Cover Artist Love: Paul Young

I've said many a time how happy I am that my covers have all been done by Paul Young.  He's created a look and feel for Maradaine, while giving each series its own flavor, and he's done that by being very aware of the nature of the work, and being receptive and giving with his talent.

Now, I could go into further raving about his work on my covers-- like ALL DAY-- but I've done that before, and I want to do something a bit different.  I want to highlight some of his other works.  Pieces of his for other covers for other writers that really worked for me.  Evocative images that draw my curiosity about the stories hiding behind them.  That's a big part of what Paul does, and I'm glad a piece of that work goes to my books.

Best Editor Sheila Gilbert

People, I'm so proud that the SFF Community has confirmed the thing that I've known for some time: that Sheila Gilbert at DAW is the BEST Editor.  She's now won the Hugo twice (and has been nominated six times), and she is hands-down amazing. 

Plus: CHECK OUT HER ACCEPTANCE SPEECH.

For real.  THE BEST.

Deadlines Looming

Let me tell you something about deadlines.

Or more specifically, let me tell how I don't get what I see other writers do with deadlines.  Like, I will see people be all, "Oh, yeah, I have a novel due next month.  I better get to work on it."  As in, little-to-no work has been done, and now that the deadline approaches, they're planning on weaponizing their panic and going into FULL POWER MODE, knocking out thousands of words each day and having a finished novel in a couple weeks.

I honestly don't understand how to do this.  Like, my brain recoils at the idea.

For me, deadlines are always a long-range thing.  I look at when something is due, and look where I am right now, and ask myself, "What do I need to do to be two months before the deadline?" and start working on that goal.  Because I know things will get in the way, I know there will be setbacks, and it's best to charge in with a plan before even getting to that point. 

I mean, people ask me what the "secret" is to my output, and a big part of that is in the planning.  I know what the core of the next year and a half looks like, writing-wise, and I plan for that.   I don't think I could do it otherwise.

And that takes discipline, and even then, the schedule slips and things get behind.

SPEAKING OF, I'm working hard on finishing The Shield of the People before its deadline, and The Way of the Shield is coming out in just a few weeks, so I might be pretty scarce here in the coming days. 

ArmadilloCon is the best con you aren't going to, and you need to change that

This past weekend was ArmadilloCon, which truly was an excellent whirlwind of a convention.  I've been hearing a lot of positive buzz and feedback from several corners, and the phrase "best ArmadilloCon ever" has been whispered here and there.  And I think, yeah, maybe so.  It's hard for me to gauge exactly, of course.  On the whole, each year is better for me, but each year has been marking my steady transition from hopeful-aspiring-writer to pro-with-a-stack-of-books, including the con treating me like a pro when I was "guy-with-an-agent-but-no-sales", which is an incredibly strange and frustrating stage in one's writing career.

But here is the thing about ArmadilloCon: it is probably the most friendly con for the aspiring-pro-writer out there.  The writer's workshop is a centerpiece for the con, and it's probably the most valuable one-day workshop out there.  I mean, most people can't afford the money or time to do something like Odyssey or Clarion, which are multiple weeks, but even if you don't live in Texas: you can probably swing a long weekend. 

More to the point, the con is geared toward being an extended hand to people who are striving to be a professional writer.  Panels on craft, panels on business of writing, and most of the pros who go there make a point of being open and welcome. 

I mean, I've seen several cons where the "pro" space and the "fan" space are very specifically segregated, either implicitly or explicitly, and that often leaves the hopeful pro feeling left a bit at sea.  But, many of our regular pros (including myself) came up through the workshop, and we all still have vivid memories of being there.  We know how hard it is.  We want to make it easier.

Also, the con is just filled with good energy.  There's been a lot of specific steps taken to make the con more open and welcoming to people from traditionally marginalized groups, and continuing to improve and expand on that that has been a real goal. 

We, the SFF Writing Community of Austin-- as well as the greater area of Texas as a whole-- are striving to give all of you: the established pro, the prospective hopeful, the eager fan-- the best con experience we can give you.  We'd love for you to join us down here.

Plus: Tacos.  And barbecue. And did I mention tacos? 

Really.  Come on down.

ArmadilloCon 2018

ArmadilloCon is this weekend!  I've got a packed schedule, and here it is.  Please stop by if you're in Austin, say hello, maybe even quote the Tarian Oath and win an ARC of Way of the Shield.  Here's the schedule:

Friday, August 39am: ArmadilloCon Writers Workshop
5pm: Avengers: Infinity War - Love It? Hate It? Both? And What Next?
Ballroom F
Marshall Ryan Maresca (moderator), Rick Klaw, T. Eric Bakutis, Paige E. Ewing
Our panelists will talk about Avengers: Infinity War. Is it great or terrible? Did they love it, hate it or both? Why? What do they hope for out of the planned "Avengers 4?"

8pm: Magic and Muskets
Conference Center
Marshall Ryan Maresca (moderator), Thomas Wagner, Adrian Simmons, Stina Leicht
Flintlock fantasy is a relatively new subgenre of epic fantasy (or perhaps not; there was gunpowder, at least, in The Hobbit). What are the rules for this newish (?) area of fantasy? What are some favorite examples?

Saturday, August 4
10am: Worldbuilding Techniques
Conference Center
Stina Leicht (moderator), Robert J. Sawyer, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Martha Wells, Adrian Simmons
What methods and techniques can our panelists recommend? How do they handle mistakes? Can they recommend any resources to new or struggling writers?

2:30pm: The Van Show Interviews Marshall Ryan Maresca
Southpark A, 2:30pm - 3pm
Marshall Ryan Maresca
Be a part of the audience as the Austin Public Library's Van Show puppet interviews Marshall Ryan Maresca.

3pm: Writing the Other
Southpark B
Marshall Ryan Maresca (moderator), William Ledbetter, Marguerite Reed, John Hornor Jacobs, Stina Leicht
Our panelists will talk about how you can build your skill for writing about characters whose gender, sexual orientation, religion, racial heritage, or other aspect of identity differs from your own.What resources are available? What process do they use? What are the potential pitfalls?

4pm: Best and Worst of Streaming SFF
Ballroom F
Dantzel Cherry (moderator), Marshall Ryan Maresca, Paige E. Ewing
Genre stories by definition are limited in popularity even as their influence spreads widely. With their understanding of audience, we are seeing a wealth of original and made-for-tv genre programming. How well has Netflix used its money and information to bring us shows we want to watch? What stories are they missing out on?

5pm: Autographing
Dealers Room, 5pm - 6pm
Deji Bryce Olukoton, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Jessica Reisman, Amanda Downum, Rhonda Eudaly, Howard Waldrop
Autographing

7pm: Career Management for Writers
Ballroom D
Marshall Ryan Maresca (moderator), Deji Bryce Olukoton, A. Lee Martinez, Emily McKay, Rebecca Schwarz
How do you manage your career as a writer? How do you know when it is time to switch agents or publishers? How do you manage your identity in the marketplace when you change up what you are writing? What kinds of goals and measures do our panelists set for themselves?

Sunday, August 5
1pm: Fantasy Adventure - Readings by Marshall Ryan Maresca & Adrian Simmons
Conference Center
Marshall Ryan Maresca (moderator), Adrian Simmons
Reading - Marshall Ryan Maresca