So now that the dust is settling from getting a house, I’m getting back into the swing of things on the writing front. The novel outline is slowly nearing conclusion, I’ve still a story in final consideration at a pro market (trying not to jinx it), and I’ve still an absolute mess of stories out there. So all is well.

Stay on the lookout for more fiction of mine appearing in both print and audio form; as always I’ll keep you posted here.
Funny enough — it looks like I’ll have tales out for at least Christmas and Halloween. Maybe I should have been in holiday decoration sales.

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The Vital Burden on Fiction Podcasters

I’ve followed with interest some of the recent news and internet chatter relevant to podcast fiction, of which I suppose I’m a pseudo-party of at this point, thanks to my fiction being in two podcast fiction outlets — Variant Frequencies and The Drabblecast.

I hesitate to say anything about some of my concerns with the podcast fiction community, because 9 out of 10 of the folks in it are good people, but for all the trail-blazing these brave individuals are doing, I have seen some things that make my skin crawl as far as personal behavior goes.

All I have to say is this: Please be professional. That means everywhere, to everybody, especially if they tell you your fiction is garbage, especially if they say something you don’t like. It’s customer service, and it stings, but you’re a salesman, first and foremost, and you’re building your customer service image. One of the things that has stunned me about the fiction community is people that are aggressive seemingly for the sake of being so. This baffles me. I wouldn’t buy many widgets from a widget factory that told me to kiss off when I commented on the color of one of their latest products. I see such behavior as nothing but counterproductive.

For those of you out front, being groundbreaking, especially in new media: I thank you deeply for helping our humble fiction abode with a nice shot in the arm. All of us waiting in the wings owe you a lot. But please, always represent well our bastard children called science fiction, fantasy, and horror. There are reasons the industry doesn’t take us as seriously as they could, and we’re the ones whose shoulders it falls on to improve said perceptions.

Stay tuned.

Woohoo! So that’s finally done, and I’m now a new resident of Duluth, GA. Stay tuned!

No, not electronically, but physically — I’m moving to Duluth, a suburb city in the ever-expanding asphalt amoeba called Atlanta. Just a heads up that things might be slow here for a few days while all gets settled.

Stay tuned.

So I did have a great time at this year’s DC, even if I only got to go for a single day. There were some great moments from the ‘Con. For one, I got to spend some time with Anne and Rick Stringer, who were still in glow from their Parsec win for Best Magazine or Anthology, for Variant Frequencies. This means VF has won a Parsec three years in a row.

I think the VF crew are a great example that humility and decency can accomplish amazing things. Anne and Rick, and Matt Wallace, are some of the nicest, most laid-back people you can ever hope to meet. This is doubly impressive given their accomplishments. I also found out Anne has a hard time listening to her own work. Say what? But again, that does reflect that humility.

I also got the chance to hang out with Norm Sherman and Kendall Marchman (hope I got that last name right), 66.6% of the creative team behind my favorite paying Podcast market, The Drabblecast. Norm put up with my ridiculous schedule that week, and in the end I am very grateful he did. Once again, another laid-back, humble group of guys. Did I mention they ran a story of mine earlier this year?

I also grabbed a hand-shake from Steve Eley, whom I’ve never met in person, and whose trifecta of podcasts was somehow passed over for the Parsecs. I truly don’t understand that. I had thought some of their work was outstanding this year. Ah, well. Steve’s a very welcoming guy and a natural host, with a very friendly wife. And his kid is friggin’ adorable.

Interspersed amongst this all I got to shake hands with Edward James Olmos, Michael Hogan (who seemed tickled-pink that Michelle and I love his performances), a host of other fine folks, and generally wander around in and amongst a cavalcade of art, culture, and costumed hilarity.

All told, a fine day, and very energizing for my writing. Take care, all of you out there!

So yes, I did get to go to Dragon*Con this year, effectively removing my need to wine and moan about not being able to make it. But a single day isn’t enough — next year, I’m going multiple days. I didn’t get enough time with the people I wanted to see.

I’ll post a true follow-up about my experiences at the ‘Con shortly. For now, let me just say it was a pleasure seeing all of you that I got to, and take care on your way home, and God bless.