Memorial Day weekend is approaching, and that means two things: my birthday and ConQuest. I always have a lot of fun at the convention. I’ve met some good people there over the years, first as a fan and then as a writer. Last year, I took part in a bunch of panels. It was so much fun that I am doing it again.
Friday (May 27)
Writing Groups 3:00 PM: I’ve been a member of the LFK Writers Group for a few years. I’ve been a member of several others in the past. We will be talking about different types of writing groups and what sort of things you may want to look for in a good group. I’ll be on the panel with other members of the LFK Writers Group.
Writing Prompts 5:00 PM: Myself and the other writers who contribute to The Confabulator Cafe come up with writing prompts every month. I personally use several different techniques in order to generate story ideas. We will give suggestions, take suggestions, and maybe even come up with some prompts on the spot. This will also be with the LFK Writers Group.
Horror from the Headlines: Current Events as Inspiration 8:00 PM: Is there anything scarier than the evening news? Current events can be good fuel for horror stories, but they can be a double-edged sword. We’ll talk about using headlines for inspiration and some of the pitfalls that you need to avoid. I will be joined on the panel by Orrin Grey, Sean Demory, Kristin Helling, and Jim Yelton.
Saturday (May 28)
Publish Like the Pros 10:00 AM: Independent Publishing is booming due to e-books and technological advances, but there is still a lot to learn if you are tempted to take the plunge. Bottle Cap Publishing will talk give tricks and tips for creating a professional product and promoting it as such. I will be joined by Kevin Wohler, Sara E. Lundberg, and R. L. Naquin.
Reading 2:00 PM: I will be reading from my next novella Mama’s Little Boy, as well as “Assholes with Guns,” my short story that appeared in The Literary Hatchet and will be in my next collection Whispers and Proclamations.
Film Adaptations: The Best and Worst 6:00 PM: My first writing love was not fiction, but screenwriting. These days, film adaptations are Hollywood powerhouses. Some are good and some are really, REALLY bad. We’ll discuss adaptations that succeeded as well as those that failed. I will be joined by Orrin Grey, Robin Wayne Bailey, and Dora Furlong.
Sunday (May 29)
Navigating the World of Short Story Submission 11:00 AM: Short story submission is a scary thing. You send your work to strangers, and you often get rejected by them. We’ll talk about how to find markets, submit to them, and how to deal with both acceptance and rejection. I’ll be joined by Lou Antonelli, Jude-Marie Green, and Tom Trumpinski.
The Big Three of Weird Tales 3:00 PM: In 279 issues, from 1923 to 1954, Weird Tales Magazine helped spur a resurgence of dark fiction. Powered by mainstays such as Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and H.P. Lovecraft, the magazine became a major influence for the future of weird fiction and featured a large number of legendary writers. We will discuss the “big three,” their legacy, and what readers can learn from them today. I will be joined by Orrin Grey and Donna Munro.
It should be a fun weekend. I’ll even have a few copies of All Manner of Dark Things for sale if folks are interested. Check out the full line-up on the official Conquest website. Or you can skip straight to the programming schedule. I look forward to seeing you all there.
