Shimmers & Shadows, CONvergence 2008 Schedule, Dark Water Blues

[mmerriam]

Just fyi: If you are local in the Twin Cites and would like to buy a copy of Shimmers & Shadows, let me know and I'll arrange a time and place to meet with you for the hand-off. Why should my local friends pay for shipping, when it gives me a perfect excuse to go out for coffee or lunch with them instead!

Also, sometime in the next fews day I will be making a list of those of you who answered questions and offered advice while we were working on the collection, and entering those names in a drawing to receive a free copy. I will announce the winner after CONvergence.

Next week is CONvergence. This is my Programming Deathmarch, err, I mean Schedule.

Thursday July 3rd
5:00pm - 6:00pm in Kruskenko's
Where Do You Start?
What is the initial genesis or kernel idea of a book? Do you start with a character? A world? A cool scene? A plot?
Joel Arnold, Dana M. Baird, Garnet Gyre, Michael Merriam, Doug Texter

Friday July 4th
5:00pm - 6:00pm in Kruskenko's
Twin Cities Speculative Fiction Writers Network Meeting
Come learn about this resource for local aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers.
Michael Merriam, Hilary Moon Murphy

6:30pm - 7:30pm in Atrium 6
Getting Published 101
Looking to get famous and make lots of money writing? How about a more realistic view of the writing and publishing process? We'll cover subjects ranging from prepping a work for submission to coping with rejection.
Jerrod Balzer, Cynthia Booth, Roy C. Booth, Garnet Gyre, Philip Kaveny, Michael Merriam

Saturday July 5th
11:00am - 12:00pm in the Literary Lounge
Michael Merriam Reading
Join Michael Merriam for a reading from one of his works.

Except that I won't actually be there, so ignore this when you see it in the programming book. I'll be at careswen's panel listed below. Instead we will be hosting a release party and reading in the Literary Lounge later in the day. It will not be on the schedule, but I will be placing fliers all over the hotel to remind people.

11:00am - 12:00pm in Atrium 6
Living with a Writer
Significant others of writers and artist trade stories and tips about the joys and challenges of living with a creative person.
Cynthia Booth, Jennifer Lynch, Sherry Merriam

12:30pm - 1:30pm in Atrium 6
Writing Business: Cover Letters, Manuscripts, and Rejections
Back to basics. There are books that handle this topic fairly well, but nothing substitutes for experience. Active pros and semi-pros in writing, editing and publishing talk about the dos and don'ts.
Roy C. Booth, Holly Day, Kelly McCullough, Michael Merriam, Adam Stemple, Anna Waltz

2:00pm - 3:00pm in the Literary Lounge
Michael Merriam Reading and Book Release Party
Join Michael Merriam for a reading from his new short story collection, Shimmers and Shadows.

We will be hosting a release party for the short story collection at this time in the Lit Lounge up on the 22nd floor of the hotel. This event will not be in the program guide or on the grid, since it is a last minute change and addition. I will post fliers around the hotel. I'm not sure what kind of refreshments we will have, but we will have something! I will have copies of Shimmers & Shadows for sale at the reading!

11:00pm - 11:59pm in Atrium 6
Urban Fantasy
The borders of faerie have moved from pastoral England to modern cities. What is the appeal of urban fantasy? Who writes the best stuff?
Kenneth Hite, Kelly McCullough, Michael Merriam, Juanita Nesbitt, Adam Stemple, Jody Wurl

And just to prove I'm still writing a novel:

Dark Water Blues


Richard and Holly have broken out of the Basilica and are hiding in an abandoned Minneapolis landmark. Any takers on whether or not it blows up or burns down?

Comments

[aedifica]

And at Convergence, those of us who might be interested but don't know your writing style yet will have a chance to look over the book?

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! If you are interested in my style, I have a couple of pieces of fiction up for free here:
http://mmerriam.livejournal.com/tag/free+fiction

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Also, I have some rough draft novel snippets:

http://mmerriam.livejournal.com/tag/snippet

[paraselenic.livejournal.com]

will you be doing anything after hours? my hubby and i are stuck in the dealer's room all day long, but I would love to hear some of your work!

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

That's an interesting idea! Maybe I should check the Lit Lounge schedule and do something in the evening instead of the afternoon.

[(Anonymous)]

I know that your schedule is already crazy, so I don't want to add to it, but it would be nice to hear your work..... even if it was right after the dealers room closes (it's open til 6pm) we could totally make it, and 6 ish is early enough to not interrupt the party people from getting their geeky drunk on....


Let me know, it would be awesome!

[tiny-wings.livejournal.com]

I demand photos as I cannot attend the release party! :-O

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

It shall be done!

[pezwitch.livejournal.com]

I vote for burn down - seems to have more drawn out dramatic potential.

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

I can see them trying to escape the burning building as it falls down around them...

[greykev.livejournal.com]

Is it close enough to the river to flood? Swept away would be new and interesting, or maybe collapsed by giant hail?--oh wait, that's the day job talking ;-D

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

The River has already chosen sides in the matter and will be coming into play later in the novel.

[kelly-swails.livejournal.com]

Have fun! Sounds like you have a full schedule.

And I vote blowing up and then burning down. Why choose?

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

hehe! Why chose, indeed!

[darkwolf58.livejournal.com]

Dude, I totally want a copy!

[mmerriam.livejournal.com]

Cool! If you are going to CONvergence, you can buy one from me there. If not, we can set up a time after the Con and meet somewhere for the hand off.