Michell Plested's Blog, page 9

Learnings from the 2018 Calgary Horror Con

Learnings from the 2018 Calgary Horror Con   I went into the Horror Con unsure what to expect. I’ve almost gone as a vendor twice only to have things fall through at the last minute. This year I was committed and I’m glad I was because I learned a couple things while there. I did not make the same mistake here that I did at the Comic Expo; I didn’t bring six cases of books. Instead, I brought one and bit, reasoning I could always bring more if I ran out. As it turned out, I brought enough having a few copies of most books left to sell when I went home. That wasn’t the important learning. What was can […]

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Calgary Horror Con 2018

I had so much fun at the Comic Expo I decided to do the Calgary Horror Con this year too. I will be at the convention (June 2 -3) featuring my Scouts of the Apocalypse series. Of course, I will be bringing the Scout badges too.

Calgary Comic Expo 2018 – Post Mortem

The Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo is over for another year. I say this with a certain amount of regret and relief. Contradicting emotions? You bet! I went into the expo this year not quite sure what I had signed up for. It was my first time on the Exhibitor-side of the table this year. I had pulled together items (my Scout/Zombie badges) specifically for the expo. I ordered more of Scouts of the Apocalypse: Zombie Plague so I wouldn’t run out too soon. I was prepared, darn it! Or was I? The Good Simon Rose was a great table partner. We have known each other for more than a decade and worked well together. Many times during the expo you […]

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Calgary Comic Expo 2018

Calgary Comic Expo 2018 – A new Frontier On Thursday I’m setting up for the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo 2018. I will be there from Thursday April 26th through Sunday April 29th. I’ve attended as a fan several times. I’ve even thought about getting a table before but I just never quite had the nerve to pull the trigger. I always had excuses: the tables are too expensive, I don’t have enough books. Then a fellow author and I talked about sharing a table. I could go without breaking the bank, I reasoned. When everything was confirmed, my mind really started to work overtime. What else could I take to sell that might draw people in? Merchandise Old and […]

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World Building – It’s the Little Things

World Building – Small Details Make It World Building consists of lots of big ideas interspersed with many smaller ones. Those ideas can be cultures, characters and places. But what about the small little bits you don’t really notice? I am a big fan of superheros (probably not a surprise to any of you). I love watching shows like The Flash on television. The little details they put in to make their world feel real are part of what I adore about the show. One example, the favorite coffee shop is CC Jitters. Another would be the Big Belly Burger. Are either of those elements important to any plot line? Nope. Do they give the characters something important to talk […]

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GalaxyBillies 2 is Almost Finished

One of my projects you may only have a peripheral view of is my GalaxyBillies book series. The first GalaxyBillies was a podcast novel that I eventually ported over as a Wattpad exclusive title. I’ve always wanted to write more in that universe and, approximately a year ago, I started writing GalaxyBillies 2, also for Wattpad. As a book that has no contract and doesn’t stand to earn any money on Wattpad, it has often had to take a back seat to my other projects. That’s why, more than a year later it is only just approaching completion. It is also more raw than my published works because, as I write a chapter, I post that chapter. It has minimal […]

First Book Signing of 2018

Book signings can be hit or miss. They often seem to involve lots of waiting for the first few hours and then people: (a) realize you are not a store employee, (b) realize you are not a serial killer, (c) realize that, as the sign says, you are an author and all the books in front of you are yours. You might think I’m being factitious but I have often had people: ask me where to find books in the store; ask me if the store carries certain titles; ask me if the books on the table are mine/were written by me. This is all despite signs that name me as a local author there for a signing. The serial […]

I Am Editing

If you are like me, you probably enjoy the act of creating new work more than the act of polishing it. I know there are people out there who LOVE editing their writing more than the actual writing itself. I do like the polishing, but with all the ideas in my head fighting to get out, the writing is still more enjoyable. But…unless the polishing happens, there can be no publication of stories. If there is no publication, then I’m not sharing my work with people and that is ultimately what I want to do. So, with two books at the editing stage, I am now hunkering down to get the polishing done. The current book I’m working on is Jack […]

Simon Rose Talks about “The Children’s Writer’s Guide 2”

I’m pleased to welcome back Simon Rose, author of fifteen novels and many nonfiction books for children and young adults. He’s also the author of eight guides for aspiring authors and has just released the second installment of The Children’s Writer’s Guide. So what’s this latest book all about? The Children’s Writer’s Guide 2 is ideal for writers not just of books for children and young adults, but also features information that’s applicable to writers in all genres. The first installment of The Children’s Writer’s Guide has a wealth of tips and advice, including suggestions regarding how to get started as a writer, dealing with writer’s block, conducting research, choosing appropriate names for your characters, the editing and revision process, […]

Let Me Tell You About My Character – Felonious Fenduke Filtcher IV

Felonious Fenduke Filtcher IV is one of my favorite character to write. Not because he is particularly intelligent (he is, but in a VERY insane sort of way) or handsome or strong. He is, however, a villain of the moustache twirling variety. Did I mention he is also insane? Felonious is the feature villain in the Jack Kane series co-written by JR Murdoch and myself. It is a real mashup of Steampunk, Superhero, Adventure, Comedy and probably a couple other genres. It is also hilarious (at least in my opinion) and so fun to write. Felonious comes from a very good family in England. In fact, his family was nobility until the American War of Independence from England. It turns […]