The Past 48 Hours...

I think the older I get, the less it takes to make me exhausted. However, the past 48 hours--I believe--would have worn out a 25-year old version of myself.

Of course, we'll never know for sure if this is true because my crystal-operated time machine didn't work. But tonight, as I sit on my bed and write this blog post, the last two days are a blur. Let's see what I did.

48 hours ago I had just returned from a rehearsal for Peter Pan. I only caught the last half hour of the rehearsal because earlier in the evening I was doing another show, Annie Get Your Gun.

I got a good night's sleep, then I woke up and went to Salt City Steamfest. Steamfest was a blast (I wrote about it yesterday...). I was asked to participate in a panel at 5pm--the Steampunk Smackdown panel with the Space Balrogs (I wrote that on this blog the day before yesterday...). I left the Steamfest at 6pm and got to the Farmington theater by 6:30--call time.

After last night's show, I went to sleep then got up and went to Centerpoint Legacy Theatre for Peter Pan's Tech Day. I arrived just after 8am and left just after 6pm, then I went to Farmington's theater and did tonight's show.

Tomorrow is Sunday, a day of rest, a day I very much need. Even though I've done a ton of stuff over the last two days, I've had fun being with old friends, new friends, and family. It's been a great couple of days!

Salt City Steamfest, 2014 Edition...

It's late, my feet are killing me, and I lost my eye glasses. Still, I had a blast at this year's Salt City Steamfest. It's a two-day event, but tomorrow I'm busy with a tech day. Here's a few pictures of just some of the atmosphere found within its walls.

And, I met three Xchyler writers I had not met before. I would mention that had those authors been in attendance for my Steampunk throwdown panel (and they had picked my argument that the Clockwork Tinkers were superior to both the molemen and the airship pirates...), I would have won the competition. But since I'm not that kind of person, I won't mention it.

It was a good day!

Salt City Steamfest, Space Balrogs, And Clockwork Tinkers--It's On!

I remember a word of advice I gave to my son a few weeks before he embarked on a two-year assignment for our church.

I told him he should volunteer for things. "If someone asks for help, for volunteers, you should consider doing it. You never know what can happen when you do."

And so when a friend asked if I would be on a panel tomorrow at Salt City Steamfest, I said, "Yes!" I thought I'd be part of a team that tries to persuade a group of convention attendees that the point of view presented by my team was superior to the other points of view. I mean, how hard can it be? After I agreed, my friend then put my name on his website and it was only then I realized I had volunteered for an adventure! I'm not part of a persuasive team--I AM the team and I'm battling a couple of intellectual heavyweights.

I will be part of the Space Balrogs! What's Space Balrogs? A good question, indeed. Here's their website: HERE. In short, it's a troupe of authors who present fun and funny interactive convention events. I'm not a full-fledged member, but I guy can dream, can't he?

So, if you're at Steamfest at 5pm tomorrow night (1 Aug 14), drop by the panel. I'll be arguing the topic: 

Steampunk Smack-down: Airship Pirates vs. Clockwork Tinkers vs. Mole People

I'm officially Team Clockwork Tinkers!

It's going to be a blast! Wish me luck!

Salt City Steamfest 2014 Is Coming!

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I can't believe we're just over three weeks away from Salt City Steamfest! This year's event takes place in Salt Lake on August 1-2 and from all the press and buzz surrounding this year's edition of Steamfest, it's going to be big, their biggest show ever! Their website can be accessed: HERE.

I have a soft place in my heart for Steamfest. Last year was the first time I had ever been more than just a visitor of a convention. Steamfest allowed my publisher, Xchyler Publishing to present a panel on writing steampunk short stories and getting them published.

I was part of that panel. 

I enjoyed being on a panel so much, I kind of haven't stopped doing panels since. I had no idea what to expect from last year's Steamfest. Their dealer room, in my opinion, could have been bigger. That's not the convention's fault, per se. There were so many venders there with some really cool stuff. It was difficult to get around in there because there was so much to see, and buy. Also, many people were dressed up and unlike other cons, steampunk cosplay ruled the day!

So, if you're around on August 1st, or August 2nd, or both days, come on down and check out what I feel is a truly creative and fun convention. It'll be fun!

* Photo used without permission from: https://www.facebook.com/groups/207777099427363/photos/