Penguicon 2011

Have no plans April 31-May 2? Well run, walk, or crawl over to Penguicon in Troy, MI. Elder Signs Press will be manning a booth, selling the best dark fiction this side of R'leyh. If you're lucky, you might score a supremely cool Cthulhu Balloon Hat.

And speaking of insanity, writers and editors for ESP such as Stewart Sternberg, Christine Purcell, and myself will be chewing the scenery on several panels.

Penguicon, I hardly knew ye

Cons are always over too soon. There are few times in this world where someone like me can stroll into a building and KNOW that the majority of men and women there are my people in the truest sense of the word. At any given moment you can learn strange and interesting facts, such as: Romans know how to dance their asses off to some cool jams, stormtroopers doing "The Robot" during a battle of the Rock Bands are both surreal and hilarious, and there is never enough space in the dealers' room.


Granted, I saw some things that should constitute crimes against humanity in any sane universe, but that aside, I enjoyed every moment I was there with good friends old and new.

My ConClave 33 Experience

I had a wonderful time at ConClave 33, both watching the other panelists and speaking on a few of my own. The RPG panel flew by, the Lovecraft panel was fun, but I really liked being on the zombie panel, it seemed to have the most give and take with the audience. Rick Moore astounded me with the skill evinced during his panels, I aspire to one day work a room like him, truly a marvel to behold. William Jones was informative and enjoyable to listen to as always, and Stewart Sternberg-taking the dais for the first time-was charismatic and knowledgeable.

The guiltiest pleasure, I must confess, was listening to the "writers widows" panel, in which Deborah Jones and two other writer's wives dished on the inner lives of their spouses. I cannot relate the sidesplittingly funny things revealed that evening because I was sworn to secrecy...well, actually, I was threatened with acts so heinous they bordered on crimes against humanity. Funny, funny stuff.

Kudos to Jody Harrow, Freon and the other unsung heroes behind the scenes who made this such a wonderful evening.

ConClave 33

I've been making the rounds at local (and not so local) cons for the past couple years and this year I decided to do a bit more than sign autographs and peddle my wares. I'll be taking part in the discussion for the following panels at ConClave 33:

Games to Fiction and Fiction to Games: Where to start, with the role-playing game or the fiction
Sat 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Room: Br 7
Fellow panelists: William Jones, M. Keaton, Richard Tucholka

H.P. Lovecraft Today: How Lovecraft's ideas and fiction have become larger than Lovecraft
Sat 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Room: Atlantis 5
Fellow panelists: William Jones, Ferrel "Rick" Moore, Stewart Sternberg

Zombies and Survival Fiction: It seems like the undead are becoming more popular with every passing decade. Discover the thrill behind zombies and apocalyptic fiction
Sat 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM Room: Atlantis 3
Fellow panelists: William Jones, Ferrel "Rick" Moore

I'm also a part of their Writer's Workshop. I'll be giving advice to fledgling writers and proofing their work.

Please come down if you are able, the more the merrier. Also, do yourself a favor, check out the various panels Rick Moore will be on. Rick is always enlightening, thought provoking, and entertaining; you will not be disappointed.