The "How To Turn Your Non-Reading Child Into A Book-Loving Machine" Panel At FanX...Likely The Most Important Panel I've Ever Attended

I've been on several panels since Salt Lake Comic Con (and now FanX...) rolled into town. I've met amazing artists and authors, entertainers and performers. I've made good friends and even forged relationships that have led to professional advancements in my writing career.

But I think the panel I'm on this Saturday might be the most important one I've ever been on.

It's entitled:

How to Turn your Non-Reading Child into a Book-Loving Machine

It's more important now than ever.

When I pitched the panel idea, I hoped it would be chosen. I remember when I attended public school, especially jr. high when books and reading became a joy and not a drudgery. Back then, there were many distractions that took kids away from books. And this was in the 1970s. Kids nowadays have distractions we couldn't even imagine back then.

Just how important is reading--or the lack thereof--to our society? The effect of a generation of no-readers scares the daylights out of me. Reading connects us as people. Our histories are written down, but if no one reads them, no one will know them. Our laws, policies, customs, traditions--everything--are found in books or online. Without readers, they disappear.

Except for one person, CK Johnson, I know all the other panelist. Holli Anderson, Dave Butler, Paul Genesse, John Olsen--I've interacted with them and have read stories they've written. I was excited when the panel schedule came out and found out who will be there.

If you're worried about how to get kids to read, or you have children of your own that would rather do other things than read (and if you're attending FanX this weekend...), please consider attending our panel. It's Saturday, 9/8/18, 1pm to 2pm in room 151A. We may not have all the answers, but we'll do our best to give the topic the respect it deserves. I'd love to see you there.

Holli Anderson's "Out Of The Dark"...A Book Review

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I am so happy I can finally say I have read this book! And I'm happy for several reasons.

Over the past few years I have gotten to know several local authors. A few months back I blogged about each of them. I called them: POLAIK, Profiles Of Local Authors/Artists That I Know. Getting to know authors and artists is amazingly fun. Most are wonderful, creative people. The downside is that you want to read everything they've written or purchase everything they've created.

And I just don't have that kind of cash.

So when I go to conventions and see all those beautiful works of art, I sigh and hope to one day read their stuff. I'm happy to say after all this time I was able to read Holli Anderson's Out of the Dark. 

Holli told me a little about the story. Five teenagers find themselves able to do magical things. They can conjure blue light from their fingertips. This is the first sign they are unusual. Eventually the five teenagers meet and begin living as street kids in the subterranean world beneath the city of Seattle. I've heard how cool it is to see the city below the city. Holli's kids live there.

The kids decide they need use their powers for good so they find a local high school that is in need of help. Posing as students all but one of the group begin taking classes. It's evident from the very beginning that not all is as it seems at the school. As complicated as teen life is, the addition of one of them being bit and becoming a werewolf only adds to their crazy existence. They battle evil teachers who have created a hallucinatory drug they give to the students.

This is the first book of the series and it ends with the group--now with a mentor--traveling across the country as they're hunted by the forces of evil. I don't want to say more because I don't want to spoil the experience. But I should add that if you like romantic elements in your supernatural, demon and teenage story, you'll find it in Out of the Dark. Holli blends well tension, drama, romance, and the creepiness of pure evil, it's all there.

I'm glad I'm done with this one. Now, all I've got to do is read everything else she's written. I'm sure I will.

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/18306322-out-of-the-dark

Conduit 25...I've Been There And I Went Back Again

A few years ago I had no idea how many literary symposiums and conventions there were out there. Then I got a short story published and everything changed. Now, they seem to be all over the state. I'm sure the same could be said for Colorado, Arizona, Idaho and Nevada. If I wanted to, I could most likely attend a convention that benefits writers every weekend.

One of the conventions I had never heard of before last year was Conduit, a local science fiction and fantasy convention held in Utah each year. Last year's event was held in connection with the first ever FantasyCon so Conduit got lost in the mix. This year it was all by itself.

I was asked to participate on one panel, Geek Parenting. I love those kinds of panels. You're pretty sure what you're going to get from both the panelists and those there to listen to them. The panel was held in the strangest room for a panel that I've ever been in. It was right next to the swimming pool. Had someone been swimming during our discussion, we would not have been able to hear ourselves talk.

On our panel was me, Tom Carr (one of the very first people I ever met at a convention...) and John Olsen, fellow Xchyler writer. We had nine people attend, including two youths. We pointed out that those who brought their kids to the convention were on their way to successful Geek Parenting.

I saw fellow writer friends--Holli Anderson and Jason King pictured above--and even attended a panel on the latest Star Wars movie developments. I wish I could have stayed for other panels and to hear Sarah Seeley, Xchyler Author extraodinaire, when she gave a reading. 

When I attended my first convention I had no idea how they worked, what I was supposed to do or much of anything. Now after a couple of years, things have changed--and for the better. You might say, I'm now a "Professional."

Holli Anderson...Author, My Next POLAIK

There's a theme that's I've noticed as a relatively new author venturing forth into the sometimes scary world of "putting yourself out there as a writer."

I've notice how incredibly nice many of the authors are, especially to us newbies. Since I was so new, I had not attended a lot of conventions so when I met someone and I saw them again a few months later at another function, it surprised me that they remembered me, and some even remembered my name (perhaps the name tag had something to do with that...). But you can tell when someone remembers you. And they do. And it feels great.

I'd like to think that maybe this was because of my magnetic personality, but I don't think it's that. I think it's because when you write something for others to not only read, but fork out their hard-earned cash to acquire, you are extremely vulnerable and that trust between yourself and your readers is real. It's something we share--just as all actors understand the pressure of an audition or all cops feel about fellow cops. It's a brotherhood and sisterhood that binds us.

So, what does all this have to do with Holli Anderson, my next POLAIK (Profile Of Local Authors/Artists I Know)? That's a fair question. The first time I met Holli she sat with others at her publisher's table (Curiosity Quills) at the first ever Salt Lake Comic Con (I apologize if it was the second Salt Lake Comic Con where I met her...). What I do remember was when we met again, it was like talking to someone I had known for a while. She's always made me feel like that, like she's someone I can easily talk to.

The funny thing about Holli is she is many times surrounded by very strong and colorful personalities when she attends these conventions. I've written about some of them in previous POLAIK blog posts. She's also the only female member of the Space Balrogs performing group, and I think she's an excellent choice to join these guys. There's a calming presence about her--something that is many times much-needed in both the Space Balrogs and at convention tables in general.

I cannot wait to read her books! The reviews for both books in her series are strong. You can access her website: HERE for more information about the books and her appearances. One of the things I've most enjoyed about getting to know these local authors (and, to some degree, artists...) is reading their words and contrasting that from what I know of their personalities. It can be very enlightening. Will Holli's books be calming or will she surprise me? I'll let you know!