Laid Off

Blog No. 385

I feel like a real writer, and not because I’ve been managing to write every day since I sent Broadcast Wasteland to the printer. I’m now officially laid off from the day job for the foreseeable future. It’s, apparently, temporary. I have no reason to believe that it won’t be temporary, but this quarantine is going to last a lot longer than some people expect (especially when people won’t just stay home). I’m not sure how all the details with Employment Insurance and/or the federal aid will work out, but I’m sure I’m going to waste the rest of today working on it. I’m in a comfortable place right now, so I’m not terribly worried, but having some income coming in would make me feel better.

Tri-City Super Con

Blog No. 307

I can’t remember if I’ve been to Kitchener before. I know I’ve driven past it on the 401, I think I’ve driven through it before, and I know I have definitely been to Guelph. Last weekend was my first time spending any time in Kitchener. Usually, when I’m in another city for an event, there isn’t much time to do anything other than sit at the table (and occasionally check out other vendors) and grab a bite to eat before crashing at the hotel. Getting to do other things in the city is almost always a no go. There just isn’t enough time and often not enough money after paying for the table cost, hotel, gas, and food. There were a bunch of things happening in Kitchener, like the famous Oktoberfest, and while I didn’t get a chance to attend those festivities, I certainly felt the impact. Sadly, it was negative in nature.

Everything in its Place

Blog No. 262

Before I get talking about some behind the scenes of being a writer stuff (which is what this blog is really about) I wanted to remind everyone that the last ChiSeries of the year is happening tonight at Phog. It’s the Holiday Showcase Fundraiser and if it does well, we may insure keeping ChiSeries going in Windsor. A bunch of great local writers are donating a reading and selling their stuff, so it’s a great way to support them too. Also, my new book, All These Crooked Streets, will be available and two of the three authors will be on hand to sign it. Not a bad deal if you ask me. Hope to see you all there. Now back to the show!

What Remains After Shock Stock

Blog No. 233

What are these things?

It turns out that last year, I only got half the Shock Stock experience. That thought is leaving me reeling since the last time I was completely wiped out. The convention is busy, hectic, and a bit wild, and it goes for three days. What I found out this year was that when the day’s events end, the evening’s parties start. Boy, do those Shock Stock people know how to party. Since the convention was in a hotel this year, and nearly everyone was staying in that hotel, as soon as the day was wrapped, the parties started. Official, unofficial, after, after-after, and after-after-after parties went way latter than I could last. The entire hotel was overrun.

Location, Location, Location & Last Chance

Blog No 212

Hey! If you are reading this on Thursday, Dec 15th, tonight is your last chance to get a signed copy of No Light Tomorrow before Christmas! Christian and I will be at The Ford City Christmas Market slinging books and signing our names. The Illustrated Edition is available around town (and to order, and as an ebook) but there is no guarantee you can get that signed by either or both of us in time. I’m willing to meet up to sign a copy if you get one elsewhere, but I’m a busy guy and it’ll cost you (like a coffee or a beer or something). Christian’s even busier than I am (with two kids and all) so your best bet is tonight. It’s at the Heimet Windsor Banquet Centre on Drouillard Rd. Give the gift of reading. Give the gift that supports local authors, give the gift of weird science fiction. Give your loved ones a copy of No Light Tomorrow Illustrated Edition.

Bookapalooza!

Blog No. 209

I love road trips. Even taking a two-hour jaunt to London (Ontario) for a day sounds like a good idea for me. I love driving, I’m cool being a co-pilot, and I’ll even rock the back seat. I just enjoy the trip. Not sure if it’s the movement, or the moving, or what, but it’s a good time. Bookapalooza was my second out-of-town event ever and (it being in Whitby) the furthest one to boot. Needless to say, I was looking forward to the trip (even if I had to share a room with Christian).

Ben VS the Uncommon Cold

Blog No. 206

I work up on Sunday morning and knew something wasn’t right. My weekend had been the culmination of two solid weeks of work (no time off for good behaviour, or writing). Lots of terrible thing happened that had no choice but to be dealt with. Friday night was seven hours of crap that stuck to me through Saturday morning for my back-to-back shifts. While I managed to get a solid chunk of text written Friday morning, nothing was getting done on Saturday. As soon as I got home from my thankfully easier shift (minus having to mop the floors as the cleaners failed to do for the umpteenth time) I took a much needed nap and prepped all my stuff for Sundays RetroRama. No time for love Doctor Jones. I did my best to get to bed early Saturday night, knowing what was in store for me.

Even the Smaller Ones

Blog No. 195

Last weekend I was invited to Essex for a Farmer’s Market. Initially, Christian and I thought we were going to be at the Busker’s Festival in Walkerville, but that fell through. Somehow, as if by magic, the organizer of the Farmer’s Market called up Christian, asking if we’d like to get a table there. I’m not sure how things work out like that some times, but it seems to happen a lot with us. We’ll be wondering what to do in the coming month and be invited to an event, or another author will tell us about something we haven’t heard of yet. Most of the events are small, but that doesn’t matter much. Sometimes it’s nice to have an easy day filled with nice people.

Acting

Blog No. 185

As a young boy, whenever I enjoyed a movie (and I watched so, so many) I would spend the next few days imagining myself as part of the universe. It started simply as wanting to be the main character (who doesn’t want to be Indiana Jones?) but quickly developed into creating new characters and scenarios to add myself into. I would be an old buddy of Indy who is just as cool, but isn’t afraid of snakes (and could land the plane). It wasn’t about being in the movie, it was about being part of the story. It’s likely the root to all my storytelling desires. Before I figured out the key difference between being a character and an actor, I thought acting might be a good career. Not only do you get to be in movies, you get to have money, cars, and excitement. The dream of being an actor lasted a few months (at best). Who needs that kind of attention? Besides, it’s real work. Like hard work and long hours (and that’s when you’re successful). Though the dream died, my fantasies didn’t. To this day, I tend to daydream about what characters I would be in my favourite movies. It’s a good exercise and it excises the desire to make your characters too perfect.

Lights, Camera, Sell some Books

Blog No. 183

The fun never ends in the world of Adventure Worlds. This week is no different. This weekend is likely going to be the first high point of the year (after the book launch that is). Christian and I are packing up his car and heading for London Ontario to spend three fabulous (likely rainy) days at Shock Stock. The three day horror convention is the largest event we’ve been a part of. It’s also the longest, furthest, and most expensive. Not only is the table a pretty penny, but we are staying in a hotel to boot (oh la, la). Add on some food, a few drinks, and the money we’re likely to spend on other people’s tables, and we’ll be lucky to break even.