Because I never have enough to do (heh, heh) I have proposed a discussion, a workshop and three group readings for the upcoming ReaderCon convention in July. As of last week, all have been approved.

I share their descriptions below.

• GROUP READING: CLOCKWORK PHOENIX 4
  “All of the critically-acclaimed CLOCKWORK PHOENIX anthologies have officially debuted at ReaderCon since the series began in 2008. That bond deepened when editor and publisher Mike Allen launched the Kickstarter campaign for CLOCKWORK PHOENIX 4 at ReaderCon 23. The campaign was a smashing success, the latest lineup of boundary-pushing, unclassifiable stories has been bought and paid for. At this official reading, the new anthology’s authors will share samples from their stories with all of you who helped make this book reality.”

• CROWDFUNDING: THE GLORY AND THE PERIL
  “In this troubled market, small publishers, authors and editors are all turning to crowdfunding to get the backing for their cherished projects. Novelists, anthology editors and magazine publishers are asking for funds on Kickstarter, Indiegogo and other sites and coming away triumphant. So if you want to try it for yourself, how do you make it work? What do you avoid? What unexpected problems lurk? Author, editor and publisher Mike Allen, veteran of a $10,000 campaign to fund the anthology Clockwork Phoenix 4, will lead a discussion of what works, what doesn’t, and even what successful campaigners wish they’d done differently.”

• OPEN MIC POETRY READING
  “ReaderCon has become one of the rare hubs for poetry in the esoteric field of speculative literature. Come here the full range of what speculative poetry has to offer: humorous, gritty, beautiful, moving. Fans of the Rhysling Readings of previous years shouldn’t miss this.”

• GROUP READING: MYTHIC POETRY
  Over the past decade, speculative poetry has increasingly turned toward the mythic in subject matter, with venues such as Strange Horizons, Goblin Fruit, Mythic Delirium, Stone Telling, Cabinet des Fées, Jabberwocky, and the now-defunct Journal of the Mythic Arts showcasing a new generation of poets who’ve redefined what this type of writing can do. Come to the reading and hear new and classic works from speculative poetry’s trend-setters.

• SPECULATIVE POETRY WORKSHOP
  “Speculative poetry can be defined a number of ways, but one way is this: a speculative poem uses the trappings of science fiction, fantasy, horror, or more unclassifiable bends in reality to convey its images, narratives and themes. The speculative poetry can unfold with the same subtlety and power that speculative fiction does, with considerably fewer words. Come prepared to write.”

Signups for individual readings haven’t happened yet. Because I have the possibility of a first novel and/or a first collection to promote there, I’m going to sign up for one once those are offered. Now the question is, how to get people to come? Much as people seem to enjoy listening to me read, I have the damndest time with that, so hmmm. Offer cookies and chocolate? Dangle the threat of eternal enmity over no-shows? Cookies and chocolate are probably less exhausting in the long-term…

Posted in Appearances, Clockwork Phoenix, Editing, Fiction, Kickstarter, Novels, Poetry, Short stories, Signal boosts, Writing