Phil Giunta's Blog, page 13
July 18, 2022
My Curtailed Convention: Shore Leave 42 After Action Report
I couldn’t have asked for better weather for my drive to Shore Leave 42 SF Convention in Hunt Valley, MD. Due to construction on Route 78W, I took Route 222S to 30W and finally to 83S. This brought me past Adamstown, PA on Route 272.
Renowned for being the “Antiques Capital of the U.S.A.,” Adamstown is also the home of Out of This Word Collectibles (formerly the Toy Robot Museum) owned by my friend, Joe Knedlhans. Although my wife and I had already scheduled a visit with Joe in August, I thought it would be fun to pay a surprise visit (as well as stretch my legs and fill up the tank for the rest of the trek).
As always, it was fantastic to see Joe and his collection of 2,000+ toy robots from the past 50 years. I only wish I’d had time to roam the antique shops along “the strip,” but Shore Leave beckoned and after about 30 minutes, I was back on the road.
I arrived at the Hunt Valley Marriott Delta Hotel around 4:30PM. My first stop was the con’s COVID checkpoint table, which was set up outside the hotel. After showing my ID and vaccination card, I was given a green paper wristband. This permitted me to go inside and collect my con badge and program book. So far, so good… until it came time to check in to my room.
A few days before the con, a severe thunderstorm had knocked out the power and the hotel’s computers (it also brought down trees and branches all over the back of the property). As a result, the line at the reservation desk stretched through the lobby and out the door. It took me about an hour to check in, dripping with sweat the entire time. Hardly an auspicious start.
Friend and Farpoint con-chair Sharon VanBlarcom texted me while I was waiting but by the time I checked in, schlepped all of my stuff up to the room, showered, and taken a power nap, it was nearly 7PM. So I brought dinner back to my room and wrote for a few hours before gathering my books for Meet the Pros at 10PM.
Horse on wall keeps staring at me!Attendance at Meet the Pros was low compared to previous years, but provided a wonderful opportunity to chat with several friends I hadn’t seen since 2019. I shared a table with Scott Pearson with whom I traded hilarious stories of our experiences with the late and legendary Harlan Ellison. By the end of the two hours, we had each sold five books. Not too shabby, given the smaller crowd.
Photo credit: Bob Greenberger
After packing up, I stayed around for a few minutes to chat with fellow writers Richard White and Kelly Meding. That’s when Bob Greenberger snuck up behind me, planted a smooch on my cheek, and ran off. The man is nefarious! Michael Jan Friedman on the other hand limited himself to hugs.
Afterward, I went to the bar to hang out with some of the other writers and had an interesting conversation with David Mack during which he recalled a keynote speech he gave at another conference a few years earlier. In his speech, David compared the writing life to a wheel. Sometimes, you’re on top and it feels wonderful. Then the wheel spins and grinds you into the ground. The key is to stay on the wheel. Don’t let go. When you let go, that’s giving up.
Never. Give. Up.
A short time later, I had a similar conversation with fellow writer Derek Tyler Attico who reiterated the importance of staying in the game. In both cases, this was advice I needed to hear as I’ve been burned out in recent months while trying to balance writing with other obligations.
My panel schedule was light this time around. I thought I had added my name to more than three panels prior to the con, but that was all I had. On Saturday, I moderated a discussion about self-editing called “Always Submit Your Best Work.” Panelists included David Mack, Chris Ochs, and Joshua Palmatier. We discussed everything from developmental editing to line editing, from reading your work aloud and the importance of rhythm and cadence to the value of critique groups.
Keith DeCandido and his wife Wrenn Simms reserved the McCormick Suite at 5:30PM for an author dinner with food from Andy Nelson’s BBQ on York Road. All writers were invited. Food and company were fabulous and it was the perfect opportunity to catch up with friends I might have otherwise missed during the weekend. This is a wonderful community and I’m proud to be part of it for nearly 30 years.
The dinner was followed by a brief memorial to writer David Galanter who lost his battle with cancer in December 2020. By 8PM, I decided to retire to my room and relax for the rest of the evening so as to avoid any further potential exposure to COVID. I was already seeing people posting alerts to Facebook from their contact tracing apps stating that they were near someone who recently tested positive for COVID. No Masquerade or 10-Forward for me this time.
Of course, I knew the risks of attending, but those alerts worried me enough that I left the con by 11AM on Sunday morning after notifying two of my co-panelists. I hated to do that, but I didn’t want to risk my health any further.
I’m sure the celebrities were wonderful as always, but I didn’t see any of them. That’s odd coming from someone who, for 25 years, collected autographs and photo ops from hundreds of actors at cons. I was also an avid memorabilia collector who hunted through the dealer rooms for SF treasures both vintage and new.
About three or four years ago, I lost interest in all of that and now, it’s strictly the time spent with friends and fellow writers that draws me to cons. Well, that and selling my books, of course.
Unfortunately, there were many complaints both in conversations and online regarding the condition of the hotel. The Hunt Valley Delta is in dire need of repairs and renovation. There was no AC in the hallways and only one elevator in service. A chair in the bar was broken. Decorative cabinets in the hallway across from the elevators had cracked and broken doors. Weeds were growing in the gutters and parts of the roof required attention. In my room, the hot water in the bathroom sink was little more than a trickle and there was white paint speckled all over the wallpaper and vanity. I couldn’t figure out what they’d painted. The drop ceiling?
Of course, none of the above is a reflection on Shore Leave. Con chairs Inge Heyer and Don Ramsey and the entire Shore Leave team did a fantastic job as usual, and spending a weekend with friends after two years apart was good for my soul.
As I roamed the hotel, my thoughts turned to those who had left us since we last gathered. Shore Leave dedicated a few pages in the program book as a memorial to them. There were also a number of con veterans who, for one reason or another, chose not to attend this year. Some had tested positive for COVID. Others were concerned about exposure. Their absence left the weekend feeling “off” to me.
Nevertheless, despite my curtailed convention, I enjoyed my 26th Shore Leave and look forward to returning next year!
I didn’t have much of an opportunity to take pictures of the many wonderful cosplayers this year. The following are just a few that were captured by others at the con.
Photo Credit: Shore Leave
Photo Credit: Shore Leave
Photo Credit: Derek Tyler Attico
Photo Credit: Shore Leave
Photo Credit: Shore Leave
Photo Credit: Shore Leave
Photo Credit: Derek Tyler Attico
July 12, 2022
Beach Secrets Book Launch After Action Report
What do the Lewes History Museum and the Lewes Public Library have in common? My wife and I were at both this past Saturday. Of course, it’s easy when the two are adjacent to one another.
The main reason for our visit to Lewes, DE was the official launch of Beach Secrets, the latest anthology by Cat & Mouse Press, and a celebration of the publisher’s 25,000th book sold. The library provided a wonderful venue and the launch was well-attended.
Nearly half of the writers from the anthology were on hand, myself included, to sign copies and socialize. Cat & Mouse owner and editor, Nancy Day Sakaduski, her husband Joe, and the folks at Browseabout Books did a fantastic job of organizing the event. Fellow writer Donald Challenger provided some light background music. Beach Secrets marks my fourth story published with Cat & Mouse across three anthologies including Beach Nights and Beach Pulp.
The highlight of my day occurred near the end of the book launch when another fellow writer, Renee Rockland, made a point of telling me how much she loved my story, “Limited Time Offer” in the Christmas anthology, Over the River and Through the Woods (Year of the Book Press, 2019). If you’ll pardon the cliché, that was the icing on a sweet cake!
And speaking of cake…
As always, there is cake at the Cat & Mouse book launches!
Donald Challenger on the guitar, ladies and gentlemen!
Cat & Mouse Press owner and editor Nancy Sakaduski (far left at table), signs books for readers.
Fellow Cat & Mouse Press author Dave Cooper has had stories in at least three beach anthologies including Beach Pulp, Beach Dreams, and the latest, Beach Secrets.
Fellow writer Jim Gallahan has had stories in two Cat & Mouse Press anthologies including Beach Pulp and Beach Mysteries.
Cat & Mouse Press author, Nancy Sherman.Some pictures from the Lewes History Museum below. It is an impressive collection of artifacts and information about “The First Town in the First State.”
July 11, 2022
My Shore Leave 42 Schedule
Shore Leave 42 SF Convention is just days away! Where discussion panels are concerned, they went easy on me this year. I have only three, but I will also have a table at Meet the Pros book fair on Friday night and will otherwise be drifting around the con, attending other panels and socializing.
Here’s my schedule for the weekend. Stop by and say Hi!
Friday, July 15, 10PM to Midnight – Meet the Pros (Valley Ballroom)
Saturday, July 16, 1PM to 2PM – Always Submit Your Best Work (Salon F) with David Mack, Joshua Palmatier, Phil Giunta, Ian Randal Strock, Christopher D. Ochs, Susan Olesen
You wrote a fantastic story, but you should still take the time to review and polish it: trim those pesky “-ly” adverbs, zap your crutch words, revise pas- sive voice, or simply fix typos. Panelists offer advice on self-editing.
Sunday, July 17, 10AM to 11AM – Writing Post-Lockdown (Salon F) with Richard C. White, Phil Giunta, Lorraine J. Anderson, Heather E. Hutsell, Diane Baron, Christopher D. Abbott
Everyone’s world changed during lockdown. What changes to your writing style/schedule/structure have stuck, and what new ones have emerged since restrictions have begun to fade?
Sunday, July 17, 1PM to 2PM – We Like ‘Em Short (Derby) with Laura Ware, Sherri Cook Woosley, John Coffren, Phil Giunta, Michael Jan Friedman, Jenifer Rosenberg
Authors who primarily or only write short fiction discuss their chosen niche. Are short stories only “warm-ups” for eventual novel writing? How does the craft differ when you’re writing short? What markets are available for short fiction—and can you make a living at it?
June 18, 2022
About This Writing Stuff…
This week, Anne R. Allen warns us against career-killing marketing tactics, Ruth Harris shows authors how to build a better bio, and Beth Barany provides strategies for developing characters and plot.
At Writer Unboxed, Kathryn Craft offers sage advice on handling copy edits while over at the Kill Zone, James Scott Bell helps us determine when our book is ready for prime time.
Angela Ackerman explains how to use setting as more than a mere backdrop and my favorite article of this batch is Lauren Sapala’s timely (for me) discussion of the paralyzing stress that can occur when writers become too “attached to outcome.”
All that and a little more. Enjoy!
How Bad Marketing Can Destroy Your Author Brand, Lose Friends, and Influence Nobody by Anne R. Allen
How to Plan, Write, and Develop a Book: Word Count Goals for the Three Acts of Your Novel, Memoir, or Non-Fiction Book by Mary Carroll Moore
6 Ways Your Author Bio Can Help You Sell Books by Ruth Harris
Top Digital Marketing Takeaways from U.S. Book Show 2022 by AJ Jack via BookBub
Copy Edits: To Challenge or Concede? by Kathryn Craft
When Is Your Book Ready to be Published? by James Scott Bell
7 Essential Tips to Plan Your Novel Like a Pro by Beth Barany via Anne R. Allen
Serialization Rights for Traditional and Self-Published Authors by Matt Knight at Sidebar Saturdays
Publishing Contracts 101: Beware Internal Contradictions by Victoria Strauss at Writer Beware
Setting Description Mistakes that Weaken a Story by Angela Ackerman
Stressed About Your Writing? What’s Really Going On (and How to Get Over It) by Lauren Sapala
June 4, 2022
Pass a Microsoft Exam, Buy a Car…
I’m excited and relieved to report that on Tuesday, May 31, I passed the second of three Microsoft exams toward my Enterprise Administrator Expert certification. After taking the next week off to remind myself how it feels to have a life, I’ll begin studying for the third and final exam. If all goes well, I’ll schedule that for the end of July.
Later that same Tuesday, after months of research into various midsize SUVs, I traded in my 16-year-old Hyundai Santa Fe for a 2019 Hyundai Tucson. I’m still learning all of its “bells and whistles” and while it’s only a four-cylinder engine (where the Santa Fe was six), the Tucson is a smooth ride with excellent handling.
Pass a Microsoft exam, buy a car!
So what’s new on the writing front? Unfortunately, not much since the time I had previously dedicated to writing is now consumed by taking Microsoft courses and studying for exams.
However, I managed to complete a new ghost story in April called “Where the Skeletons are Buried” involving Miranda Lorensen, my psychic-medium character who was last seen in my 2018 novella, Like Mother, Like Daughters and her ghost hunting team introduced in my 2013 novel, By Your Side. Work with these characters again was like reuniting with old friends. “Where the Skeletons are Buried” is being shopped around.
I’m also re-outlining the next full length novel involving Miranda and her team. One of the original plot threads, while compelling, gave me pause in light of our current sociopolitical climate. The more I developed that part of the story, the greater was my discomfort. So, I scrapped it and am moving in a different direction.
Lastly, I’m waiting on responses about two different short stories from two different editors and a publisher that accepted a detective story from me last year for publication this year has completed their move from Delaware to California and should be ramping up their operations again in July.
Stay tuned for more updates on these projects.
May 21, 2022
About This Writing Stuff…
This week, screenwriter Taika Waititi weighs in with morsels of screenwriting (and storytelling) wisdom. Leigh Shulman explains the value of sensitivity readers while Allison Williams provides guidance on the effective use of social media. Speaking of which, Philip Athans ponders how much writers need to reveal about themselves online.
Over at Career Authors, Erin Flanagan offers guilt-free advice for those burned out on writing and Paula Munier reviews the rules on POV and how to break them with authority.
All that and a lot more. Enjoy!
Craft a Killer Fantasy Premise Using Good versus Evil by Amy Wilson
What Do Our Readers Need to Know About Us? by Philip Athans
Sweet Emotion by James Scott Bell
10 Pieces of Screenwriting Wisdom from Taika Waititi by Ken Miyamoto
Hiding Your Villain in Plain Sight by Sarah Penner
Being the Boss of Your Author Business by Karen A. Chase
The Daring Writer’s Guide to Point of View by Paula Munier
Burnt Out on Writing? 5 Tips for a Productive Break by Erin Flanagan
Nine Ways to Describe Your Viewpoint Character by Chris Winkle
Writers, Stop Using Social Media (Like That) by Allison Williams via Jane Friedman
Don’t Self-Publish a Book Before Answering These Crucial Questions by J.J. Hebert
Ten Years of Self-Publishing (2012-2022) by Alliance of Independent Authors
What to Expect When Hiring a Sensitivity Reader by Leigh Shulman
April 22, 2022
About This Writing Stuff…
This week, Kathryn Craft offers guidance on adding foreshadowing to your manuscript while Anne R. Allen strongly advises writers to appoint a social media executor.
At the Write Practice, Michelle Renee Miller offers a few time management methods for writing on a busy schedule and Joe Bunting lists ten book writing strategies that, in his opinion, are doomed to fail. I don’t agree with all of them, but his arguments are persuasive.
Kristen Lamb speaks out against the latest trend of reading ebooks in their entirety and returning them for a refund. She also takes to task writers for purple prose, crutch phrases, and other forms of filler.
All that and a little more. Enjoy!
Foreshadowing: A Revision Skill to Love by Kathryn Craft
Exploit Your Hero’s Flaws by Jim Dempsey
10 Book Writing Strategies that End in Failure by Joe Bunting
3 Foolproof Ways to Write With a Busy Schedule by Michelle Renee Miller
What is Rhythmic Writing? by Sue Coletta
Tolkien on the Importance of Fantasy and Science Fiction by Jonny Thomson
Literary Larceny & Why People Should Be Ashamed by Kristen Lamb
Fiction Filler: Bloated Writing Makes Readers Sick by Kristen Lamb
Why Every Writer Needs a Social Media Executor by Anne R. Allen
The Indie Writer Book Launch Guide Part I and Part II by Scott Semegran
March 31, 2022
Yet Another Technology Certification
My writing schedule has been, and will continue to be, curtailed while I study for another technology certification. In this case, Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator, which requires that I pass three exams. The first of which was completed yesterday, earning me the nifty badge below.
Afterwards, I treated myself to a few hours away from my studies to add over 900 words to chapter five of my novel-in-progress and begin editing a short story I finished last week. After a minor home improvement project, I’ll jump back on the certification trail again.
Stay tuned for more writing updates as two of my short stories that were accepted last year will be published in the coming months and I’m waiting for a response on another story I submitted at the end of February.
March 28, 2022
Write Stuff Conference Recap
Many thanks to conference chair Charles B. Kiernan for inviting me to speak!
March 27, 2022
About This Writing Stuff…
This week, Anne R. Allen explains the need for sensitivity readers and the consequences of disregarding them. Also on Anne’s blog, Stefan Edmunds presents The Adversity Cycle as a method for storytelling.
On the Screencraft blog, Ken Miyamoto offers advice on how to secure a manager and agent for your screenplay and David Young shows us effective ways to describe our characters beyond mere physical appearance.
At Career Authors, Brian Andrews delves into methods for managing backstory while Erica Ferencik provides valuable guidance on navigating the writing life. Kathryn Craft and Barbara Linn Probst discuss ways to breathe life into our secondary characters.
All that and a little more. Enjoy!
Screenwriting Basics: How to Sign with a Manager (and Agent) by Ken Miyamoto
7 Unusual Ways to Describe Characters in Your Screenplay by David Young
The Difference Between Jeff Bezos and Me by Bradley Graham
The Adversity Cycle by Stefan Edmunds via Anne R. Allen
Writers, Do You Need a Sensitivity Reader for Your Book? by Anne R. Allen
3 Successful Strategies to Write a Short Story by Sarah Gribble
4 Tips for Writing Backstory by Brian Andrews
11 Hard-Earned Lessons from Three Decades of Writing by Erica Ferencik
Are You Drowning Your Story in Your Imagery? by Dave King
Secondary Characters Deserve a Life of Their Own by Kathryn Craft
Secondary Characters with Purpose and Pzazz by Barbara Linn Probst
