Category: Appearances (Page 2 of 2)

This year, somewhat oddly, I’m attending two Necronomicon conventions: the Lovecraftian celebration in Providence back in August, and the beloved one in Tampa I’ve been attending for 35 years coming up next Friday, September 23rd.

As always, I’ll be joining the usual suspects on panels including my comedy partner Richard Lee Byers as we amiably talk shit about whatever we’re asked. This year on Saturday 9/24, I’ll be feigning competence about:

• 10am: Norse Influences on Entertainment Media, where my grandfather would be proud to see me even though I broke his heart by not learning to speak Norwegian.
• 12pm: How to Create Convincing Monsters
• 2pm: How to Keep It Funny
• 7pm: How to Stay Creative
• 9pm: How to Add Mystery to Your Fiction

Wow, looking at it all in a list, I’ll apparently be busy. If you’re interested in any of these topics or the other great ones we’ll be talking about all weekend, drop by the Embassy Suites at USF!

I’m attending my first in-person convention in nearly two years, and of course it’s my sentimental favorite Necronomicon in Tampa, Florida from September 24th to the 26th at the Embassy Suites USF.

I’ll be busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest for this one:

• Friday, 4pm: Ghastly Ghosts (which I’m guessing is about ghosts real and fictional)
• Friday, 8pm: You Shouldn’t Be a Writer If… (which is great advice if you just leave off the “if…” part)
• Friday, 9pm: How to Be a Bad Writer (which I’m trying not to take personally that I’m seen as an expert on this subject)
• Saturday, 12pm: Norse Mythology in Fiction (for which I’m relying on my subconscious Norwegian cultural knowledge)
• Saturday, 4pm: Science and True Crime (which is right up my alley)
• Sunday, 11am: Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me (which is their own version of the NPR news quiz game show)
• Sunday, 1pm: Lighter Side of the Pandemic (which is a tall order, even for me)

You might be wondering, “What about the pandemic?” There is a mask policy at the convention, required in all public spaces and during the panel discussions. Also, the traditional face-licking greeting has been suspended for this year only.

Stop on by!

Thanks to my friend Norman, I attended my first convention for science fiction, fantasy, and horror over thirty years ago: Necronomicon in Tampa. I’ve been going ever since (except for a few years in the early 90s when I was too cool and literary), and it means a lot to me that I’m one of the guests now.

Necronomicon in Tampa is among the last of a dying breed of genre gathering run by and for fans with very little profit motive. The event itself raises money for Kids and Canines, a charity that provides emotional support dogs to children, and one of the things I’ll miss this year is getting to visit with the dogs they bring to show us.

This year it’s going virtual, and if you’ve always wondered what I’m talking about when I mention going to Necronomicon, here’s your chance to go for free from your own home! All you have to do is register through Eventbrite and show up virtually on the weekend of September 25 – September 27.

I’m appearing on a few panels:

• Saturday at 9pm: What is Your Guilty Pleasure?
• Sunday at 10am: Laughing in the Face of Danger
• Sunday at 1pm: The Best (Writing) Advice I Ever Got

You can check the retro-themed site for all of the other great things going on!

The International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts in Orlando has taken the wise precaution of cancelling their event next week. Though I will miss seeing friends at the event, I far more prefer them to be healthy.

So you’re off the hook this time for missing my panel on Thursday morning about Teaching Speculative Writing.

Please stay safe and keep your breathing and face-licking to an absolute minimum.