MileHiCon Update 3-Sunday

After much sleep deprivation, it was time for the final day of the con. Sunday morning I went to a panel on pitching to an editor at a Con, which also talked a lot about pitching to an agent at a Con. It was all kind of common sense logic, but I still learned a few things from it.

At 11:00, Tyree had a panel called "E-Publishing and Zines." He was on the panel with fellow ProMartian/Sam's Dotian, Carol Hightshoe...as well as Graeme Davis and A.C. Ellis again. This one I basically went to because Tyree was there...I already know quite a bit on this subject, and half the time I felt like I was on the panel with the way Tyree kept asking me questions.

At noon, it was off to the dealers room for another signing. This one went pretty well. We definitely sold some book, and signed quite a bit. I really think Tyree will make a lot of money if he can get in the dealers' room next year. The dealers' room is almost always full, no matter the time, and people are definitely willing to spend money at this con.

At 1:00, Tyree had a panel called"Congratulation, It's an Anthology." This panel was moderated by Ed Bryant. If you're into speculative fiction at all, you should know Ed Bryant, and if you don't, I would suggest you get to know him! I had the chance to have dinner with him last year, and we went to a Henry Rollins show about a month after the con, and the man is just a wealth of information...and a really nice guy as well! I learned quite a bit about how anthologies are done in the major markets, and I think Ed had one of the best comments of the weekend. I don't remember exactly how he said it, so I'm paraphrasing...but he mentioned that he tried to avoid editing anthologies these days because his last anthology had the likes of Dan Simmons, Connie Willis, and other writers of that caliber...and how do you top that?

The last thing I went to was a reading by Rebecca Rowe and Glenn Lewis Gillette. Rebecca just released her first novel a few months ago, and I'd had the pleasure of seeing her read at the Tattered Cover here in Denver shortly after it came out. Her book Forbidden Cargo should be a must read. It's a fantastic first novel! I'd run into Rebecca several times during the Con, and she's just such a nice person that you feel like you have to support her. Josh, who was my entourage for the weekend had been intrigued by her book, and had purchased a copy, so we both figured we'd go hear her read.

That was the wrap-up of the Con. I'm ready for next year's convention already.

Keep in mind, pictures are up on my website, so head on over and check them out, and while you're there, buy a book or two...or three or more....

MileHiCon Update 2-Saturday

Saturday started out with going to a panel called "Should Space Travel be Privatized." The panelists on this one were Eric Boethin, Hugh Gregory, GoH the Stevens', a friend of mine, and editor of Tales of the Talisman, Dave Summers, and one of my friend's dads Tony Muscatello. This was a great panel. There was a lot of information, and I walked out of there with quite a few story ideas...and some possible problems with the novel I'm working on...have to figure out what to do with that...

The next few hours were spent talking to Tyree about various writing and Sam's Dot things. We also spent some time with Ian Brazee-Cannon, a new writer that we were the first to publish...just carrying on the work James Baker set out for us so long ago.

From 2:00-4:00 we were sponsoring the ConSuite. Unfortunately, Tyree didn't bring enough food, and so we had some people who were definitely grumbling...thanks to the Hobbit for going out and getting more food! We spent the two hours selling books, and we did quite well. We sold several copies of Ecotastrophe, and I sold a few copies of my books. In just those two hours, Tyree was able to cover his expenses...so it should be interesting to see what he can do if he can get a table in the Dealers' Room next year.

After that, there was a lull...the few hours around dinner are always the slowest, and without much sleep...it was a little tough to just sit around.

The night ended with the masquerade. A few great costumes, but not a lot of participation this year. Then there was the literacy auction...some great items, but I wasn't about to spend any money there.

Then came the improv. Laura Givens and the improv troupe she belongs to put on a great show. I laughed so hard, I was actually in pain!

101 porn stars go into a bar
Bartender says we can't serve 101 porn stars
101 porn stars say, that's ok, we'll cum again...

Then it was off to more parties...and no sleep.

Pictures are now up on my homepage!

MileHiCon Update 1-Friday

Now that I've had a little bit of a chance to rest up, I'll start the update with Friday...hopefully I'll have pictures up later tonight, but they didn't turn out all that well, so I'm not too thrilled about that.

The day became an adventure even before we got to the con. Driving down I-25, there was an accident two lanes over from us between a pickup and a van. Had either of them been spinning a little more, they probably would have smacked into the cars next to us, and pushed us into the dividing wall...it was that close!

Once at the Con, I met Sam's Dot's Tyree Campbell for the very first time (hard to believe!) We chatted for a while before I had to do my first and only panel, "Where Do Writers Get Their Ideas." I was on the panel with Rebecca Bates (who I'd just published in Ecotastrophe), veteran writer Cynthia Felice, and Con toastmaster Mark Ferrari. The topic isn't all that good of one since basically writers get their ideas from just about everywhere, but we did the best we could with it.

For 4:00 on a Friday, we actually had a pretty good crowd, and I think we entertained pretty well, and hopefully we even educated some people. There were some great questions, and we had such a diverse group of panelists that we proabably could have answered anything that was thrown at us.

At 5:00, I had a reading in the room next door. I was scheduled with Gary Jonas, who I had only met on MySpace (sad, I know,) and we actually had a pretty good turn out for two "lesser" known writers. I read my usual torture scene from Opium of the People, and Gary read something that was a little lighter and more fun. We both read short excerpts and spent the rest of the hour chatting with the audience...and again I think we had a pretty good time.

At 6:00 it was back to the first room I was in for Tyree's first panel..."I Just Started Publishing...Now What?" Tyree was on the panel with Carrie Vaughn, A.C. Ellis, Thea, Hutchenson, Greg Hyde, and Jeanne Stein. Things were a little disorganized, but they managed to get some good info out.

At 7:00, yeah it was a busy day, it was off to opening ceremonies, which are just a chance to get your name mentioned so that everyone can see who's there. As always, any publicity is good publicity.

At 8:00 it was off to Autograph Alley...or sit on my ass and watch everyone down at the Guest of Honor tables. Several people stopped by to chat...but no sales.

At 9:00 it was off to Networking in the Bar, which is always the highlight of the weekend. Most of the authors congregate and just sit around and talk about writing. Just a few of the authors I talked to for a little while that night: Ed Bryant, Wil McCarthy, Cynthia Felice, Dave Summers, Dave Riley, Rebecca Bates, Glenn Lewis Gillette, Thea Hutchenson, David Boop, Rick Friesen, and others. I probably spelled some of those names wrong...and I apologize.

After that it was off to the parties, which were kind of lame that night. Of course, we also had a fire alarm and my friend lost his keys.

That was basically it for that day...

MileHiCon update 0

I have just returned from the con, and I'm dead on my feet. It was quite successful, and I will have more to post on it once I get some sleep!

An update

I'm going to try this again. So far, blogger has lost my previous two posts...so here we go again...

It's been a while since I've posted anything, so I thought I'd at least pop in and let people know what's going on.

I've mostly been working on revisions of the new novel. I was horrified to learn that most of the major publishers have upped their minimum word counts to 80,000 words, and my novel comes up short. So, I've been working on trying to cram words into the book without it looking like I'm cramming words in.

MileHiCon is just over a week away, and it looks like it will be a great con this year...as long as the weather holds...

I still have a few copies left of my illustrated short story A Problem in Translation. You can order them through my website at http://www.jalanerwine.com/directpurchase.htm . I'll even sign them...

MileHiCon

The schedule for MileHiCon has been posted. The dates are Oct. 27-29 here in Denver, and it looks like I'm going to be mad busy the first day...then more of a fan the final two.

Here's my schedule for the Con:

Friday 4-5 Where Writers Get their Ideas

Friday 5-6 Reading

Friday 8-9 Autograph Alley

Friday 9-... Writers' Networking in the Bar

Saturday 2-4 Sam's Dot Publishing Hosts the Con Suite

Sunday Noon-1 Autographing along with Tyree Campbell

Hope to see some of you there...

The Limit of Tolerance

The October issue of The Martian Wave features a reprint of my short story "The Limit of Tolerance." This little tale continues the story of the crew of the Astrid and their misadventures with the Lemec...in other words, it's a continuation of the below mentioned A Problem in Translation. A modified version of this story will also be the second chapter in the novel I'm currently working on.

This issue of The Martian Wave also features two stories from Keith Graham, who often posts on this blog, so make sure you check his work out as well...and there are also some great poems as well.

A Problem in Translation

I have a limited number of copies of my illustrated short story A Problem in Translation that I'm now making available through my website.

This story is the inspiration for the novel that I'm currently working on...so pick up a copy today and enter the disturbing world of the Lemec.

RustyCon

I just received prelimiary confirmation that I will be a panelist at RustyCon in Seattle in January. So, if anyone is in the area, make plans to stop by...

I've finished the first draft

I've just finished the rough draft of my new novel. This has been a work in progress for a long time. It started out as a novel, but after the first chapter, it stalled out.

I then turned that first chapter into a short story which appeared in Alternate Realities and then was later released as an illustrated chapbook by Sam's Dot. The cover of that chapbook is pictured here. You can order copies from The Genre Mall by clicking on the link above.

Eventually, I wrote the second chapter, but it died again after that. So, I went back and re-wroked the second chapter into a short story which eventually sold to Hadrosaur Tales. It's in issue 20, which is also available from The Genre Mall in the zines section.

Nothing happened for years after that. Once I left Grubway, I started working on the book that doesn't want to get written...and it still doesn't, so I pulled this one out, and it all came together. I added another 40,000 words, and we now have a rough draft.

It will take quite a bit of re-working because some things did change mid-stream, but that's ok...the first draft is always the hardest for me...

Ecotastrophe has arrived

Ecotastrophe is now available from Sam's Dot Publishing. This is a trade paperback collection of short stories and poems that look at some of the most dire futures brought about by global warming. As you can tell by the cover (designed by scott virtes, with cover art by scott virtes), I'm the editor on this project.

Curious to know what's in this collection? Here's the back cover blurb:

ECOTASTROPHE is a collection of short stories and poetry that examines futures we could face if we continue to damage Earth’s ecology. The oceans are dying and only desperate measures could save them in Jan Mortimer’s The Empty Ocean. Michelle Mellon’s Undiscovered Horizons questions whether we can truly find the answers out among the stars, or can we only hope to change the future by changing the past as Rebecca S.W. Bates postulates in Walking the River. Also featuring the works of JE Gurley, Bruce Boston, E. Catherine Tobler, Kristine Ong Muslim, and Adam Banks, among others, ECOTASTROPHE is a grim but illuminating view of several possible ecological futures for humanity.

This book will be on sale for $10 through the end of September...and that's not a bad price for a trade paperback.

Religion in SF

I've been reading quite a bit lately, mostly SF, and one thing I've found that really disturbs me is the fact that a lot of SF, even the stuff set tens of thousands of years in the future has the human race still worshipping gods.

As many of you are probably aware, I'm an atheist. I don't really have much use for religion, although I am fascinated by it. It distresses me to think that we might not outgrow our superstitions even when we go to the stars (assuming we don't kill ourselves off.) I'm sure some people might be offended by that statement, but oh well, this is my blog.

21st century Americans look back at the Greeks, Romans, and other ancient peoples and often laugh at their polytheistic religions, as if Judeo-Christian beliefs are somehow better. The simple fact is that they're not. If you really cut the fat away, they're just silly superstitions as well. Much of the Old Testament is stolen from those earlier religions that people now look down their noses at.

It frightens me to think that we can't outgrow this. Here in America, there's been a definite increase in religious beliefs as a result of recent events. Yes, most Americans really do laugh at the Muslim faith...thinking it's somehow less than their own beliefs. Take some time to look it over...it makes just as much sense as what the Christian right is trying to cram down our throats.

Evolution has come under attack quite a bit since dubya came to power, especially with the argument that "Intelligent Design" should be taught in science classes, even though there's limited science to it. It's simply faith wrapped up in science...but completly untestable, which is the primary requirement for any scientific theory.

But, back to where I started...I find it completely unfathomable that ten thousand years down the road we'll still be worshipping gods. The worship of gods has caused more death on this planet than any other man-made artifice. If we as a species don't chose to grow up, there will be no future for the human race.

Entropy

My short story, Entropy has just been published in the premiere issue of Allegory e-zine, which used to be Peridot Books. There's something about this market that I've always liked, and I'm glad to have finally cracked it.

The story is about one man's obsession, and what that obsession does to him...

The Lives of Billions

My short story "The Lives of Billions" has just been published in a anthology called Esperance. This anthology is a tribute to James Baker who started ProMart publishing, and who basically started my career as a writer and an editor. The collection contains stories, poems, and essays from Jim's early contributors.

My story looks at the question of whether or not we should colonize Mars should we find life there...even if it's microbial. This was the second story that I ever sold all those many years ago. It's been published in a few different locations, and now it's making yet another appearance.

The collection is available from The Genre Mall, so buy yourself a Labor Day present...you deserve it, don't you???

WorldCon 2008

The 2008 World Science Fiction Convention is coming to Denver. That's right folks, geekdom will be taking over downtown Denver for five days, and I for one, plan on being there. Now I just have to get chummy with the Colorado Springs SF people so that I can go as a guest instead of a fan...although I will go no matter what!

Pictures from my signing

As many of you know, I did a signing at Who Else Books in Denver back in June. I promised pictures, and I finally got them developed. They didn't turn out all that great, but they're now posted in the "Photo Gallery" section of my website. I think I will try to get a digital camera before MileHiCon...

And just for Keith, there are a couple of new pictures of my cat.

Laura Givens has a new site

Laura Givens, who is by far the most talented "small press" artist has a new site. Follow the link above and admire some of her work.

There's a book cover for Friends in Dark Places. This is a new book that will be released by Sam's Dot very soon, and I just happened to be the editor on the book. Also, there's a piece called "Come to Jesus." If I can ever find a new publisher for my novel, this is the cover I want. It fits so well with the book...

I feel dirty

Writers have to do a lot of different things to try to sell books...sometimes those things aren't always pleasant. In that vain, I now have a MySpace site. I've always hated MySpace...I still think it's a plague upon the Internet, but if I can sell books, then by god, I'm going to do it!!!

If I actually have any success with this, I'll let you know becuase I know there are a few of you out there with books to sell.

For now, I think I'll go take a shower...

The Shatner Roast

Last night, Comedy Central aired the William Shatner roast. I've really been looking forward to this, becuase there is just so much you can roast this guy on.

Boy, was I disappointed. This was one of the worst shows I've ever seen on TV, and that's really saying something. All totaled, I'm sure you could have pulled about five minutes out it that were good...Takei's comment about Takei rhyming with toupe certainly comes to mind.

First of all, I didn't even know who most of the comedians were, and it was obvious why...they were horrible.

Most of the roasters spent their time insulting the other roasters, rather than focusing on Shat....and the jokes were insults, not jokes. Modern comedians seem to think that the only way they can be funny is to be vulgar. I don't mind a little vulgarity in humor...Robin Williams is my favorite comedian, but he knows when to use it. With some of the comedians on this show, you really couldn't even tell what they were saying because of the amount of bleeping over their language.

Also, George Takei is gay...does every single person have to comment on it? And let's face it, the jokes were all the same, just re-told in a different way.

Overall, Comedy Central should be ashamed to have put something like this on the air. It wasn't funny, and it made South Park look like Leave it to Beaver. This could have been great, but it wasn't...

Entropy

Allegory Magazine, which used to be Peridot Books, just bought my story "Entropy" for their premier issue, which will be on-line on September 1st.

The story is an odd little thing I wrote about one man's obsession with the concept of Entropy. It's probably the most "literary" story I've ever sold...whatever that means.

Well, check it out when it comes out...