Pros and Cons
I received invitations recently to serve as a panelist on two conventions, MALCon in August and Orycon in November. I suppose I will accept and attend. However, I have been considering whether or not I should.
Orycon 2018 Schedule
Orycon approaches. Time to mingle, share from my meager store of knowledge, and roam from room party to room party.
I received my schedule the other day. If you are in Portland during the convention, pick up a membership and come say hello.
| Fri Nov 9 4:00:pm | Fri Nov 9 5:00:pm | Story Pacing: Hurry Up, and Wait |
| Pettygrove | Speed the story up, raise the stakes, increase the tension — But not too much. Readers, like runners, want to keep moving fast but can’t go at a breakneck pace all the time. What are the techniques, large and small, to make you story roller-coaster a fun, exciting ride? | |
| David D. Levine Diana Pharaoh Francis Ken Lizzi Richard A. Lovett Wendy N. Wagner | ||
| Fri Nov 9 5:00:pm | Fri Nov 9 6:00:pm | Autograph Session: Friday 5pm |
| Dealers: Autographs | Authors and artists sign things | |
| Alma Alexander Ken Lizzi | ||
| Sat Nov 10 5:00:pm | Sat Nov 10 6:00:pm | Building an Extended Series |
| Pettygrove | Some readers want to immerse themselves into a series, rather than just a single book. They want to binge. And once your trilogy is done, then what? How to expand your literary universe instead of walking away from your book or short series forever. | |
| Joseph Brassey Ken Lizzi Mike Shepherd Moscoe Seanan McGuire Steve Perry | ||
| Sun Nov 11 10:00:am | Sun Nov 11 10:30:am | Ken Lizzi Reading |
| 152 Readings | Ken Lizzi reads from his works. | |
| Ken Lizzi | ||
| Sun Nov 11 2:00:pm | Sun Nov 11 3:00:pm | Consequences of Violence |
| Overton | Random groups wandering the countryside and slaying evil-doers are less likely to be seen as heroes than as murder hoboes. Our panel will discuss the mechanisms that real societies (and realistic fiction) use to limit violent actors. | |
| Crystal Connor Ken Lizzi Rory Miller S. B. Sebrick | ||
Full Weekend: OryCon AND a Birthday Party
My weekend was eventful. How was yours?
OryCon returned to (almost) its former site for the 39th installment of the convention. The Red Lion on the Columbia River was home to the first several OryCons I attended, beginning back in the late ‘80s. The Red Lion owned two hotels, bracketing I-5 with views of the bridge. The west side hotel hosted those early events. This year the convention returned from many years deep in the heart of Portland to this border hotel, facing across the river into enemy territory: Washington State.
Chugging Along Aboard the Publicity Train
I enjoyed a busy weekend selling books. Luck and scheduling set up back-to-back book signings, one Friday night, one Saturday afternoon.
I owe thanks to the Portland Things From Another World store and to Jan’s Paperbacks. Thanks for the table space and the event promotion. And thanks to those who came by and purchased a book.
More Doings
I know I’ve been writing a lot about my book promotion activities. Well, ‘tis the book promotion season. What can I say?
If we can all agree that this is necessary, then allow me to proceed with more.
Upcoming Appearances
A new book out means another opportunity to press the flesh, meet and greet, and…other rhyming euphemisms for marketing. Where, you ask, can you partake in such activities? Not every event is locked down yet, but currently I am scheduled for the following:
I will be signing copies of “Thick As Thieves” at Jan’s Paperbacks on Saturday, November 11. I believe that kicks off at 11 AM and runs until 2 PM. So, yes, that is 11 o’clock on 11/11. If only I could have managed this six years ago.
I will be at Orycon the 17th-19th of November. I’ll be around all weekend, but if you’re interested in getting a taste of “Thick As Thieves” I have a reading on Friday at 5:30. What do you think, should I begin reading Chapter 1 or pick a chapter somewhere in the middle?
There is more to come. This book won’t flog itself. But the above is what is currently on my plate. I hope to see you at one of these events (or more — hell, why not?) And if you can’t wait for a signed, why the book is available to purchase in print or digital right now.
Orycon 2016
And that wraps up another Orycon. Technically, as I write these words, the con is still ongoing in the sleepy manner of a con winding down on a Sunday. But it is over for me. I finished my last panel and drove home to help host the joint birthday party for My Beautiful Wife and the Heir Apparent. (Happy birthday, girls!) Before the guests arrive I’m going to write down some impressions of the convention.
Orycon 38 on the Horizon
Orycon beckons once again. The Portland science-fiction convention has asked me back as a panelist for the 2016 con, the 38th.
Looks like I’ll be given a reading. I wonder what I should read. Something from my next novel, perhaps? An older short story? Any suggestions?
I see I’m scheduled for an autograph session. If you find yourself at Orycon this year, drop by and say hello at Autograph Alley. I’ll be the one looking bemused and lonely behind a stack of books.
Seriously, if you are interested in meeting me at the convention, here’s my schedule for the weekend. I hope to see you there.
Autograph Session 2 Autograph Area (LL1) Sat Nov 19 1:00pm – 2:00pm Cait Spivey, Jeffrey Cook, Ken Lizzi
Underpinnings of World Building Salon A (LL1) Sat Nov 19 2:00pm – 3:00pmJennifer Brozek, John Ark, Ken Lizzi, Mark Ezell, Vannessa McClelland
Ken Lizzi Reading Hawthorne (2) Sat Nov 19 3:30pm – 4:00pm Ken Lizzi
Why Fantasy Matters Salon C (LL1) Sun Nov 20 12:00pm – 1:00pm Ken Lizzi, Lindsay Schopfer, Rhiannon Louve, Shawna Reppert, Shoshana Glick
Orycon 37 in the Rearview Mirror
That’s another Orycon is in the books. Another weekend a half step out of pace with the ordinary. I had a marvelous time. With the exception of my ill-fated attempt to watch a football game in the Fan Lounge, no one seemed to object to my presence. So that’s nice.
The panels I sat on appeared to have been well received. My theory is that if the panel is receiving questions from many of the auditors instead of just that one guy (you know the one, there’s always one) then you’ve held a successful discussion.
The dealers’ room once again provided bargains. You can’t always find a wide selection of quality paperbacks for a buck. But I always do at Orycon. The art show, as usual, provided clever, evocative, or downright beautiful treats for the eye.
I saw some friends, met several new people, enjoyed some amiable chats, and mingled my way through a variety of room parties.
Oh, yeah, I also sold a couple of books.
I’m calling it a success. I’ll be ready to do it all again next year.
Orycon 37
I will be lowering the panelist quality of Orycon once again this year. I’m happy to do it, let me tell you. Enough with the qualified, entertaining, and successful authors hogging the panels. Someone has to draw a line in the sand. And that line is me.
Orycon begins this Friday, November 20 and runs through Sunday, the 22nd at the Portland Marriott, on the waterfront. I’ve been selected to sit on three panels this year. In case you want to listen in to discussions among qualified experts (and me) or simply want to know which panels to avoid, here’s my schedule.
Friday at 4PM in the Salem room: I’ll Be Watching You.
| From vampire assassins to wizard private eyes to undead thugs, crime has been mixing it up with fantasy for years. What is it about crime, noir, and the paranormal that’s so appealing? Also – what are some really good titles? |
| Ken Lizzi, Annie Bellet, (*)Sharon Joss, Alex C Renwick, Kristi Charish |
Saturday at 11AM in the Douglas Fir room: Loving Your Villains.
| Villains are never evil. From where they stand, they’re the heroes of their own story. How to keep that in mind as you write that horrible, horrible person your readers will love to hate. |
| SD Perry, Lori Ann White, Ken Lizzi, Tanya Huff, Scott Alan Woodard |
Saturday at 3PM in the Salmon room: Law 2050.
| Legal dilemmas in the not so distant future |
| Katie Lane, Ken Lizzi, Rob McMonigal, (*)Shane Sauby, Manny Frishberg |
I hope to see you at the con.