See You In Roanoke

February 22, 2016 at 12:53 pm

Next weekend I will be heading off to MystiCon, in Roanoke, Virginia, where I’ll be a Guest of Honor. A new con for me, and a new part of the country (it’s been on my schedule since 2013).

They have a website at http://mysticon-va.com/ with a list of all the other guests — but, alas, it says there that they are sold out, so if you’re not signed up, you may be out of luck.

I am looking forward to spending some time with old friends there, and to making some new ones.

Truth be told, I need a good con just about now. I am tired and I am stressed, and I am so so so sick of the toxic rancor that more and more seems to characterize the internet.

So… let’s raise a few glasses and have a few laughs at MystiCon, and try to remember why we love science fiction, fandom, and each other.

Tags: convention, fandom, travels

Off to DC

October 8, 2013 at 10:55 pm

Off to Washington tomorrow morning. See you all at Capclave.

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Tags: convention, travels

In Memoriam

July 25, 2013 at 9:45 am

For those of you who were not able to come to San Diego for Comicon… or get into Hall H for the GAME OF THRONES panel… here's the video that kicked off the proceedings, a tribute to all those we have loved (or not) and lost during the first three seasons of the show.

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Seen all together like that, it does make me seem rather a bloody bastard, doesn't it?

In my own (feeble) defense, however, let me point out that Irri, Rakharo, the Thirteen of Qarth, Xaro Xhoan Daxos, Mago (not seen in the video), and Pyat Pree are all still alive and well (more or less) in the books as of the end of A DANCE WITH DRAGONS. Like the guys in Spinal Tap, David and Dan do like to turn things up to 11.

Robb's wife is alive in the novels too, but Jeyne Westerling is an entirely different person than Talisa Maegyr with an entirely different fate. Ros does not exist in the books, but of the characters she replaced, Kyra is dead, but Chataya and Alayaya are still around.

As to where we go from here… season four is coming, and no one is safe on GAME OF THRONES.

Not even those who you think might be safe for another book or two, from reading my novels.

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Tags: a song of ice and fire, comicon, convention, game of thrones

Chicon Looms

August 28, 2012 at 8:53 am

We’re off to the airport in a couple of hours, on our way to Chicago for worldcon.

And I’ve got some great news for the GAME OF THRONES fans who will be joining us there… HBO is sending in our own late, lamented Ser Rodrik Cassel, RON DONACHIE, and his lovely wife to represent the series at the con.

Ron tells me that he’ll be glad to sign autographs, do interviews, kaffeeklatches, and whatever, and I’ve passed that word along to the concom. It’s late, of course, and the program book is already at the printers, but they should be able to add him to some program items. Watch the daily newsletter for updates on that.

Looking forward to seeing him… and all of you.

Worldcon! Accept no substitutes.

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Tags: convention, game of thrones, worldcon

Land o’ the Flea, Home o’ the Plague

August 14, 2012 at 11:57 am

So… I have already posted my schedule for the worldcon in Chicago (see below), but I neglected to mention that the next con on my schedule is actually our hometown convention, Bubonicon, down the road in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Land o’ the Flea and Home o’ the Plague, as con mascot Perry Rodent will be glad to tell you).

I will be at that one too. My schedule:

FRIDAY AUG 24

8:30 pm – READING (I will probably read from THE WORLD OF ICE AND FIRE) Acoma
10:30 pm – CHARITY AUCTION (will be donating various signed books and collectibles)

SATURDAY AUG 25

1:00 pm – HOLLYWOOD TALES panel w/ SNodgrass & Cassutt Salon E
5:30 pm – MASS SIGNING (all the writers at the con, defacing books)

SUNDAY AUG 26

12:15 noon – SIGNING (me and Brandon Sanderson, defacing books)

Of course, I will be hanging around the bar and cruising the parties as well.

Same rules as worldcon: always glad to meet you and converse, but I will sign stuff only at the designated signings on Saturday and Sunday. Thanks for understanding.

Bubonicon only draws about a tenth as many people as worldcon, so if you’re in driving distance of Albuquerque, there’s no better place to hang with your favorite writers and fellow fen. A link with all the necessary info can be found on my Appearances page.

See you there.

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Tags: convention, signed books

Home Again…

July 9, 2012 at 9:32 am

… for two whole days.

Had a great week teaching at Clarion West. A very talented group of young(ish) writers. You’ll be hearing from some of them in the next few years, I suspect. Assuming they want it badly enough. Persistance and hunger and a certain amount of luck are required to make it in the writing game, as well as talent. Anyway, I have left them to the not-so-tender mercies of Connie Willis, SFWA’s newest Grand Mis… er, Master.

Now I get to be home for those TWO WHOLE DAYS and catch up on a thousand emails.

On Wednesday, I am off to San Diego for Comicon. I go direct from there to Spain. Don’t expect a lot of posts here for the next month.

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Tags: convention, the writing life, travels, writing

Sorry, Brazil

February 12, 2012 at 5:05 pm

I was supposed to make an appearance yesterday at a fan festival in Brazil, taking questions from my Brazilian readers via the wonders of the internet.

Well, I did appear, kinda sorta:

Unfortunately, the internet proved less wonderous than promised. We were using Skype, and while everything was working fine on my end, down in Brazil the sound kept cutting in and out. I did get to say hello and field two questions, but I am not sure how much of my answers was actually heard. Every few seconds the proceedings would be halted yet again while they switched to a new computer, tried a new setting, fiddled with some knobs, or whatever.

We finally had to give up, defeated by technology.

Sorry, Brazil. One of these days I will have to try and make it down there in person.

I am sure Vince Gerardis filled in admirably in my electronic absence. None of this GAME OF THRONES stuff would be happening if not for him.

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Tags: convention, the internet

Twin City Fun

November 24, 2010 at 5:31 pm

If you skipped Days of Ice and Fire in the Twin Cities weekend before last — or if you were one of the folks who tried to get there and got caught up in that horrendous Saturday snowstorm — the good folks at Fantasy Flight Games have posted a report and some video highlights of the event. You can find them here:

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=1783

The video clip is also available on YouTube and iTunes.

The event was a great success, as was my Monday night signing at B&N. FFG knows how to throw a party, and I think all the attendees had a good time. I’m told that FFG is going to do it again next year, so mark down November 11-13, 2011 on your calendar for the second annual Days of Ice and Fire.

(No, I don’t know whether I’ll be able to return myself, but FFG will have a special guest there, be it me or someone else. Maybe more than one guest).

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Tags: convention, fantasy flight, gaming, wild cards

Memories of Semana Negra

August 9, 2010 at 8:20 pm

Just stumbled across these on YouTube, and thought some of you whackaroonies might get a hoot out of them.

Here’s me having entirely too much fun at Semana Negra two years ago:

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And here’s me still having fun at Semana Negra, and doing a panel with Scott Bakker and Paco Taibo II:

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Semana Negra — for those who don’t know — is an annual “literary conference meets a state fair” held in Gijon, a colorful seaside city in the north of Spain. Writers come from all over the world to talk about their books. Readers come from all over Spain to meet them and get those books signed. And thousands and thousands of other Spaniards come to ride the ferris wheel and tilt-a-whirl, drink the sangria, dine at midnight, play the games of chance, and party all night. I’ve been to two, and loved them both. Nothing like it!

(And believe it or not, Gijon also sports a world-class pizza place, called Vesuvius).

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Tags: convention

Not a Blog

See You In Roanoke

Off to DC

In Memoriam

Chicon Looms

Land o’ the Flea, Home o’ the Plague

Home Again…

Sorry, Brazil

Twin City Fun

Memories of Semana Negra

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