Category Archives: Conventions

My Philcon 87 Schedule

I look forward to attending the Philadelphia Science Fiction Convention (Philcon) next weekend, November 22-24, 2024. If you’ll be there, too, and would like to catch up, here is my schedule of events.

Sat, 11/23 10:00-10:50 AM / Plaza 4Music and the Writing Process. How can listening to music or to specific ambience soundscapes impact the nature of what an author writes? How helpful is it for setting the mood in one’s mind, and in turn, for setting the scene on a page? Do different genres benefit more than others from this technique? Panelists: David Simms (mod), Susan Shwartz, Wayland Smith, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Phil Giunta

Sat, 11/23 12:00-12:50 PM / Readings –  Readings: Michael A. Ventrella, Randee Dawn, and Phil Giunta

Sat, 11/23 1:00-1:50 PM / Autograph Table – Autographs: Eric Avedissian, Michael A. Ventrella, and Phil Giunta

Sat, 11/23 6:00-7:30 PM / ConSuite – Book Launch Party for Ruth and Ann’s Guide to Time Travel by Celestial Echo Press. Several contributors, myself included, will be on hand to sign copies and read excerpts from our stories!

Sat,11/23  9:00-9:50 PM / Plaza 3I’ll Write Any Horror Story, but I Won’t Write THAT! Horror is a multi-faceted genre that includes ghosts, creatures, slashers, demons, psychological horror, body horror, Lovecraftian, and much more but not every trope appeals to every horror writer. Are werewolves, vampires, and zombies oversaturated? Is body horror too disgusting? Panelists will discuss which horror tropes they love to write, which they avoid (if any), and why. Panelists: Phil Giunta (mod), David Simms, Carol Gyzander, Amy Grech, Eric Avedissian

Sun, 11/24 1:00-1:50 PM / Plaza 2What’s Happened to the Traditional Ghost Story? Vampires have become a genre unto themselves. But has the old-fashioned ghost story or haunted house story been left behind? Are there present day examples of the genre that illustrate how the themes and tropes have evolved? What do we miss (or don’t) about classic ghost/haunted house tales? Our panelists discuss what they consider the staples of a ghost and/or haunted house story and how they have been, or could be enhanced, subverted, or otherwise tweaked to keep this subgenre fresh and exciting. Panelists: Melanie Moyer (mod), Nghi Vo, Phil Giunta, Ty Drago, James L. Cambias

After Action Report: 2024 Write Stuff Conference

Write Stuff Conference 2024 FlyerAnother Write Stuff Conference has come and gone all too soon.  Although the convention is three days long, I was only able to attend on Friday and Saturday.

Friday’s full-day session was divided into two sections, both taught by NYT bestseller and five-time Bram Stoker award winner Jonathan Maberry. The morning class was a three-hour crash course on creating a salable novel while the afternoon was all about building compelling characters in fiction. Jonathan’s advice was compelling, entertaining, poignant, and direct.

Photo credit: Joan Zachary

While I was not able to attend the Page Cuts critique sessions and agent Mark Gottlieb’s talk on Mastering the Submission Process, it wouldn’t be a Write Stuff without the Friday night social event from 8:30-10PM. I never miss that opportunity to kick back and chat with fellow writers and catch up with some folks I haven’t seen since the last conference.

In recent years, cosplay has been encouraged with people dressing up as characters from short stories and books. Our first cosplayer who started years before, however, was con-chair Charles Kiernan as Mark Twain seen here with Laurel Wenson as Sister Katherine from Michael Daigle’s series of detective novels starring Frank Nagler.

Laurel Wenson and Charles Kiernan in costume
Photo credit: Christina Dunbar

Saturday was a full day of hour-long presentations by our faculty including Jonathan Maberry, Amy Deardon, Jordan Sonnenblick, Laurel Wenson, and Melissa Koberlein.

Melissa Koberlein presentation on Writing Romantic Comedies
Melissa Koberlein presentation on Writing Romantic Comedies

Given the fact that I’ve had a romantic comedy idea bouncing around my head for several months, I attended Melissa Koberlein’s wonderful presentation on writing rom-coms (above) and left with a list of elements that comprise a good rom-com and a few book recommendations.

I remained in the room for Jonathan Maberry’s talk on crafting the perfect pitch. At one point, he asked the audience for a title, character name, and logline for a story. Armed with that info, he instantly created a verbal pitch for the book, summarizing both the plot and the protagonist and naming comparable titles. He did this without stammering, hesitating, or reconsidering a single word. Stunning.

At that point, I decided to set up my table for the afternoon book fair and managed to sell a few books before lunch while chatting with fellow writers Laurel Wenson, Michael Daigle, and Jon Gibbs.

By the time I made my way to Salons A& B for lunch, the joint was packed. I found a seat in the back corner table with friend, writer, and editor Weldon Burge and his wife, Cindy. I had suggested Weldon as a presenter, having worked with him when he accepted and edited my story for A Plague of Shadows anthology in 2018. Weldon and I have also had stories in three other anthologies over the years. He is an experienced presenter, small press owner, and a good friend.

Jonathan Maberry Keynote Speech

Jonathan Maberry Keynote Speech

Over dessert, Jonathan Maberry delivered an encouraging, delightful, and uplifting keynote speech that was part advice and part anecdotes from his writing career. Always a joy to be in his company.

Phil and Jonathan Maberry
Phil & Jonathan Maberry
Weldon Burge on Writing for Anthologies
Weldon Burge on Writing for Anthologies

After lunch, I attended Weldon’s back-to-back presentations on writing for anthologies (above). After that, it was time for the book fair. My hottest seller was the second edition of my first paranormal mystery novel, Testing the Prisoner, which had won three awards since November, including two just days before the conference. I also sold four anthologies before the end of the day. By 5PM, it was time to call it a day, pack it in, and say goodbye to Weldon, Cindy, Jonathan, and my fellow members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group who did a stellar job of organizing the conference yet again.

Weldon & Phil at the Book Fair
Weldon & Phil at the Book Fair

To add a little more literary fun to this weekend, two items arrived in the mail, one on Friday and other on Saturday. The first was the pack of award stickers from The BookFest Spring 2024 competition in which Testing the Prisoner took second place in the Horror\Ghosts & Paranormal category.

BookFest Stickers for Testing the Prisoner
BookFest Stickers for Testing the Prisoner

The second item was the 12×18 poster for the second edition of my second paranormal mystery novel from 2012, By Your Side. The new edition is available on preorder in ebook format now with the paperback to follow next week.

Posters for Testing the Prisoner and By Your Side
Posters for Testing the Prisoner and By Your Side

Farewell to a Home Away from Home

On Saturday, October 28th, a few hundred longtime attendees of Farpoint and Shore Leave SF conventions descended on the Marriott Delta in Hunt Valley, MD to bid the hotel goodbye. After 40+ years of hosting genre conventions, the hotel will close on October 31. According to the rumor mill, the building will be demolished and replaced by a Tesla dealership or condos or both.

My wife and I spent part of the day wandering the hotel and taking final pictures all while a dog show was in progress. Adorable pooches everywhere, which added an element of fun to an otherwise bittersweet occasion.

It was wonderful to spend time with so many old friends including Sharon VanBlarcom, Steve and Renee Wilson, June Swords, Daniel Patrick Corcoran, Cindy Shockey, Bob Greenberger, Royce Essig, Sashi German, Susanna Reilly, Rhonda Greene, Diane Baron, Blair Learn, Paul Balze, Lance and Cindy Woods, Inge Heyer, Jay and Pam Smith, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Mike McPhail, Ann Hande, Susan Staneslow Olesen, and more. Apologies if I’m forgetting anyone.

While at the farewell party, Farpoint announced their new home at the Hilton Doubletree in Pikesville, MD. Shore Leave will make a similar announcement in the coming weeks.

 

 

After Action Report: FrightReads Book Festival

On Saturday, September 30, I attended the third annual FrightReads Book Festival in Millersville, MD as an author guest. It was my first time there and will certainly not be my last.

It was a magical weekend of hanging out with old friends, making new ones, and putting faces to names I’d only known through Discord or social media.

I managed to sell 14 books (not bad for my first time at this event) and as a bonus, my hotel was directly across the street from the Bass Pro Shops in Arundel Mills and I had a $50 gift card to burn, which meant a new winter jacket!

Many thanks to showrunner Harry Carpenter and his wonderful staff. Check out these pics from the show. I look forward to next year!

All set up and ready for the show!
Photo credit: Jay Smith

My table at FrightReads Book Festival   Rachel at FrightReads Book Festival

My table at FrightReads Book Festival

My table at FrightReads Book Festival

Sharon VB and Laura at the Farpoint Table
Always great to see Farpoint friends! Sharon Van Blarcom and Laura Inglis on Sunday. Not pictured: Cindy Shockey held down the Farpoint fort on Saturday.
Sawney Hatton and Jason Voorhees
Run, Sawney, run!

Girl from The Ring   The Jackal from 13 Ghosts

Michael Myers  Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

Pam and Jay Smith
Wonderful chatting with Pam and Jay Smith. Despite the humidity, Pam braved it out in costume until 4PM on Saturday. It was definitely a shorts and T-shirt weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

Pam and Jay Smith

Krampus   Krampus

Jurassic Park Jeep

GhostBusters Ectomobile

GhostBusters Ectomobile

GhostBusters Ecto 1B Car