ConDFW is in the Rearview
And it was a totally successful convention. There was a bit of miscounting (due to lack of sleep and over-caffeination) I sold 15 copies of “When the Party’s Over”. We sold a TON of the new Redheads of the Apocalypse. Came home with a couple of AWESOME pre-birthday presents. Ate decent Asian food. Indulged in Turkish Coffee.
Talked to a LOT of people. Signed A LOT of books. And was able to help our a fellow author and publisher by doing an airport run. Got invited to a new convention (held when I can actually GO).
The bunny slippers made an EXCELLENT impression. And a jacket I’d put aside for a while for not fitting fits once more.
It was a GOOD convention. Very tired now. But it’s a good tired. Going to bed early tonight I think.
AggieCon, When The Party’s Over, and Home Again
We are home from AggieCon! Whee.
It was a very productive convention for me. They’ve taken the step (or had the step thrust on them, actually) to move this decades-old convention off the Texas A & M campus and out of the MSC (mostly because the MSC is a giant hole in the ground right now). Though they’ve faced some opposition and have some growing pains left in their adjustment to NOT “what we’ve always done”, it was a GOOD CON. There was a lot of new energy and excitement. Though still small, there were more people than in the last couple of years. And I’m excited to have been part of this new chapter in their growth. I wish them all the best in future years and hope they ask me back. (Hint, Lola. Hint, Ephraim, Hint). And I hope their nay-sayers ate some crow.
When the Party’s Over (with the Awesome Brad Foster Cover) was well received. We sold some ROTAs and APOCALYPSE NOW! pre-sales. I feel confident ConDFW next week will be an even more satisfying success.
Now to go get the dog, have dinner, and start laundry! Woo! The glamorous life of a “G” List Writer. 
A Truth in LOLCat…
see more dog and puppy pictures
This is true in so many ways. The Amazon vs. Publishing fiasco comes to mind. Or just in general.
Off to AggieCon this weekend! Come see me!
AggieCon, When The Party’s Over, Life in General
Next weekend I will be at AggieCon in College Station. That’s February 5-7, 2010 – The Four Redheads of the Apocalypse sequel is scheduled to launch at AggieCon – you won’t want to miss it.
WhenThePartysOver has gone live, and launches Monday, February 1, 2010 in a print edition. If you’ve downloaded it, let me know. I should’ve figured out a way to track that. If you haven’t downloaded yet, the click link is in the title and on the download page. It’s currently free to download – though if you would like to support this writer, a $3 donation is appreciated through Paypal.
If you want a hard copy come see me at a convention, at one of the 8 weekends I’ll be working the LA Williams booth at Scarborough Renaissance Festival in April and May, or email me and we’ll set something up.
As for life in general, we had to unexpectedly buy a new (to us) car this week. That’s always exciting, nerve-wracking, and otherwise stressful leading to a decent outcome. But the situation is now resolved, and we have a new four-wheeled family member. Now I can get back to doing what I do on a more timely basis. HUZZAH!!!
IF I WERE ELIGIBLE FOR SFWA
If I were eligible to be a memeber of SFWA (which I am not…which is a LONG story)…
I would whole-heartedly throw my support behind the John Scalzi ticket.
If you are a voting member of SFWA, please consider also supporting this ticket.
WHEN THE PARTY’S OVER – GOES VIRTUALLY LIVE
in 3…2…1…
WhenThePartysOver ZIP FILE
This is a chapbook with 5 stories, with narrative interludes to connect the stories with AWESOME cover art by Brad Foster. It’s free for download in PDF and Stanza for iPhone/iTouch – eReader compatible files.
If you would like to help out the author and donate for the download, suggested donation is $3. The print version will be available starting Feb. 1, 2010 for purchase at personal appearances and conventions.
Buy early. Buy often. Chapbooks make great gifts!
Thanks again to everyone who made this possible – Jimmy, my folks, Badger and Carma, Todd, Debbie, and Brad. And to Wil Wheaton, John Scalzi, and Cory Doctrow for pioneering electronic/download frontiers so people like me can give it a shot. And to Felicia Day who is the Internet Queen and proves “traditional” isn’t necessarily the only way.
My Kingdom for A Car…
Well, not the WHOLE kingdom. But as of 8 a.m. this morning, we are in need of a car.
We’re looking for a solid, reliable 4-door, automatic in the ~$3K range. Preferably some kind of hatchback/wagon/suvish type for hauling art and books and stuff – but not dealbreakers. If you know anyone who has something like this that needs a good home, please let us know either here, LJ, Twitter, Facebook, IM, phone, smoke signals — something.
The Toyota is dead. Long live the Toyota. It led a good, long, low mileage life – it was a 1992 Toyota Paseo with 169,000 miles on it. Now it’s a paperweight. The differential decided to finally wear out. The cost of repairs is much higher than the book value of the car.
So, again, anyone who knows someone selling a decent car, please let us know. This was in no way, shape, or form the way we’d planned on replacing my car – nor is it the timing we had in mind, but it’s what we have to deal with.
Thanks for the help.
StrangeWords and Continuining Countdown
The new StrangeWords article is up.
The Countdown Continues…
The PDF is almost finished. We’ll work on the epub version tomorrow. The print version is at the printer.
Things are happening. It’s getting close to launch day. YAY. If anyone knows a reviewer who wouldn’t mind taking a look at an independent, narratively connected collection of short stories that comes complete with an freakin’ awesome BRAD FOSTER cover (in case you didn’t recognize the work), let me know and we’ll send you the pdf before the “official launch”.
Though I know nothing will be as big as John Scalzi’s “Bacon on a Cat” escapade, I have big dreams!
The Countdown to Downloads & Promotional Idea
The Time Has Almost Come…
The independent project has a face. It has a name. And…It’s about to go live (and print).
This is When The Party’s Over: Fairy Tale Reality Endings.
This collection will finally see the light of day!!! WOO HOO! Keep watching for the “Gone Live” announcement. Because I’m going the route of the Lovely and Talented Felica Day, John Scalzi, Wil Wheaton, and Cory Doctrow. (Yes, the boys are just as lovely and talented as the girl.) I’m following in their pioneering footsteps.
When the Party’s Over will be available for free download (you may donate cash if you wish via paypal) and in a print chapbook from me at conventions/personal appearances. This is a chapbook of 4 short stories connected by narrative vignettes. These are stories and a concept I’ve been fond of for years and am finally doing something about.
Now… one last thing … Promotional items. What kind of fun stuff do YOU like to see cute but cash-lite writers give away – legally. This one *is* married, remember. And this is a “family-friendly” blog. Ideas must be quick to turn around, inexpensive, and lightweight. I know, I know, make it difficult…
Now… GO.
Technology Fail with Extra Fail
It’s not JUST the flash/thumb drives the bleepin’ computer doesn’t see/install/recognize – it’s ANY USB MASS STORAGE DEVICE. Yay. I can’t back up to my external hard drive either.
I’m currently attempting to back up to the network drive just to ensure a backup SOMEWHERE. GRRR…
I’m not sure if this is a Toshiba problem or a Microsoft problem…
