Time To Vote Early...For Dave And Michaelbrent At Dragon Con!

Almost seven years ago, to the day, I walked into the Salt Palace Convention Center excited and a little nervous. It was Day 1 of the very first Salt Lake Comic Con (later, Salt Lake FanX Comics Convention...). I arrived early, having picked up my "Special Guest" pass. I was a panelist and I didn't know what the crap I was doing or what was about to happen.

I ran into a friend, Blake, who was on the executive committee. It was Blake that signed me up as a panelist. While he and I chatted, a distinguished gentleman approached. I recognized him immediately.

Michaelbrent Collings.

Best-selling Horror author.

I met both Blake and Michaelbrent years earlier at a writing convention. They presented a panel on screenwriting. I attended their panel because a few years earlier, I won a screenwriting contest and my script was turned into an award-winning short film. Blake and I kept in touch.

Blake left and so Michaelbrent and I chatted. "There's an author you should meet," he said. "He's here from Boise."

"Sure," I said.

I had no idea that what came next would sort of change my life.

I met Dave Butler. He had spent the previous few years writing several books that he published himself, but you could tell he was destined for bigger and better things. Fast forward seven years and now both Michaelbrent and Dave are finalists for the Dragon Awards. According to Wikipedia (the fount of all surface knowledge...): 

The Dragon Awards are a set of literary and media awards voted on by fandom and presented annually since 2016 by Dragon Con for excellence in various categories of science fiction, fantasy, and horror novels, movies, television, and games.Wikipedia

Both of these amazing authors are up for awards this year, Dave for Witchy Kingdom, and Michaelbrent for Scavenger Hunt. You can help them out. The rules are such--click: HERE to register. Once you register Dragon Con will e-mail you a ballot. Follow the instructions and, BOOM! You've done your part to help humanity! Is this voting as important as the votes America will cast next November?

Of course!

But seriously, the Dragon Award is a highly respected recognition of science fiction and fantasy voted by you, the readers. It's a chance for us nerds to have our voice be heard, and counted.

Seven years ago, I met two former attorneys turned writers. Now, they're being recognized for their hard work and talent. If you have a moment, vote. It's a good thing.

Looking Back...Two Years Ago Today

Facebook has a new feature. It searches for posts you've entered in the past and on the anniversary of that event reminds you what happened one, two, or more years ago. I've posted something on Facebook everyday since early 2011. I know this because I've got a "Pic Of The Day" that I post as well as a link to my daily blog. I guess Facebook could hit me with several of these pictures every day. We'll see what happens. This morning I opened up the program and was greeted with the above picture.

I remember the event well. I had no idea how much my life would change in two years.

Two years...in my culture two years is significant. Male Mormon members are called on two-year missions. Female member are called for eighteen months. Growing up it was something I always figured I would do. I went years ago (even though my calling was for eighteen months...) and my oldest son is on his mission right now. The two years goes by differently depending on if you're the one on the mission or the missionary's family waiting for them at home. I'm experiencing that now.

So, when I saw the picture of an almost empty Salt Palace Convention Hall, taken on September 5, 2013, it made me realize just how my life has changed in the past twenty-four months.

Oh, I remember that morning. I arrived early--I had taken that whole day off from work. I thought the place would be packed, but no, not yet. I remember also that I was nervous. A few months before my friend had asked if I wanted to be a panelist at Salt Lake's first ever Comic Con. Of course I said "YES!" I did, however, not feel qualified to be a panelist. First of all, I had no idea what that really meant. I had only attended a few other conferences before and most were literary symposiums. I was also on panels with what I would consider "successful" authors, some NYT bestsellers. And there I was, a couple of short stories published and a short screenplay made into a movie I remember feeling so out of place. 

I made it down to the convention floor and ran into an author friend. He recommended I go a few aisles over and meet one of his author friends. I did. And during the next three days I participated in several panels, met many people and had a fantastic time.

Two years ago today I began a new chapter of my life, a chapter that included participating at several conventions, Comic Con and others, having another short story published and publishing my own book of short stories. And it was at that first comic con conventions that I realized not only did I belong at the Comic Con, but could offer useful information to people wanting to break into writing as more than a casual activity. 

Yes, the picture brings back a lot of memories, memories of Blake's generosity, of Michaelbrent's friendship and of Dave's inclusion into a circle of awesomeness. I think humans look back at the time that was and we reflect. We think about how life was for us back then. We're amazed at all the things that have happened in the interim. We look at life as past, present and future, but really, there's no past, nor is there future, only the present. And if Facebook is still around two years from now and they still post events from our past, I might open the computer and see a link to this entry. And I'll think, 'It's really been two years since I wrote that? Wow--so much has changed since then.'