I'mmmmmm back! 01/15/2012
 
Forgive me followers for I have not opined; it’s been  over a year since my last blog session.  Thank you, thanks very much – I’m in town until next Tuesday.  Try the jumbo shrimp.

The hardest thing about (re-)starting a blog is coming  up with a timely topic.  There have been no shortage of political developments since November 2010 and I’ve even had a few new writing adventures.  E-books appear to have turned the corner and become the last big thing.  Heck, I even have a second grandson to brag about, not to mention countless exciting trips here, there and
everywhere.

I guess I’ll have to make this a regular thing – along with Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook.  As Leslie Winkle might say – ‘call me.’

Maybe the best place to start is to say why I stopped and why I’m back. Unlike smoking or collecting Christmas music, quitting a blog is remarkably easy.  It requires a conscious decision to blog, you have to go someplace special to do it, and there is some effort involved – blood, sweat and tears even if only occasionally in the literal sense.  Yes, blogging is like going to the gym – you know you should and you feel good after but it doesn’t take much to keep you away.

So it wasn’t you dear followers – if any of you are still there – it was me.  When I started to blog, I could find nothing to say.  And when I was full of outrage, insight and wit, I was often away from a keyboard (or too full of wine to properly use one).

So what has changed?

New year – new attitude. Don’t get me wrong, this is not the result of a resolution.  As a friend of mine used to say: Goals are for hockey players.  

However, 2011 had its share of trials and tribulations.  It also had a number of real breakthroughs, professionally on several fronts and personally as well.  I’ve decided that 2012 is a good time to translate all my dreams into reality. With the Mayan apocalypse pending (which I refuse to dignify with a hyperlink), I’m running out of time.

My own personal apocalypse may be a little farther off but, believe it or not, I expect to retire in six or seven years.  Though I won’t be plunging into the abyss any time soon, I should soon be able to see it on the horizon.  Neat – no more dentists; no more back pain.  Given my somewhat dissolute life –graduate school, 12 years in the arts during my (supposedly) most financially productive years and a general failure to settle down – retirement will be more pewter-coloured than golden.  Que sera, sera.

So, my goals this year are simple.  Increase my income now so I can ensure my security (yes, I still do believe in that word despite how twisted it has become since the ‘spooks’ got a hold of it) for the future. And find a way to transition successfully from part-time writer and full-time policy wonk to full-time author and part-time grumpy old man.

My revenue plans are my own affair but as to the rest:

I’ve got a new mystery novel I’m in the process of having critiqued so I can begin marketing this spring.  And I’ve started work on the sequel.  Set in Paris.  Which justifies going there.  Again.

I’ve an old SF novel I am furiously re-writing to have ready at the same time.

I’m editing a collection of short stories for Bundoran Press– both for the fun of it and to put another arrow in my quiver.

I’m beginning the process of finding an agent – not easy but I’m getting good advice.

And I’m going to 5 conventions this year to help me market myself and my projects.

And I’m Facebooking, Linking, Tweeting, and yes, blogging!  Watch for me here or over at http://eastblockirregulars.wordpress.com/with other members of my writing group. I may not manage once a week – but I’m aiming for more than once a month.
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SFContario 11/11/2010
 
I’ve had my schedule for SFContario for some time – but I’ve just been too busy to get it posted.

SFContario is the new science fiction convention being held in Toronto November 19-21, 2010.  Hope to see you there.

Sat. 10 AM – Ballroom BC
Short stories and Novellas; Where’s the love? Sure, we say we love reading shorter works, but it’s the novels that sell, and awards for
shorter fiction tend to go to successful novelists. Why don’t short stories and novellas get more respect? (Stephanie Bedwell-Grime(M), Leah Bobet, Michael Swanwick, Hayden Trenholm)

Sat. 11 AM   – Essex Hallway   Autograph session

Sat. 1 PM – Courtyard
Keeping the Science in Science Fiction The technology of a story is critical to any work of science fiction. How does a writer keep the science believable and interesting in order to maintain the enthusiasm of the reader? How do you make unrealistic science, FTL drives, time travel etc., believable to the reader without reversing the polarity of the tachyon beam and rerouting it through the deflector dish? (Dr. Alex Pantaleev, Robert Sawyer(M), Alison Sinclair, Hayden Trenholm, Robert Charles Wilson)

Sat. 3 PM – Ballroom BC
Exposition versus Character At a Clarion workshop, Michael Swanwick said "All writing is about finding the correct balance between dinosaurs and sodomy," referring to the balance between science (setting/exposition) and fiction (characters and plot). John Campbell argued that too much character got in the way of the science. Was he right? How should authors balance these aspects of a story? Has this changed over the history of science fiction? (Ed Greenwood, Violette Malan, Robert Sawyer. Caro Soles, Hayden Trenholm (M))

Sun. 11 AM – Ballroom A
Writing the Future A lot of people seem to think the future will be like the past but with better gadgets. How do you create a credible near future (up to 50 years from now)? What things are likely to change and what will stay the same? Technological and scientific change are important but they aren't the whole story. How do you incorporate probable or possible changes in the environment, economy and politics, culture and social mores into a believable future? (Madeline Ashby, Ira Nayman, Dr Alex Pantaleev, Hayden Trenholm(M), Robert Charles Wilson)

Sun. 1 PM –  Gardenview          Reading from Stealing Home

 
Ad Astra 04/13/2010
 
I spent the weekend at Ad Astra, the annual Toronto SF convention now its twenty ninth year.  I’ve been a regular attendee the last six or seven years and it’s always fun to see my many friends.  Often it’s the only time I get to see many of them so I try to make the best of it.

Rob Sawyer and Carolyn Clink generously offered Liz and I accommodation in their condo, along with Buffalo friends Herb Kauderer, Isabelle Fournier and Al Katerinsky.  Rob and Carolyn were staying at the Con hotel this year as he was one of the Guests of Honour.

Liz decided to spend the evening visiting her son, Steve, his wife, Amanda and their son James while I trundled off to the convention.  I only had one panel Friday evening: “The Electric/Alternative Car.”  My fellow panellists, Al Katerinsky and Stephen B. Pearl were lively and knowledgeable and we had great input from our audience of about 15 or so.  Then it was off to the party rooms where I had a chance to talk to lots of folks, including aurora-winning author Doug Smith, David Nickle (Monstrous Affections from Chizine Publications) and Chris Jackson, author of Scimitar Moon.

Saturday was a busy day and began with a panel called “Each Character’s Voice.”  I was joined by authors Grant Carrington, Karin Lowachee, Kate Story and Gregory A. Wilson.  I learned a few new techniques for keeping characters distinct and shared a few of my own tricks of the trade.  There was a good turnout for a Saturday morning and I think people generally were both entertained and informed.

I had a nice lunch with members of my writing group – Peter Atwood, Matt Moore Derek Kunksken and their partners/children.  After lunch I chatted with Rob Sawyer, Rick Wilber and Nick DiChario for fifteen minutes or so before heading off to my next panel, another science topic: “The Energy Mosaic: Why we don’t need to freeze in the dark.”  Al and Stephen from my first panel were joined by Don Shears.  The room was packed and the sun was shining through the south facing windows, so none of us had to worry about freezing that day!  The general conclusion was that we needed to move forward as quickly as we could with alternatives to fossil fuels (especially coal) but that success would largely depend on economics and government policy.

The most fun I had was participating in “The East block Irregulars,” which consisted of the six members of my Ottawa writing group, the three mentioned above plus Liz Westbrook-Trenholm and Marie Bilodeau.  We chatted to a small but enthusiastic crowd about the pros and cons of writing groups and how we think our formula – professional, ambitious and dedicated writers all at the same level with a focus on the writing rather than the group – works well for us.  It was a very comfortable session and reminded me again how much I like all these people.  An autographing session followed where I got to share a table with fellow Bundoran author, Matthew Johnson.  We both sold a few books and had some nice chats with fans.

That evening Liz and I had supper with Herb, Isabelle and Al, along with poet and punster, David Clink.  We ate at the Mongolian Grill and the food and the company were both great.  We checked in at a few parties – notably the one for the new Toronto Con, SFContario, which will take place this November.

Sunday started way too early with a 10am panel called “Writing the Future,” with Matthew Johnson and award-winning writer, Karl Schroeder.  Another good crowd listened while we described how we crafted credible futures by projecting current trends and predicting possible shifts in technology, economics, the environment or social mores.  Next, David Stephenson and I talked to a small group about the after math of the Copenhagen climate change conference.  My last event of the day and the Con was a reading (time shared with Marie Bilodeau) from my new novel, Stealing Home, the first public presentation of the material.  It was nice to see Nick Matthews who gave a great review to Steel Whispers. Then it was good-byes all around and the long drive back to Ottawa.