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science fiction convention
in which I look back on how far I have come.
Wow, I had a whole post full of open hearted, soulful confessions, questions about the cruelty of old friends, the doom of present politics, and so on. Then I realized that there just isn’t any point. Nobody cares how I grew up. Present politics will continue to crash into the iceberg until the bubbles stop coming up. And old friends still treat me like garbage as soon as they learn I toe no party line. I have been wondering if engaging others in conversation is worth the time. I am tired of being insulted by old friends.
So, here I am, sitting on the swing set kicking at the dirt in the rut under the seat.
But I’m not that kid anymore. What separates that fat, spotty child from the man I am is a voice. I have come a long way, and no matter how much people I once admired, people I once trusted, people I once really liked, decide that insulting me, demeaning me, and dismissing me is the proper way to engage me in debate, their words do not -should not -CAN NOT change me unless I let them.
I have several advantages. I have an open mind that allows me to collect the best of all ideas. I have a sharp mind, for no matter what anyone may say, I am not stupid. And I have a voice. I am an author, a novelist. And I will have my say. Now, tomorrow, next year, until the printers break and the internet implodes my words and works will live on.
And now I just need to find the right words. Not to change the minds that are. To shape the minds that will be.
And things are looking up. Despite all the day job work I have gotten done The Legend of Buck Cooper and the Child of Fire is nearly complete, Scoundrel’s Magic just got its final pass, and I Know Not is at the printers. Getting excited about the release and about Balticon.
If you are a reader, you can sign up for Goodreads.com and get a chance to win a copy of my brand new novel I Know Not. Can’t do better than free.
And now I’m going to walk in some dark places. I’ll tell you about them later.
Biblionomics
For those of you that missed last week’s update, I was at NasFic. If you were not following on twitter, or Facebook, It was a spectacular time, and the ReConStruction crew should be proud of their efforts.
It is odd, but one of the first things out of people’s mouths when I get back from a convention is: Did you make any money?
Even stranger, what pops out is: No.
I am not sure of any other query in the world where the question is irrelevant because the answer is so grossly incorrect.
I went. I sold 10 books- as much as anything else on the table. If you count the plane ticket, meals, cost for membership to the con, and the rental car, I am significantly behind in dollars and cents. Yet, it was an extremely profitable trip. I have four new job leads, I have a lead on an agent, I met some really interesting people who, in turn, will tell others about the funny fat guy at the panel and his series of books. I have contacts with new publishers, new authors, and even new fans. Those last, most of all, are invaluable.
I met Andrew Fox, author of Fat White Vampire Blues (as well as the Bride of the Fat White Vampire and others.) I got to listen to how, after climbing up the ladder to the major presses Hurricane Katrina destroyed his life. With no home, no resources, and at least one small child at the time, he got up off the mat and is doing it again.
Samuel Montgomery-Blinn runs Bull Spec Magazine. It focuses on the Raleigh-Durham area right now, but he is looking to expand to become much more than a local publication, to a regional, and beyond. He’s riding herd over advertisers, authors, printers, and he’s got an awful lot of hats on while keeping up with a family, a full time job. Here’s something that should not be a secret: He’s doing a great job (go, get a subscription… quickly. Go!)
I also get updates telling me about local conventions, business opportunities (most of them from Nigeria) and sometimes I come across something like this:
***
Rymfire eBooks seeking artists
We’re seeking amateur artists for upcoming covers, namely for the following horror eBooks:
“Revenant”… “State of Horror: Louisiana/Texas”… “State of Horror: New York/Pennsylvania”…
Also, we need a cover artist to do a series of fantasy eBook covers as well… e-mail us at rymfireebooks (at) gmail.com for further information!
***
And I am glad to pass them on to other starving artists because I believe in no good deed going unpunished.
And I get to keep my finger on the pulse of the Geek community. Otherwise how would I know about the science fiction remake of Anna Karenina
Or how people will someday link to my facebook page from my tombstone (though I imagine that barring the download of my brain, updates will be somewhat more regular).
So I guess the answer should be: I am poorer in cash, and richer in spirit. I left with a head empty of ideas and pockets overflowing with script, and came back fuller, wiser, and with infant stories starting to toddle in my head. And that is worth more than gold… I hope… eventually.
I feel like recycling headlines
I hate flying, and there’s no way to deny it. I’m sitting CVG, the AC is set to ‘New Hampshire’, and I’m still sweating like I’ve just hiked 3 miles carrying 50 lb packs (did I pack deodorant?). OK, I may have actually just hiked 3 miles, and my packs may be hedging into the overstuffed category, but let me assure you that is not why the fat guy is sweating (Is that the pilot? he looks a little green around the gills).
All kvetching and paranoid delusions aside, conventions are the closest things I have to vacations, and I enjoy them immensely. Balticon ranks up with my favorites, since the people are wonderful, the panels are a riot, and the con staff are always working for a good time. This one, however, is a different animal. This convention is NasFic, and I am hoping it will be a game changer. (CRAP! I LEFT MY UPDATED PANEL SCHEDULE AT HOME!)
As it was explained to me (ah, Absolut mandarin and tonic to take the edge off) every year has a WorldCon – the largest collection of fandom in the… well, in the world. In years when WorldCon overseas, the massed nerd collection of middle to lower middle socio economic dwellers get together anyway. This is called NasFic. I managed to score an invite to sit on panels. I’m collecting my fliers, handouts, and wits about me, hoping that this will open up a whole new strata of southern conventions to me. I desperately need to expand my fan base and considering my material, south is a good move.
My one (one?) problem is I have to fly to get there. Thankfully, God loves us and has given us Vodka.
In other news, The Story of Fox Crow is almost done. In fact: I expect it to be done during the con as I am inspired by the wonderful people I am sure to meet. (what was I so uptight about, again?) I am hoping to hear the fate of The Ghost of Love VanMeek this week, and I have several short stories burning in my head, sending smoke signals anyone can read. (hard to stay upright with these edges all roundy).
Oh, and I was given a book by a friend of mine. It is something of post-western society meltdown meets Jerry Falwell. Since I haven’t mentioned it by name, I am perfectly comfortable saying it is poorly written, horribly conceived, ham-handed about religion, and surprisingly iron fisted with its ignorance. It has also sold more books than everything I have ever written rolled into one. For that reason a friend of mine has told me to write something in that genre. I may have to pick up that gauntlet. (Whoop fell down)
Alright, everyone. I’m going to listen to some music. You have a good weekend out there.
Also, for those amongst you with a taste for the ridiculous (hmmmm ridiculous) I point you to something culled from my email… the next mutation of the Nigerian Prince Scam. Be careful people, now they’re getting crafty (and spell check).
Greetings!!!
I write to inform you that your contact was found among the list of foreigners that have been scammed by Fraudsters. It might interest you to know that we have signed an agreement with the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT during our first meeting this year with our PRESIDENT and the FBI to fight against corruption by returning all contract funds that has been stolen, paying the people that had an unfinished transaction or International Fund Transfer that failed due to Government problems and also compensate scam victims.
Based on the above, an ATM Card worth EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND U.S
DOLLARS has been issued in your name as compensation. I have deposited the ATM Card with UPS COURIER SERVICE. I traveled out of the country for a 3 Months Course and I will not be back until completion of my 3 months course. What you have to do now is to contact the UPS COURIER SERVICE immediately to know when they will deliver your package to you because of the expiry date of deposit.
For your information, I have paid for the delivery Charge of the ATM Card. You have to contact the Agent of UPS COURIER SERVICE now for the delivery of your ATM Card with this information below:
Contact Agent: Thomas Cole
Email: thomas.cole@sify.com
Reconfirm the below information to the agent:
1. Full Names:
2. Residential Address:
3. Phone Number:
Request for the tracking number of the package to enable you track and know when it will get to your address. Contact the Agent immediately you receive this mail to avoid any further delay
Notify me as soon as you receive your ATM Card.
Yours Faithfully,
Mrs Maria Smith.
Burning brightly
Forgive me, I’ve been:
a) Busy
b) Angry
(and)
c) Hungry
The first is pretty self explanatory. I’m almost done with my first fantasy novel.
Yeah, it’s late… so I’m not perfect, OK?
Seriously, this thing is kicking my butt a little bit, mainly because the character is so dark, and requires just the right amount of comedy and wit to balance him out. A lovable rogue is one thing, but an unforgivable bastard is not likely to have many fans.
Also I’ve been fighting the urge to go find every racebaiter I can get me hands on and force feed them into a wood chipper so they can finally give something back for all the oxy they’ve been stealing from those of us trying to get along. If you watch the news, you know what I’m talking about. It is my most fervent prayer that one day the 95% of us who have grown into well adjusted adults will all get five minutes free so that we can surround the assclowns who make money building walls between us. If there is a just God, we will all pass a baseball bats factory giving out free samples just before we get there.
And I’ve been extremely hungry.
No, seriously. Something about working two jobs that has given me an appetite that just can’t be sated by burgers and fries. And, as I am always trying to save something good and competent from extinction let me put forward a few of my favorites:
Looking for something mostly down home and 100% tasty? Try Mr Herbs Fish in Hebron Ky. They have a good bit of variety on the menu, but since the first time I tasted the fish I have never ordered anything else.
Another place local to me is the Guru India. Full of Indian cuisine at moderate prices, I am especially fond of the lunch buffet.
And the crown jewel: TAZ. Not local to me, unless your frame of reference is from another state, it is the best Mediterranean food around. The waitresses are Ukranian, and you may have to put a leash on any young male friends you bring into the place. It is so good that when I made an unexpected stop there for dinner, and I texted a friend caught at work to let him know, he responded in all capitals, succinctly drawing into question whether I knew my birth father. That, my friends, is flavor.
On other fronts,
Snow and Steel now has its own forum that anyone can join and discuss Russian militaria, WWII, the novel, or anything at all.
I am considering a Zombie novel set in Russia, for example. Come see us!
Well, back to work. More soon.
The Plan: Blogging from Balticon
Part of me says that this is kind of pitiful. After all, in an economic downturn I am still able to attend a convention. To someone like me this means that I have a sacred duty to suck the fun out of every, single second of this adventure, yet here I am blogging instead of drinking, gaming, cosplay, or going to a panel. In my defense all I can say is that I woke up at 6am, and —
See that’s what cons are like for me. I start at 6 am blogging in an IHOP, when a bunch of people I know walk in. I respectfully shut down the computer. I get up, and all the convention ladies demand hugs. The men shake hands (unless you are brothers in blood, the kind of bonds forged during an all night room-party crawl, discovering a new science fiction BBC series together, or braving the Temple of Elemental Evil) and then we all sit down. There’s the standard talk about troubles at home, cars failing, jobs gained and lost, new hobbies, new D&D characters, weight gain, weight loss, marriages and divorces, births and deaths. Still the question comes up- why do I care? I care because some of these people are my coworkers, others are peers in the industry, others are fans of my work, but all of them, ALL of them are my friends. We share experiences, even if we grew up on different continents. We understand one another, even if we speak different languages. We are nerds, and so we are joined by–
It’s Saturday… I was trying to finish the entry when I met Daniel Ross, not to be confused with James Daniel Ross (me). The panel I was waiting for was actually for him, causing some light laughter and making me somewhat thankful I could go to bed instead of stay up until 1am. Still, it was interesting to talk to him, since he had been casting about for a Science fiction property upon which to base a video game. We spoke a bit, traded information and parted ways. I was hopeful that we could make something happen. At the same time, I am always cautious. At any convention there are far more dreamers than there are do’ers, but he had the fire in the belly and the sharpness of wit that tells me he is bright and driven. Maybe we can get famous together. But even as I’m telling myself to keep everything in perspective I —
And Sunday… I’ve got the launch party tonight, and it’s bound to be great. I am amazed at the number of fans who KNOW I will be there, and come to talk to me there. The ones that come in and praise my work are fantastic, and lord knows I couldn’t keep up with the pace I have set without their support. Still, though it is the ones that come and ask me questions that make my heart leap. These are not just ordinary readers – as wonderful as those people are – these are people who have absorbed my work. They have read and taken time to understand my work. The feelings this brings are indescribable–
Wow, Monday. It’s a short one where I get to see one of the classiest men I have ever known: Yoji Kondo. It’s a discussion about Arthur C Clarke and —
See that’s what cons are like for me. I start at 6 am Friday blogging in an IHOP, and now it’s time to drive home. Yes, I’m skipping meeting old friends, a pretty significant argument with someone I love, inspiring a new writer to become an author, being inspired by stories of my first fan, signing books for three hours so the resellers would have stock… It happens too quickly for pictures, too fast for blogs. These are the moments where I feel compressed, stressed, and perfectly at peace with my whole life. It is at these moments that working for 8 hours a day, then writing for 6 more, before cooking, and THEN housework, come into focus.
I am an author, a novelist, and one day I am going to do this for a living.
And now I need some sleep.
The month where there’s a lot going on
I was in Ironton, Ohio for the funeral of my Uncle Samuel Ross. He will be missed.
My Sister and I left Cincinnati at O’Dad O’clock… which is the time every father gets his kids up to pile into the station wagon/van/camper to drive to the national forest for vacation. It is universally recognized by the children’s whiney mantra: Oooooooh Daaaaad.
As such we arrived early, and got to meet a wonderful couple I had not seen since I hit puberty. The husband has been friends with my father since they were 6 years old, and the woman was an immigrant from France who got her citizenship even before I was born. They welcomed us into their lovely home and, in the hours before the funeral, we all talked until we stumbled upon a political discussion. Then the husband and I were the ones talking.
Those in the audience that know me know that politics is something like catnip for me: It’s green, looks illicit, and does absolutely nothing for you if smoked. Seriously, though, it is a living dichotomy that fascinates me. Politics – like religion – is an area where honorable men may disagree and those disagreements can actually bring people closer together. It can also end in a mushroom cloud, but what human endeavor can’t?
So we started discussing a whole horde of topics, and mostly we were in agreement, but one arose that I have seen many, many times: The Draft.
My father’s friend mourned the loss of the draft, because it instilled young men with everything they and the country required to survive: a strong standing army, patriotism, and discipline. And those were all good points, but I have significant problems with the idea of conscription. During our debate, my opponent was far too classy and kind to point out that the side I was arguing was mirrored by American born socialists and communists – people for whom critical thought is a detriment – but I knew it myself. That’s one of the reasons I keep entering the debate, testing my arguments, and probing them for a structural flaw that will bring the whole thing crashing down and prove me wrong.
I have heard praise such as his from literally dozens of men at work. They all grew up with the draft (under whatever name) in place, and some of them while it was in use. They said there was a beautiful certainty to knowing what one was expected to do straight out of high school, and that without guidance of the US government they would never have gotten their heads on straight. It gave them marketable skills, in many cases a nest egg for starting a life, and even a safer place to make a few mistakes and have a parental figure to bail them out – even if the parental figure was a 6’4″ sergeant with muscles that looked like basketballs that thumped them for doing something colossally stupid.
But I cannot get past several key points that lead directly to ‘No Draft’ without passing go, no collecting $200:
The first, and most basic, is a LARGE army is not equal to a GOOD army. Imagine, if you will, two employees at McD… uhh… Kentucky Long McKingeys Hut Bell (Ahh, I am a genius), so we have two workers at Kentucky Long McKingeys Hut Bell – alike in dignity, well not really.
One wants to work. He studies all the manuals, pays attention at work, cleans his uniform. He wants to learn new things. He wants new responsibilities. This worker doesn’t ride the clock, waste time, or ignore customers. If he decides to stay at Kentucky Long McKingeys Hut Bell, he will likely wind up running the place. The other hates his job. Let’s face it: who wouldn’t? He’s late. He’s not interested in your problems. He does the very bare minimum because for one reason or another he feels trapped at Kentucky Long McKingeys Hut Bell and feels he doesn’t even owe the company enough to quit and go find other – lower qualified work.
Now, two fast food joints: One is short staffed – half capacity on the busiest day of the year, but the entire staff is made up of people like the first worker. The second: stuffed to the gills with the workers cloned from the loser. I think you all know which one would work better. Now you must make the leap from hamburgers to the lives of soldiers, because if the unit does not work together well, then soldiers die. Professional soldiers have an amazing capacity to improvise, adapt, and overcome. It is because fighting is what they have chosen to do. Conscripts do not. Conscript armies can only lead to more death, of both innocent civilians and friendly soldiers.
Next, the proliferation of soldiers to no exacting end provides a resource to government it ought not have. There are arguments out there that say if everyone’s children must serve, then war will become a thing of the past. But still, I say that we had the draft until 1979, and it didn’t prevent any of the wars during that time.
Lastly, most importantly, most importantly, or even the only item of importance: I own me. The government, no church, no corporation, no bank, no government owns me. I own me. A friend once told me that some people have a fetishistic relationship with property rights. The reason is – and really it comes down to this – all rights come from this first right of owning oneself. It gives weight and value to your thoughts, opinions, desires, and needs. Some of these are codified in the US Constitution, but they all come from that first right: ownership of oneself.
I am sad to say we never reached an agreement. I am happy to say we didn’t have to. And I hope everyone knows what I mean, since that’s as simply as I could ever put it.
Well, other than that it’s still going to be a busy month. I am still finishing off novelizing a short I’ve had around for a while, making it my first ever fantasy novel. That’s been the slow bit, in fact. I’ve been buried for months in line edits and proofing stories, all for release right now!
Many books coming out this month have what one of my early critics used to call ‘the Taint of Ross’:
Barbarians at the Jumpgates (Padwolf Publishing, Radiation Angels: A Different Kind of Courage) is out NOW and can be purchased through all the normal channels.
Then of course there is the LEGENDARY TRIPLE LAUNCH at Balticon where I have material in two of the three anthologies:
Bad-Ass Faeries 3: In All Their Glory (Mundania Press, Natural Born Spy)
Dragon’s Lure (Dark Quest Books, Red Talons)
New Blood (Also from Padwolf, but bereft of me)
The official Legendary Triple Launch party will be held Sunday, May 30th, from 7pm to 9pm in the Garden Room of the Hunt Valley Marriot at Balticon. As a part of the festivities there will be refreshments, author readings, and a Chinese auction-style raffle featuring as grand prize a hand-sculpted dragon box by acclaimed artist Linda Saboe. While not all the contributors are able to attend, all three books will be well-represented by Danielle Ackley-McPhail, James Chambers, Elaine Corvidae, Keith R.A. DeCandido, John L. French, John Grant, Kelly A. Harmon, C.J. Henderson, Brian Koscienski, L. Jagi Lamplighter, Neal Levin, Jeffrey Lyman, Misty Massey, Jonathan Maberry, Bernie Mojzes, Thomas Nackid, Terri Osborne, Chris Pisano, Diane Raetz, T.L. Randleman, David Sherman, Linda Saboe, Patrick Thomas, Jean Marie Ward, Robert E. Waters, D.C. Wilson, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Anna Yardney and myself.
To learn more about the launch event and to see a list of the raffle prizes please visit www.sidhenadaire.com.
If you can, please stop by. It is always a great time. We will even feed you, promise.
For my part, I’m going to continue with the plan: Write until I am filthy rich and can afford my own castle.
noone admires the chamelion on the field of battle.
OK, I’m opinionated. I get that. In fact over the last few weeks when I wasn’t writing as fast as possible on any number of projects I have thankfully been a part of, I was arguing.
And of course, now I’m in trouble again.
Ok, I’m being selfish, because normally I’ve got this whole blog thing to talk to a whole lot of people, and right now I’m going to use it to think out loud, because I need to think out loud, because things – thoughts – are becoming rarer and rarer in the world, and words are being co-opted and corrupted. And now that I’m here I don’t want to tell the story.
What I really wanted was some understanding, or maybe respect, that I would not have a knee jerk reaction without some cause – but perhaps I am the type given to knee jerking. Truth is I have been so busy I haven’t had time to update a damn thing other than my twitter status, and precious little time in the last week to actually write and the waves of creativity are not gentle things. They are eroding the walls of my sanity as they are given tidal force by the lunar gravity of my deadlines.
Dammit!
Fine. Here it is: Be who you are. Always be who you are.
Speak honestly. For the unconvinced respect honesty. Speak Truth. The curious respect the truth. Speak proudly. Listeners will know if you fear their attention.
Do not water down who you are or what you stand for, for every time you patch your coat with words of convince, you leave loose threads that can be pulled by the opposition.
And do not be fooled: Your opposition will lie. They will demonize you and they will ridicule you. They will say you stand for any -ism that strikes fear in your shared audience. They will even say you are in league with death itself.
But it does not matter. You must stand proudly and speak the truth honestly.
You see on the arena of debate, the language is the field of battle. The very second you allow your enemy to control the use of language, you have seceded all ground to their cause. The moment you allow your enemy to control the language, you have lost the war because your every victory will be tainted, every yard gained rewritten as lost. Do not allow them to hang their signs on you, to label you, for they bear you no love, and only seek to mark you as a target.
History is full of examples… but it does not matter. You must stand proudly and speak the truth honestly.
And there it is. I know it makes sense to absolutely nobody out there – well, maybe 1 person – but no matter what it’s going to be a cold night.
In happier news, Balticon is just six weeks away, and with it the release of Dragon’s Lure and BAd Ass Faeries #3, new anthologies from Dark Quest Books.
Title: Dragon’s Lure
Series: Legends of a New Age
Volume: One
Publisher: Dark Quest Books, www.darkquestbooks.com
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Page Count: to come
Price: $14.95
ISBN: 978-0-9826197-9-7
Here There Be Dragons!
What is the deal with virgins?
Why would a dragon want to swallow the moon?
Is a bed of treasure really to be desired?
At long last a collection that delves in the lore on what lures a dragon. We bring you nineteen tempting tales of draconic wonder–along with the lyrics to two classic and much-beloved songs–certain to broaden your understanding of these legendary creatures that have fascinated mankind throughout time and across cultures.
Trek across a dragon’s dream space in C.E. Murphy’s Perchance to Dream…Take wing in Misty Massey’s Flying Away Home…and the burning question in Vonnie Winslow Crist’s Weathermaker…got milk? Everything you wanted to know about dragons, but no one has survived to ask…
With stories by John Grant, Vonnie Winslow Crist, Patrick Thomas, James Chambers, Misty Massey, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Mike Penncavage, C.E. Murphy, Hildy Silverman, Bernie Mojzes, Randy Farran, C.J. Henderson, Claire Stephens McMurray, Robert E. Waters, D.C. Wilson, Jean Marie Ward, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Anna Yardney, Jeffrey Lyman, James Daniel Ross, and David B. Coe, this is a tome you are sure to treasure!
Contents:
Baited Breath, by John Grant
Weathermaker, by Vonnie Winslow Crist
The Gargler’s Game, by Patrick Thomas
He Who Burns, by James Chambers
Flying Away Home, by Misty Massey
Among the Ember Oaks, by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
The Bakunawa, by Mike Penncavage
Perchance to Dream, by CE Murphy
Off-the-Wagon Dragon, by Hildy Silverman
Thus The Trap, by Bernie Mojzes
The Dragon Song, by Randy Farran
Point of Etiquette , by CJ Henderson
The Dragon’s Retorte, by Claire Stephens McMurray
Red Dragon Symphony, by Robert E. Waters
The Fall Of Teotihuacan, by DC Wilson
Lord Bai’s Discovery, by Jean Marie Ward
Fire in the Hole, by Keith RA DeCandido
Drawing Fire, by Anna Yardney
The Dog and Pony and Dragon Show, by Jeffrey Lyman
Red Talons, by James Daniel Ross
The Dragon Muse, by David B. Coe
Launch Details:
Those Bad-Ass Faeries Are Back…
And They’ve Brought Friends!
Join Us for the Legendary Triple Launch:
Bad-Ass Faeries 3: In All Their Glory
Dragon’s Lure, and New Blood
The Garden Room
Sunday, May 30th, 7pm to 9pm
Readings, Fun, Prizes, and way too many
editors and contributors to name
See the Sidhe na Daire/Dark Quest Table
in the front corner of the dealer’s room
for more details.
Web Links:
www.sidhenadaire.com/books/DL.htm
www.sidhenadaire.com/promoBAF3.htm
Stop by and pick up a copy, or order from Amazon.com
A weekend alone
Well due to a snafu I was actually not made a panelist for Millennicon. I’m really not sure what happened, but it’s not like it matters. And the sick thing is I could really use a day off, but I was so looking forward to hanging out with science fiction people – who are just great people for helping you get a good rest while partying until you drop dead. Well, I have a story to finish and a story to finish editing.
I have very little to blog about this week. I mean, I spent the entire time prepping for the convention, and now I’m just…. well… I’m busy as hell, so I didn’t get anything ready for here.
Well, maybe I should just take this opportunity to let people know a little more about me.
When considering the future I try to keep in mind that many augmentations will be much more banal, and made for the convenience of the masses than exploring new worlds. Here is an example of what we might find:
…
……
……….
….!
!
!!
!!!
OK, I can’t the embedding to work. So here’s the link: Augmented (hyper)Reality: Domestic Robocop
I have always wanted to go here: Cincinnati Subway » No Promise Of Safety
A science fiction comic I read: Schlock Mercenary archives – Monday, June 12, 2000
The kind of music I rarely listen to when anyone else is around: eisenfunk pong
What I hope one day happens to a scene that I write: YouTube – Shameless Ripoff…bollywood style
I have a weakness for guns that look like laser pistols like the new line of : Polymer Revolvers, The Polymer Judge, a .410 shotgun revolver, The oddly shaped Chiappa Rhino, but my all time favorite – it came from Warhammer 40K real life gun foes to the AK Arm Gun from CBRPS.
I also have a weakness for certain toys, and legos, and sometimes they cross over: The BrickGun Instruction CD
And while I am still without a motorcycle, I hope to soon own one of these for my commute: Learn to Fly a Jetpack!
Talk to you next week, everyone.
Overtime during the day, words due at night.
I gotta be short here people, I have overtime at the day job, numerous deadlines, and bad cold, but hopefully I can put some power into this, because it’s important. The Le Grange Writer’s Seminar was a huge success. Information was flying in all directions, and I think everyone learned something from everyone else. Lord knows I did.
At the same time, there was a disturbing moment.
I was up in front of all these writers who were aspiring to become authors and novelists, and I said something that amounted to:
All writers are equal.
And though I said it with utter conviction, said it like a preacher reading scripture to the masses, I’m pretty sure nobody believed a word of it. I tried to make myself understood, and I want to take another shot here, now.
Every writer, from the most successful to the most humble, tries to make art. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we don’t. Sometimes what we write sells, and sometimes it does not. No matter what someone is going to tell us that what we write is absolute crap. No matter what.
J.K. Rowling is no one of the richest women in the world. I personally know people who think everything she ever wrote was garbage. I don’t care for Hemingway. My daughter dislikes Shakespeare.
We are artists. We create art. Art may be bought and sold, but has an incalculable value. What I put on paper has as much or little VALUE as anything written by Stephen King (now if I can just get the publisher to pay us the same…) Regardless, every writer reads other author’s work before, during and after producing their own.
The moment you learn this, and I mean you imprint it upon your very soul, then you can write anything for anyone, anywhere.
In any case, I must sign off, but if you want more advice on writing, getting published, or the best recipe for a hot toddy, stop by Millenicon this weekend!
overtime, numerous deadlines, bad cold, Le Grange Writer’s Seminar, All writers are equal, J.K. Rowling, Hemingway, Shakespeare, Stephen King, writer, author, Millennicon
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