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Semi-Final Capclave 2013 Schedule

No Comments » Written on September 16th, 2013 by
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The fine folks at Capclave have posted their program schedule here. Here’s what I know regarding my own small piece of it:

Friday, October 11th
5:00 – 5:25 p.m. | Frederick | Reading
Since it’s up for the WSFS small press award, I’ll probably read from my short story, “Coca Xocalatl.”

Saturday, October 12th
10:00 – 10:55 a.m. | Salon A | Moving Beyond the Small Press
A look at how small presses in the age of the eReaders – where anyone can be a publisher – have their limits, and what to do when you’ve hit them. There is also the additional pressure of performing on a higher level. Listen to panelists describe what to do when you have plateaued with your own independent publisher, and what lies ahead if or when you step up to corporate publishers.
With Philippa Ballantine (M), Ron Garner, and Michael A. Ventrella.

1:00 – 1:55 p.m.| Author’s Hallway | Author’s Table (M)
I’ll be here for nearly an hour, with an assortment of books from Paper Golem, hanging out chatting, signing things if you have things for me to sign, and so forth.
Me and Barry.

3:00 – 3:55 p.m.| Salon A | Life and Death of the Shared Universe
Why did these become so popular? What about Wildcards and others made them survive? Can the Internet revive this form? Or is its demise a victory of art over commercialization?
With Iver Cooper (M), Meriah Lysistrata Crawford, Bob Greenberger, and Annette Klause.

7:30 – 8:25 p.m.| Salon A – E | Mass Signing
The Saturday evening mass autographing session with *everyone*.

8:30 – 9:25 p.m.| Salon A – E | Awards Reception and Presentation
For the second year in a row, I’m up for the WSFS Small Press Award. Will this be my year? Who knows?

Sunday, October 13th
9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. | Rockville/Potomac | Agents and You
Agents are very important to authors. Sometimes you have a great match from the beginning, other times the situation changes. Hear the experiences of authors at different stages in their careers.
With Tom Doyle, Emmie Mears, and Michael Swanwick. Oh, and I’m moderating.

10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. | Salons CDE | Hand Waving or Sci-fantasy?
Many classic Science Fiction authors didn’t spend a lot of time describing the technology or science of their futures. Things worked, but if you look more closely, they may not make sense. Today authors still use this technique. Is this a legitimate form of science fiction or lazy writing? Have the standard furniture of sf — the FTL drive and time machine — become so common the author does not need to explain them, just use them for a story? Do all the details and the scientific equations get in the way?
With David Bartell, D. Douglas Fratz, Inge Heyer, and Jamie Todd Rubin. And again I’ll be moderating.

Of course the convention is still nearly four weeks away, and it’s likely there’ll be some changes to the schedule. I’ll keep you posted.

Eating Authors: Jonathan Maberry

No Comments » Written on September 16th, 2013 by
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Jonathan Maberry

Today I have the pleasure of telling you about another of the incredible authors living in the greater Philadelphia area. When I say that Jonathan Maberry knows how to kick ass, I do so both literally and figuratively. His early writings were nonfiction, books on martial arts training that drew on his own experience and expertise (he holds an 8th degree black belt in Shinowara-ryu Jujutsu). When he was ready to write fiction, he began with Ghost Road Blues (the first book in his Pine Deep trilogy), and took home the Bram Stoker Award for best first novel.

His Joe Ledger books are a series of bioterrorism thrillers, starting with Patient Zero, that include a bioweapon that transforms human beings into zombies. Jonathan’s Benny Imura series combines YA and SF, offering up a teenage boy, Benny, growing up in the remade world that exists after the zombie apocalypse. It began with Rot & Ruin, and the fourth volume, Fire & Ash, came out just last month.

Jonathan’s also written comics, movie novelizations, and nonfiction books on folklore and the occult. He’s also one of the founding members of The Liars Club, a group of (mainly) Philadelphia area professional writers. And today he’s here to share what may be the most incredible of all the meals we’ve seen on this blog.

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Eating Authors: Michael R. Underwood

No Comments » Written on September 9th, 2013 by
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Michael R. Underwood

I think I first met this week’s guest, Michael R. Underwood, when we attended the Detroit-based convention Immortal Confusion last year. We’d shared a hotel room (and that’s all I’ll say about that because, you know, what happens in Motor City stays in Motor City). Since then, I’ve had a chance to read his first novel, Geekomancy, and let me just say, here’s an author who is having himself way too much fun. Seriously, if you’ve been around the genre a while, wandering in and out of different types of fandom, then this book will tickle you in places you’ve long since forgotten about. It’s self-indulgent, delightful, thrilling, and best of all the sequel has already been published.

Michael’s a graduate of the Clarion West Writers Workshop, and one of the best endorsements for the program. Trust me, folks. This is a writer to watch!

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Farewell, Ann Crispin

No Comments » Written on September 6th, 2013 by
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Hard on the heels of the loss of Fred Pohl, word comes today that Ann Crispin has died. It was just over a month ago, when I dropped in at Shore Leave, that I saw her last.

I knew Ann as an author of Star Trek novels, a tireless workshop-runner, and more indirectly as a crusader for beginning authors over on the WriterBeware site.

The world has become dimmer with her passing. I will miss the generosity of her spirit.

A September 2013 Interview of Me

2 comments Written on September 6th, 2013 by
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Well, I’m finally home from the joys of Texas, thank you very much.

In celebration of this, I awoke to email from Lucy Pireel, who informs me that the interview she did with me some weeks back has gone live on her blog.

So, if you missed hearing me bloviate in San Antonio, or felt you didn’t get quite enough, check it out.

Here’s the link: http://lucypireel.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/featured-author-lawrence-schoen/.

Farewell, Fred Pohl

No Comments » Written on September 2nd, 2013 by
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Word has come that Frederik Pohl died earlier today, at the age of 93.

Years ago, when I was attending James Gunn’s writers’ workshop, I had the great pleasure to have dinner at the University of Kansas’s Faculty Club. Present were James Gunn, Kij Johnson, Chris McKitterick, Betty Hull, and Fred Pohl. The conversation was witty and bright, the food quite good (it was the first and thus far only time I’d ever tasted “pheasant under glass”).

I’d met him once or twice before that, back when I lived in Chicago, right after I’d started the Klingon Language Institute, most notably at one of the first conventions where I spoke about Klingon.

His contributions to the field of Science Ficiton, as author and editor, cannot be overstated. But I’ll always remember him as the fellow sitting down the table from me when I was eating my pheasant.

Eating Authors: Paul Cornell

1 Comment » Written on September 2nd, 2013 by
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Paul Cornell

This week’s segment of EATING AUTHORS is going live on the last day of LoneStarCon3 (aka the Worldcon, baby!), and is extra special because our guest is none other than Paul Cornell, who just happens to be the convention’s Toastmaster!

Paul is one of those writers who writes everything. He’s written for several British television dramas, including Robin Hood, Primeval, and Casual+y. He’s written for comics, such as Fantastic Four, Batman and Robin, and Wolverine. He’s written books, such as his new urban fantasy London Falling. And when it comes to writing Doctor Who, Paul has done screenplays, audio plays, novels, and comics.

Not surprisingly, I’m writing this up before the Worldcon, but I have to say I wouldn’t be even blink if a sonic screwdriver plays some part of the convention’s opening or closing ceremonies. You know?

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Lawrence’s mid-LoneStarCon3 Update

No Comments » Written on September 1st, 2013 by
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Welcome to September, and Day Four of the Worldcon. Here’s where you can find me for the next two days:

SUNDAY:
11:00 a.m. (Art Show) – Art Show Docent Tour K
The K stands for Klingon. I’ll be leading confused convention attendees through the show, giving them my perspective on what speaks to a Klingon warrior’s heart. I’m told I will have a balloon tethered to my wrist (you know, just like they do on the Klingon homeworld).

1:00 p.m. (Conference 4, Rivercenter) – Writers’ Workshop Section Q
Matthew Johnson and I will be providing critique to three brave writers. Note: this is not a spectator sport. Only the five of us will be there. But, hey, I thought you’d want to know about it.

5:00 p.m. (007B, Convention Center) – First Contact Without a Universal Translator
Karl Schroeder, Paige E. Ewing, and I will be taunt the audience with our ideas of how to go about making alien contact without any common language elements.

MONDAY:
9:00 a.m. (Lobby, Rivercenter – or maybe Riverwalk?) – Strolling with the Stars
My second stroll of the convention. Start your last day with a gentle walk while you chat with such luminaries as James L. Cambias, Shanna Swendson, Howard Tayler, Mel White, David Boop, Toni Weisskopf, Gini Koch, and John Berlyne. Pose for a photo with Barry too, because he loves you!

12:00 p.m. (Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center) – Literary Beer
Sign up to come and hang out with me (and Barry) for an hour and watch me drink a diet coke. I’ll be brining an extra plush buffalito with me to this event and it will go home with one lucky attendee!