Something Better Than KeeneCon This Way Comes…
For the last decade, long-time readers have heard me talk about one day hosting a ‘KeeneCon’ — a convention for you, the readers, where I’d sign your books and we’d all hang out and there would be other authors on hand whose work you could learn about, and movies, and games, and other fun stuff. I’d always envisioned it as a cross between a horror convention and An Evening with Kevin Smith.
Last year, I decided that KeeneCon would indeed be held in 2014. We launched an official Twitter page, and behind the scenes, I lined up a hotel and a few celebrity guests. But then the Scares That Care charity asked me to be involved with their 2014 convention. Scares That Care helps families of children with things like cerebral palsy, leukemia, neuroblastoma, burns, and other maladies. Anyone who’s even a casual reader of this Blog or my Twitter feed knows that I am actively and vocally involved in two causes above all others — children and veterans. Needless to say, Scares That Care’s mission is one that resonates with me, and I’m proud to be involved with them. (It also helps that I’m long-time friends with several of the board members, and I trust them implicitly).
Anyway, I’ll be running the Author Programming at their 2014 Scares That Care Weekend convention, which will be held next year, June 27 – 29 in Williamsburg, Virginia. And that’s why I’m not doing KeeneCon next year. I’d much rather you guys come to this convention instead of KeeneCon, because this is a much more important cause. All of the convention’s proceeds will go to the families that need assistance. Scares That Care is an organization that has no salaries, and no paychecks. I’ve lined up some incredible authors to sign for you and answer your questions (and yes, I’ll be signing and chatting with you, as well). There’s also an amazing array of actors, actresses, and other celebrity guests lined up (the majority of which have not been announced). Watch for those announcements, as well as announcements for when tickets go on sale, on the convention website.
Until then, please make vacation arrangements now for June 27-29, 2014. Because, quite simply, this is going to be the greatest horror convention ever, and if you miss it, you’ll kick yourself later on.
And if you’re still not convinced, watch this 6-minute tour of the hotel, guest-starring me (and it’s even got a Marvel movie-style Easter egg after the final credits).
See you there!
