Confluence 2022: Post Con Report

As I mentioned in my last post, I attended Confluence in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this last weekend.

For those who’ve not heard of Confluence, this is a small convention run by Parsec, a SF&F organization out of the Pittsburgh area. I’ve been going for years now, both before I became a writer and after, and have always enjoyed myself. I’ve made some great friends and gotten some great ideas from other writers. I highly recommend it to those interested in literary SF&F.

I should note for health reasons, I didn’t attend much of the convention’s functions this year. Hopefully next year I’ll be able to spend more time in the consuite with my good friends Lara and Nan!cy. BTW, Lara runs an excellent consuite. Kudos and more kudos!

My first and only panel on Friday was with Elektra Hammond and discussed the way fandom has spread out and possibly schismed. We discussed the role of the internet in increasing our connections to different fandoms and each other. Also well-noted, one of our attendees mentioned that a great deal of fandom seems to have become tied to specific shows or books, rather than genres. Not sure it’s a problem, but it’s definitely an aspect of modern fandoms.

Saturday morning I spent at the signing table with Brandon Ketchum and chatted with various convention goers, including some old friends whom I hadn’t been able to see earlier this year thanks to my own personal bout with Covid. I also got to pet one of those friends’ new puppy, so there was that.

My first Saturday panel with Geoffrey Landis, Stephen Fisher and Darrell Schweitzer, discussed Science Fiction and Fantasy Classics from 1972, which proved fascinating despite the fact that I was the baby on the panel at 58-59 years of age. The others had been heavily into the genres at the time and had some excellent insights into what it was like to be in on the early days of Ben Bova’s editorship of Analog and such.

Had a Kaffeklatch right after the 1972 panel where I and my co-host Charles Oberndorf had an excellent discussion on writing and writing processes with my good friend Nan!cy Janda. Got an idea from that on what to do with a short story idea and generally enjoyed shooting the bull.

My last Saturday panel was with Mary Soon Lee and Lesley Wheeler, where we discussed the influence of classic fantasy on modern works. We had a great audience for that and discussed everything from older mythology and folklore to Tolkien and CS Lewis. Great fun!

Sunday I attended Timons Esias’ talk on logistics in fantasy writing and why writers should take them into account. As always, Timons’ panel was funny and informative, with anecdotes ranging from Alexander the Great to General Philip Sheridan’s efforts in the Civil war. It certainly emphasized the old saying about how an army marches on its stomach… about two days out and two days back at best. Watch those supplies!

My final panel was a reading in the Solstice Room, which I did alongside Mary Soon Lee, who read from several of her short stories and had us all chuckling throughout. I read from the beginning of my upcoming book, The Bookhunters: Apprentice.

All in all, I had a great con and am looking forward to next year. With the strong hope that our current health crisis will have lessened, if not gone away entirely.

 

Thanks to Confluence staff and my good friends from Pittsburgh for helping to make the experience an excellent one!

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Confluence 2022

I am happy to announce that I will be a panelist at Confluence 2022 this coming weekend. If you’re there and want to meet me, here’s my schedule:

Friday 3 pm: Fragmentations of Fandom: The Multiple Fandoms in the SF Community [Commonwealth West]

Elektra Hammond, Barbara Doran, Hanne Madeleine Gates Paine

Over time, “SF” has spawned many sub-genres, many of which have their own sub-genres, and each has its own fandom. But often the fandoms of related genres have little overlap. Is this just evolution? What are we losing, if anything, to this fragmentation? How do you find “new” fandoms you might enjoy?

 

Saturday 11 am: Autographing [Near Registration]

Brandon Ketchum, Barbara Doran

 

Saturday 1 pm: It Was Fifty Years Ago Today: The SF and Fantasy Year 1972 [Commonwealth West]

Geoffrey Landis (M), Stephen Fisher, Darrell Schweitzer, Barbara Doran

The 1973 Hugos (for the year 1972) featured a number of classics, even among the losers (https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1973-hugo-awards/). The same was true of the Nebulas (https://nebulas.sfwa.org/award-year/1972/). What was great about that year, and what still holds up today (and what doesn’t)?

 

Saturday 2 pm: Kaffeeklatsch [225]

Charles Oberndorf, Barbara Doran

 

Saturday 4 pm: Looking Backward: Classic Fantasy and Its Influence on Current Fantasy [Commonwealth West]

Lesley Wheeler, Barbara Doran, Mary Soon Lee (M)

How has the fantasy of the past influenced today’s fantasy? How have the kinds of influence (thematic, stylistic, etc.) changed?

 

Sunday 12:30 pm: Reading [Solstice]

I will be reading from the first book my upcoming series, The Book Hunters: Apprentice, hopefully coming soon!

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At last an update!

It’s been a bit, hasn’t it?

Pandemic plus lack of conventions to attend has made this blog a bit on the quiet side. But there’s light (dim, possibly a train) at the end of the tunnel and I have new books to talk about!

First, I finished the Wu Dang trilogy with Exile of the Wanderer and Return of the Wanderer. The first details Yixiao’s adventures in Gold Rush California, wherein he fights an evil sorcerer bent on using him as a tool for power. The second takes Yixiao back home to China, where he assists five cultivational masters in dealing with their ancient enemy.

To top it off, Airship 27 is publishing the Wu Dang Trilogy as an Omnibus, so if you haven’t gotten any of the books, you can get all three at once, complete with a gorgeous new cover by Ron Davis!

 

 

 

 

 

In other news, I have a Patreon where – for $1/month – you can see chapters of other works and short stories. You can also see my commentary on writing for $3/month and join my Discord special channel for $5/month.

Also, my next trilogy – The Book Hunters series – is 2/3rds done! Keep your eyes on this blog to hear more.

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Confluence 2019 Schedule

I will be at Confluence July 26-28, in Pittsburgh PA. Come on down and see me and other fine writers and artists!

Friday, July 26

9pm: Best of the Decade: The Best of Recent SF Movies and TV (Commonwealth West) Stephen Fisher, Frederic Durbin (M), Barbara Doran, Tim Liebe

 

Saturday, July 27

11am: Before the Boom: Fantasy Before the Seventies Explosion (Commonwealth West) Darrell Schweitzer, Barbara Doran (M), Stephen Fisher, Andi O’Connor, Nancy Janda

Fantasy publishing exploded in the mid-1970s, but there were a number of major works before then, from writers like E.R. Eddison, Mervyn Peake, C.S. Lewis, and others. Lin Carter brought many into print with the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series. What are the best of the pre-1970s fantasy?

1pm: Fantasy in the 21st Century: The Best of Recent Fantasy (Commonwealth West)  Brenda Clough, Tamora Pierce, Barbara Doran, A.M. Rycroft

There are a number of newer fantasy authors who dominate the fantasy world, though a few old hands still remain a strong presence. What are the best recent fantasies?

2pm: Autographing  Barbara Doran, Andi O’Connor (Lobby)

5pm: Reading  Barbara Doran (Solstice)

 

Sunday, July 28

11am:    Using History and Mythology in SF and Fantasy (Commonwealth East) Brenda Clough (M), Shannon Eichorn, Barbara Doran, Wendelin Gray

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InConjunction 2019 – a brief report

This year’s InConjunction started off with a lovely conversation with Paula R. Scott-Franz, a local to Indianapolis felter, artist and employee of the Indianapolis Art Museum. We spent the hour talking about art and discussing what it’s like to be a Fan of Color. Paula and I agreed we’d like to see the panel moved to a Saturday and possibly include more panelists. Maybe next year?

I also found time that evening to hit a few blocks around in Beat Saber. (Thanks to Augmented Realities and InConjunction for having VR in the game room!) Love that game so much.

Saturday was a blast. I got about three breaks over the course of day, with a two hour panel on independent publishing, an hour on traditional, independent vs self-publishing, two separate readings, a panel on plot vs character driven writing, a panel on world-building and a panel on odd television shows. (I did find time to eat and check up on my Phantom Raider.)

Another game of Beat Saber rounded off the evening. No panels on Sunday so I and my Partner In Crime slept in, spent a bit of money in the dealer’s room and headed off for home.

All in all, another great con. Looking forward to doing it again next year!

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InConjunction 2019 Schedule

Another year, another nice round of panels at InConjunction!

Friday, July 5

  • 3pm : Fans of Color Shaping your Future in Fandom.
    Barbara Doran , Paula Scott-Frantz

Saturday, July 6

  • 10am:  Independent Publishers on Indie Publishing
    Marian Allen , James Barnes , Barbara Doran , Kimber Grey , T. Lee Harris , J Welin
  • 12pm: Publishing… Self-Publishing vs. Small Press vs. Traditional Publishing
    John F. Allen , James Barnes , Bryan Donihue , Barbara Doran , T. Lee Harris ,
    Lou Harry , R.J. Sullivan
  • 1pm: Reading: Battle/Action Scenes
    Matthew Barron , Sara Deurell , Barbara Doran , Kimber Grey , T. Lee Harris ,
    J Welin
  • 3pm:  Reading: Favorite Fun Chapters
    Marian Allen , Sara Deurell , Barbara Doran , E. Chris Garrison , Kimber Grey
  • 4pm: Writing Panel: Plot Driven or Character -Driven, do we have to choose?John F. Allen , Matthew Barron , Sara Deurell , Barbara Doran , Keri Goble Billick ,
    T. Lee Harris
  • 6pm:  World Building for Authors and Game Designers
    Sara Deurell , Bryan Donihue , Barbara Doran , Keri Goble Billick , T. Lee Harris ,
    R.J. Sullivan
  • 8pm: Weirdest Television Show I Love(d)
    Barbara Doran , TammyJo Eckhart PhD
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Concoction 2019 Schedule

It’s that time of year again! Meet me and my books at Concoction 2019 in Cleveland!

Fri:
7pm: Writing a Novella Series —Presidential Boardroom
9pm: Favorite Creatures: Good, Bad, and Badass—McKinley B

Sat:
11am Author Showcase (M)—McKinley A
12am: autographing—Grant A
6pm: Doctor Who — the unfolding story (M)—Pegasus

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Pulp Mythology V1

Pulp Mythology: V1

Wesbster’s dictionary defines “Myth” as a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.  A collection of myths is a mythology.

Now Airship 27 Productions brings you four such tales of wonder and imagination as distilled through the minds of today’s New Pulp writers. Stories handed down before the written word that still mesmerize and entertain us.

“This book was inevitable,” explains Airship 27 Productions Managing Editor, Ron Fortier. “After doing our series of Sinbad the Sailor anthologies, we always felt there was a market for pulp flavored stories inspired by classic mythological heroes. Once we put the word out, filling this first volume took no time at all.”  In these pages you will find such eternal heroes as Hercules, Achilles, the Monkey King and Beowulf in classic adventures courtesy of Jaime Evans, Joel Jenkins, Barbara Doran and Fred Adams Jr.

Clayton Hinkle provides the black and white interior illustrations and Zachary Brunner the cover featuring a battling Hercules. In PULP MYTHOLOGY, ancient thrills are made new again and legends live forever.

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERATION!

Now available from Amazon in both paperback and on Kindle.

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Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective V12

SHERLOCK HOLMES: CONSULTING DETECTIVE Vol 12

Airship 27 Productions is thrilled to announce the release of the 12th volume in their internationally recognized bestselling series, “Sherlock Holmes – Consulting Detective.”

Why do people cheat, rob and murder?  Why are people tempted to commit dark deeds?  These are the questions that have always plagued the great detective, Sherlock Holmes. In this, the 12th Volume of the best selling series, Consulting Detective, he and his faithful companion, Dr. Watson take on five new cases that will challenge their intellect and lead them through the twisted minds of nefarious souls.

“The demand for our new Holmes mysteries has never waned since we began the series almost ten years ago,” says Airship 27 Productions Managing Editor, Ron Fortier. “And in that time, those devoted Holmes fans have recognized the consistent quality of both our stories and art featuring Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous characters.”

All the art for this volume was provided solely by Airship 27 Productions own, award winning Art Director, Rob Davis. For the first time in the series, Davis delivered detailed pencils only for each illustration and also produced the stunning color cover. “This one is clearly a collector’s item,” Fortier smiles. “Fans of the series are not going to be disappointed.”

From chasing after a notorious confidence man to solving the death of a twin; a stolen tattoo or a murder of a bride before her wedding day, writers I.A. Waston, Barbara Doran, Fred Adams Jr. and Brad Mengel have produced truly remarkable mysteries  guaranteed to keep Holmes and Watson fans up late night.

As ever, the game is afoot!!

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERATION!

 Available now from Amazon in paperback and on Kindle.

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Wu Dang – Fist of the Wanderer

Wu Dang: Fist of the Wanderer

Available at Amazon

Airship 27 Productions is thrilled to announce the release of Barbara Doran’s latest action adventure pulp thriller; Wu Dang – Fist of the Wanderer.

1848 Shanghai. Chinese martial arts master, Yi Xiao, is summoned before his grandmother, Madam Lang. His lookalike cousin, Yi Zhu, is next in line to throne and must reach his dying father to rightfully claim the title of emperor. But an army of assassins is on the hunt for the prince. It is Madam Lang’s plan to convince them Yi Xiao is the royal heir and have him flee the country; destination San Francisco.

And so Xiao embarks on his journey aboard an American schooner piloted by a Captain Burton. But before setting out, he is discovered by a lovely young girl named Gan Han who knows his true identity. She is a master of her family’s Lotus Blossom fighting technique is obsessed with fighting Xiao to prove its superiority over his own style. In the end, he is forced to bring her along, though he adamantly refuses to fight with her. All Xiao seeks is spiritual contentment in achieving his Dao.

 Once again Barbara Doran weaves a fanciful adventure merging two different cultures against a unique moment in American history. Hawaiian based Gary Kato provides the interiori illustrations and Art Director Rob Davis the cover to this fast paced adventure. Wu Dang – Fist of the Wanderer is an adventure filled with danger, comedy and magic you soon won’t forget.

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTIONS – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERATION!

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