July 5!
Get the kindle version of Lifehack free!
I've been so neglecting the blog, but I'm on kindle now, and I should blog about that! Soon. And my FB page.
But in the meantime, anyone who hasn't read Lifehack yet, grab it, then read it! Then if the mood strikes ya, write a lil review! I have none! I've been negligent in seeking reviews, and it's friggin time! You don't tend to get em without asking... or worse, nagging. And I hate nagging. But anyway, read it. Lifehack, that is.
Gotta go! A 1 year old need to get to the library! And he's grabbing at my keyabdoxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Joseph Picard's writing projects and life ramblings including the kiddos, and life in a wheelchair.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Thursday, November 17, 2011
VCON 2011, Day 1, Part 3: Reading!
Long time, no post! Sorry folks! My original plan was to get these VCON blogs out a lot quicker, as happened last year. This year, I blame a combination of a surge in writing, (The Serial Bleeder- working title..) coupled with something I didn't have last year- My 2nd kiddo. (who today, turns half a year old, wheee!) (note: this entry took 12 days to write.... so.... yeah. He didn't turn 6 months today anymore.)
But enough.. where was I? Right, I had just closed my table for the first day. With last year's 'new book launch event' being a bit of a flop for all, with (among other issues) no readings done, I was told that I could do a reading from 'Echoes of Erebus', despite it being no longer quite as new.
Awlright, Game on. Hey, I haven't thrown the title up in a while, EAT PITT MEADOWS SKY, AND MY COUSIN'S HAND, INTERNETS!
The kicker was, the event started at the EXACT moment that the vendor room shut down. Making sure I wasn't first to read, I settled my table in for the night, then sped to check into my hotel room, (which was about a block away due to the convention's hotel telling me online, months ago that the wheelchair rooms were already booked,) to drop of a bunch of overnight crud.
I had planned to be shmoozing and chattin' it up late into the night, so ditching the luggage early was a minor investment in time that was well worth it. I made myself passingly familiar with the room I got, (a mirror image of the one from last year) and went back to the convention.
The event was well underway, and Sandra Wickham was half way through her reading. I learned from her reading that if you KNOW you're going to have a carnivorous demon-child, it is very wise to have sung to it during pregnancy. Bonding is important. Sandra's awesome. I know I've mentioned her before. Long story short, last year I encountered her a couple times at VCON, and when I got her as a friend later on facebook, I was stunned to find that she can look like this:
That's her mode probably for competition or something. In 'pumped' condition, 'tanned' for the show. She doesn't really look anything like that most of the time. No, as she did her reading, she looked like this:
I was trying to get a closeup of her smile.. I had been chatting with her idly, when we turned to face each other. I had forgotten the fangs and red eyes, and found myself genuinely startled. But, she posed her costume. Who am I to say no? That turned out well, as it turned out I was the only one to get a decent shot of her outfit that night.
Anyway, once she was done, someone I didn't know came up to read, and I found it hard to pay attention, instead trying to get myself in the right mode to do a reading. I'd stayed away from the energy drinks for a while. I'm hyper enough at readings, and a shot of taurine results in mess ups galore, and reading too fast.
I made that effect work for me 2 years previous. I chose a scene in 'Watching Yute' where Jacob Kirison is asking a mob-boss for a favour, quite jittery and nervous about being fitted for cement shoes for showing disrespect. When interviewed later that night, I told one Mr. Lee Tockar that I felt pretty good about how the reading went. He corrected me, and told me that I had nailed it. I didn't complain. I didn't catch his name that night, and I spent a couple years wondering if he did anything with the footage he shot of me. Well, he did at least one thing, as google and youtube ended up telling me. It's not all about me, but I'm in it, so.. whee!!!!
Anyway, back to the present-
The previous reader made a self-defacing comment about her height when the mic had to be lowered for her. When I rolled up after her, I peeked at her from around the edge of the podium, and said something like "and you think YOU'RE short!" Soon, if became apparent that the mic was going to have to be dislodged, and held-held.
I rambled for a moment about having to make my choice of passages for the moment. My decision was one that I had read a few times in smaller writer meets, so my mouth knew it well enough. Meetups are a great way to polish your public speaking, by the way, as long as you can learn from your blunders. My tip to prevent from reading too fast- imagine Johnny Cash. Ditch the accent, keep the pace.
Alright, read. "Chapter zero." Chuckles came from different spots in the room. Alright, an easy crowd! That wasn't even meant as a joke! Maybe I wasn't the only one who'd had a slug from a canteen or flask.
For the record, 'Echoes of Erebus' has a lot of central characters who have roots in the digital domains. Computers start counting at zero. This was the first chapter. Zero. AKA the prologue. In all reality, the chapter is labeled ":::C / [000000] [00] [prologue]" But that's a bit of a mouthful for reading out loud. It would have messed with the flow. So "Chapter Zero" did the job.
Oh, if you want to read it, (and the first half of the book) you can read a free sample at smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20604 . I like paper books better, and ebooks don't let me control the formatting as much, but it's hard to argue with the costs.
I continued on, acting my way through the split-personality monologue that was 'Jonathan Coll' at that point in his life. People chuckled at the right places, and I didn't fumble anywhere that I couldn't work it into his own confusion. I didn't have to be told, I nailed this reading. That didn't stop a few people giving me figurative and literal pats on the back now and then for the rest of the night.
I don't set out to write humour. But I'm a smartass. It's going to come out. Half my characters are various magnitudes of smartasses. Yet somehow they get by.
A few more people read after me, and somewhere in there, A Wild Gabe Appeared! Y'all remember Gabe? Last year, he bought my combat spatula, despite that I hadn't built it for selling. This year, he was similarly interested in my "Most useless robot ever" and my BBQ brush.... Pictured here leaning against the robot. See if you can identify the various features of the brush listed below!
"FROM THE MINDS THAT BROUGHT YOU THE COMBAT SPATULA:
World's First Telekinetically* Driven Recon B.B.Q.** Brush
*Brush is not inherently telekinetic. User telekinesic expertise is required.
**B.B.Q. Stands for 'Being of Best Quality***' Do not use the Brush on a barbecue grill, as the heat will interact with cheap Chinese plastic, and potentially emit harmful toxins.
***Not really of best quality, as reflecting the cheap Chinese plastic, and other quality-impairing factors.
- Optical Visual Precision Module
- Photonic-Based Night-Vision Assistant ('Normal' mode and 'Funk')
- Multi-Segment Secret Alloy.... thing.
- Forced-Air Sonic Navigation Tool with Thermal Sensor Array
- Synthetic Organic Compound Stabilizers
- Oscillating Dual Symmetrical Airfoil Propulsion Assist
------------
Those are all on there!... give or take elaborations.
When when the readings were over, Gabe was disappointed in having missed my reading. So, I figured I'd do an encore, but Gabe quickly realized what I thought he knew, what I had told him before, indeed what I had been telling people since last year's VCON- No new book for the 2011 VCON! Alas, Alack. Gabe survived. I'd seen him more throughout the weekend, but he vanished, IIRC, to the games room. Memory fog here.. I may have went with him for a bit before returning to the area where the readings happened...
I'm writing this 2 months later, so some of the events are probably a little out of order, but somehow I ended up going in a group of four, consisting of myself, Sandra, and two of her friends. We were aiming for the hotel lounge/bar on the main floor.
One of these friends was Kristi Charish. She's a taking a hiphop dance class. "Ballet is all 'up', feet together, tippy toes. Hiphop is all down, spread stance, flat feet. It was so weird, so opposite of what's usually natural for me." (...from my 2 month old memory)
I felt like I was in a setup for a bad joke. A female body builder, a ballerina, a biochemist, and a paraplegic walk into a bar. Well, except the paraplegic, who rolled..
Sandra's red contacts were driving her nuts, so she fled to get into something more comfortable, but when she returned, she rambled with glee about the new stuff she'd been doing in her martial arts class. "Weapons!!!" She's like a plaid belt now. Awww as if she'd need a weapon to crumple anyone in the hotel.
Being immersed in nerdiness for the weekend but stopping for a drink with the ladies, in mostly non-nerdy talk, reminded me of how relaxing it can be to just idly chat with the opposite gender, in roughly my age range. I'd first realized this in junior high, which had solidified me in the friend zone for pretty much every girl I knew. How bout that, huh?
So, the bar was closing. At midnight. On a friday night? I guess they don't want a mass of drunken behaviour in the main floor, but.. yeesh. Sandra had lured me along here (not too hard) by offering to buy me a drink. By the time I finished that one, we were told things were shutting down. Not having to pay, but also being evil, I asked the waitress to break a $20 bill into fives. Muahaha, little did she know, I needed the fives for my nearly-expended float at the dealer's table. I didn't come as prepared this year. My books are $15, and most people are carrying $20s. I don't wanna eff with coins, so I only sell anything in $5 increments. (.... mostly... other than candy)
But enough.. where was I? Right, I had just closed my table for the first day. With last year's 'new book launch event' being a bit of a flop for all, with (among other issues) no readings done, I was told that I could do a reading from 'Echoes of Erebus', despite it being no longer quite as new.
Awlright, Game on. Hey, I haven't thrown the title up in a while, EAT PITT MEADOWS SKY, AND MY COUSIN'S HAND, INTERNETS!
Cabling/fishing tackle supplied by photoshop.
The kicker was, the event started at the EXACT moment that the vendor room shut down. Making sure I wasn't first to read, I settled my table in for the night, then sped to check into my hotel room, (which was about a block away due to the convention's hotel telling me online, months ago that the wheelchair rooms were already booked,) to drop of a bunch of overnight crud.
I had planned to be shmoozing and chattin' it up late into the night, so ditching the luggage early was a minor investment in time that was well worth it. I made myself passingly familiar with the room I got, (a mirror image of the one from last year) and went back to the convention.
The event was well underway, and Sandra Wickham was half way through her reading. I learned from her reading that if you KNOW you're going to have a carnivorous demon-child, it is very wise to have sung to it during pregnancy. Bonding is important. Sandra's awesome. I know I've mentioned her before. Long story short, last year I encountered her a couple times at VCON, and when I got her as a friend later on facebook, I was stunned to find that she can look like this:
That's her mode probably for competition or something. In 'pumped' condition, 'tanned' for the show. She doesn't really look anything like that most of the time. No, as she did her reading, she looked like this:
I was trying to get a closeup of her smile.. I had been chatting with her idly, when we turned to face each other. I had forgotten the fangs and red eyes, and found myself genuinely startled. But, she posed her costume. Who am I to say no? That turned out well, as it turned out I was the only one to get a decent shot of her outfit that night.Anyway, once she was done, someone I didn't know came up to read, and I found it hard to pay attention, instead trying to get myself in the right mode to do a reading. I'd stayed away from the energy drinks for a while. I'm hyper enough at readings, and a shot of taurine results in mess ups galore, and reading too fast.
I made that effect work for me 2 years previous. I chose a scene in 'Watching Yute' where Jacob Kirison is asking a mob-boss for a favour, quite jittery and nervous about being fitted for cement shoes for showing disrespect. When interviewed later that night, I told one Mr. Lee Tockar that I felt pretty good about how the reading went. He corrected me, and told me that I had nailed it. I didn't complain. I didn't catch his name that night, and I spent a couple years wondering if he did anything with the footage he shot of me. Well, he did at least one thing, as google and youtube ended up telling me. It's not all about me, but I'm in it, so.. whee!!!!
Anyway, back to the present-
The previous reader made a self-defacing comment about her height when the mic had to be lowered for her. When I rolled up after her, I peeked at her from around the edge of the podium, and said something like "and you think YOU'RE short!" Soon, if became apparent that the mic was going to have to be dislodged, and held-held.I rambled for a moment about having to make my choice of passages for the moment. My decision was one that I had read a few times in smaller writer meets, so my mouth knew it well enough. Meetups are a great way to polish your public speaking, by the way, as long as you can learn from your blunders. My tip to prevent from reading too fast- imagine Johnny Cash. Ditch the accent, keep the pace.
Alright, read. "Chapter zero." Chuckles came from different spots in the room. Alright, an easy crowd! That wasn't even meant as a joke! Maybe I wasn't the only one who'd had a slug from a canteen or flask.
For the record, 'Echoes of Erebus' has a lot of central characters who have roots in the digital domains. Computers start counting at zero. This was the first chapter. Zero. AKA the prologue. In all reality, the chapter is labeled ":::C / [000000] [00] [prologue]" But that's a bit of a mouthful for reading out loud. It would have messed with the flow. So "Chapter Zero" did the job.
Oh, if you want to read it, (and the first half of the book) you can read a free sample at smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20604 . I like paper books better, and ebooks don't let me control the formatting as much, but it's hard to argue with the costs.
I continued on, acting my way through the split-personality monologue that was 'Jonathan Coll' at that point in his life. People chuckled at the right places, and I didn't fumble anywhere that I couldn't work it into his own confusion. I didn't have to be told, I nailed this reading. That didn't stop a few people giving me figurative and literal pats on the back now and then for the rest of the night.
I don't set out to write humour. But I'm a smartass. It's going to come out. Half my characters are various magnitudes of smartasses. Yet somehow they get by.
A few more people read after me, and somewhere in there, A Wild Gabe Appeared! Y'all remember Gabe? Last year, he bought my combat spatula, despite that I hadn't built it for selling. This year, he was similarly interested in my "Most useless robot ever" and my BBQ brush.... Pictured here leaning against the robot. See if you can identify the various features of the brush listed below!
"FROM THE MINDS THAT BROUGHT YOU THE COMBAT SPATULA:World's First Telekinetically* Driven Recon B.B.Q.** Brush
*Brush is not inherently telekinetic. User telekinesic expertise is required.
**B.B.Q. Stands for 'Being of Best Quality***' Do not use the Brush on a barbecue grill, as the heat will interact with cheap Chinese plastic, and potentially emit harmful toxins.
***Not really of best quality, as reflecting the cheap Chinese plastic, and other quality-impairing factors.
- Optical Visual Precision Module
- Photonic-Based Night-Vision Assistant ('Normal' mode and 'Funk')
- Multi-Segment Secret Alloy.... thing.
- Forced-Air Sonic Navigation Tool with Thermal Sensor Array
- Synthetic Organic Compound Stabilizers
- Oscillating Dual Symmetrical Airfoil Propulsion Assist
------------
Those are all on there!... give or take elaborations.
When when the readings were over, Gabe was disappointed in having missed my reading. So, I figured I'd do an encore, but Gabe quickly realized what I thought he knew, what I had told him before, indeed what I had been telling people since last year's VCON- No new book for the 2011 VCON! Alas, Alack. Gabe survived. I'd seen him more throughout the weekend, but he vanished, IIRC, to the games room. Memory fog here.. I may have went with him for a bit before returning to the area where the readings happened...
I'm writing this 2 months later, so some of the events are probably a little out of order, but somehow I ended up going in a group of four, consisting of myself, Sandra, and two of her friends. We were aiming for the hotel lounge/bar on the main floor.
One of these friends was Kristi Charish. She's a taking a hiphop dance class. "Ballet is all 'up', feet together, tippy toes. Hiphop is all down, spread stance, flat feet. It was so weird, so opposite of what's usually natural for me." (...from my 2 month old memory)
I felt like I was in a setup for a bad joke. A female body builder, a ballerina, a biochemist, and a paraplegic walk into a bar. Well, except the paraplegic, who rolled..
Sandra's red contacts were driving her nuts, so she fled to get into something more comfortable, but when she returned, she rambled with glee about the new stuff she'd been doing in her martial arts class. "Weapons!!!" She's like a plaid belt now. Awww as if she'd need a weapon to crumple anyone in the hotel.
Being immersed in nerdiness for the weekend but stopping for a drink with the ladies, in mostly non-nerdy talk, reminded me of how relaxing it can be to just idly chat with the opposite gender, in roughly my age range. I'd first realized this in junior high, which had solidified me in the friend zone for pretty much every girl I knew. How bout that, huh?
So, the bar was closing. At midnight. On a friday night? I guess they don't want a mass of drunken behaviour in the main floor, but.. yeesh. Sandra had lured me along here (not too hard) by offering to buy me a drink. By the time I finished that one, we were told things were shutting down. Not having to pay, but also being evil, I asked the waitress to break a $20 bill into fives. Muahaha, little did she know, I needed the fives for my nearly-expended float at the dealer's table. I didn't come as prepared this year. My books are $15, and most people are carrying $20s. I don't wanna eff with coins, so I only sell anything in $5 increments. (.... mostly... other than candy)
Eventually driven from the bar, there was some mumblings about heading to a bar down the street, but the annoying responsibility thing tipped the scales in favour of everyone going to their rooms and sleeping. I had to be at my table the next morning at the wee hour of 10 AM. Ooh! and I had to be up a little earlier to see the day-old rerun season finale of Dr. Who! (nerdy, remember?)
If I ever get around to the next VCON entry, it'll be day 2.. Paper,rock,scissors(lizard,vulcan) for candy? The dance, Csffa party, gaming room? what else...
Friday, October 7, 2011
VCON 2011, Day 1, Part 2: VEND!
Let the haphazard capitalism commence! Well, I'm sure most of the vendors that show up have some semblance of professionalism, but let me tip you off, I'm not one of THOSE types.
That said, this was my fourth time at bat, and I'd seen some trends I could expect:
-Every friday is slow as hell.
Wrong kind of friday-hell. As I was saying..
Most people don't get off work until two hours before the vendor room closes, and then they just want to do selfish things like drive home and/or eat. At the end of friday, you can spot the newbies, with a look of "OMG, what am I doing here, sales were crap, I'm wasting my time and money, I'm gonna to into the corner and cut myself."
I sagely say to such folks, "Take it easy, this was friday. Think of it as dress rehearsal. Most of the visitors will be floating around the con all weekend, and will be back. They're not in a rush to buy, they're on recon." Wisely wise, do I enwisen my wisdoms. Enwisen. It's a word. I just invented it, I'm allowed, I'm a writer.
-Every saturday is the BIG day. I'm not in it 'for the numbers', I'm in it to get my stories into people's hands primarily, but if the numbers are there, I'll keep an eye on them. And saturday is the bringer of numbers. I've heard other vendors say similar things.
-Every sunday is for the slow deciders, the 'orbiters' who orbit the con taking everything in, finally settling in to pick something up that they've had their eye on since friday. This is also when polite vendors wait to buy from other vendors, as to not deplete stock before visitors have a chance. Sunday always feels slow after saturday, but not nearly as bad as friday.
Penny Arcade has noticed many of these trends as well.
What?? Somehow, friday sales were pretty good! There was talk about the con being bigger this year! Obviously this increase will follow throughout my preconceived pattern, resulting in a bajillion sales on saturday! Right? Right? Oh, I'll have to look forward to that...!
At any rate, the first order of business for me is always to take my 2 given VCON bucks over to Kyle at his bc chains table. Aside from his custom made chain maille stuff, he also always brings candy. Eeeeeheeheee candy! A couple years he brought some that came in little round tins that make great rpg dice containers.
Not this year though... not that I don't have enough from previous years. For that matter, I also had my own little stock of candy. I was ripping off Kyle's tactic a little this year, putting a little box of candy out, for a buck a pop, or my own chomping. My offering was smaller, I didn't want to try to take over the VCON candy industry.. yet. But getting candy from Kyle has become my own custom, every since the year I had my table across from his. Candy.
I think it was friday that Plotbunny showed up. She had emailed me a week or two previously. She's read all 3 of my books, and her favourite was the first. She had bought 2 copies of the paperback for Lifehack over the years, (as well as nabbing a poster or two) and she wanted hardcover now. She wanted hardcover last year, but I hadn't brought hardcover to VCON for a long time. They're pricey, both for me, and the end reader. Aside from hardcover fans, they just don't move that well. Not well enough for me to sit on a stack for potentially years.
But.... Plotbunny's an awesome gal, and obviously a fan of Regan's, so who am I to say no? At that point, I wasn't sure of the time to get an order, and for that matter, getting a single book would make the shipping really.. lame. I order in batches so the shipping per book is negligible. I didn't need a big batch of hardcovers. So... I brought my own personal trio of hardcovers.
Plotbunny came and went, taking my very own hardcover copy of Lifehack with her. The Watching Yute and Echoes of Erebus hardcovers cried. For the rest of the con, I had a post-it nearby saying "Hardcover Lifehack sold out!" ...... cuz I had so many to begin with. It would be obvious to anyone else that there'd been such a HUGE RUSH for them. Or, as most people mistook, poking the softcover that the post it was on, "You don't look sold out!" Look closer, that's a soft cover. "...Oh. Oh, right."
So now, a week later, my trio of hardcovers on my shelf has a gap. A continuity limp. I guess I'll have to restock myself.
All in all, as I said before, business was decent. For a friday? Amazing. And of course I was having a blast, yapping with vendors and visitors alike, basking in the nerdiness. For such a big circle of people, the citizenship of VCON feels very close. Similar interests will do that, I suppose.
As the hour drew near; 7pm, closing of the room for the day, I readied myself for the 'book launch' event. I had a reading to do! First, check that the posters on the wall were secure.. the masking take looped on te backs were doing OKAY, but I was certain I'd find at least one on the floor next morning. I laid down the books that were on stands, and weighted down things that might get caught in the breeze. Oh, and I tucked in the robot.
Next post- The Launch Reading!
That said, this was my fourth time at bat, and I'd seen some trends I could expect:-Every friday is slow as hell.
Wrong kind of friday-hell. As I was saying..Most people don't get off work until two hours before the vendor room closes, and then they just want to do selfish things like drive home and/or eat. At the end of friday, you can spot the newbies, with a look of "OMG, what am I doing here, sales were crap, I'm wasting my time and money, I'm gonna to into the corner and cut myself."
I sagely say to such folks, "Take it easy, this was friday. Think of it as dress rehearsal. Most of the visitors will be floating around the con all weekend, and will be back. They're not in a rush to buy, they're on recon." Wisely wise, do I enwisen my wisdoms. Enwisen. It's a word. I just invented it, I'm allowed, I'm a writer.
-Every saturday is the BIG day. I'm not in it 'for the numbers', I'm in it to get my stories into people's hands primarily, but if the numbers are there, I'll keep an eye on them. And saturday is the bringer of numbers. I've heard other vendors say similar things.
-Every sunday is for the slow deciders, the 'orbiters' who orbit the con taking everything in, finally settling in to pick something up that they've had their eye on since friday. This is also when polite vendors wait to buy from other vendors, as to not deplete stock before visitors have a chance. Sunday always feels slow after saturday, but not nearly as bad as friday.
Penny Arcade has noticed many of these trends as well.
What?? Somehow, friday sales were pretty good! There was talk about the con being bigger this year! Obviously this increase will follow throughout my preconceived pattern, resulting in a bajillion sales on saturday! Right? Right? Oh, I'll have to look forward to that...!At any rate, the first order of business for me is always to take my 2 given VCON bucks over to Kyle at his bc chains table. Aside from his custom made chain maille stuff, he also always brings candy. Eeeeeheeheee candy! A couple years he brought some that came in little round tins that make great rpg dice containers.
Not this year though... not that I don't have enough from previous years. For that matter, I also had my own little stock of candy. I was ripping off Kyle's tactic a little this year, putting a little box of candy out, for a buck a pop, or my own chomping. My offering was smaller, I didn't want to try to take over the VCON candy industry.. yet. But getting candy from Kyle has become my own custom, every since the year I had my table across from his. Candy.
I think it was friday that Plotbunny showed up. She had emailed me a week or two previously. She's read all 3 of my books, and her favourite was the first. She had bought 2 copies of the paperback for Lifehack over the years, (as well as nabbing a poster or two) and she wanted hardcover now. She wanted hardcover last year, but I hadn't brought hardcover to VCON for a long time. They're pricey, both for me, and the end reader. Aside from hardcover fans, they just don't move that well. Not well enough for me to sit on a stack for potentially years.
But.... Plotbunny's an awesome gal, and obviously a fan of Regan's, so who am I to say no? At that point, I wasn't sure of the time to get an order, and for that matter, getting a single book would make the shipping really.. lame. I order in batches so the shipping per book is negligible. I didn't need a big batch of hardcovers. So... I brought my own personal trio of hardcovers.
Plotbunny came and went, taking my very own hardcover copy of Lifehack with her. The Watching Yute and Echoes of Erebus hardcovers cried. For the rest of the con, I had a post-it nearby saying "Hardcover Lifehack sold out!" ...... cuz I had so many to begin with. It would be obvious to anyone else that there'd been such a HUGE RUSH for them. Or, as most people mistook, poking the softcover that the post it was on, "You don't look sold out!" Look closer, that's a soft cover. "...Oh. Oh, right."
So now, a week later, my trio of hardcovers on my shelf has a gap. A continuity limp. I guess I'll have to restock myself.
All in all, as I said before, business was decent. For a friday? Amazing. And of course I was having a blast, yapping with vendors and visitors alike, basking in the nerdiness. For such a big circle of people, the citizenship of VCON feels very close. Similar interests will do that, I suppose.
As the hour drew near; 7pm, closing of the room for the day, I readied myself for the 'book launch' event. I had a reading to do! First, check that the posters on the wall were secure.. the masking take looped on te backs were doing OKAY, but I was certain I'd find at least one on the floor next morning. I laid down the books that were on stands, and weighted down things that might get caught in the breeze. Oh, and I tucked in the robot.
Next post- The Launch Reading!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
VCON 2011, Day 1, Part 1
"Brain?"
"Yes, body?"
"We need to talk, brain."
"OH, HERE we go..."
"Damned right, here we go. Ever heard of eating, or drinking?"
"During this year's VCON? I drank!"
"I MEANT WATER!"
".....oh....."
So, my body's had some issues. Lesson learned. I neglected proper maintenance in years before, but this year it was systematic and deliberate. Hey! I had to optimize my time! 3 days in the realm of nerdiness must be properly utilized!
So here we go-
Mid morning Friday found me riding 'cargo class' in the back of my dad's van. My wife couldn't play taxi, due to motherly duties. A lot of vehicles just can't properly transport a paraplegic and his wheelchair, so certain compromises had to be made in my dad's van. Add my 3 boxes, big tupperware locker and two poster tubes... oh hey! I still had a lot of free space. The Big Black Box seemed appreciative too.
This fella has been with me during 3 or 4 VCONs, and his age is beginning to show. This is only my 4th VCON, so it's a minor tradition of sorts. He only comes out for VCON. He is the home of my spiked shoulder pads.
The ears, facepaint, and belt do not live in the box. Only the shoulder pads and the goggles are VCON regulars. This pic was a halloween costume once. I brought the shoulder pads to VCON, because.. well.. may as well bring something unusual to face the cosplayers.. not that this costume is of anything in particular, but the shoulder pads were a bit of a hit, so the next year, I packed em along. I didn't know if I should wear them.. two years in a row? My doubts were answered the moment I put The Big Black Box on my vendor table. Someone at a neighboring table asked "Ooh, did you bring the spikes?"
From that moment, they became part of my VCON tradition. They need a name. How about "The Pauldrons of Ozero"... cheesy? They're uncomfortable for me, as they grind against the shoulders when I wheel around, so I only wear them for 20 minutes or so at a time. They have some structural issues that are less than user-friendly.
Finally rolling into the Sheraton, we saw an Ecto-1 parking as well. Ghostbusters in da house. Seems they're part of a huge network of GB cosplayers, who do some kind of charity work, much like the 501st. (Star war imperial troops, also appearing at VCON again.) Still looking for those droids?
Anyway, while my dad sought one of those hotel luggage carts for my cargo, I did some recon for the vendor's room, and my table in it.
No sooner had I rolled into the room, than Steve Fahnestalk (who also was the con's official toastmaster) ambushed me.
Last year, Steve and I had tables across the aisle from each other, which led to a vicious rivalry in the 'giving-away-free-bookmarks' arena. Since then, he bought my first book, later giving me his, (I've reviewed it now,) while I tossed my other two at him. This day, he was evening the score, sticking me with his newest. More reviewing all 'round is imminent.
Once my dad and I got my haul to the table, he had to split. He apologized for not helping me set up, but that was fine by me. This was my table for 3 days, and setting it up was a pleasure. Well... except for the 3 posters I wanted to put up on the wall behind me. Thankfully, my neighbor helped me out. The wall was covered in a fabric, which isn't a good friend to tape. I should have just used tacks or something.
Time to plug my neighbor. Dang it if I can remember her name now (sorry! I suck at names!) but she's the writer attached to The Sword of the Stars II. They weren't there for anything much but creating a little buzz about the upcoming game, and to GIVE AWAY copies of the first game, along with all its expansions! I got a copy, but haven't had any time to really get into it though. Short description: Pick a race, take over space. Turn based ship movement, followed by realtime combat.
I was giving away... bookmarks, and big postcard with Regan on em. (This image was also one of the big posters behind me)
But I would be giving free games before VCON was over...
Aside from my books and associated banners and posters, I also set upon The Big Black Box- the robot. Ph34r the robot.
For he is ph34rsome.
Next post- The vendor room opens!
"Yes, body?"
"We need to talk, brain."
"OH, HERE we go..."
"Damned right, here we go. Ever heard of eating, or drinking?"
"During this year's VCON? I drank!"
"I MEANT WATER!"
".....oh....."
So, my body's had some issues. Lesson learned. I neglected proper maintenance in years before, but this year it was systematic and deliberate. Hey! I had to optimize my time! 3 days in the realm of nerdiness must be properly utilized!
So here we go-
Mid morning Friday found me riding 'cargo class' in the back of my dad's van. My wife couldn't play taxi, due to motherly duties. A lot of vehicles just can't properly transport a paraplegic and his wheelchair, so certain compromises had to be made in my dad's van. Add my 3 boxes, big tupperware locker and two poster tubes... oh hey! I still had a lot of free space. The Big Black Box seemed appreciative too.
This fella has been with me during 3 or 4 VCONs, and his age is beginning to show. This is only my 4th VCON, so it's a minor tradition of sorts. He only comes out for VCON. He is the home of my spiked shoulder pads.
The ears, facepaint, and belt do not live in the box. Only the shoulder pads and the goggles are VCON regulars. This pic was a halloween costume once. I brought the shoulder pads to VCON, because.. well.. may as well bring something unusual to face the cosplayers.. not that this costume is of anything in particular, but the shoulder pads were a bit of a hit, so the next year, I packed em along. I didn't know if I should wear them.. two years in a row? My doubts were answered the moment I put The Big Black Box on my vendor table. Someone at a neighboring table asked "Ooh, did you bring the spikes?"
From that moment, they became part of my VCON tradition. They need a name. How about "The Pauldrons of Ozero"... cheesy? They're uncomfortable for me, as they grind against the shoulders when I wheel around, so I only wear them for 20 minutes or so at a time. They have some structural issues that are less than user-friendly.
Finally rolling into the Sheraton, we saw an Ecto-1 parking as well. Ghostbusters in da house. Seems they're part of a huge network of GB cosplayers, who do some kind of charity work, much like the 501st. (Star war imperial troops, also appearing at VCON again.) Still looking for those droids?
Anyway, while my dad sought one of those hotel luggage carts for my cargo, I did some recon for the vendor's room, and my table in it.No sooner had I rolled into the room, than Steve Fahnestalk (who also was the con's official toastmaster) ambushed me.
Last year, Steve and I had tables across the aisle from each other, which led to a vicious rivalry in the 'giving-away-free-bookmarks' arena. Since then, he bought my first book, later giving me his, (I've reviewed it now,) while I tossed my other two at him. This day, he was evening the score, sticking me with his newest. More reviewing all 'round is imminent.
Once my dad and I got my haul to the table, he had to split. He apologized for not helping me set up, but that was fine by me. This was my table for 3 days, and setting it up was a pleasure. Well... except for the 3 posters I wanted to put up on the wall behind me. Thankfully, my neighbor helped me out. The wall was covered in a fabric, which isn't a good friend to tape. I should have just used tacks or something.
Time to plug my neighbor. Dang it if I can remember her name now (sorry! I suck at names!) but she's the writer attached to The Sword of the Stars II. They weren't there for anything much but creating a little buzz about the upcoming game, and to GIVE AWAY copies of the first game, along with all its expansions! I got a copy, but haven't had any time to really get into it though. Short description: Pick a race, take over space. Turn based ship movement, followed by realtime combat.
I was giving away... bookmarks, and big postcard with Regan on em. (This image was also one of the big posters behind me)
But I would be giving free games before VCON was over...
Aside from my books and associated banners and posters, I also set upon The Big Black Box- the robot. Ph34r the robot.
For he is ph34rsome.Next post- The vendor room opens!
Monday, September 26, 2011
A wild VCON approaches!
I'm updating my blog! What a shock! But those of you who have the ability to remember as far as a year back, may remember that I blogged about last year's VCON quite a bit! Enough so that the BC Science Fiction Association wanted those posts to put in their mag!
What's VCON, you ask? It's a science fiction convention! Well, there's also a hearty helping of fantasy stuff too, and.. well, it's nerdy, gods frak it! Any who see themselves as having ANY points allotted to nerdier attributes will feel quite at home! Heck, the first year I went, it was almost like rolling into a family reunion.
I'll have to remember to bring a camera again. My blogging last year was done after the fact, so don't expect any live coverage. I'm gonna be busy, dangit! I'll be selling my books, and I'll also be showcasing the successor to the 'world's first combat spatula' that I built for last year, and it will all be watched over by the most useless stupid robot wannabe thing ever! I built him too, so you know it sucks! Anyone who knows me on facebook may have already seen him, although he's been a little more pimped out since those pictures. I'll have a few book-related posters up too.. I'm not there to sell those, but if people convince me with enough cash, I MIGHT part with them. Maybe. Heck, I'm bringing a few hardcovers due to request, which I wasn't planning on selling either. OK, I'm a cheap whore.
Oh, I'll also be doing a reading from Echoes of Erebus at the book launch event on friday night. It'll be short, but it'll be a blast.
Anyway, those of you who I'll see there.. well, see you there! The rest of you will have to bask in my recap blogging!
What's VCON, you ask? It's a science fiction convention! Well, there's also a hearty helping of fantasy stuff too, and.. well, it's nerdy, gods frak it! Any who see themselves as having ANY points allotted to nerdier attributes will feel quite at home! Heck, the first year I went, it was almost like rolling into a family reunion.
I'll have to remember to bring a camera again. My blogging last year was done after the fact, so don't expect any live coverage. I'm gonna be busy, dangit! I'll be selling my books, and I'll also be showcasing the successor to the 'world's first combat spatula' that I built for last year, and it will all be watched over by the most useless stupid robot wannabe thing ever! I built him too, so you know it sucks! Anyone who knows me on facebook may have already seen him, although he's been a little more pimped out since those pictures. I'll have a few book-related posters up too.. I'm not there to sell those, but if people convince me with enough cash, I MIGHT part with them. Maybe. Heck, I'm bringing a few hardcovers due to request, which I wasn't planning on selling either. OK, I'm a cheap whore.
Oh, I'll also be doing a reading from Echoes of Erebus at the book launch event on friday night. It'll be short, but it'll be a blast.
Anyway, those of you who I'll see there.. well, see you there! The rest of you will have to bask in my recap blogging!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tom Smith and his Electric Skyship
Steve's awesome, so here's the first 'real review' I've done, and it's on his book, and not his octopus mud-wresting league. His call, whatever. Anyway, here we go!
----------------------------------------------
Tom Smith and His Electric Skyship
by
Steve Fahnestalk
1908, alternate history steampunk adventure. When Tom happened into my hands, I had very little idea what to expect beyond that, but it turned out to be a fun romp, perfectly suitable for the upper-elementary crowd, but also enjoyable to this jaded 30-something.
The foreword mentions a lot of fact-checking had been done, and it shows. Period technology and customs were used well, plus the added twist. Combustion engines never really became popular, leaving electric motors for streetcars, and air travel was still dominated by dirigibles and similar craft.
The differences are explained well enough that one can easily envision the workings of these vehicles, but did not get so meticulous that it bogged down the story. In a couple spots, there are mentions of future Tom Smith adventures, which can be taken as 'forced', or 'fun', depending on your perspective. I could almost hear a 1930's announcer voice at these moments.
It is a short book, but in its span, the protagonist Jack tells of meeting his fellow-inventor friend Tom Smith, air battles against Baron Von Ausländer (A.K.A. “Baron Von Whatever”), adapting and improving their skyship, and resolving the kidnapping of President Roosevelt. An unintended detour for Jack would seem to set some groundwork for a future book, and I find myself wanting to see how certain characters re-appear.
The ending capped off with a grand climax that is a bit tongue-in-cheek in a way that is probably best appreciated (or for that matter, noticed) by my fellow nerds. All in all, Skyship is a fun little read that I won't soon forget. Get crackin' on that next Tom Smith book, Steve!
Steve Fahnestalk's blog is at www.stevefah.wordpress.com
Oh, look, an update.
Can I blame a new son for my lack of updates? Why not, he can't defend himself. Hello world, I now have 2 kids. Caitlin recently turned four, and Lachlan (non-scots can feel free to say it 'lock-lin') is almost 2 months old now.
Kids. With an S, and all... pluraly. Caitlin isn't entirely aware that the new baby isn't a toy for her amusement, but she's catching on. The cat is suffering from flashbacks of hearing Caitlin wail at random times around the clock.
I am not longer employed, (long story, but no hurt feelings.. I have a taste for working a job-job now, so I'll be sniffing about...) so wth no big daytime requirements, I have the night-duty of trying to keep Lachlan quiet and happy. This licences me to sleep in late in the morning. This week happens to be different though. This week, my plural kids and my wife have gone on a camping trip without me, to chill with my inlaws. Me and my wheelchair aren't exactly camping-friendly, which results in my getting a week-long chance to catch up on crap and get things done that have been waiting for months.
Speaking of the wheelchair, after nearly a decade in this one, I will soon have a new one. Same-ish but slightly different style. Smaller width by an inch or two, bigger wheels by a bit, things that can do this, and that, fancier spokes. Any day now...
Writing has had a bit of a boost this week, but not as much as I had hoped. I've been actually kinda busy around here. The serial bleeder is definitely going to be my next book, even if I can't decide on the final title.. but there's lots of time. Oh, and if I didn't mention if before, I'm all set to go the VCON this October again, peddling my books, and having a blast.
Next entry- Dark Cloud and Actraiser. So.. yeah. Ooh, and maybe a review I'm doing for "Tom Smith and the Electric Skyship" written by Steve Fahnestalk.
Kids. With an S, and all... pluraly. Caitlin isn't entirely aware that the new baby isn't a toy for her amusement, but she's catching on. The cat is suffering from flashbacks of hearing Caitlin wail at random times around the clock.
I am not longer employed, (long story, but no hurt feelings.. I have a taste for working a job-job now, so I'll be sniffing about...) so wth no big daytime requirements, I have the night-duty of trying to keep Lachlan quiet and happy. This licences me to sleep in late in the morning. This week happens to be different though. This week, my plural kids and my wife have gone on a camping trip without me, to chill with my inlaws. Me and my wheelchair aren't exactly camping-friendly, which results in my getting a week-long chance to catch up on crap and get things done that have been waiting for months.
Speaking of the wheelchair, after nearly a decade in this one, I will soon have a new one. Same-ish but slightly different style. Smaller width by an inch or two, bigger wheels by a bit, things that can do this, and that, fancier spokes. Any day now...
Writing has had a bit of a boost this week, but not as much as I had hoped. I've been actually kinda busy around here. The serial bleeder is definitely going to be my next book, even if I can't decide on the final title.. but there's lots of time. Oh, and if I didn't mention if before, I'm all set to go the VCON this October again, peddling my books, and having a blast.
Next entry- Dark Cloud and Actraiser. So.. yeah. Ooh, and maybe a review I'm doing for "Tom Smith and the Electric Skyship" written by Steve Fahnestalk.
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