[Writer Post] Half Price Books, ConDFW, and Contracts – OH MY
Wow, hey look, it’s another Wednesday. And I very nearly zoned out on the blog post. Things are clicking right along here – winds of change are blowing. Things seem…hopeful. All good things.
Thanks to those who came to Half Price Books on Sunday. I appreciate the support. It was a decent outing. When push came to shove, I did better in the two hours there than I have at some other, longer shows. So, keep supporting author events at bookstores. They matter. A lot. Now to start figuring out how to maybe do some more of that.
Now, I’m going to ask you to support fandom. ConDFW is coming up in a couple of weeks – Guests of Honor are John Scalzi and Seanan McGuire. I’ve seen my preliminary schedule, and it’s going to be fun. But Saturday is going to be SUPER DUPER busy – if I seem to blow you off in the hallway, please know it’s not on purpose! Currently I have something on nearly every EVEN NUMBERED HOUR on Saturday. So, it might just be that I have to use the restroom.
The reason for the plea is that ConDFW had a For-Profit comic con land on their date. I’m still trying to be charitable, but if we want the fan-run conventions (where you don’t have to pay for EVERY. LITTLE. THING) to survive, this is where it starts. I truly believe there’s a place for all kinds of fandom stuff, but I want there to be a way to make that happen without it being super expensive for fans. An actor appearing at Tyler Comic Con proposed a business model where actors are paid a flat fee and all autographs are free. He posited that by charging say $100 to get in, but then having the actor’s alley be free from there takes away the financial burden of … well, everyone. The actors get paid, the fans get contact, and the artists/vendors have less competition. Yeah, that’s not going to ever happen, but it’s an awesome idea – and one that a lot of fan-run conventions kinda do. Fans might buy art and books, but mostly we’re happy sign anything you put in front of us (except blank checks). Something to think about.
So come to ConDFW! Then SoonerCon, ArmadilloCon, and FenCon. We need you!
But what reminded me to do this blog today was a link that just popped up on my Facebook Feed. It’s a blog post by Kameron Hurley about publishing contracts. There’s some NSFW/Kids language in it, but it’s stuff that needs saying to all authors – new or established. I know I have struggled with it (and still do). The point is… you do not have to take a bad contract. No matter who the publisher is. Contracts are NOT set in stone. You can say NO to terms that make you uncomfortable (I have… it’s super hard, but it does NOT tank your career), and you SHOULD say no to terms that make you uncomfortable. This article points out what kinds of things might show up that you should say no to. Go read it right now (because I’m pretty much done here and need to get writing).
[Pen/Pencil Review] Pilot Acroball 4 Color Multi Pen – 0.7mm
When I put this week’s pen on my JetPens Wishlist, it was more from a curiosity factor than anything else. It ended up as part of my Christmas haul, so I have the prime opportunity to check it out – Yay, Wishlist! I’ve developed a taste for Pilot’s Acroball line I have to be in a “mood†for gel pens or fountain pen. BUT… there’s always a place for ballpoints and the Acroball line is rapidly becoming one of my absolute favorites.
The Acroball ink is an oil-based ink that I’ve talked about before. It provides a smooth line with rich, dark pigments – including the green ink, which is by far the most difficult to do well – with minimal glops or smears. The barrel is clear plastic for a demonstrator style that lets you see the levels of the ink. The grip is a tire-pattern rubberized grip that gives a decent feel. The barrel is a bit thick, but it’s normal for the type of the pen and still comfortable. The color retracts by pushing a second plunger. The clip is spring loaded, sturdy, and easy to use.
The barrel is 5.7†long and the ink points are a fantastic 0.7mm conical point with a color band around each refill to confirm color. The ink is refillable in both 0.7mm AND 0.5mm which makes this a useful, all around pen that will last quite a while. If you don’t like the clear barrel – they do come in six different colors.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 It works really well. The retraction mechanisms are solid. The ink is solid and rich.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – This has a good feel. There’s nothing “extra†to the pen. The barrel is only as wide as it needs to be to hold the inks. The rubberized grip makes it pretty comfortable.
3. Material – 1 It’s a decent quality plastic pen with refill options. The plungers and clips are sturdy and functional
4. Overall Design – 1 – For a pen that should be a lot bulkier, this pen is sleek, functional and designed to do what it needs to do.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s kind of expensive – and probably only available online through JetPens or the like – I don’t remember seeing them in stores. The multipen runs $8.25 for the first one and between $1.50 and $1.75 for the refills. It’s not something to be bought and lost – but it’s a good all around bpen.
4.5 out of 5 Bronze Pencils
[Writer Post] JANUARY is FIRED and Writer Stuff
Wow. It’s been a hard month when it comes to losses. After all of last week’s deaths, we started out this week hearing about Glenn Frey from The Eagles. Though I wasn’t a die-hard fan, I enjoyed the music and his acting talent. He was an iconic musician and his passing leaves a major hole in music. But today I learned of the impending loss that hits closer to home… David G. Hartwell, editor. (There have been conflicting reports of his actual loss – but his condition is DIRE..) The link I shared earlier today has been retracted.
I did not know David Hartwell well – or really at all – I’m sure I encountered him either at World Fantasy in Austin in 2006 or World Con 2013 in San Antonio, but I don’t have an awesome story like many of my friends. He was just always a part of the SF/F community, an editor I always wanted to work with but never had a chance. He was THERE. A presence. A presence that will be sorely missed by those who had the privilege to work with him and know him.
Also found out this week that ApolloCon has been cancelled for 2016. I knew they were facing some logistical issues; I understand the decision. I hope they can come back from the break. I really do. Losing ApolloCon not only leaves a hole in my summer calendar – it leaves a hole in the regional map for artists, authors, and fans. It was the main – maybe the ONE – fan run literary convention in HOUSTON. That’s a HUGE hit to fandom. Houston has always had a fan base and has been a vital part of Texas Fandom. We need a convention there – and not ONLY For-Profit Comic Cons. We need to reach all the fans. We need ApolloCon to come back stronger than ever.
So with all the deaths and losses racking up – and it’s still JUST JANUARY! – January, YOU. ARE. FIRED! Security will escort you from the premises. Your things will be sent to you. There’s the door.
The ways January does not suck…
I still have the Half Price Books signing coming up on Sunday (1-3) at the Flagship Store just off 75 and Northwest Highway. Please come, even if you have all my books and such. The more people that come in for my signing encourages the store to take risks on other authors. So by helping one (me) you help all of us. Boost the signal!
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I’ve made FORWARD PROGESS (the 2016 goal). After way too long putting things off – I have both my independent chapbooks up on Amazon in ebook form (you still have to get the hard copies for me – for now). It’s just another way to try do more with what I have while writing more stuff. I have the author page which has pretty much everything – anthologies, too – on it. It’s stuff that should’ve been done, and now it is. ONWARD!
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Finally – CONDFW! ConDFW is Valentine’s Weekend, but please come out and support the fan run conventions. There’s a comic con in town that weekend – and I get the appeal – but the literary conventions are a lower key way to meet authors, artists, and have the opportunity to actually get to know them and learn something about the literary/SF world. We would like you to spend money with the dealer’s room and art show and authors, but it’s not as big of a money sink as the more commercial shows. Check it out. And help keep fandom alive and active in the area.
[Pen/Pencil Review] Dollar Tree Anti-Gravity Ballpoint Pen
There’s a sad by product of having Federal Holidays on Monday… I totally forgot about the blog post. So, here we go – a day late (again). But here we go. Not doing a rerun. 2016 is about moving forward. Back during the holidays I found something at Dollar Tree that made me have to have them for the Stockings.
Dollar Tree had “Anti-Gravity†ballpoint pens in a silver finish and a black. Jimmy got the black for his stocking. I got the silver. Now the point of these pens is that they have the pressurized ink barrels to make them like Fisher Space Pens – able to write at any angle and such. However… being a DOLLAR I had very low expectations.
These pens aren’t nearly as…mismarked… as I thought they would be. In fact, the pen does actually write at odd angles. The ink is…adequate. It’s a broader point than I would like, I’m guessing a 1.0mm, but it’s actually a decent pen. The ink feathers a bit on the rough, handmade paper of the journal but is fairly smooth on regular paper. There’s some glopping, but it’s not that bad.
The pen is about 5.5†long with the point retracted and nearly 5.75†with the point extended. The barrel is a light metal with molded accents and a sturdy clip. The pen is cast with an ergonomic design and etching to make a decent grip. The wider grip is fairly comfortable, and it’s better balanced than expected. The twist retractable mechanism is solid. Who knew?
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 It works better than expected. It does actually write on an angle.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – It’s all metal with molded etchings. There’s nothing soft about it – and if you have a tight grip, those etched moldings can dig in and be tiresome later.
3. Material – 1 It’s actually METAL – maybe aluminum, but most likely a base metal alloy with a solid clip, recitation mechanism and a pressurized ink refill.
4. Overall Design – 0.5 – There’s nothing wrong with this pen but the size of the point – and though I know it’s my preferences – it’s part of the review process. And the fact you might have to go searching for it or order from the website while they have them in stock
5. Price Point – 1 – DUDE, it’s $1. ONE DOLLAR at Dollar Tree. It’s refillable with a pressurized refill. Even if it didn’t work AT ALL (which it does), it’s A DOLLAR. How can you beat that?
4.0 out of 5 Bronze Pencils
[Spotlight Post] Memorial – Bedford, Bowie, Rickman, Haggerty
Wow. Never gets better starting a year with a “memorial†post – and this week’s been a hard hitter. David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Brian Bedford, and now Dan Haggerty. All four died of cancer. Three of the four were under 75 (Bowie and Rickman were 69, Haggerty was 74). Many of these prompt a very “adult†sentiment of “F—Cancerâ€. I can’t agree more, but it’s a family blog.
Robin Hood/Brian Bedford from Jezebel.com
All four of these men had some influence on me as a person and more importantly as a writer. Brian Bedford voiced Disney’s animated Robin Hood. It was my all-time favorite animated Disney movie. Mom and Dad gave me the Anniversary Blu-Ray of it for Christmas and all three of us broke out in “Oodalaly oodalaly golly what a dayâ€. The movie had a great story, better songs, and Bedford’s incredible voice. Until he passed away and showed up on my Facebook feed, I didn’t have a name or face to put with this major element of my childhood. Now I do…and it’s way too late.
From Wikipedia – Cover Art
So many people have talked about David Bowie this week. I can’t compete with those tributes. My “Doctor†moment for Bowie was Labyrinth. A friend from high school dragged me to see it on a visit (she also dragged me to Silverado – much of my taste in movies is her fault). I liked Star Trek and Star Wars why not try THIS – and BAM. Totally crush on Jareth, The Goblin King. That was also when we were able to get cable – which meant MTV (when it meant music) which lead to the Let’s Dance videos. BAM. Bowie crush. Life moves on. Enter The Prestige and a small role where Bowie plays Nikola Tesla…DUDE. That’s a role he was MEANT to play and should’ve has a WHOLE MOVIE dedicated to him playing THAT ROLE. I’m a late comer to the music, but an avid lover of his acting. That TWO televisions shows were built around TWO of his songs. His loss is a loss to everyone in every genre and every media.
From Galaxy Quest.
Then there was the gut punch of Alan Rickman. Same age. Same cause of death. Same lack of information that he was ever ill (is that a Brit thing?). Alan Rickman was iconic in his own way with his own career. He could be endearing and funny and evil and scary – and somehow all in the same role. I never read the Harry Potter books – did see the movies (there are reasons and they are mine), and Alan Rickman’s Snape was one of the highlights of those movies. You never knew if Snape was the Good Guy, the Bad Guy, or some unique combination of both. His portrayal of Alexander Dane in GALAXY QUEST will always be my favorite. I always thought once he became Snape – he ended up BEING that Dane character. But he is not any of those. He’s so much more the sum of his roles and will be sorely missed. His complexity, his humanity, his talent…all of it. He’ll be so missed.
From IMDB – Grizzly Adams
Lastly, Dan Haggerty. Grizzly Adams was both human and frightening and daring – and made a whole generation of kids want a freakin’ BEAR for a friend/pet. (Never a good idea.) Watching Grizzly Adams deal with wilderness was the “gateway drug†to McGyver and The A-Team – any problem can be solved with ingenuity, basic skills, and compassion for other people. I’m not sure what he was doing since then – but that role was iconic for a lot of people.
This week has seen a lot of talent leave this world – and creates a challenge for those of us left behind to fill that void with our best efforts to live up to the example they’ve left behind. We need to step up to be the innovators, creators, and artists that these men were so when WE leave this earth we leave a resounding mark as well.
To the family, friends, and those close to these men, know your loss is felt across the world. Your losses are our – in different ways, of course – and your loved ones touched countless lives and influenced writers, artists, performers, and people from every walk of life. Their legacies will live on. They will be remembered. And they will be sorely missed.
[Writing Post] Writing, Reading, Signing
Oh, Wednesday… you’ve come back around. And now… here we are… on track for some things and behind on others. Same song, second verse. But I feel (sort of) okay with it – because I’m currently reading Felicia Day’s book, You’re Never Weird on the Internet (Almost), and just got through most of the part where she struggled with writing (though I don’t do the video game thing but still… relatable). It’s a good read – I highly recommend it.
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I broke through the … blargs… that kinda hit during the holidays. Some of it might actually have something to do with the “Team Building†meeting we had at work last Friday – which was more a “clearing the air†of all the bad vibes going on in the office. It was not FUN, but it did actually seem to accomplish stuff. I’ve actually had a decent week so far on that front.
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And now… I’m really and for true getting back on track. No limping along in the name of productivity. I’ve not only committed editing, but also creating new word counts. I had a break on the article I should’ve had sent to Sara Felix weeks ago (fortunately I haven’t blown any deadlines YET), and that should be done/do-able by the end of the week. So that will be one thing off the “to do†list.
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At the Day Job I’m the person who Get’s … STUFF… Done. I need that to follow me home more often. Also made some progress on FenCon stuff, so momentum! Let’s roll with it. It helps that I’ve been able to have an awesome reading list to help inspire me to get my butt in gear.
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Now… to stop talking and start doing. And don’t forget… Come see me at Half Price Books Flagship on Sunday, January 24, 2016 from 1-3 pm. Even if you don’t buy books from me – come to the store, say hi, and buy books there so they will book me and other authors LIKE me again. It’s the best way for authors like me to connect with new authors. Also looking into some new shows. Still taking recommendations.
[Pen/Pencil Review] Uni-Ball Signo Broad in Blue Black Ink
Let’s check out a Uni-ball offering today. This pen was… a mistake that I put on my JetPens Wish List by mistake because this is a broad point – and we all know how I feel about those. Today is the Uni-ball Signo Broad UM-153 Gel Pen in Blue Black ink.
For the most part, the only problem I have with this pen is the size of the tip. The Uni-ball is about 5.5†capped and 5.8†long with the cap posted. The cap does post securely. The blue black ink is rich and dark. On a rough paper like my handmade journal, there’s no smearing. Quick drying ink. On slicker paper, give it a couple of seconds to dry. The point is conical but the 1.0mm tip is just too big for me. The line is wide and unwieldy.
The barrel is mostly clear with a gold band identifying (I think) the point size – but the packaging is in Japanese, so there’s that. The ink reservoir is ample. There’s rubberized grip for a nod to ergonomics and comfort. This pen is theoretically refillable. Because these are Japanese Uni-ball’s they’re only available through sources like JetPens.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 In purely function – it works as well or better than expected. The ink is smooth, rich, and dries really quickly. There was no immediate smearing on handmade paper.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – There is a rubberized grip for a nod to ergonomics. But the broad – 1.0mm – point makes the feel too big and unwieldy.
3. Material – 1 It’s a decent quality plastic pen with the option to refill the pen. The cap posts securely.
4. Overall Design – 0.5 – There’s nothing wrong with this pen but the size of the point – and though I know it’s my preferences – it’s part of the review process.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s expensive for a seemingly typical stick gel pen and you have to order them online only – they’re from Japan – they run $2.50 on JetPens.
3.5 out of 5 Bronze Pencils
[Pen/Pencil Review] Moleskine Roller Pen Plus – Burgundy
Welcome to 2016, and the Year of Getting Stuff Done (version who-knows-which) – and starting with keeping up with the blog. And…we’re going to start with something I didn’t actually get for Christmas. It was an impulse buy in a Best Buy check out line. (Yes, that happens.) But I’ve been wanting/meaning to try these out for a while anyway… Win/Win…
Today I bring you the Moleskine Classic Roller Pen Plus in burgundy. This is called a “M†for medium point – it’s an awesome 0.7mm ink point. This pen is refillable with a Parker-Style refill that comes in several colors on Moleskine. A 0.5mm roller ball refill is available but the colors are severely limited (definitely interested in trying it though).
This pen is different. It’s rectangular with what I want to call a three-quarter wide wrap clip that lets you anchor the pen to the cover of a journal or planner (preferably, I’m sure, a Moleskine…though I also got it to work with my handmade leather journal). Currently it’s on the cover of my new Peanuts planner that will hopefully keep me more organized this year. The ink is dark, the ink flows well with little skipping or scratching. It’s better on less “slick†paper, but there’s nothing wrong with the function.
The pen is 5.5†long capped, 6.5†long with the cap posted, and not quite 5.5†uncapped. It’s a good length. The cap does post securely enough to feel like it’s not going to fly away. The grip tapers to the point and rounds out toward the tip. There’s some spring to the point that gives it some flex. I thought the rectangular body would be uncomfortable to work with, but it’s amazingly easy to work with, but I can see where it can throw some folks off.
If you’re an avid planner or journal person, it’s a good way to make sure you always have a pen. There’s a bit of a learning curve with the shape. It might feel a bit long to some people, but the balance is decent, so there’s a lot of good to the pen. It’s not cheap, so make sure it’s something you want to invest in before you do. The pen comes with stickers…probably to let you know what color is in the barrel, but I left them in the packaging, and I’m not really a sticker type person. So there’s that.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 It’s better than I expected given the unusual shape. Good ink, that flows well and leaves a great line.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – There are no ergonomics. This pen is a solid plastic. The edges are rounded, but it is a rectangular pen – it’s an odd feel
3. Material – 1 It’s a decent quality plastic and metal pen with the option to open the far end to change out the refills. The metal parts are strong. The cap posts securely.
4. Overall Design – 1 -It’s weird and odd and cool all at once. I wasn’t sure I would care for it, but for a rectangular barrel, I actually like it.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s expensive. These run between $14 and $15 – most of that is for the Moleskine name. The pen is refillable, which makes it an investment pen. You can change colors, point sizes, and use it for quite a while. But it’s not for the faint of heart.
4.0 out of 5 Bronze Pencils