My Pre-Covid Writing Life...I Didn't Realize Just How Spoiled I Was

 The first time I stepped inside the Tremonton Library, I noticed several flyers on the counter with pictures of authors I knew on them. These were notices that Utah authors would be visiting the Tremonton Library to chat about their books and/or do a reading of their works.

I was so stoked! 

I was going to have my friends come up to our local library--I'd get to see my friends again. We could chat, discuss books, and just hang out.

Turns out these incredible writers would be visiting our neck of the woods, but not in person...they'd be visiting virtually...digitally...not physically.

Bummer.

I was able to log into an author reading from Steve Heurmann on Friday. He's an amazing person with a wonderful story of how he became a full-time writer. You can access his information by visiting his website: HERE. He read from his book, Paper Heroes.

The meeting ended--I was able to say, "hello," I thought about how disappointed I was that the author chats are all virtual. I also thought about how spoiled I've been for the past eight years. Except for last year, I have been able to attend several writing conventions, writing symposiums, and comic cons every year. I was averaging one every three or four months. And I pretty much knew who would be attending these local events--many of my good writing friends.

How I miss those days.

If Steve had been able to attend his reading in person, or if we had been at a convention, we could have talked about writing, about how his latest project was coming along, any news on new books, new ideas. And I could have done the same things with a dozen or more friends. Attending these events to sell books is wonderful, but so is hanging out and chatting with friends.

Hopefully, we can return to normal soon. If so, I will try and go to as many as possible, so I can be spoiled again.

Hey You Short Story Writers...Here's A Call For Your Story!

 Life, The Universe, And Everything, a.k.a LTUE has announced a call for submissions for an anthology. It's called, I Have a Sidequest For You. You can access the announcement website: HERE. For you writers out there, you should check it out.

LTUE has a soft spot in my heart. It was one of the first writing conferences I ever attended. It's one of the first conferences that invited me to participate as a panelist. It's been almost a decade since I first attended LTUE. It was the cheapest convention out there, which I always appreciate, and they seemed to have a lighter and more fun atmosphere than other conferences.

Because writing symposiums attract creative people, those people like to...well, create things. This anthology is an example of what happens when you assemble people who like to write.

From the website:

Since its beginnings in the early 1980s, the Life, the Universe, & Everything Symposium has been a staple of the Utah and Intermountain West author and artist community. Many authors, artists, and editors have found inspiration for their careers at the feet of scores of symposium guests. Influential professors and others have mentored those planning and running the symposium, but many of these mentors have passed on.

The symposium helps students of all ages by providing greatly discounted student memberships. Hemelein Publications—in conjunction with LTUE Press—created a series of memorial benefit/charity anthologies to help the symposium continue to help these aspiring creators learn about their crafts at a reasonable cost. Author, artist, and editor proceeds from the anthology go to LTUE to help students attend for a very low cost.

The fifth of these anthologies, I Have a Sidequest for You, is a science fiction and fantasy sidekick adventure anthology, created in honor of Tom Grover. Tom was always helping out with LTUE, volunteering for anything and everything. He always seemed to be there when help was needed, and he was tireless in his efforts to make LTUE a success. He passed away in 1988 following a mountain climbing accident.

If you're interested, here's more information: 

• Science fiction and fantasy sidekick stories (including superhero, fantasy adventure, and so on) where the main character is the sidekick in a larger story. These are stories of the sidekicks, the plucky comic-relief guy, and the not-so-chosen ones. The “main” story should only be referenced in this story about the sidekick. We want stories featuring the sidekick-type character—janitors, lunch ladies, innkeepers, librarians, the type that don’t go on adventures or become heroes and chosen ones—stories that feature the sidekick as a hero-character.
  For example, a story about Will Scarlet instead of Robin Hood and Little John? Or a story about one of the lesser-known knights of the Round Table? These don’t have to be big adventures or even save-the-world stories, just stories where the sidekick gets to shine instead of the “main” hero.
• The characters in the story must be your own, original characters. Do not use other creators’ characters.
• Any length up to 17,500 words
• Unpublished or reprint stories
• Up to two submissions per author
• This is a benefit/charity anthology, so stories are donated and author receives no monetary compensation
• Authors receive a print copy of the anthology and an electronic copy
• Meet the content guidelines described on the Submission Guidelines page
• Stories are due by June 20, 2021 at 11:59pm Mountain Time.

It's been a while, but I've had several stories published in anthologies. They are not the biggest money-makers, but they can open so many doors. They're a great place to start or help a writing career. Come on--give it a shot. Check out the site, write a little story, and send it in.

Who knows what can happen?

Brad Torgersen's "Lights In The Deep"...Fascinating!

I first met author Brad Torgersen at Utah's first Comic Con last September. I was asked to be a panelist and so I did some research on my fellow panelist to get to know them better. Most I didn't know--I hadn't heard of them since my foray into serious writing was a fairly new pursuit.

But one name stuck out...Brad Torgersen. I read his name alongside other famous names such as: Hugo, Nebula, Campbell--names after which prestigious awards are named. As it happened when our panel came up last fall, he moderated and I got to sit by him (a little advise here--if you're on a panel, you'll become better acquainted to the person you're sitting right next to than those you don't sit next to...). During the panel, Brad made an impression, a good impression.

And so, following the Comic Con when I asked to be his Facebook Friend and he accepted, it made me feel good. I knew someone who had proven he could not only compete in the competitive world of for-profit literature, but succeed. And I knew him.

Fast forward to February of this year--another conference, another chance to rub shoulders with amazing local authors. We chatted, as did I with many of the authors at the incredibly fun LTUE Conference. It wasn't until last month's Comic Con FanX event that I really got to know Brad. 

How did I do that? I bought and read his book, Lights of the Deep from WordFire Press. The 331-page collection of his short stories that not only entertains, but allows us a glimpse of what it's like to grow as a writer. He includes comments after each story which I found fascinating, almost as much as his stories. Being a relatively new writer, I found the details informative. It was like I was sitting across a table from him and he was telling me what it was like starting out, what success feels like after putting in the hard work, and how humbled he was to have his literary heroes praise him for the stories he created.

All this, and I've hardly mentioned the short stories in the book at all. I'll just say, I was in no way disappointed, so much so, I resurrected a story I started years ago and have worked on it almost every day since I started Lights of the Deep. Brad's book is inventive, creative, thought-provoking, and inspiring. If you love the genre, pick it up! Click: HERE for the Amazon link. You won't be disappointed. Plus, you'll be reading some of the early writings of an author, I believe, will one day have many novels stocked on a bookstore or library shelf.

Thanks, Brad for allowing us to get to know you.

A Tale Of Two Conferences...LTUE

LTUE

For the past two days I've spent several hours in Orem, Utah attending the Life, the Universe, & Everything Science Fiction and Fantasy conference. Those who attended hopefully enjoyed the conference as much as I (I don't want to speak for too many of them...). I can, however, speak for myself. I had a great time.

On or around October 6, 2011 I attended another writer's conference at the same university. My experience with that conference was different...much different. I left that conference feeling anything but inspired. I was bummed. The difference in my attitude had nothing to do with the conferences, per se, but the way I chose to accept the situation. Hopefully I've learned and matured in the past four months. I hope that's the case.

I took my son with me to the LTUE conference (he was free, after all...). He's a budding writer and he was able to meet some very successful authors and even gathered a signature or three. We returned after spending 13 hours of instruction in two days tired, very tired. It's amazing how much energy is spend just listening to fascinating speakers.

We're planning on attending next year's conference, and next year I'll be sure to park in the designated parking area to avoid my providing Utah Valley University another involuntary donation to their parking department. And, hopefully, the school will not schedule a ballroom dance competition with what appeared to be thousands of participants on the same day as the conference. I guess we all have things to learn from LTUE.