The Dickens You Say!

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It's getting close to Christmas which means all those traditional Christmas stories are starting to make the rounds. My favorite is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I try to see a version of it every year.

This year was special. Marie (my better half) and I were fortunate enough to get tickets to see Gerald Charles Dickens, the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens, perform the story live. The one-man-show took place in the old Ebenezer Baptist Church in the little town of Occoquan, Virginia (not the current EBC facility in Woodbridge, Virginia).

Historic marker for Ebenezer Baptist Church, Occoquan, VA.

The church is not large, but Gerald does two shows the same day to accommodate as many people as possible. The shows are sold out months ahead of time.

The performance lasts nearly 90 minutes, and the audience is encouraged to participate. Many of those in attendance had seen the show several times and knew when to pipe in. Gerald changes voices and demeanor for each character, so even those not entirely familiar with the story would have little difficulty following along. Once the show was over, Gerald waited at the exit to the church to shake hands with the audience and wish them a 'Merry Christmas.'

Afterwards, many walk up the street to The Golden Goose where autographs and pictures may be had (for free). The Golden Goose is a Christmas shop with every sort of decoration imaginable on display. I had a small copy of A Christmas Carol and the flyer for the play which Gerald signed.

Autographed flyer for A Christmas Carol

Marie had an illustrated version of the story and a flyer to be signed. And we took several pictures, of course. While no pictures or other recordings are allowed during the show, he more than makes up for it afterward! He was very accommodating and never rushed anyone, often signing multiple copies of books and allowing many pictures by each person or group to be taken during the autograph session.

Gerald Charles Dickens signing Marie's book

Mr. Dickens posing with us for a picture

We thought the show was great and are hoping to attend again next year. We must remind ourselves to mark the calendar, however, as the tickets sell out so quickly! Please note that Gerald does shows around the country (and also in England) so you don't have to be in Virginia to see him. If you enjoy the story and happen to be near where one Gerald's performances take place, consider seeing it for yourself. I think you'll find it enjoyable!

In addition to his web sites, you can find Gerald Charles Dickens on Twitter at @DickensShows.

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P.S. It would be great if you could check out Terri Deno's Patreon site and, perhaps, consider supporting her writing efforts! Struggling authors need all the help they can get!

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© 2017 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Shore Leave 39 - Sunday

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Sunday July 9, 2016

Woohoo! All the free books I put out evaporated. And I have a request for another copy of Human 76. I hope everyone enjoys them! 

The free books I put out at Shore Leave 39 - gone in a flash!

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There was more happening Sunday this year than in previous years. I'm not sure why. I was there until 5:00 pm. Usually it is getting pretty empty by 3:00 pm.

Sunday Panels

Star Trek: Discovery
Can this program continue the Star Trek phenomenon, or will fans be turned off by having to pay to watch episodes of the new series?
Randy Hall (M), Wayne Hall, Ann Harding

Representation Is Key
A conversation about the importance of fair and accurate representation for marginalized communities (including POC, LGBTQ+, diverse religion, people with disabilities, etc.) in fiction.
Jenifer Rosenberg (M), Rigel Ailur, Mary Fan, Melissa Scott, Derek Attico

Friendship Is Magic
In SF/F, heroes have friends and companions; villains have only minions. Our authors examine how cultural narratives about heroism, sex, gender, class, and community influence how we depict being alone and being connected.
David Mack (M), Mary Fan, Michael Critzer, Amy Imhoff, TJ Perkins

Why We Love SciFi
Aliens, time travel, and space opera. Action, adventure, and comedy. Noir. Thrillers. Technothrillers. Parallel universes. Alternate realities. Political and social commentary. Come talk about what we love in scifi, and what we want to see next.
Russ Colchamiro (M), Mary Fan, Kelli Fitzpatrick, Mike Friedman, Amy Imhoff

Marvel/DC Women Warriors: Ultimate Face-off Finale!
Its time for the final votes to be cast, comrades! Time to decide the Ultimate Woman Warrior!
Andrew Kelley (M), Beverly Stark, Charles Davidson

Gotham: The Joke’s on Us
The tension in this crime drama ratcheted up a notch during Season 3. Some people have said that the program’s grim setting turns them off, but is being different actually a strength of the series?
David Brewer (M), Wayne Hall, Ann Harding

Where No Tale Has Gone Before
After over 50 years, how can there still be fresh stories to tell in Star Trek’s shared universe? Our panel of Trekspert storytellers discuss what they think makes for solid new Star Trek tales.
David Mack (M), Dayton Ward, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Christopher L. Bennett, Scott Pearson

Heroes: The Best . . . and the Worst
We’ve all read books where we absolutely loved the main characters—and others where we couldn’t stand them. Our panelists will reveal some of their most and least favorites, and why.
Russ Colchamiro (M), Heather E. Hutsell, Greg Cox, John Coffren, TJ Perkins

The Worf Factor
From his bridge station at tactical to Commander and becoming Chancellor and then Ambassador to the Klingon Empire, Worf has probably enjoyed the most thorough development of any other character in Star Trek.
Lorenzo Heard (M), Andrew Kelley

The Devil’s in the Details
Writers build convincing worlds by including small details that pack a big punch. (“The door irised open.”) How does that work, who does it well, and what details are you hoarding for the perfect story?
Melissa Scott (M), Roberta Rogow, Stephen Kozeniewski, Glenn Hauman

The Flash: May the Speed Force Be With You
The most popular show on the CW network added several characters in Season 3. What do you think of the way the season ended, and what lies ahead in the series during Season 4?
David Brewer (M), Randy Hall, Wayne Hall, Lorenzo Heard

LGBTQ+ in Fandom
From Steven Universe to Sense8, LGBTQ+ representation has yet to go main-stream. Let’s discuss the best and worse portrayals.Ann C.E. Dorsett

Mixing and Matching Genres
Zombie cowboys. Superheros vs. vampires. Hard-boiled wizards. What are the rewards and perils of blurring genre lines? Does chocolate go better with peanut butter?
Greg Cox (M), Keith R.A. DeCandido, Melissa Scott, Roberta Rogow

Chasing Our Tales
Our panel of writers share stories they’ve long tinkered with but haven’t found a way to make work. Can you help them find the missing pieces of their puzzles?
Stephen Kozeniewski (M), Aaron Rosenberg, Andrew Hiller, Kathleen David, Glenn Hauman, TJ Perkins

Ghosts of Fandom Past
The evolution of fandom from the 70’s to present.
Joseph Bloch (M), Michael Garman, Michael Schilling

Marvel Comics Chokes on Diversity
Everyone wants more diversity, right? More Blacks! More Hispanics! More Women! More Gays! Well, Marvel, let’s discuss that.
Andrew Kelley (M), Randy Hall, Wayne Hall

Arrow Keeps Hitting the Target
After several members of “Team Arrow” left the group at the start of Season 5, Oliver Queen recruited several young new heroes for his group.
David Brewer (M), Lorenzo Heard

Legion M—The World’s First Fan-Run Media Company!
They just had a hit film “Colossal” and are working with Stan Lee and a host of others...
Ponch Fenwick

Ye Gods!
From Neil Gaiman’s American Gods to N.K. Jemisin’s The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, many acclaimed works feature deities who behave like humans. Why does this appeal to writers and readers?
Robert Greenberger (M), Keith R.A. DeCandido, Aaron Rosenberg, Hildy Silverman, Amy Imhoff, Kathleen David

Next Generation Celebrates 30 Years!
Three decades ago, Captain Jean-Luc Picard became the captain of the Galaxy Class Enterprise D. Let’s look back over the series that boldly went where no one had gone before!
Ann Harding (M), Andrew Kelley

Wonder Woman Lassos the Box Office!
New movie, new vision, new hit?
Randy Hall (M), Wayne Hall

Marvel/DC Warriors: The Colossal Coed Clash of Champions!
There are no more lines drawn between genders in the arena, and it’s no holds barred to finally decide who is the deadliest combatant between all sixteen of Marvel and DC’s most superb fighters.
Andrew Kelley (M), Beverly Stark, Charles Davidson

A Day in the Life of a Writer
Panelists discuss how writing shapes their daily lives, relationships, and health. We examine the triumphs and the struggles of the creative process—how does one find balance? What makes it all worth it?
Kelli Fitzpatrick (M), Derek Attico, Andrew Hiller, Hildy Silverman, TJ Perkins

Legends of Tomorrow: Malcolm Merlyn in the Middle
What did you think about the second season finale, which featured a final confrontation between the Legends and the Legion of Doom?
David Brewer (M), Randy Hall, Wayne Hall

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Sunday starts with a bit of packing—getting the suitcases and duffle (or duffel, which the Google Blogger spellcheck likes better) bags into the cars so we don't have to leave in the middle of a panel or talk to check out. At Hunt Valley, they slip an invoice under the door so you know what the bill will be. I still ended up turning the key cards in an hour late and there was no problem. All I had to do was say, "We're checking out," and they do the rest. As long as you don't cause too much trouble (I won't go into detail), they're quite friendly. Even though the ownership has changed, many of the same people have continued to work there.

Again, we hit the breakfast/brunch buffet hard. It isn't cheap, but I still think they lost money on me. It's depressingly good, although you won't actually be depressed until you weigh yourself. Or try to bend over and tie your shoes. BTW, Michael Hogan sat just a couple of tables away, so you get to hobnob with the celebrities even during your meals.

By the time breakfast was over the action in main hall had already started. By that, I mean the actors, actresses, and authors were at their tables signing autographs and conversing with the attendees. And the celebrity talks would soon start. Also, I was trying to figure out what was going on with the art show, as that was scheduled to begin checkout at 10:00 am, but there didn't seem to be anyone around. I hope to get this sorted as I plan to put a couple of things up for bid next year.

While some in my group watched a Star Wars presentation, I ran went looking for the panels. The two I attended were The Devil's in the Details and Mixing and Matching Genres. Again, I'll have a post on the panels later, but they were probably the best two I attended this year.

After the panels, I went back to the main hall to locate my friends (yes, I actually have a few) and see what was scheduled next. They were taking in the Michael Dorn talk. I quietly made my way to where they were holding a seat for me to watch the last few minutes and see him introduce Marina Sirtis for her final appearance. Marina is definitely the most entertaining speaker Shore Leave had this year.

Michael Dorn introducing Marina Sirtis
at Shore Leave 39

Michael teasing Marina
during her introduction

Next to speak was Kevin Sussman. He had some good moments, but he's not as exciting as the other speakers. He does seem like a nice person.

Kevin Sussman at Shore Leave 39

I finished the convention listening to Michael Hogan and Luciana Carro.

Luciana Carro at Shore Leave 39

Michael Hogan at Shore Leave 39

Michael and Luciana get their Shore Leave bunnies!

Final Thoughts

Was it a successful convention? I think so. It's still impossible to get to everything you want to see. Didn't get to do the stargazing (again) this year. I would have like to have had more time to talk to some of the authors and actors/actresses, but it seems like every second is filled. I would have especially liked to have talked with Luciana Carro. I've never seen her act and don't know the shows she was in, but the more I heard her talk, the more interesting she became. She seems to be very committed to her craft.

Still, attendance seemed to be down a little, and we heard as much from some of the Shore Leave folks. The date change to July instead of August may be part of the reason. A lot of families take an extended vacation around the July 4th holiday. Also, Awesome Con had just finished up in DC, so some people may not have had the budget or time to attend both. Awesome Con will be earlier next year, so we'll see...

Speaking of next year, the 2018 convention will be the 40th anniversary of Shore Leave! There are rumors it will be a good one with some really special guests. I'll keep my ear to the ground and let you know!

Shore Leave on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShoreLeaveCon  ( @ShoreLeaveCon ‏ )

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© 2017 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Shore Leave 39 - Saturday

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Saturday July 8, 2016

Update: All the free books I put out evaporated. And I have a request for another copy of Human 76. I hope everyone enjoys them! 

The free books I put out at Shore Leave 39 - gone in a flash!

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First of all, I know I'm not getting these out on the same day as the events took place, but I really do need to get at least 5 hours of sleep. When you're at Shore Leave, the day starts at 7:00 am and often goes until midnight. And when it's over, you're still a little tired. Okay, a lot tired. But I'll try to post as much as I can (and hopefully better than last year) as soon as I can!

Now, back to the post...

Things really got going on Saturday. Lots of discussion panels, lots of talks by actors, and lots of authors pushing their books.

Saturday Panels

Grimm Retrospective
Let’s talk about the final season, what we wanted to see and didn’t, and what the future is for the Grimm universe.
Ann Harding (M), Annie White, John White

Serger Sewing Tutorial
A serger is an amazing, fancy machine which sews and finishes fabric edges in one easy, quick step. Find out the unique capabilities
of this useful device.
D. Jeannette Holloman (M), Ron Robinson, Ozma Ireton

Marvel Women Warriors: Ultimate Face-off!
Sixteen of the most acclaimed female hand-to-hand combatants in Marvel are squaring off for you to debate and choose who is the
greatest Marvel woman warrior!
Andrew Kelley (M), Beverly Stark, Charles Davidson

Wow, I Wrote That?
Writers often discover stories they penned years earlier but don’t remember writing. It’s as close as one comes to reading one’s own
work the way others do. What have our panelists learned from this experience?
Howard Weinstein (M), Heather E. Hutsell, Lorraine Anderson, Aaron Rosenberg, Peter David

Revision or Do-Over?
Sometimes when we revise our work, we toss out the good with the bad and replace it with more first-draft content. How does one make
revision into refinement rather than replacement?
Andrew Hiller (M), Greg Cox, Laura Ware, Kelli Fitzpatrick, TJ Perkins

Indy’s Back (in 2020)!
Is the return of Indiana Jones, to be played one more time by aging but sturdy Harrison Ford, a good idea — or a bad one?
Howard Weinstein (M), Russ Colchamiro, Kathleen David, Dave Galanter

40 Years of Star Wars Costumes
Star Wars changed everything, including how we look at sci-fi costumes. How has this influenced other sci-fi? How has this changed costume fandom? What does the future hold?
D. Jeannette Holloman (M), Sharon Landrum

Outlander: From Book Shelves to STARZ!
Loving this series and speculating about what might come next!
Annie Brugmans (M), Maggie Restivo, Betsy Childs

Your Writing or Your Life
Writers often experience conflicts between their writing and their family and job obligations. Can one use such conflicts productively?
How does one build a firewall between work and the rest of life?
Stephen Kozeniewski (M), Heather E. Hutsell, Lorraine Anderson, Laura Ware, Kathleen David

History for Fun and Profit
Lots of SF/F stories explicitly use historical models, whether it’s the Victorian Age for steampunk or Age of Sail for original Star Trek.
What pieces of the past are best for borrowing? How important is accuracy?
Jenifer Rosenberg (M), Christopher L. Bennett, Melissa Scott, Roberta Rogow, Richard C. White

Wonder Woman
Did the movie do the character justice? Was it everything you expected? What did you like about it and what would you have liked it
to have done differently?
Rigel Ailur (M), Keith R.A. DeCandido, Simantha Galanter, Hildy Silverman, Amy Imhoff, Susan Olesen

Crossplay Makeup Makeover
Too much style for one gender? Stephanie Kiss transforms a young man into a young woman. Learn how it’s done!
Stephanie Kiss (M) and others

Lucifer: The Devil’s in the Details
Have I ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? If you’re a fan of the devil, let’s talk about what’s in store for heaven’s fallen favorite son.
Ann Harding (M), Annie White, John White

Does Fiction Go Too Easy on Evil?
In reality, evil is often boring, ugly, and stupid. But compelling villains in fiction are often stylish, intelligent, and competent. Is fiction
doing society a disservice by giving evil a good name?
David Mack (M), Jenifer Rosenberg, Mary Fan, Richard C. White, Glenn Hauman

What are the Starfleet Marines?
Join us to learn about this active branch of Starfleet!
David Sladky

The Future and Star Trek
Where do they intersect, and how has one affected the other?
Alex Cummins

RMN Special ButRain Ceremony
You are invited to attend a formal changing of the guard within the Royal Manticoran Navy.
Martin Lessem (M), James Friedline, Laura Lochen, Bill Lochen

Planet of the Apes
With a new movie opening, the franchise approaching its 50th anniversary, and new books and comics coming out, what is it about those damn, dirty apes that keeps us coming back? And what lies ahead?
Dayton Ward (M), Greg Cox, Robert Greenberger, Hildy Silverman, Kathleen David

Star Wars at 40: Wow, Do I Feel Old!
Exploring our history with Star Wars!
Michael Schilling (M), Michael Garman

Deanna Troi, I Feel You!
Lorenzo Heard (M), Randy Hall, Ann Harding

Defending the Light Side
In fiction, as in real life, upbeat and happy are often equated with silly fluff lacking substantial themes and intelligence. Or dismissed as childish. Those claims are often inaccurate, however.
Rigel Ailur (M), Christopher L. Bennett, Michael Critzer, Roberta Rogow, Andrew Hiller

So You Want to Be a Dealer?
How do you start? What do you need? How do you achieve success?
Brad Handley

LGBTQ+ in Media: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back!
Secret Disney stereotypes and the ships that never sailed.
C.E. Dorsett

Walking Dead: Barbed Wire on a Baseball Bat
The “walkers” faced their deadliest threat in Season 7. What did you think of this season, and what do you hope will happen during Season 8?
Randy Hall (M), Wayne Hall

Steven Universe
Discussion of the events of the most recent Steven Bomb.
Morgan Stallard

The Art of Secondary Characters
Supporting characters can fade into the background or steal a story. Our authors discuss how to know which is appropriate, and the craft to making such players come alive when the story needs them.
David Mack (M), Heather E. Hutsell, Richard C. White, Dave Galanter

Women in Science Fiction
Come join members of The Royal Manticoran Navy, The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association, as we discuss and explore the
role and portrayal of women in the science fiction genre.
Christa Broley

Marvel Warriors: Ultimate Face-off
Sixteen of the most acclaimed hand-to-hand combatants in Marvel are squaring off for you to choose who is the greatest Marvel warrior!
Andrew Kelley (M), Beverly Stark, Charles Davidson

Back in My Day
Authors discuss how they got into fandom, and the transition from convention attendee to convention guest—with anecdotes about who
they’ve met and the experiences they’ve had along the way.
Lorraine Anderson (M), Jenifer Rosenberg, Roberta Rogow, Susan Olesen, Diane Lee Baron, Peter David

Bigfoot Lives Matter!
Do we have the right to either hunt for Bigfoot or kill one for research?
Dean Gleason

Supernatural: Hush Little Baby!
Lorenzo Heard (M), Annie White, John White, Andrew Kelley 

The Role of Science Fiction
Does science fiction have a responsibility to be a commentary on our times?
Derek Attico (M), Stephen Kozeniewski, Andrew Hiller, Amy Imhoff

Crazy 8 Press Presents
Six years ago at Shore Leave, a group of writers decided to write what they wanted and publish it themselves. What have they learned since? What’s coming next? And why must Glenn Hauman die?
Michael Jan Friedman (M), Robert Greenberger, Glenn Hauman, Aaron Rosenberg, Russ Colchamiro, Peter David

Dark Matter: Getting Odd and Getting Even
What would you like to see in this program’s third season?
Randy Hall (M), Wayne Hall, Lorenzo Heard

American Gods: OMFGs
Neil Gaiman’s beloved novel comes to premium cable.Whether you worship the Old Gods or the New, join us for a discussion of this fascinating show! (Warning: discussion of adult content.)
Andrew Kelley (M), Beverly Stark, John White, Annie White

Into the Badlands: So Good to Be Bad!
Into the Badlands just finished its second season with a burgeoning fan base in withdrawal a year away from what comes next!
Andrew Kelley (M), Beverly Stark

Big Bang Theory: Sheldon Proposes!?!
Do you think they’ll ever make it to the altar?
Wayne Hall (M), Lorenzo Heard

Women Don’t Write Genre Fiction! Wait, WHAT??
The numbers need to improve and the acknowledgement to increase, but why is that erroneous assertion so easily and commonly accepted? And is it worse in genre, or typical of all publishing except romance?
Rigel Ailur (M), Melissa Scott, Laura Ware, Mary Fan, Hildy Silverman, TJ Perkins

The Batman
What is it about this 78-year-old character that continues to be embraced by fans of all ages? Join us as we delve into the mythos and the man behind the cowl.
John Coffren (M), Robert Greenberger, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Derek Attico, Richard C. White, Mike Friedman

Firebringer Press Presents
Firebringer Press authors chat up their current books as well as upcoming releases. Debut author Diane Lee Baron will launch her novel, Gal Wonder, at Shore Leave. Time permitting, there may be readings.
Steven H. Wilson (M), Michael Critzer, Diane Lee Baron

Falling Out of Love with a Story
What do writers do if, halfway through writing a novel, they lose faith in it? How do writers recover enthusiasm for what they think is a flawed work? Trash it or fix it?
Mary Fan (M), Russ Colchamiro, Heather E. Hutsell, Aaron Rosenberg

Upcoming Star Trek Books
A preview of forthcoming Star Trek novels from Simon & Schuster, with some of their authors as well as other Trek-related titles due out this fall and into 2018.
Scott Pearson (M), David Mack, Christopher L. Bennett, Dayton Ward

Marvel/DC Warriors: Ultimate Face-off Finale!
Its time for the final votes to be cast, comrades! Time to decide the Ultimate Warrior! Choose your champions, and let the Ultimate Face-off Finale begin!
Andrew Kelley (M), Beverly Stark, Charles Davidson

I attended the three marked in red.

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The day started with an over-indulgent breakfast, as usual. Once my group had stuffed as much into our bellies as was humanly possible (we don't do lunch at Shore Leave—there isn't time), we waddled out to the autograph line to see who was available and weren't disappointed. We were able to get a number of pictures signed before the day's activities commenced.

Michael Hogan at Shore Leave 39 signing autographs

I went to the panel titled Your Writing or Your Life and then it was time for my photo with Marina Sirtis (Counselor Troi, from Star Trek) and Michael Dorn (Worf, from Star Trek). I'll have a scan of it posted here eventually.

Image from the Shore Leave web site of
Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn

After getting the photo taken, I attended the Defending the Lighter Side (most of it) and The Art of Secondary Characters panels. I'll have more on the panels later. If I put it all here the blog posts may approach novella length.

After sitting in the same spot for almost two hours listening to the discussions, I was ready for a break. I went to the pick-up area near the Hunt Room to get my photo-op picture. Autographs will be done on Sunday if all goes as planned.

At 3:00 pm it was time for the Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn talk held in the main convention rooms. Unfortunately, I was sitting too far back to get any good pictures. There were quite a number of interesting and amusing stories from both, though Michael Dorn is definitely the quieter of the two. Although these two were the guests I was most familiar with, I can't say I knew much about them. I certainly wasn't prepared for Marina's cockney accent.

An unfortunately blurry picture of Michael Dorn and Marina Sirtis
Shore Leave 39

One young girl taking theatre in college asked if they had any tips on getting started in acting. Marina Sirtis told her to go to New York and get into actual stage acting. She said it is the best place to learn and get experience, and that could give her an edge as many actors and actresses have never set foot on a real stage.

Michael Dorn related stories about his interest in flying and his experiences with the military after being invited by many of the services to help them with publicity. His reward was often a flight in a jet fighter or with a team like the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds.

Finally, it was time for dinner. The food at the Hunt Valley Inn is still excellent and I ate way—or is it weigh—too much again this year. After dinner, we went back to our rooms to rest up a bit until the masquerade started. We ended up resting a little more than planned, but we did get to see the winners!

Some of the masquerade winners

The plastic orange things they're holding are their trophies. I guess it's nice they got something, but it wasn't much of a trophy... By the way, the Willie Wonka guy (second image) really looked like Gene Wilder. Some of the people won in multiple categories, so they were on stage more than once.

This young lady won the "Best in Show" for her steampunk librarian!

Best in show - Steampunk Librarian!

No, I didn't dress up. Just in case you were wondering...

Shore Leave on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShoreLeaveCon  ( @ShoreLeaveCon ‏ )

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© 2017 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

And Yet Another Update On My Fringeworks Submissions

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Just a reminder: It's okay to leave comments!

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Update: Just to let everyone know, Dead Men's Tales, with my story Skarett's Treasure, was published in February 2017. You can find it HERE.


Let me take you back in time.

No, this isn't the Twilight Zone. Or maybe it is.

In March of 2013, I started writing a story titled Skarett's Treasure for a small publisher named Fringeworks. You can see the archived request for submission on Duptrope, which also stated that the authors were to get royalties, at least in theory. The following is from Duotrope:

Payscale
F Short fiction N +  No monetary payment. Royalties.

There is also an entry on Horror Tree stating there would be 5% royalties after costs.

Skarett's Treasure is a pirate story told from the point of view of one of the characters who happens to be dead. I submitted just before the May 30th (2013) deadline and it was eventually accepted.

The story was supposed to be published in an anthology called Dead Men's Tales sometime toward the end of 2013.

It wasn't.

Then I heard it was supposed to be published in July of 2014.

It wasn't.

Then I heard it was supposed to be published toward the end of 2014.

It wasn't.

Then I heard, well—nothing. In fact, I heard a whole lot of nothing for a very long time.

I e-mailed, but never received a response from the editor or Fringeworks.

In the meantime, another story I had submitted to Fringeworks (and had accepted) called The Fisherman and his Wife, was published, also much later than planned, in Grimm and Grimmer III. You can buy it on Amazon, though few people know about it as neither the publisher nor the other authors seem to have done anything to promote the book.

I'd love to show you the contract I got with that deal, but I can't. I don't have one. They never even told me when the book was available. I found it on Amazon by accident.

Now, back to Dead Men's Tales...

I'm not sure what edits were done as I've never seen any for this story to review or approve. Perhaps it was absolutely perfect and none were needed. Okay, you can stop laughing now... (Note: I thought Colin Fisher, the editor for The Fisherman and His Wife, did a great job.)

I see on the Fringeworks website that they are now supposed to publish the book by late September. Here's what they have listed:

ANTICIPATED RELEASE DATE: LATE SEPTEMBER 2015

Edited by Mellissa Black, DEAD MEN’S TALES is another of those infuriatingly slow books in happening. Originally scheduled for publication in July 2014, it has been slowly progressing towards publication ever since.

The anthology will focus on the pirate stories told from the perspective of the dead.

Table of Contents

Cover – Darrel Bevan
Foreword – Kevin R McNally
Aye for an Eye by Patrick O’Neill
The Wreck of the Ebony Rose by Rie Sheridan Rose
Last Entry by Max Wright
John Gull’s Tale by Stephanie Craig
In His Own Way by Guy Burtenshaw
Shores of Leguan Island by Stewart Hotson
Spectre of the Eridanus by Kate Monroe
Skarett’s Treasure by K. R. Smith
Lips by Stephanie Ellis
The Regular by A.P. Sessler
The Engine Room by Alex Douglas-Mann
Buried With Treasure by John Vicary
The Man Remains by Julius Horne

Cover: Blackbeard, copyright Darrel Bevan, 2014.

Interesting. Despite what they say, the original publication date was long before what they have listed. 2014 was the "amended" date.

I have serious doubts that I will ever see any royalties since there has been little (nothing?) in the way of promotion of their books, and even if it sold like hotcakes (I remember Moe of the Three Stooges saying this a lot, and it seems appropriate) the chances are slim and none. I have no official contract with them.

It would be a shame for Fringeworks to simply publish Dead Men's Tales with no marketing and let it fall into obscurity, especially after all the work they (and the authors) have put into it. Artist Darrel Bevan was hired to produce the cover.

Possible cover image by
Darrel Bevan
for
Dead Men's Tales

I like his work, and the image is appropriate even though the cover won't be as colorful as most books today. They've even managed to get actor Kevin R. McNally to write the foreword for this book. He is one of three actors who have starred in all four of the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid this may be what happens if it ever gets published at all. It's been over two years since I started this adventure. I can't even remember the character's names! I sure hope it's a decent story.

Do I think the Fringeworks folks are evil? No. In the beginning, they were very responsive and appeared to be working hard at getting out quality books. I think they tried to do too much and got in over their heads. There may have been some internal personality issues, too, but I can't say for sure. And they did have problems when the original cover artist left, and possibly with the separation of Knightwatch Press. I never did get a lot of details on this.

That being said, I won't be submitting anything new to them until they show they've got their act together, and I really hope they manage to pull it off. But a blog post once every six months and a tweet every year isn't the kind of communication you need from your publisher. For the moment, there are too many better options out there.

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© 2012-2015 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Shore Leave 37 - Saturday

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When you're planning on spending the entire day running from discussion panels to talks by television stars, only to be interrupted by the never-ending wait in the autograph line, you need to start the day with a good meal. And end it, also. Fortunately for the attendees of Shore Leave 37, the Hunt Valley Inn provided the fuel for such endeavors in the form of an all-you-can-eat buffet. There are rumors that management is now reconsidering the wisdom of that choice. It was $24 for dinner and somewhat less for breakfast, and there is little doubt I received my money's worth. I only ate two meals per day and I believe I've gained about five pounds over the course of the weekend. Never were less than three plates used, and on at least on happy occasion, a fourth was required.

I started out with a spinach and mushroom omelet (with cheese in the middle, because just like Wallace, I like cheese, and it was made to order right in front of you), sausages, and fruit. You can't see it here, but I had coffee, water, and orange juice to drink. I only ordered the coffee the rest appeared as if by magic...

Breakfast, first course...

I believe there is a possibility that I used a second plate to get the potatoes and some more fruit. There was probably something else on the plate, too, but I can't remember. Maybe it was bacon.

Then I was forced to eat dessert...

Dessert at breakfast

Yes, forced, I tell you! With more coffee, of course.

Once this celebration of gluttony concluded, I waddled out into the vendor's area to see what was for sale. Here's an example:

Lady Heathers Fashions at Shore Leave

This is Lady Heathers Fashions, with all sorts of stuff for cosplay. They also do custom leatherwork.

Around this time, I got a John Barrowman autograph for my brother.

At noon, I participated in the "Details of Publishing: The Good, the Bad, the Indies" workshop. The point of this was to give ideas on how to get published, with the upsides and downsides to each method. The panelists included Donna Frelick, Stephen Kozeniewski, and Marco Palmieri of TOR Books. Here's a few pointers that came out of this:

1. Try to get reviews for your book to increase sales
2. A Bookbub ad will get you sales, but they don't take everything
3. Get a good cover. Look at covers you like and find out who made them. Don't be afraid to redo the cover if it doesn't work.
4. Try small presses if the big ones aren't buying, and don't be afraid to try both
5. Get an editor, and at least 3-4 beta readers
6. Try sending stories to contests, if unpublished
7. Build a query synopsis - 1 to 2 sentences with plot and ending. You can check Queryshark for help. And query only one book at a time, don't bombard them with a whole series even if you have that in mind, No more than about 200-250 words.
8. Check out W. B. Thomas' Guide to Query Letters.

Marco Palmieri of TOR books made these points:

1. Do your research
2. Brevity is your friend (1 page query - no more)
3. Check spelling
4. Check out the Manuscript Wishlist (#MSWL)
5. Write an elevator pitch

Other places to check for help in getting published:

1. Chuck Wendig's Terrible Minds blog
2. SFWA now accepts indie works (within parameters) for membership

I got out in time to see the last part of John Barrowman's Saturday talk. This is John clowning around on stage with a boy from the audience.

John Barrowman at Shoreleave 2015

After that, I caught the last part of Roger Cross speaking. I took several picture of him, but not one came out sharp.

BTW, there isn't any "travel time" built into the schedule, so just as one event ends the next is starting. That's a bit irritating as the events aren't right next to each other, and with all of the people crammed into the halls it takes time to get from one area to another.

At 3:00 PM, I attended the Writer Beware! workshop hosted by Richard White, Kathleen David, Glenn Hauman. This discussed the problems of writers being taken advantage of and is based on the website of the same name. Points I got out of this panel include:

1. The complaint database at Writer Beware is confidential.
2. An agent requires no certification. If an agent says they are certified, distrust them.
3. Some valid agents will charge a fee (usually they will read the entire manuscript if they do).
4. The biggest problem is amateur agents.
5. The best situation is to find an agent moving away from an established company.
6. Use AgentQuery to check for agents - who, what agency, sales.
7. Use AbsoluteWrite - has index (blue=active agent, green=not active)
8. Smaller presses should specialize - they shouldn't try to cover every genre.

After the workshop, I made my way into the main auditorium (the Hunt Room and the Valley Room joined together) to see the folks from Defiance (Jesse Rath, Jaime Murray, and Tony Curran).

Jesse Rath, Jaime Murray, and Tony Curran from Defiance

Here are close-up pics (about the best I could do without a tripod).

Jesse Rath at Shore Leave 2015

Jaime Murray at Shore Leave 2015

Tony Curran at Shore Leave 2015

Somewhere in here, I got to talk to and shake hands with David Nykl.

After that, I got into the autograph line with my group. I got an autograph from Tony Curran on a picture from the Dr. Who series where he played Vincent Van Gogh.

Then it was time for dinner. Think of dinner as breakfast except there was roast beef, fish stuffed with crab meat, and delights of that sort. And, of course, dessert! I've become quite good at waddling.

Once we attended to some personal business, we stopped by the dance area to meet friends. BTW, they were playing ABBA when we arrived, then went straight to some sort of rap music. Ecclectic tastes, here...

They're partying here at Shore Leave! pic.twitter.com/fS7ZfYJy6k

— K R Smith (@WOKRSmith) August 9, 2015

With the day coming to an end, we relaxed with an adult beverage (only one), then went back to our rooms and turned in.

P.S. There's more to come. I'll try to get it posted when I can.

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A note about the Farpoint convention coming up in 2016:

Farpoint is trying to raise money to enable them to bring more actors and actresses from popular shows to their convention. This can be expensive. If you are interested, please listen to the message from Tim Russ (Star Trek Voyager) below, then check out their kickstarter page for more info.

Click HERE to go to the Farpoint Kickstarter.

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Looking for a summer beach read? Here's a new romance/suspense novella from Terri Deno (Kindle format):

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© 2012-2015 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Shore Leave 37 - Friday

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I arrived at Shore Leave late Friday with only a basic idea of how the weekend would go. The official schedule was still in flux (and would remain so until the final hours of the event). The first order of business, however, was to get checked in.

My group immediately noticed the upgrades to the Hunt Valley Inn since last year. There were new carpets and décor with horse-themed pictures and artwork everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. The bathrooms in the rooms had been upgraded, and fresh wallpaper was up. They are still in the process of making improvements, so next year should be even better—unless horses give you nightmares (no pun intended).

After we all had dinner (more on that later), we stopped into the "Valley Room" to listen to Daniel Davis (Niles in the Nanny TV series, Moriarity in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Captain Davenport in Hunt for Red October). He told stories about how he got several roles, and would add to that later in the weekend.

Daniel Davis

Daniel Davis talking about

Hunt for Red October

After Daniel Davis finished, I went into the "Hunt Room" to listen to the news from Tor Books. They went through all of the books coming in the next year, and how Tor is starting a Tor.com bookstore (as opposed to Tor Books) that will concentrate on novellas. They believe this is the future for them. I tried to make a list of the books, but I couldn't write that fast. A few of them did sound interesting. This talk ties in with a brief article on their web site.

Now that it was getting late in the evening, the one activity that was in full swing was the "Meet the Pros" segment where authors were displaying their latest works, and more than willing to discuss them. And make a sale, of course!

Authors and potential readers mingling
during "Meet the Pros"

Author Melissa Scott signs a book for a customer
while Amy Griswold talks to another.

That about covered Friday. I'll try to get the news from Saturday and Sunday up when I can!

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Looking for a summer beach read? Here's a new romance/suspense novella from Terri Deno (Kindle format):

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© 2012-2015 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Shore Leave 2014 - Michael Welch #2

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Since there was so much interest in my first Michael Welch post, I thought I'd add a little more from Shore Leave 36 (2014). Here's a short video clip of Michael telling how he got the role of Artim in Star Trek: Insurrection. You can access the clip directly here - it looks a little better than the YouTube version.

And here are a couple of pictures. They're a bit grainy as my little camera couldn't pick up enough light to get a really good image. Maybe next time...

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Shore Leave 2014 - Richard Dean Anderson

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This is the fifth post covering events at Shore Leave 2014, a convention of artists, performers, writers, scientists, and fans of science fiction and fantasy in general that took place from August 1 through August 3, 2014 in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

One of the guests at Shore Leave 2014, and the main attraction for many, was Richard Dean Anderson of MacGyver and Stargate SG-1 fame. And, of course, I had to get a picture!

Image of Richard Dean Anderson and me at Shore Leave 2014, August 2, 2014

He took time to talk to everyone, both in the picture line and the autograph line. He also gave a couple of talks and answered questions. I was only able to see one of the talks as I had a writing workshop during the last one. During the first talk he asked everyone to sing happy birthday to his daughter Wylie Quinn Annarose Anderson. He had come here (with permission from Wylie) instead of being with her on her sixteenth birthday (August 2). He had to record it twice (on his phone). The first time didn't work. As he was having trouble with his phone, someone yelled out, "MacGyver would fix it!" He replied, "I'm trying!"

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Shore Leave 2014 - Michael Welch

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Update 08/30/2014: I want to thank all of the Michael Welch fans who have visited this site. It's been one of my most active blog entries during the last month. If I get time, I may post a bit more on him (this last month has been a blur - too much to do!). 

Update 09/04/2014: I've added another post  ( < that's the link ) with a short video and a couple of pictures.

As promised, I'm posting on some of the events from Shore Leave 2014 now that it's over and I have time to breathe. This one is about Michael Welch.

I've haven't met many famous people in my life, and never an actor/actress from a well-known movie or television series. This weekend I met several. This post is about Michael Welch. I could remember him vaguely from the Joan of Arcadia television show, but I've never seen Twilight or any of his other work.

I realize that you can't tell too much about a person from a brief meeting in a staged environment, but I can tell you I was impressed by how hard he worked at the convention. He gave two one-hour talks where he answered many impromptu questions from fans. He gave some insight on what it takes to be a successful actor, dealings with the paparazzi, and stories about how he got into the business (more on these if I have time). He also talked about working with writers and directors, and dealing with rejection (which every actor and writer experiences).

After the talks, he went back out into the halls to work the autograph lines. Though he charges for each autograph (like all the other actors) and has staff helping him, it can still be hard work. Long after most of the people and staff had left on Sunday, Michael was still there, signing autographs for anyone who asked, and taking time to talk to each person. He also allowed people to take a picture with him, and was gracious the entire time. This is not as easy as it sounds. There are a lot of, well, let's say, "eccentric" people at these conventions (not me, of course), and you never know what sort of person may want to squeeze up against you in a situation like this. He never stopped smiling. Trust me—it's impressive.

Michael Welch
(He stopped what he was doing more than once
so that I could take his picture.)

Michael Welch signing a picture
from the Joan of Arcadia series
for a fan.

More on Shore Leave 2014 later!

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© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved