This year I was faced with a terrible conundrum.
The Edwardsville Book Festival, AuthorCon, and Archon are all this weekend.
Why, why God?
AuthorCon is a terrific creation of Scares That Care horrormeister Brian Keene. I’ve been hearing tales of what a wonderful convention it is, with networking and workshops and other delightful writer-nerdery. But it’s always been in Williamsburg, Va. The nearest major airport is Norfolk, an hour away from Williamsburg, so it’s never been practical for me to attend.
It finally comes to the Midwest, even to my freaking city, and it’s the same weekend as two (2) other events I love.
Oh, and the next AuthorCon? Is back in Virginia, and conflicts with AWP. Don’t mind me, I’m just sitting in the corner pouting. Someday I’m getting to join Maurice Broaddus and Brian Keene and Wrath James White and others at the show, and I’m buying the first round.
I picked Archon, my home convention. Archon has always taken care of us and treated us well, and it’s a family reunion. I had to miss it last year as I was in Las Vegas (for work! I swear!) and Jim had to run the booth by himself.
As seen above, I have a reading and a signing, and at some point I should figure out what I’m going to read. Lately the stuff I’ve been reading is making people cry and head for the bar, and that’s probably a good thing?
Here’s the rest of my schedule:
How do you create alien species that make sense to the readers? Not doing so will create gigantic plot holes, so learn how to avoid this!
With recent amazing advances in AI and a widening of its general availability, will it make “real life” authors obsolete? How can authors use AI tools – and is it ethical? (We’ll see if they run me out of the Gateway Center with pitchforks when I say what I think on this…)
How do you decide whether your manuscript is in good shape? What are the steps to take if it is and if it isn’t? Our experts will guide you!
What are the implications of using AI in film, writing, gaming, and art? Is it a tool or is it only theft of others creative works? Can it be used ethically? Will it spell the end of many opportunities? (Not one but two AI panels? They asked for it…)
Sunday, 11 a.m. – Protecting Your Local Library Illini A (Gateway Center)
When the orcs are at the door, it’s good to have a plan. Share ideas to keep the freedom to read alive.
This last topic, by the way, will be the subject of a presentation at ContraKC later this month, which I am currently developing. Banned Books Week is now Banned Books Year, until they stop it.
Finally: At the last minute, the concom was able to help us get a room in the host hotel after we failed to do so for months. We are so grateful, both to them and to our friend Tony Mast for helping us to snag a room! That means the Literary Underworld Traveling Bar will be open for business both nights, from 9(ish) p.m. until we get tired and kick everyone out.
So if you’re going to be at Archon, swing by the Literary Underworld booth next to the dealer’s room entrance, come to the Traveling Bar, come to my reading or bug me at my signing! I’d be delighted to see you. Remember, if you are a subscriber to my Patreon, you get a 10 percent discount at the booth. Since the subscription is $1 a month, depending on what you buy, that’s like getting it free for 2-6 months! (The math works in my head…)
Oh, and the Edwardsville Book Festival is an awesome, amazing event I always enjoy and it’s killing me to miss it as well. After you’re done stargazing at AuthorCon and partying with us at Archon, you should totally drop by City Park in Edwardsville and see where all the OTHER authors are this weekend.
Whew! I’m tired already!