Gen Con 2006 Schedule

I’m gearing up for Gen Con Indy, which opens to the public this Thursday. This is the great-grandaddy of gaming conventions, and for me it’s always like a combination of summer camp and Christmas in August. It’s a chance to see all those friends I only run into a few times a year, as well as to check out all of the coolest things gaming has to offer.

I won’t be tied to a particular booth this year. Instead, you can find me charging all around the show. Here’s my public schedule:

Thursday, August 10:
11—11:30 AM: Signing at the Wizards of the Coast booth, along with James Wyatt.
1—3 PM: Signing at the Sabertooth Games/Black Library booth.
3—4 PM: Signing in Author’s Alley, along with Keith Baker, Ed Bolme, Tim Waggoner, and James Wyatt.
5—6 PM: “Lifetime Freelancer,” a seminar, in the Celebration Hall at the Hyatt.

Friday, August 11
12—1 PM: “Designing Licensed Games,” a seminar, in the Celebration Hall at the Hyatt.

Saturday, August 12
1—3 PM: Signing at the Sabertooth Games/Black Library booth.
3—4 PM: “Fantastic Adventures,” a seminar about working in Robert E. Howard’s worlds, in the Mt. Rushmore Room at the Hyatt, along with Leigh Stone and Thommy Wojciechowski of Paradox Entertainment, Mike Stackpole, Charlie Krank of Chaosium, Jason Robinette of Comic Images, Alex Fennel of Mongoose, and Shane Hensley of Pinnacle Entertainment Group.
4—5 PM: Signing in Author’s Alley, along with Keith Baker, Ed Bolme, Tim Waggoner, and James Wyatt.

Sunday, August 12
1—2 PM: “Game Design 101,” a seminar, in the Celebration Hall at the Hyatt, along with James Ernest, Gwendolyn Kestrel, Sheri Graner Ray, and Mike Selinker.

Otherwise, you can probably spot me wandering around the exhibit hall, gabbing with friends, and roaming around with a happily dazzled look on my face. If you do, be sure to say hi.

Just Back

I just spent a week in a cabin on a lake near beautiful and remote Watersmeet, Michigan. The cabin just got electricity in a few years back, and this year marked the introduction of a pump to bring unheated washing (but not drinking) water up from the lake. There are no phones and no internet access.

It’s a slice of heaven.

I’m in the middle of catching up from my absence. I should have my Gen Con schedule posted shortly, along with the third and final day of my Comic-Con notes.

Diana Jones Award Party

Speaking of Gen Con, if you’re an industry professional and have yet to receive a notice about the Diana Jones Award ceremony at Gen Con, drop me an e-mail for the details. For the moment, just reserve some time late on Wednesday, August 9, to join your compadres in celebrating some of the best games of the year.

Games Day Rocks!

I just got back from Games Day Chicago, and I had a wonderful time. The Black Library staff treated me like a star, and I got to sit and chat with all sort of Blood Bowl and general Games Workshop fans. We sold over 100 copies of my books, and I signed every last one of them.

As a bonus, Mike Lee joined me at the author’s table, and I enjoyed lunch with him and his lovely wife Janet Young. I also saw them at Comic-Con, but I haven’t gotten to that part of the tale yet. Unfortunately, it’s going to be a bit before I can get back to that story. I’m heading out of town for parts off the grid, which means no updates for a week or so.

With luck, I’ll be able to squeeze in a few posts before heading off to Gen Con Indy. Either way, I hope to see some of you at that show of shows!

Games Day Chicago–Tomorrow!

All day tomorrow (July 29), I’ll be at Games Day Chicago, the one-day Games Workshop convention. I’ll be hanging out in the Black Library booth, signing books with my pal and fellow author Mike Lee.

I’m told I’ll also help out with a Black Library seminar. In the course of this, there’s a vicious rumor that we’ll ask Blood Bowl trilogy trivia questions, with prizes given out for correct answers–or, barring that, the ones that make us laugh.

If you’re in Chicago and love Games Workshop, I hope to see you there!

Comic-Con Report, Day 1 (for me)

Believe it or not, I did survive Comic-Con. Every year I go, it gets bigger, and I wonder if it will ever slow down. It never does.

I hear that this year’s attendance may top 125,000 people. Con management actually stopped preregistration in the middle of the show (for those buying one-day tickets later in the show, I presume) and even shut down on-site registration on Saturday.

Couple that with the heat wave that ran through town, and it was one sweaty, wild time. Since the weather is normally perfect year-round in San Diego, it seemed like few of the restaurants or bars had any kind of air conditioning. At least the convention center had upgraded its system, preventing the roasting we used to see, starting about 3 PM each day. You put that many people in one room, and it gets hot.

Anyhow, here’s how my trip went.
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The Art of the Schmooze

Yes, I’m back from Comic-Con. It was a blast, and I’ll have a full report soon. In the meantime, here’s a tidbit that’s apropos.

On a mailing list for tie-in writers (affiliated with the IAMTW), KeVin Killiany asked about the best ways to look for work at a convention. Many of his fellow writers (including me) chipped in with some answers that should make for fun reading.