Bill Bodden's Blog - Posts Tagged "conventions"
August Conventions
I'll be attending two conventions on consecutive weekends at the end of summer: GenCon and GeekKon.
GenCon (http://www.gencon.com/) is the largest of all gaming conventions, and takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana over August 15-18. I'll be attending the Diana Jones Award ceremony the evening of August 14. My official presence during the remainder of the convention will involve helping out in the Green Ronin booth during the day, and goofing off in some fashion during the evenings.
GeekKon (http://www.geekkon.net/) is a general interest convention that takes place in Madison, WI August 23-25. I've been invited to return as a special guest this year, and plan to help out in the Gaming With the Guests program, as well as participating in a few panels here and there. Other guests this year include friends Matt Forbeck, Matt McElroy, Rob Wieland, and John Jackson Miller.
I'm especially thrilled that Bridget Landry will be a guest of GeekKon as well. Ms. Landry is on the team supporting the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which among other things provides the relay for information from both Mars rovers, Opportunity and Curiosity. As if that weren't enough, she's also a world-class costumer. I'm really looking forward to meeting Ms. Landry!
GenCon (http://www.gencon.com/) is the largest of all gaming conventions, and takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana over August 15-18. I'll be attending the Diana Jones Award ceremony the evening of August 14. My official presence during the remainder of the convention will involve helping out in the Green Ronin booth during the day, and goofing off in some fashion during the evenings.
GeekKon (http://www.geekkon.net/) is a general interest convention that takes place in Madison, WI August 23-25. I've been invited to return as a special guest this year, and plan to help out in the Gaming With the Guests program, as well as participating in a few panels here and there. Other guests this year include friends Matt Forbeck, Matt McElroy, Rob Wieland, and John Jackson Miller.
I'm especially thrilled that Bridget Landry will be a guest of GeekKon as well. Ms. Landry is on the team supporting the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which among other things provides the relay for information from both Mars rovers, Opportunity and Curiosity. As if that weren't enough, she's also a world-class costumer. I'm really looking forward to meeting Ms. Landry!
GenCon, Geek-Kon, and Firefly
I have returned from GenCon in good health and none the worse for wear - for the most part. Standing on a convention hall floor for three days is murder on the feet and back, so I'm trying to take it easy this week. I signed a couple of my books, bought other people's books, and had a good time reconnecting with friends I don't see often enough. I also came back with some gaming writing work firmed up for the next month, as well as tantalizing hints of potential freelance work to come. More details when I can announce them!
***
The schedule for Geek Kon, happening this weekend (August 23-25) in Madison, Wisconsin is up, (http://www.geekkon.net/) and I'm pleased to say I'm going to be a bit busy! I have a reading (from Sidekicks, along with one of my co-authors Patrick Tomlinson) on Friday at 4 PM, and will be taking part in "Gaming With the Guests" for charity, on Friday night from 8-10 PM (and maybe later!). This year's charity is the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. Please give generously.
Saturday I'm on three panels: E-Books and Innovations In Publishing, 2PM; How to Kick Off a Kickstarter, 5PM; Slingin' Dice: An Introduction to RPGs, 6PM.
Nothing scheduled for Sunday, but I may show up anyway - I always have a great time at GeekKon, and the con staff treat their guests well. Stop by and say hello, join me for a game - or a drink - and enjoy a low-key convention!
***
At GenCon, Margaret Weis Productions released the Firefly RPG in a Gen Con Preview format. I picked up a copy and this book looks fantastic. It uses Cortex Plus, which if you've played MWP's Marvel Heroic RPG or Leverage, you already know the system. There are precious few copies of the preview left, and rumor has it they may show up here and there over the next few weeks so keep a sharp eye out. At the very least pick up the general release version when it comes out later this fall -- I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed. Kudos to my friend and Firefly Line Developer Monica Valentinelli, and all the many folks who worked on this project, for a job very well done!
***
The schedule for Geek Kon, happening this weekend (August 23-25) in Madison, Wisconsin is up, (http://www.geekkon.net/) and I'm pleased to say I'm going to be a bit busy! I have a reading (from Sidekicks, along with one of my co-authors Patrick Tomlinson) on Friday at 4 PM, and will be taking part in "Gaming With the Guests" for charity, on Friday night from 8-10 PM (and maybe later!). This year's charity is the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. Please give generously.
Saturday I'm on three panels: E-Books and Innovations In Publishing, 2PM; How to Kick Off a Kickstarter, 5PM; Slingin' Dice: An Introduction to RPGs, 6PM.
Nothing scheduled for Sunday, but I may show up anyway - I always have a great time at GeekKon, and the con staff treat their guests well. Stop by and say hello, join me for a game - or a drink - and enjoy a low-key convention!
***
At GenCon, Margaret Weis Productions released the Firefly RPG in a Gen Con Preview format. I picked up a copy and this book looks fantastic. It uses Cortex Plus, which if you've played MWP's Marvel Heroic RPG or Leverage, you already know the system. There are precious few copies of the preview left, and rumor has it they may show up here and there over the next few weeks so keep a sharp eye out. At the very least pick up the general release version when it comes out later this fall -- I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed. Kudos to my friend and Firefly Line Developer Monica Valentinelli, and all the many folks who worked on this project, for a job very well done!
OdysseyCon is THIS WEEKEND!
I’m appearing on panels at OdysseyCon, one of my hometown conventions. The guests of honor this year are authors Richard Lee Byers and Troy Denning, and game designer Peter Lee of Wizards of the Coast. I’ve never met Richard before, and know Troy and Peter only a little. Getting to know all of them better should be fun, and a great way to spend the weekend!
My schedule looks like this:
Friday April 4, 2:30 PM
What Has Gaming Done For (To) Me?
I am one of two people on the panel actively employed in the game industry (that I know of for sure), so we have a nice mix of fans and pros.
Saturday April 5, 10 AM
Local Reads – a discussion of local authors and their work, and why/how to support them.
There are a surprising number of local authors to talk about. We hope to have a handout available listing the various authors’ websites.
Sunday April 6, 10 AM
Beyond Facebook OR Don’t Quit Your Day Job (Program listing undecided as of this writing.)
Either way it should be fun, and hopefully the panelists will all have useful advice and suggestions to offer for either topic.
Sunday April 6, 1 PM
Double-Feature! The Romance of Horror AND Just the Sidekick
Richard Lee Byers and I plan to cover both topics to the greatest extent we can manage, with substantial allowances made for audience interest and participation.
In the evenings I can probably be found in the bar, or at other panels during the day.
With two “first thing” panels I guess I’d better be more bright-eyed and busy-tailed than usual!
If you plan on attending, don’t forget that OddCon has moved to a different hotel.
They are now in the Crown Plaza, 4402 East Washington Avenue. Call 1-800-404-7630 for reservations.
I hope to see you all there!
My schedule looks like this:
Friday April 4, 2:30 PM
What Has Gaming Done For (To) Me?
I am one of two people on the panel actively employed in the game industry (that I know of for sure), so we have a nice mix of fans and pros.
Saturday April 5, 10 AM
Local Reads – a discussion of local authors and their work, and why/how to support them.
There are a surprising number of local authors to talk about. We hope to have a handout available listing the various authors’ websites.
Sunday April 6, 10 AM
Beyond Facebook OR Don’t Quit Your Day Job (Program listing undecided as of this writing.)
Either way it should be fun, and hopefully the panelists will all have useful advice and suggestions to offer for either topic.
Sunday April 6, 1 PM
Double-Feature! The Romance of Horror AND Just the Sidekick
Richard Lee Byers and I plan to cover both topics to the greatest extent we can manage, with substantial allowances made for audience interest and participation.
In the evenings I can probably be found in the bar, or at other panels during the day.
With two “first thing” panels I guess I’d better be more bright-eyed and busy-tailed than usual!
If you plan on attending, don’t forget that OddCon has moved to a different hotel.
They are now in the Crown Plaza, 4402 East Washington Avenue. Call 1-800-404-7630 for reservations.
I hope to see you all there!
Walking Dead Still Walking
When I first saw the preview trailers for Walking Dead, I was sold. They were effectively put together, gripping, and tense. I was ready to see it, even having no experience with the comics or graphic novels.
After the pilot, I was completely sold. This was something fresh and different; a decent treatment of the zombie apocalypse. The show was being well-written, and I enjoyed the different locations.
Then came the way Frank Darabont was unceremoniously shown the door. It showed a remarkable lack of respect for the man who championed the show and helped make it a spectacular success in it's debut season. Couple that with AMC's decision to immediately cut the budget of perhaps the most successful cable TV series in history, and it was clear AMC had little respect for their audience, much less for their talent. I was growing disillusioned.
SPOILER ALERT: SEASON TWO
What iced it for me was the mid-season hiatus episode, "Pretty Much Dead Already". In that episode, pre-teen girl Sophia has been missing since the first episode of season two. When she finally turns up, it's as a zombie. For me, this was the perfect note to end on. The ultimate fate of every character in this show will be to become a zombie, unless they are killed via horrendous head trauma. The death of Sophia -- a child -- was a perfect metaphor for the death of hope.
END SPOILER ALERT
At this point, I was no longer interested in the show. The second season, because of AMC's counter-intuitive, draconian budget cuts, took place almost entirely at a single location. It lost a lot of its sparkle for me from that point onward. With the event I described in the spoiler section, I felt I had reached a good stopping point. There was a poetic ending, but little joy left in the show for me; the ongoing bleakness was wearing me down -- it's too much like real life right now. I prefer my escapism to actually make me feel better, not worse.
On the other hand, The Walking Dead is enjoying continued success, and is more popular than ever. After a shaky second season, the third season has everyone talking about it, with seemingly everyone I know eagerly anticipating season four. Except me. I feel like I've taken that ride and had all the enjoyment out of it I'm going to get. I've missed enough episodes that most of the characters I knew are gone, which particularly includes two I cared about: Dale and T-Dog.
Eventually people will tire of a diet of nothing but zombies, so having regular conflicts with other humans adds a little variety to keep things fresh. Still, the whole "man's inhumanity to man" trope is so close to home in these selfish times that I can't find that aspect particularly enjoyable.
Walking Dead has been a runaway hit, and I'm happy for AMC that they have an enormous cash cow on hand that will allow them to produce more original programming. My interest in the show may be gone, but clearly I'm in the minority.
***
I had a great time this past weekend at Odyssey Con in Madison, Wisconsin. I didn't sell any books, but the panels I was on were successful, and I got a chance to talk to a lot of other writers and fans about everything and anything under the sun. Guests Troy Denning, Richard Lee Byers and Peter Lee were friendly, accessible to their fans, and fun to talk with and be around. Next year's guests will be Heather Brewer, Matt Forbeck, and Jonathan Maberry. The dates are April 10-12, 2015. For more information, check the OdysseyCon website periodically.
After the pilot, I was completely sold. This was something fresh and different; a decent treatment of the zombie apocalypse. The show was being well-written, and I enjoyed the different locations.
Then came the way Frank Darabont was unceremoniously shown the door. It showed a remarkable lack of respect for the man who championed the show and helped make it a spectacular success in it's debut season. Couple that with AMC's decision to immediately cut the budget of perhaps the most successful cable TV series in history, and it was clear AMC had little respect for their audience, much less for their talent. I was growing disillusioned.
SPOILER ALERT: SEASON TWO
What iced it for me was the mid-season hiatus episode, "Pretty Much Dead Already". In that episode, pre-teen girl Sophia has been missing since the first episode of season two. When she finally turns up, it's as a zombie. For me, this was the perfect note to end on. The ultimate fate of every character in this show will be to become a zombie, unless they are killed via horrendous head trauma. The death of Sophia -- a child -- was a perfect metaphor for the death of hope.
END SPOILER ALERT
At this point, I was no longer interested in the show. The second season, because of AMC's counter-intuitive, draconian budget cuts, took place almost entirely at a single location. It lost a lot of its sparkle for me from that point onward. With the event I described in the spoiler section, I felt I had reached a good stopping point. There was a poetic ending, but little joy left in the show for me; the ongoing bleakness was wearing me down -- it's too much like real life right now. I prefer my escapism to actually make me feel better, not worse.
On the other hand, The Walking Dead is enjoying continued success, and is more popular than ever. After a shaky second season, the third season has everyone talking about it, with seemingly everyone I know eagerly anticipating season four. Except me. I feel like I've taken that ride and had all the enjoyment out of it I'm going to get. I've missed enough episodes that most of the characters I knew are gone, which particularly includes two I cared about: Dale and T-Dog.
Eventually people will tire of a diet of nothing but zombies, so having regular conflicts with other humans adds a little variety to keep things fresh. Still, the whole "man's inhumanity to man" trope is so close to home in these selfish times that I can't find that aspect particularly enjoyable.
Walking Dead has been a runaway hit, and I'm happy for AMC that they have an enormous cash cow on hand that will allow them to produce more original programming. My interest in the show may be gone, but clearly I'm in the minority.
***
I had a great time this past weekend at Odyssey Con in Madison, Wisconsin. I didn't sell any books, but the panels I was on were successful, and I got a chance to talk to a lot of other writers and fans about everything and anything under the sun. Guests Troy Denning, Richard Lee Byers and Peter Lee were friendly, accessible to their fans, and fun to talk with and be around. Next year's guests will be Heather Brewer, Matt Forbeck, and Jonathan Maberry. The dates are April 10-12, 2015. For more information, check the OdysseyCon website periodically.
One of My Favorite FIlms: Buckaroo Banzai
Warning: This appreciation contains a few modest spoilers.
The first time I saw The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension, was at Wiscon in February or March of 1986. I sat down with a friend to watch it in the film room, and was instantly hooked by its quirkiness, the fun dialogue, and the imaginative story. I came out of the film room only to find someone had stolen my coat and hat from the easily accessible coat rack; walking home in subfreezing weather was decidedly less fun.
Directed by W.D. Richter and written by Earl Mac Rauch, the story concerns the exploits of a scientist/musician/genius/celebrity, Buckaroo Banzai, and his band of associates. He and his crack team of scientists discover a way to travel between dimensions, and this attracts the attention of the world. A group of aliens, the Red Lectroids, stranded on earth since the 1930s and masquerading as high-tech defense contractors for the US Government, find Buckaroo's inter-dimensional travel inspiring; they've been trying to develop similar technology themselves in order to return to their home planet (Planet 10) and seize control, having been deposed by the more numerous Black Lectroids.
The cast is a pretty stellar list today, though back then most of them were relatively unknown actors: Peter Weller in the title role; Jeff Goldblum, who had already appeared in The Big Chill and would have a subsequent role in Silverado; Ellen Barkin co-stars as Buckaroo's love interest, but her role seemed forced, as if the writers felt they needed a female lead but weren't exactly sure what to do about it; John Lithgow, in perhaps his most over the top performance ever, plays the chief villain of the piece, whose backstory is possibly more complicated that the script itself.
Also appearing in this film is a veritable who's who of character actors: The late Vincent Schiavelli (Batman Returns, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest); Clancy Brown (Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption, Starship Troopers) in an all-too short role but with a dramatic death scene; Christopher Lloyd (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Back to the Future, Addams Family) does his usual great turn as an alien; veteran voice actor Carl Lumbly (perhaps best know as the voice of Martian Manhunter in the Justice League Animated Series) also as an alien; Dan Hedaya (The Addams Family, Alien Resurrection) as another alien; even comedian Yakov Smirnoff gets into the act, playing a vaguely Kissinger-like Secretary of State.
Despite an obviously low budget, the film is put together well. The pacing is near perfect, the various performances are entrancing, funny, weird, and delightful, and the premise itself was highly creative. Buckaroo relies heavily on his cohorts for support and even rescue, making this far more of an ensemble cast than it would appear to be at first. The sets are low-budget as well, but they work, and are believable and not distracting. The production design for the alien technology was fascinating and highly inventive, delivering a view of beings that are totally alien to humans quite successfully.
One thing this film was full of is background activity. When in the lair of the Red Lecrtroids, one hears recorded, inspirational messages over the loudspeakers, exhorting the workers to work hard and be loyal to their leader. There is even the classic "Watermelon" scene, a reference to a bizarre bit of set decoration, that is quoted endlessly by fans far and wide. These factors give the film strong rewatch value, as there are constantly new things to discover.
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension had an interesting array of cross-marketing ideas attempted, including comics books and a variety of tchotchkies and knick-knacks, none of which seemed to catch on. Today graphic novels expanding the exploits of Buckaroo and his band, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, are readily available and reasonably popular - especially for a thirty year-old film franchise with no new films or TV series to help drive sales. The only thing I wish had been produced but wasn't is a soundtrack album. Several original pieces of music from the film are catchy and quite danceable, though I suspect there just wasn't enough material for a full album.
I was unable to find figures for the film's production budget, but it only grossed $6.25 million domestically in theaters; not an auspicious figure, to be sure, even for thirty years ago. It has continued to earn revenue since then however, being a staple of sci-fi and adventure-based programming on a variety of television channels.
Buckaroo Banzai, despite its 80s fashions and obvious cheesiness, remains relevant to this day in terms of its exploration of sci-fi themes. Well worth the time to track down, it's a fun film to watch and has developed into a cult classic. Even today Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension is frequently part of the film offerings at sci-fi conventions, and attracts both veteran and novice viewers. This year marks the 30th anniversary of its release, which makes it even more timely to find a copy for viewing.
***
On an unrelated note, I wanted to mention that I've been invited back to Geek-Kon again this year as a special guest. My schedule isn't finalized yet, but I know for sure I'll be involved in the "Game With the Guests" charity event on Friday night. Check out the Convention/Event Appearances tab on my home page for updates and further details.
The first time I saw The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension, was at Wiscon in February or March of 1986. I sat down with a friend to watch it in the film room, and was instantly hooked by its quirkiness, the fun dialogue, and the imaginative story. I came out of the film room only to find someone had stolen my coat and hat from the easily accessible coat rack; walking home in subfreezing weather was decidedly less fun.
Directed by W.D. Richter and written by Earl Mac Rauch, the story concerns the exploits of a scientist/musician/genius/celebrity, Buckaroo Banzai, and his band of associates. He and his crack team of scientists discover a way to travel between dimensions, and this attracts the attention of the world. A group of aliens, the Red Lectroids, stranded on earth since the 1930s and masquerading as high-tech defense contractors for the US Government, find Buckaroo's inter-dimensional travel inspiring; they've been trying to develop similar technology themselves in order to return to their home planet (Planet 10) and seize control, having been deposed by the more numerous Black Lectroids.
The cast is a pretty stellar list today, though back then most of them were relatively unknown actors: Peter Weller in the title role; Jeff Goldblum, who had already appeared in The Big Chill and would have a subsequent role in Silverado; Ellen Barkin co-stars as Buckaroo's love interest, but her role seemed forced, as if the writers felt they needed a female lead but weren't exactly sure what to do about it; John Lithgow, in perhaps his most over the top performance ever, plays the chief villain of the piece, whose backstory is possibly more complicated that the script itself.
Also appearing in this film is a veritable who's who of character actors: The late Vincent Schiavelli (Batman Returns, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest); Clancy Brown (Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption, Starship Troopers) in an all-too short role but with a dramatic death scene; Christopher Lloyd (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Back to the Future, Addams Family) does his usual great turn as an alien; veteran voice actor Carl Lumbly (perhaps best know as the voice of Martian Manhunter in the Justice League Animated Series) also as an alien; Dan Hedaya (The Addams Family, Alien Resurrection) as another alien; even comedian Yakov Smirnoff gets into the act, playing a vaguely Kissinger-like Secretary of State.
Despite an obviously low budget, the film is put together well. The pacing is near perfect, the various performances are entrancing, funny, weird, and delightful, and the premise itself was highly creative. Buckaroo relies heavily on his cohorts for support and even rescue, making this far more of an ensemble cast than it would appear to be at first. The sets are low-budget as well, but they work, and are believable and not distracting. The production design for the alien technology was fascinating and highly inventive, delivering a view of beings that are totally alien to humans quite successfully.
One thing this film was full of is background activity. When in the lair of the Red Lecrtroids, one hears recorded, inspirational messages over the loudspeakers, exhorting the workers to work hard and be loyal to their leader. There is even the classic "Watermelon" scene, a reference to a bizarre bit of set decoration, that is quoted endlessly by fans far and wide. These factors give the film strong rewatch value, as there are constantly new things to discover.
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension had an interesting array of cross-marketing ideas attempted, including comics books and a variety of tchotchkies and knick-knacks, none of which seemed to catch on. Today graphic novels expanding the exploits of Buckaroo and his band, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, are readily available and reasonably popular - especially for a thirty year-old film franchise with no new films or TV series to help drive sales. The only thing I wish had been produced but wasn't is a soundtrack album. Several original pieces of music from the film are catchy and quite danceable, though I suspect there just wasn't enough material for a full album.
I was unable to find figures for the film's production budget, but it only grossed $6.25 million domestically in theaters; not an auspicious figure, to be sure, even for thirty years ago. It has continued to earn revenue since then however, being a staple of sci-fi and adventure-based programming on a variety of television channels.
Buckaroo Banzai, despite its 80s fashions and obvious cheesiness, remains relevant to this day in terms of its exploration of sci-fi themes. Well worth the time to track down, it's a fun film to watch and has developed into a cult classic. Even today Buckaroo Banzai: Across the 8th Dimension is frequently part of the film offerings at sci-fi conventions, and attracts both veteran and novice viewers. This year marks the 30th anniversary of its release, which makes it even more timely to find a copy for viewing.
***
On an unrelated note, I wanted to mention that I've been invited back to Geek-Kon again this year as a special guest. My schedule isn't finalized yet, but I know for sure I'll be involved in the "Game With the Guests" charity event on Friday night. Check out the Convention/Event Appearances tab on my home page for updates and further details.
I'm a Convention Guest!
Along with a TON of talented people, I'll be a guest at Geek-Kon this year in Madison, Wisconsin, August 22-24. Besides speaking on a number of panels, I will also be refereeing a Zombie Dice tournament as part of the "Game With The Guests" event on Friday night of the con.
The tournament is simple. Basic rules of Zombie Dice will be followed with one major exception: As this event is a fundraiser for the convention's charity, Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin , players will be able to "buy off" one shotgun blast per turn at a cost of $1 each. All money so collected goes straight into the kitty for Second Harvest so bring plenty of $1 bills if you plan to join in the fun!
The tournament is expected to last three to four rounds (depending on the number of participants), and the winner will walk away with the respect and admiration of everyone at the convention for triumphing in such a prestigious event. Seriously, there aren't any prizes, but it should be a great time. Many thanks are due to Steve Jackson Games for providing Zombie Dice sets and score sheets to help facilitate this event.
For more information on Geek-Kon, click HERE .
My Geek-Kon Schedule
My schedule as a guest of Geek Kon has been finalized. Here's where I'll be and when:
Friday (August 22)
Slingin’ Dice: An Intro to RPGs (Bodden, Pavao) – La Crosse – 7:00-7:50pm
Gaming with the Guests – Tabletop Gaming Room (Salons D & E) – 8:00pm to 10:00pm
I'll be running a ZOMBIE DICE Tournament, with, like, prizes and stuff!!! Hopefully, I'll also get to play Nanuk, or other cool games, after the Zombie Dice tournament wraps up.
Saturday (August 23)
Gaming Industry Panel (that needs a clever name) (Bodden, Kovalic, Pavao) – Green Bay – 12:00pm to 12:50pm
How to Live your Life as a Writer (Bledsoe, Bodden, Valentinelli) – Green Bay – 6:00pm to 6:50pm
Sunday (August 24)
Build-a-World Game Show (Bledsoe, Bodden, Jones, Pavao, Valentinelli) – Mendota – 12:00pm to 12:50pm
Using Humor in Writing for Various Mediums (Billany, Bledsoe, Bodden) – Geneva – 2:00pm to 2:50pm
A lot of wonderful, talented people will be guests at Geek-Kon. You should show up and talk with them. There will be TONS of fun things to do: Gaming! Comedy! Music! Anime! Cosplay! Discussions of Cannibalism! And more!
Geek Kon is held at the Marriott Madison West in beautiful Middleton, Wisconsin. This year, the convention dates are August 22-24. For more information on the Kon itself, check out their website: http://www.geekkon.net/
The Steamy Motor City Affair
The author with Sarah Hans, author, editor, and all-around snazzy dresser
I just returned from Motor City Steam Con in Livonia, Michigan, and man, are my gears tired.
Motor City Steam is a first-year convention with a Steampunk theme. This was my first time taking my enthusiasm for Steampunk out of state, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The appeal of Steampunk for me is twofold. First, I love seeing the outfits people come up with. Steampunk is, at it’s heart, alternate history. Because of this, for someone (or a group) to say that something-or-other isn’t Steampunk is pure arrogance and elitism. On the other hand, I do love seeing people who make an effort, rather than just throw on their favorite renfaire outfit and go to town. Second, I’m fascinated by...
To read more, please visit:
http://billbodden.com/2016/07/25/the-...
Back From Gen Con -- With News!
Last week I attended Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana, along with 60,000 of my closest friends. I was working the Onyx Path booth during the show, and had a great time. It was wonderful to catch up with friends -- many of whom I hadn't seen in a year or more -- and to enjoy some excellent meals together.
I was excited that several books to which I had contributed were present and still relatively new at the show. First up, in the same booth in which I was working, was...
To read more of this post, please visit
http://billbodden.com/2016/08/10/back...
"World" Fantasy -- Apparently Not For Me, Either
I've been contemplating attending the
World Fantasy Convention
for several years now. It's more or less a trade show for writers, editors, and artists in the field, and is expensive to attend. Also, as a nobody writer, it's been made clear to me that this is a highly clique-ish endeavor; it's where a lot of business is done, and the implication I've always taken away from discussions with people who have attended is that you have to be outgoing and gregarious to make any headway. I'm not those things, so despite hearing from many sources that attending could be good for my writing career, I think I'd do poorly under those circumstances.
More importantly, there's been a very recent dust-up this year about...
To read the rest of this post, please visit http://billbodden.com/2016/08/17/worl...
More importantly, there's been a very recent dust-up this year about...
To read the rest of this post, please visit http://billbodden.com/2016/08/17/worl...
