The Warder of Oz
So I leave on Saturday for an exciting two-week adventure that will take me halfway around the world and back, as I pay my first visit down under to Australia, or as it is affectionately known as, Oz. My first readers were in Australia, as by some twist of fate, the Painted Man ARCs came out there before anywhere else. In some ways, my professional writing career started down under, and the readers there have been the bedrock of my support as I struggled with The Desert Spear. They have kicked ass in all my online contests, and I feel like I’ve made some real friends that I can’t wait to meet in person.
I’m also interested to experience what it’s like to be upside down. Cassie loves it when I hold her upside down, so it must be a hoot. I wonder if all the blood will rush to my head.
But before I get to OZ, there’s a pit stop in Tinsel Town. My agent and I will be staying a couple of days in LA for some meetings and a guerrilla tour of the local bookstores, as well as one formal signing. So if you’re a fan in SoCal, come by and give me a hug:
Dark Delicacies Bookstore signing, Burbank, California:
Sunday August 29, 2pm
Dark Delicacies
3512 W. Magnolia
Burbank, CA 91505 U.S.A.
http://www.darkdel.com/
The next day, Monday, we fly to Melbourne. Due to some geographical oddity involving curvature of the Earth and transwarp speeds, Tuesday vanishes into the ether as we cross the international date line, and I arrive in OZ on Wednesday, hopefully crashing down atop some evil witch. I will then have a day to come out of hypersleep or whatever before my first AU signing at the Dymocks Southland store on Thursday, Sept. 2.
Chuck, the store manager, wrote what was one of my first blog reviews ever on Horrorscope. It really meant a lot to me that someone on the other side of the world who didn’t know me from Adam enjoyed the book so much that he took the time to write that review, so what better place to do my first Aussie signing? If you live in the Melbourne area and aren’t planning on attending Worldcon but would still like to meet me, (or if you are in for Worldcon and just want to hang a bit before the con starts), please come out and say g’day at:
Dymocks Southland Bookstore Signing, Cheltenham, Australia:
Thursday, September 2, Noon
3067/8 Westfield Southland Shopping Centre
1239 Nepean Highway
Cheltenham 3192
http://www.dymocks.com.au/StoreLocator/BranchLocatorDisplay.aspx
The signing officially ends at 1, but I will hang out as long as I can before running off to Worldcon, where my first signing starts at 5pm, and is followed by a busy weekend where I will be appearing on several panels and doing a reading. I just got the program, and here’s how to find me:
Worldcon/Aussiecon 4 in Melbourne, Australia:
September 2-6
http://www.aussiecon4.org.au/
Thursday, Sept 2, 1700 Rm 201
Signing
Friday, September 3, 1200 Room 211
Keeping pace: Maintaining momentum in fiction
What keeps the pages turning on a good speculative fiction novel? A panel of authors reveal the tricks and tools they have used – and others they have seen as readers – to keep the momentum of a good story going, and to ensure the reader’s attention. What makes the difference between a tedious bore and an un-put-downable narrative rollercoaster?
Peter V. Brett, Carrie Vaughn, Howard Tayler, Jay Lake
Saturday, September 4, 1100 Room 211
Capes and skirts: The plight of female superheroes
Superman has starred in six feature films. Batman has starred in seven. Wonder Woman has starred in none. The female superhero has been a constant presence through the history of American comic books, but yet has never managed to reach the traction of their male counterparts. Who are the super heroines who succeed? Which ones fail? Why can’t they
find as big an audience, and what needs to be done to change that? Why haven’t we seen a Wonder Woman movie?
Tansy Rayner Roberts, Karen Healey, Peter V. Brett, Seanan McGuire
Saturday, September 4, 1200 Room 213
The follow-up: Writing the second novel
Everybody focuses on the first novel, that once-in-a-lifetime achievement that takes the aspiring author from idea to execution to publication – but what then? How does the life of the author change once his or her first novel has been published? What are the challenges and difficulties in following it up with a second book?
Peter V. Brett, Fiona McIntosh, Will Elliott
Saturday, September 4, 1500 Room 204
The writer and the audience: Online interaction and public personae
The Internet has brought with it a vast array of tools and opportunities for authors to promote their own work, and to interact directly with their readers. The question is: should they? Should ever author have a website, Twitter feed, Facebook account or Myspace? Should authors create and employ a brand? How should an author interact with his or her fans online? A look at the benefits, as well as where things can go horribly wrong.
Cory Doctorow, John Berlyne, Peter V. Brett, Mur Lafferty
Sunday, September 5, 1000 Rm 219
Reading
…probably from The Great Bazaar, but I haven’t decided for sure. Whatever it is, I will read it from my iPad. I am forgoing a laptop on this trip and trying to fly free with just the iPad. This may mean less blogging (iPad hates WordPress), but I fully intend to write, do interviews, etc. It seems somehow fitting to do my readings from it, too. And maybe Cory Doctorow will put it up on Boing Boing.
After the convention, I am taking a quick hop over to Sydney to visit my AU publishers and accept the graceful invitation to sign at:
Galaxy Bookstore Signing, Sydney, Australia
Wednesday, September 8, 5:30pm
143 York Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
T) 02 9267 7222
http://www.galaxybooks.com.au/
If you’re a reader in the Sydney area and want a signed book or a chance to chat, stop by. I have no further plans that day, and will hang and chitchat until someone suggests we take it to a local bar. And then hang out at the bar.
After that, I am taking a day to see Sydney, and then flying back to LA, during which time the day that vanished into the ether will be reincorporated into the world and I land the same day I left, or something like that.
And when all that is done, I am coming home, kissing my loved ones, and going to sleep for a goddamn week.
It’s great you were able to make the trip up to Sydney! I really look forward to meeting you at Galaxy. I am bringing one of those aforementioned ARCs to be signed LOL Both myself, and my best friend (you have mentioned her blog Bookish Ardour before) received those ARCs and immediately became diehard fans. She won’t be able to make it to Galaxy, so I will have her books as well. Enjoy that bloodrush as you get to our fabled shores!
Looks like I’m going to have to sneak out of work early and make my way down to Jeff’s shed.
Or should that be Jeff’s next door neighbour?
(Sorry Melbourne joke)
Well it will be worth. How often do you get a superstar to travel all the way to Oz for a weekend visit?
So excited!
I’m wagging school on Thursday, just for you, haha. So worth it, will be staring at you in awe with my little copy of the Painted Man clutched in my sweaty hands ^-^*
Date-line, upside down, OZ – too much to take in, eh Mr B…LOL !
Well, just be prepared to having your “painted” socks blown off because you’ll not want to EVER return to the old USA mate. And having said that sir, you are not visiting the greatest city on earth during your extremely short sabbatical – Brisbane. Oh woh is me !!
I strongly suggest not sleeping when you land, especially if you are arriving in the morning hours there. Otherwise, you are pouring yourself a jetlag cocktail.
Have a good time man, I am sure you will enjoy every second it your trip.
Whoa! where’s your beard? according to Ahmann Jardir every man should have beard.
I still have it. That pic is actually like 2 years old. I have no idea why I haven’t used it before.
I just finished reading The Painted Man after eyeing it off forever and it was like being punched in the face with awesome. Can’t wait for the 8th now. See you in Sydney!
Bugger the luggage limits both books are getting signed. See you at Worldcon
*sniffle* What about poor little New Zealand?
pity im not on holidays till the 13th. hope it goes well 🙂