Sci Friday # 54: Convention Season

Clear up your weekend schedule and get those tickets

I really love sharing other writers with all y’all, but I’m afraid my recent ones have been rushed. It’s not fair to those writers if my comments are, good writer, go buy. 🤦‍♂️

Anyway, where do I meet those writers?

Conventions.

And before I go too far, it’s time for the AI-dustbunnies to take a shot at convention art.

convention, tuxedo cat, goldendoodle, writers

Well, the dustbunnies came pretty close to capturing the Feline-muse on this one, not to mention the Swampdoodle. If we let his fur grow out that much in the Florida heat, he’d look just like that. But a literary con doesn’t have that many people in business attire. Lots of Hawaiian shirts.

You know what? Let’s try this prompt with “Hawaiian shirts” added.

convention, tuxedo cat, goldendoodle, writers, hawaiian shirts

Not bad. We got really lucky with the Feline-muse in the last one. Anyway, the shirt was accurate, but the Swamp-doodle hates clothes or collar, no matter how much you bribe him. Smart dog. 😁

Anyway … it’s convention season, and if you’re a writer, a reader, or a combo, it’s time to get out there and meet writers. Learn what’s coming for anthologies to submit to or read.

My Writer Convention appearances this year

I’m tempted by so many literary conventions each year, but cat and dog need kibble, which means this writer can’t go everywhere he wants.

So, with money concerns as they are, I’ll be going to LibertyCon in Chattanooga, Tennessee, this June. I’ve been there twice and had lots of fun each time.

A lot of my fellow Alpha Mercs show up. The good folks of Raconteur Press and Cannon Publishing will be there. Not to mention, DJ Butler from the new publisher, Ark Press, will be there.

Side note: Lots of good stuff coming from those three publishers, IMHO.

There are also a bunch of fellow writers I get to meet there, too.

Karl Gallagher

being someone I always chat up when he’s on Authors Alley. He always has something good to read.

Last year, I also met some folks who enjoyed some of my short stories, which is always enjoyable even when folks tell me that my story didn’t entertain them as well as I’d hoped. 🙂

All feedback is helpful.

“So where would you go, Matt? Besides LibertyCon?”

Writers Cantina. Lots of great writers, sharing critical info. Someday. 🙏

P-Con. I’ve been there twice, and, though it’s small, the folks who attend are friendly and kind. That one is pretty much the closest one for Raconteur, and meeting folks from my favorite publisher is always a blessing.

Media Conventions

PensaCon. That one is just down the road from the Swamp-mansion in Pensacola, FL, so attending isn’t too much of a financial strain. However, it’s very popular for our part of Florida, and getting a vendor booth ain’t cheap.

So, I’ll have to wait on that one once I’m raking in the George RR Martin bucks …. Well, I doubt I’ll ever make that much money, but if I can make

John Van Stry

money, I’ll be sitting behind a tiny booth with a huge smile on my face.

“Who’s John Van Stry?”

🤦‍♂️ Seriously? You haven’t read his stories? Check out his substack or look for “Summers End” by Baen books. Yes, that Baen.

Other media cons? I’m not sure. I’m still researching to see what the ROI would be for attendance at one that was out of town.

And that’s all I have to say about conventions this year. 👋