention features writers of New Pulp as part of their Sunday panel programming. On Sunday, April 7th, several New Pulp authors will gather as part of a unique interactive panel.

This panel’s moderator will encourage collaboration between the audience and panelists to establish genre (and appropriate subgenres), setting, and four individual characters. Audience members will provide elements to be incorporated into that genre. Panelists will come up with a broad character concept and aspects.

During the session, panelists will take input from the audience and their peers in fleshing out these characters and concepts. Once this has been done, both the setting and characters will be featured in an anthology of short stories to be written by the panelists and published in time for the following year’s Windy City convention.

This panel will be held on Sunday, April 7th, exact time TBD.

For more information about the panel, please contact Andy Fix at andyfixwriter@gmail.com

For more information about Windy City Pulp & Paper (including attendance information) please visit https://windycitypulpandpaper.com/

See Me at MidSouthCon 38 this weekend in Memphis! Cons are back, baby!!

 

I'll be a guest for MidSouth Con 2022 this year in Memphis again! Come visit me on Pro Row or at any of the following panels (maybe one or two more to be added). I'll also be doing game beta demos for some of the games I have in development from time to time in the game room.

Friday, March 26, 6 PM
Pulp Fiction for Today's Market

Join the New Pulp Movement as discuss how to formulate and write a Pulp story for today's market.

Friday, March 25, 8 PM
Boardgames: A Gaming Movement 

Board games are exploding in popularity in America. There are a dozen different types, all of which appeal to various players for a gambit of reasons. Panelist discuss trends, from gateway games to the newest and hottest, and why this type of game is growing is popularity.

Friday, March 25, 9 PM
Pro Row

Meet your favorite MidSouthCon professional, maybe get their autograph or buy their works. Pro Row is located in the hallway outside of the Tennessee Ballrooms.

Saturday, March 26, 10 AM
Self-Marketing for Authors

You have published your works, either independently or through traditional publisher - now what? Our panelists discuss how to market yourself.

Saturday, March 26, 4PM
Pro Row

Meet your favorite MidSouthCon professional, maybe get their autograph or buy their works. Pro Row is located in the hallway outside of the Tennessee Ballrooms.

Saturday, March 26, 9 PM
Short Stories: How to Fit It All In

Writing a short story can be harder than it seems. One of the biggest challenges is to figure out how much detail is needed without having to be minimalists.

Sunday, March 27, 10:00 AM
Reading: Sean Taylor

Sean Taylor reads his from his collections Giddy and Euphoric and Show Me A Hero.

Game Demos
Saturday & Sunday, March 26 and 27, between other sessions after 11:00 PM

I will also be running game demos of the beta versions of several games I have in development between my other posted sessions at MidSouthCon. Come look for me at Table 23 any time after the Open Gaming Room opens at 11:00 on Saturday and Sunday!

"What games?" you ask. 

• Last Mouse on the Left
• Cap'n Kelly's Custom Critters
• The Battle for Classic City
• Shark Detective

Come join the fun as a beta tester for new games!

NEW PULP INVADES PITTSBURGH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

With PulpFest moving to the Steel City of Pittsburgh (July 27th to July 30th), the New Pulp Community has joined in the promotion by holding two separate book signings in the Pittsburgh area during the con weekend.

On Friday evening, 28th July, starting at 7 p.m. Barnes & Noble located in the Monroeville Mall, 200 Mall Circle Dr. Monroeville, PA will host New Pulp writers Fred Adams, Jr., Wayne Carey, Jim Beard and Tommy Hancock.

On Sat. morning, 29th July, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Rickert & Beagle Books, 3222 W. Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, will host writers Barbara Doran, John Simcoe, Fred Adams Jr., and David White.

These seven writers are among the finest in New Pulp Fiction and are only a few of the dozens of talented pulp authors and artists who will be in attendance at the PulpFest Convention. Created to continue and preserve the legacy of this unique literary form, the convention is open to the public and information regarding ticket prices, guests and panels can be found at (http://www.pulpfest.com/)

Visit me at Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention!

Here's my schedule for Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention. Looks like it's going to be a very pulp, gritty weekend for me. Hopefully Tommy Hancock will help me hide the bodies.

FRIDAY:
Directors Row #1 5-6 PM: Pulp - Getting Crime and Fights Right

Directors Row #2 7-8 PM: Pulp - Too Purple for Pulp


SATURDAY:
Directors Row #2 3-4 PM: The Colour of Pulp

Directors Row #2 7-8 PM: Pulp Trivia

Directors Row #1 9-10 PM: Horror - What Makes it Tick?

SUNDAY:
Directors Row #1 1-2 PM: Opening Lines

Directors Row #2 3-4 PM: Publishing Pulp - How Far is Too Far?

Enter the Imaginarium!

My updated panel schedule for Imaginarium:

Friday

7:00 PM
Gats, Gams, & Greenhorns
Everyone always remembers to build worlds, but do they always remember to build language? This panel covers the proper way to use slang, jargon, and other language mechanisms in genre fiction.
Moderator: Mandi Lynch
Panelists: L. Andrew Cooper, Addie J. King, Sean Taylor

Saturday

4:00 PM
The World of a Magazine Editor: Submissions, Deadlines, and Edits, oh my!
Sit down with editors as they share the inside scoop on editing for magazines. Learn why pieces are accepted, why they’re rejected, and what magazine editors expect of their authors.
Moderator: Sean Taylor
Panelists: Eric Beebe, Lori Michelle, Jason Sizemore, Benjamin Smith

6:00 PM
Comic Script Creation Part 1 – Hosted by Sean Taylor
Join comic book writer Sean Taylor (Gene Simmons Dominatrix, Bad Girls Club, The Invisible Man) for a two-day workshop to help you begin and complete a comic book script for a four-page anthology short. Super heroes, horror, drama, slice of life — all genres welcome.

Sunday

12:00 PM
Comic Script Creation Part 2 – Hosted by Sean Taylor
Join comic book writer Sean Taylor (Gene Simmons Dominatrix, Bad Girls Club, The Invisible Man) for a two-day workshop to help you begin and complete a comic book script for a four-page anthology short. Super heroes, horror, drama, slice of life — all genres welcome.

2:00 PM
Publishing Comics & Graphic Novels
Words and pictures…can’t be too hard, right? Think again. Our panelists discuss what goes into making a good comic series, from the idea’s inception all the way through final layout and printing. This is a must-see panel for anyone interested in breaking into the graphic literature world.
Moderator: Sean Taylor
Panelists: Matthew Barron, Dan Jolley

3:00 PM
How to Build a Better Bad Guy
Heroes are important, but having a strong villain can make or break a story. Learn how to make your bad guys the best they can possibly be.
Moderator: Sean Taylor
Panelists: Karen Block, K.S. Daniels, Dan Jolley, Tommy Smith, Michael West

Alpha Omega Con Christian Comics & Pop Culture Convention Comes To Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA – The Christian Comic Arts Society announced today the Alpha Omega Con; a family friendly, Christian Comics and Pop Culture Convention taking place in the Los Angeles area. With more than 50 special guests and industry professionals conducting panels and workshops, and an extensive exhibitor hall, Alpha Omega Con is a unique experience where the faith audience can explore positive forms of new entertainment.

Talking place on Saturday, September 20th, 2014, fans of comic books, movies, video games, and other media will gather from across Southern California to unite their passions for entertainment and Faith. Attendees have the opportunity to connect with industry pros, ministry leaders, vendors, and other likeminded fans during general sessions, workshops, and exhibits.

Featured industry professionals in the genres of comics, video games, film and faith include: Mike S. Miller (Justice League of America, Batman: Arkham), Flint Dille (Transformers, Teen Titans, Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu), Chris Yambar (The Simpsons, Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol), Kevin Grevioux (Underworld, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.), Pastor Fred Price Jr. (Crenshaw Christian Center), Mike Kunkel (Herobear and the Kid), Dr. Thomas Parham (Asuza Pacific University), Eric Jansen (Christ of Prophecy, Paraman), Buzz Dixon (Serenity, G.I. Joe), Dr. Fred Sanders (Biola University), Clyde Taber (Visual Story Network), Bill Morrison (Bongo Comics, The Simpsons), and many more.

Pitch sessions for entertainment creators of all types will be conducted throughout the day for aspiring talent to present their work to industry professionals. Panels cover topics such as Pitfalls for Independent Artists, You Can’t Do That in Christian Media, Video Games: Controlled Conflict, Women In Media, 168 Film and DIY Film Making, Cosplay & Christians, Ministry + Artistry = Profitability?, Modern Media & Message, Breaking In Without Selling Out, Geeky Guys 4 God, and more.  

Exhibitors include leading comics distributors such as Kingstone Comics and LAMP PoST, along with Geekdom Wear, The Resurrection Project, Kids in the Spotlight, guest artists available for commissions, and many more.

Presented by The Christian Comic Arts Society, the event is sponsored by The Resurrection Project, Lightside Games, FrontGate Media, SocialZing, ChristianCinema.com, NewReleaseTuesday.com, Hollywood Jesus, Sonoma Christian Home, Faded Pictures, Kids In The Spotlight, Christian Film Database, Internet Podcast Database (IPDb), and Visual Story Network.  iTickets.com is the official ticketing partner for the event. 

The Christian Comics Art Society is hosting the Alpha Omega Con at Redeemer Church, 15151 Cordova Blvd. La Mirada, CA 90638 on September 20, 2014 from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.   Advance tickets are available at the event web site and on iTickets.com for only $5.  Admission is $10 at the door.  Children 12 and under are free with an adult ticket.  For more information about programming, exhibitors, cosplay guidelines, and to register for the event, please visit http://www.AlphaOmegaCon.com or http://www.iTickets.com or call 800-965-9324.   

ABOUT CHRISTIAN COMIC ARTS SOCIETY

The Christian Comic Arts Society (CCAS) is a non-profit international organization that includes professionals, amateurs, and fans who enjoy comic books, science fiction, fantasy, gaming, cosplay, and other pop culture elements.  Founded in 1985 by Don Ensign, the CCAS has had a Christian presence for almost 20 years at comic conventions such as San Diego Comic Con, WonderCon, and Phoenix Comic Con.  CCAS has distributed tens of thousands of gospel tracts, Bibles, and free materials at conventions around the country, and serves as a vendor of quality Christian comics.  CCAS is governed by a volunteer board which includes Ralph Miley (New Creation), Holly Knevelbaard (Artist), Scott A. Shuford (FrontGate Media), Clint D. Johnson (Faith Walker/ M:2520 Media), and Luis Serrano (Samson the Nazirite, Rooted Chronicles) along with numerous volunteers from the comic industry and the Church. Free membership is available on our social community at www.ChristianComicArts.com, or you can follow us at www.Facebook.com/ChristianComicArts, or www.Twitter.com/ChristianComics.

MEET THE RUBY FILES’ SEAN TAYLOR AND BOBBY NASH AT CONNOOGA THIS WEEKEND!

Bobby and Sean
at ConNooga 2013

The Ruby Files creators and authors, Sean Taylor and Bobby Nash will be guests at ConNooga this weekend (February 21 - 23) in Chattanooga, TN.

Always a fun show, the ConNooga Literary Track is incredible and Bobby and Sean are honored to once again be part of it. Their panel schedule was released today and is posted below. If you’re at the con, please stop by and say hello. They will also have table space somewhere in the dealer’s room with books to show off and sell.

BOBBY NASH'S CON NOOGA 2014 PANEL SCHEDULE:
4:00 PM Fri Con Center #15 Panel: Writing Believable Dialogue
10:00 AM Sat Con Center #15 Panel: Writing for Graphic Novels
1:00 PM Sat Con Center #15 Panel: Pulp Fiction - What is it?
5:00 PM Sat Con Center #15 Panel: The Writing Life and What it Takes
8:00 PM Sat Choo Choo  Gallery B  Plot or Die! It's a no-holds-barred Plot Off!
11:00 AM Sun Con Center #17 Panel: Writing Opening Lines and Hooks

SEAN TAYLOR'S CON NOOGA 2014 PANEL SCHEDULE:
10:00 AM Sat Con Center #15 Panel: Writing for Graphic Novels
1:00 PM Sat Con Center #15 Panel: Pulp Fiction - What is it?
8:00 PM Sat Choo Choo  Gallery B  Plot or Die! It's a no-holds-barred Plot Off!

Bobby, Andrea Judy, and Sean
on a panel at ConNooga 2013.

All of these sound like fun panels. The highlight of last year’s con was the Saturday night “Plot or Die!” panel. Doing a plot off with the other writers in attendance was the most fun and most laughs had the entire weekend, especially once everyone started trying to one up the others. If you can join us for that, I promise you will not be disappointed.

You can learn more about ConNooga here. Plus, keep up with them on Facebook and Twitter. The Con Nooga Lit Track can also be found on Twitter as well.

See you there.

Post-Alabama Phoenix Festival Re-Cap

Alabama Phoenix Festival recap... Dear sweet breastplace of Zeus, where do I even begin?

Friday kicked off with a slow start while we waited for our neighbors to arrive, but after a few well-attended panels that day, we settled into the main stage for a rousing game of Authors and Artists Whose Line Is It Anyway? Luckily, my amazing friends Bobby Nash, Michelle Brundage Weston, Allan Gilbreath, Kimberly Richardson, Van Allen Plexico and Allen Hammack are very forgiving and didn't mind me making all kinds of fun of them during the event, which apparently seems to have turned out to be quite a popular one at the con. Highlights included Kimberly as the superhero Princess Cupcake, Michelle and Allan G. doing a crime musical number, Van "blasting" around the stage as Fart Boy, Bobby's rousing turn as a damsel in distress who couldn't pronounce the letter 'S' (Ave me! Ave me!), and Allen H. making up an algebraic combination of binary code and gobbledeegook.

Saturday gave me lots of time to meet awesome folks and just hang out at my table until about 5:30 when my panel schedule began. But a highlight of the day would most definitely be the time spent with my booth Alices -- yes, two of them! -- Rachael Van Riper and her daughter. Thanks again so much for helping me by making the table sparkle with beauty. After that it was another great day of panels, closed out with the oh-so-much fun panel in which we reenacted the old X Minus One radio script "Student Body" featuring the dumbest space morons to ever undertake a serious mission and doom Earth in the process.

After all the panels I had a midnight breakfast with Daniel Emery Taylor and Jim O'Rear and their lovely wives, and got to hang out with other stars of their flick THE HOSPITAL (such as Scott Tepperman from GHI and the lovely and perky Robyn Shute). Of course, poor Evan, my son, who went with Charis and me this time, couldn't hang with the old pros and went night-night on the booth at IHOP.

Sunday came way too early in the morning, and it was off to the races for another day. Hands down, the highlight of the day was Josh Duke and Ali's wedding in front of the TARDIS. The poor guy didn't realize he was marrying Mae West (yes, that's how awesome the bride looked!). Another high spot though was when I played guitar over at Afua Richardson's table and we sang a bunch of songs together. And daaaaaaaaannnnngggg that girl can sing. Wow! I'm just glad she let me sing with her. Hopefully someone captured some footage and you can catch it on YouTube.

Well, that's it except for the long boring ride home and then passing out when I finally hit my own bed.
Special thanks go (as always) to Tim Stacks, Stan "Kingdom Comics" Daniels, and Steve Charleson for putting on one of the most fun cons of my "touring year" and certainly one of my hands-down favorites. You guys rock big-time!

RUBY FILES ILLUSTRATOR, ROB MORAN WINS PULP FACTORY AWARD!

Congratulations to The Ruby Files artist, Rob Moran on his Pulp Factory Award Win For Best Interior Illustrations for THE RUBY FILES Vol. 1, published by Airship 27 Productions.

2013 PULP FACTORY AWARDS PRESENTED AT WINDY CITY

For the fourth consecutive year, the Pulp Factory Awards were presented at this year’s Windy City Pulp & Paper Convention.

These awards are given to the best in new pulp fiction and art published during the previous year as voted on by the 111 members of the Pulp Factory; an internet group made up of pulp writers, artists, editors, publishers and dedicated fans.

Writer William Patrick Maynard and artist Rob Davis once again co-hosted the award presentations, handing out the sculptured trophies done in the shape of a quill pen set against factory-like gears.

The pen represents both writers and artists, the gears paying homage to the assembly-line production of the old pulps of the 1930s.

This year’s winners for the best in fiction and art for 2012 were:

For Best Pulp Novel –
THE LONE RANGER – VENDETTA by the late Howard Hopkins, published by Moonstone Books.

For Best Pulp Short Story –
"The Ghoul" by Ron Fortier from the anthology, “Monster Aces,” published by Pro Se Productions.

For Best Pulp Cover –
Joe Devito for THE INFERNAL BUDDHA published Altus Press.

For Best Interior Illustrations –
Rob Moran for THE RUBY FILES published by Airship 27 Productions.

This year’s preliminary nominations and final ballot represented a total of twelve New Pulp Fiction publishers.

The Pulp Factory membership congratulates all the winners for their exceptional work.

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!

The Ruby Files Team