Artifacts Blog

True Rumor: Work On Artifacts Sequel Has Begun!

When one manages to live through the simultaneously gratifying and agonizing experience of writing a novel, emerging more or less intact if just a bit off-kilter for a while, there is a natural reticence to begin that process all over again. Oh, the bitter weeping and creepy low giggling! Ah, the tearing of hair and joyous shouts of, "That's it!"

But one thing is true for any writer worth his/her ink: The words never stop comin' and if ya don't get 'em outta your brainpan they will drive you to a madness more profound than that of King George III or perhaps Bugs Bunny when he was really and awesomely off his nut--I refer you to this clip from 1952 as proof.

Being fully aware of this danger to the mind and wishing to keep some measure of my sanity--not all of it, of course--I announce today that work on the sequel to my first novel Artifacts is under way!

Now, certainly not every novel should have a sequel. A follow-up to Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, for instance, would be categorically absurd as that masterpiece is beautifully and wholly complete. But not every story can be told in one installment. Also, many readers of Artifacts have clamored in my ear for more, more, more! And while I am not one to easily crumble to peer pressure, I too believe more, etc. is a very fine idea.

I cannot give you a publication date at this time--sheesh, I just started, kids!--but I will try to provide periodic progress reports right here on the official Artifacts blog. In the meantime, if you haven't yet read the original, click on over to artifactsnovel.com where you can download the first three chapters for free and then buy the whole thing if ya like!

WisCon: The Smartest SF Convention You've Never Heard Of

When you're a writer and you're nutty enough to decide that Novelist should be added to your curriculum vitae--in fancy Latin, of course--'cause, hey, you've never done it before and crafting thousands of words that somehow hang together to make up a coherent story sounds like a super fun way to spend a huge amount of time, well you just gotta try, right? Right. And so you do. And even though the experience brings out all your latent manic-depressive tendencies, making you alternate between yelps of, "OMG, this soooo awesome!" and, "OMG, this soooo excruciating!" you keep pluggin' away until the work is completed.

Once the novel is finished and published, you have two choices: You can either sit alone and stare at your tome, stunned and in utter disbelief, or you can begin the next phase of work that entails letting other folks know it exists so they too can stare at it and, hopefully, read it. I chose the latter.

In my quest to discover avenues through which I could connect with readers, I came across the website of a science fiction convention that I'd never heard of before that's been held annually for 35 years in my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin called WisCon. "What?!" I cried. "I was there from birth to age 21 and had no idea this special meeting of literary fans existed? How can that be?" Having no satisfactory answer, I shrugged and gathered more intel.

WisCon, it turns out, is not just a science fiction convention, it is the science fiction convention for those of us who believe that fully developed female characters and the issues of equality, gender, race and class can and do make for compelling reading. I mean, there are only so many cold-blooded hot chicks and magical waifs ya can take before you start screaming, "Be more real!" Also, "Natural boobs don't defy gravity and I doubt very much that these well-trained ninja sisters would take the time to get implants just to titillate, so to speak, 14 year-old boys!"

Anyhoo, seeing as Artifacts just happens to have a complex female protagonist and, as a supernatural tale, fits securely within the speculative genre--depending on who you're talking to, that's either an umbrella term that includes science fiction, supernatural, horror, fantasy, etc. or a close cousin of science fiction--we should really be there!

And so it is that I and my always supportive hubby Kevin will be in attendance at WisCon 36, running May 25-28 at the Concourse Hotel. Whoot and Hooray!

We'll be in the dealers' room Friday-Sunday, ready to meet and greet all who refuse to accept the one-dimensional female character status quo and wish to build a science and speculative fiction literary legacy that offers more discussion of pressing real-life issues and less fake boobery!

If you haven't yet gotten your copy of Artifacts, go to artifactsnovel.com where you can read the first three chapters for FREE as a dowloadable PDF and then purchase the paperback, PDF or EPUB.

Artifacts Goes EPUB

It's true, lit lovers, Artifacts is now available as an EPUB exclusively at artifactsnovel.com. Whoot and Hooray! And just barely in time for our modest appearance at FOGcon—Phew!

Now, as most of the super hip kids know, EPUB is the common standard file format for reading on mobile devices, laptops and desktop computers with e-book reader software and apps. Of course, in the world of techy-tech there are always a few device and app makers that, for reasons completely and ridiculously uncool, don't support the thing that everyone else has decided is totally frickin' awesome. So, as a public reader service, we have created a page on the website suggesting a couple o' neat sites that can convert the EPUB to other e-book formats absolutely free.

With that being said, ready, set, go get your Artifacts EPUB, PDF or paperback now!

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It's Official: FOGcon Here We Come!

It's Official: FOGcon Here We Come!

Con-goers, a.k.a convention-goers. We all make fun of 'em—sometimes 'cause they deserve it but most times 'cause we don't always understand 'em. Who are these nutty yet dedicated folks that fly across the country, even the world, to spend three/four/five days hanging out with other nutty yet dedicated folks of the same ilk? And why, oh why do some wear fancy, often homemade costumes in order to pay homage to their favorite fictional heros and anti-heros? It is truly a puzzle to many who never dare to slip their dainty toes into the con-goers shoes.

But The Con—as it's known in the collective—is the modern, if sometimes wacky expression of our ancient proclivity to socialize. We are the most emotionally needy of beings, and the opportunity to fraternize, hobnob, mingle, etc. with others who share our interests is just too much of a temptation to resist, even to those who claim complete reclusive status. Also, con-goers on average are some of the smartest, friendliest, not-too-cool-to-hoot-n-holler peeps around.

And so it is with great pride that we—"we" being myself and my equal half Kevin—announce our appearance at the 2nd Annual FOGcon, March 30-April 1, to promote Artifacts. Whoot!

For those asking, "What in holy con-bleep is FOGcon?" let me explain. FOGcon is a San Francisco SF/F—that's literature, baby!—convention organized by Friends of Genre and the Speculative Literature Foundation. Operating under the theme of The Body, this year's con promises to be a fascinating trip into the actual, metaphorical, corporeal and metaphysical avenues to be found therein. Since Artifacts heavily incorporates all of these aspects through the body of the female protagonist Al, how could we not go, huh?

Okay, so to anyone who happens to be attending this year's FOGcon, stop on by our Artifacts booth for an amiable chat in the dealer's room. To anyone not attending this awesome con—whether you pine for the chance or not—you would do us great honor by wishing us fair travel.

Kudos For Artifacts Printer

Two days ago, I blogged up well-deserved kudos and high praise for Milwaukee Printing Press, printer of the Artifacts paperback, on CricketToes.

It's a must-read for all, so click on over there!

Free Artifacts PDF Download Expires Tomorrow!

On January 1, 2012--that's tomorrow for you lucky yet befuddled few trapped in a dimension where time doesn't exist--the full PDF version of Artifacts will no longer be available for free at artifactsnovel.com and will be replaced with a free PDF of the first three chapters only.

While we'd like to give ya a strict deadline, preferably in an intense movie trailer voice--Time runs out at midnight (cue dramatic music)--chances are we won't get around to switching out the PDFs until the sweet Central Time sunrise of a New Year's Eve hang over appears. So, if you're really into drunk downloading at 2AM--and who isn't, huh?--it'll be there for ya.

Of course, you can purchase the paperback, deftly and beautifully printed by Milwaukee Printing Press, at the site for as long as your stunningly gorgeous heart desires. And those who do will receive our undying love and a personalized set of air kisses.

Artifacts has gotten some very solid press since its release in September, the most recent being an interview with me on WUWM 89.7 FM Milwaukee Public Radio's Lake Effect that aired on Saturday, December 10. Go the Artifacts Press page to view all media coverage to date.

As always, we sincerely thank everyone who has shown support and enthusiasm for Artifacts.

Happy New Year!

Artifacts On Lake Effect

My interview on WUWM 89.7 FM Milwaukee Public Radio's Lake Effect airs today at 3PM! But you don't have to wait 'cause you can give it a listen now.

Huge thanks go out to the extraordinaire Stephanie Lecci for her expert interviewing skills!

Artifacts Is Gettin' Some Heat

Press for Artifacts is making medium leaps and bounds--Whoozzah!

The good people at Wisconsin Gazette included Artifacts in its new fall faction list and The Daily Cardinal in Madison--the place of my humble birth--ran a pretty stellar article penned by Sean Reichard on November 11.

Thanks to everyone for their support!

Artifacts On The Radio

The very fine and upstanding folks at WMSE 91.7 FM here in Milwaukee will be airing a LIVE interview with yours truly on Monday, October 17, at 5PM CT (6PM ET / 3PM PT). The Topic: Artifacts. Hooray!

If you live in the Miltown area, tune your old-fashioned radios to 91.7 FM at the designated time.

In addition, those living throughout the land--and indeed the world--may tune in for the live stream at their website. They also keep a fancy archive at the same site for those of you unable to tune in at the exact moment of liveness.

If you haven't yet bought your copy of Artifacts, go to artifactsnovel.com right now. For those a little tight in the wallet these days, feel free to download the free PDF, available for a limited a time.

Thanks to all for your support!

Artifacts Novel Is Here!

As I very calmly stated on CricketToes last month, my debut novel Artifacts is on sale at artifactsnovel.com right now. Yippee!

You may also download the free PDF version of the entire novel at the site for a limited time.

Get your copy and claim your I-read-it-first-baby boasting rights today!