Okay folks, convention season approaches, and I’ve got a lot of stuff coming up this year.
So I’m going to list my current schedule here for those of you who might be unaware of the fact that I actually post my Tour Schedule up online. Or for the people that are unaware that I post my upcoming events on my facebook fan page.
Or for those of you who are… y’know… just kind of lazy.
A lot of the events I’m going to are conventions where you can see me on panels, get your books signed, and maybe see me do to a reading.
Generally speaking when I go somewhere, especially somewhere new, I try my hardest to schedule an out-of-con signing so that folks who don’t want to go to the con (or who can’t afford it) can still catch me when I’m in town.
But this weekend, March 9-10, I’ll be in Tucson for the Tucson Festival of Books. And this time I *won’t* be doing a signing outside the event because the festival is 100% free and open to the public. So if you’ve ever wanted to hear me talk about writing or get your book signed, this is a great opportunity to do so.
If you’re interested, here’s my full schedule (which is also available on the Facebook event).
Saturday March 9
- 11 AM – Signing for Mostly Books – Booths 127-130
- 12:30 PM – Signing for Mysterious Galaxy – Booth #301
- 2:30 PM – Panel: Beauty with a Bow and Arrow – UA Mall tent
- 4: 00 PM – Signing at University of Arizona Bookstore’s tent
Sunday May 10
- 11:30am – Panel: Worldbuilding – Koffler 218
- 2:00 PM – Signing at Poisoned Pen – Booth #230-231
- 4:00 PM – Panel: Epic Fiction – Koffler 204
Note: There will be half-hour signings after all of my panels, too.
(Yes. I still give hugs.)
I’m regularly sent messages that say “WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO MY CITY!” when I was there just two weeks earlier. So I’d like to remind all of you now: I have a Tour Page here on the website, and I also have Facebook Events for pretty much everything I do.
Did I mention that already? Yes. Yes I did. But it bears repeating because people constantly ask me what my tour schedule is.
But y’know, because I’m from the Midwest, I was raised to be extra accommodating, so I’ll list my upcoming events here anyway, for those of you who happen to be click-phobic or something.
- ORANGE, CA
March 28, 2013
Reading, Q&A, and Signing
Barnes & Noble Orange
791 South Main Street, Suite 100
Orange, CA 92868
Facebook Event
Yes, I will be at WonderCon. I don’t have any panels scheduled as I’m mostly just going to hang out.
But I will be joining the Tabletop crew on Saturday to celebrate International Tabletop Day. Because that’s going to be awesome.
- NORMAN, OK
May 3-4, 2013
Oklahoma Writers’ Federation Conference
Norman Embassy Suites Hotel
2501 Conference Dr
Norman, OK 73069
Facebook Event
- LITTLE ROCK, AR
- KANSAS CITY, MO
May 24-26, 2013
Guest of Honor at ConQuesT 44
Kansas City, Missouri
Facebook Event
- COLUMBUS, OH
June 13-16, 2013
Origins 2013
Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Facebook Event
- SAN DIEGO, CA
July 18-21, 2013
San Diego Comic Con 2013
111 W. Harbor Dr.
San Diego, CA 92101
Facebook Event
- INDIANAPOLIS, IN
August 15-18, 2013
Gen Con 2013
Indiana Convention Center
100 South Capitol Ave.
Indianapolis, Indiana 46225
Facebook Event
- SAN ANTONIO, TX
(Cancelled.)
- BRIGHTON, ENGLAND
October 31 – November 3, 2013
World Fantasy Con 2013
Hilton Brighton Metropole
Kings Road, BN1 2FU Brighton
Facebook Event
And that’s everything we have firmly scheduled right now. As I’ve said, I’ll probably be scheduling non-convention events in Indianapolis, Columbus, and Kansas City. And more in England, too. Since I don’t get over the water very often. Those will be showing up… you guessed it. On my tour schedule.
Last, I have a request.
Can we *please* not have a hundred comments down below saying things like, “but when ru comign to Scranton?!?!!!”
Here’s what you should consider before you post a comment like this:
1. Generally speaking, I do these events out of the goodness of my heart.
I like to meet my readers, sign books, and talk about writing. I like hanging out with geeks and being part of the community.
2. I try to go new places every year so I can be available to people in different parts of the country. (And the World).
That’s why I’m hitting Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma this year. They’re all states I haven’t been to yet.
3. These events take a lot of time and energy.
The events I’ve listed up above are an expenditure of eight weekends of my life. Long weekends, most of them. Probably close to 35 days.
4. My time and energy are not infinite resources.
When I post something like this, what I’m doing is saying, “Hey guys. I’m willing to offer up 10% of my year making myself available to you. Let’s get together and have fun.”
Can you see how it might be disheartening for me to post that up and have the response be dozens of comments effectively saying, “I’m upset! I’m unhappy! I want more! I want more!”
Similarly disheartening comments include things like: “I have to work Friday night, can you do a second event on Saturday afternoon?” or “Columbus is 50 miles away! Can you come to Sulfur Lick instead?”
I know it comes from a place of love. I really know that.
And I know sometimes enthusiasm leads us to do silly things. I vaguely remember my mom telling me a story about how she once wrote a letter to the Beatles, sending them some song lyrics and asking them to record the song and send a copy back to her.
And I’m *very* aware that this is some serious first-world-problem shit I’m talking about here. I’m very lucky to have a readership as enthusiastic as y’all.
But I’m just being honest here. Comments like this make me weary. They make me think dark thoughts like, “Why do I fucking bother going to these lengths when all people do is bitch and moan and ask for more?”
Should you feel bad if you’ve made a comment like this in the past? No. Not at all. That’s not what this is about. There’s no reason you could know comments like that started rubbing me raw years ago.
That’s why I’m mentioning it here. So you know. Time and again, my readers have proven themselves to be gracious, lovely people. Especially the ones who take the time to read the blog. So I’m guessing if I let you know this bugs me, you won’t do it any more.
Oh sure, I’ll still have to deal with it on facebook and twitter (whenever I finally decide to join) but hopefully I won’t have to deal with it here in my own blog.
Okay, ramble over. I’ll see some of you soon in Tuscon, assuming my gimping, crutchy self makes it there despite the incoming storm.
Be good to each other,
pat
