Talyesin's Tales

This makes me almost forgive him for killing off Kitty Pryde.

So: Polaris was last weekend and it was an all-new con experience for me: as a vendor! A very interesting people-watching experience, I might add.

Friday we hit the road bright and early (we being PDaughter, Sandman7, JystDave and myself) and made it to Tee-Dot in good time with very little traffic congestion, woo! Checked in, registered, went for a swim, hit the bar, had supper, couple of panels, bed late-ish.

Saturday: Up early, breakfast buffet, set up my table next to the Two Wacky Pin Guys. They are great people and very informative. Also cool geeks to geek out with! Spent the day selling my books (!) to people - mainly people I knew, but some complete strangers which was a total blast. It's a relatively painless way to get to meet people and make Con connections, which makes a Con a lot of fun. "See that girl? She bought a copy of Truthseekers." I generally spend cons people-watching anyway so our spot just outside the Dealers Room was uniquely situated for that! Then: Supper (STARVING), Masquerade (paper plates are on parade!), Dance (you really haven't lived until you've joined a hundred geeks all doing the Robot to Domo Origato Mr. Roboto), drinks, very late night, followed by a way too early morning that started

Sunday: FIRE ALARM AT SIX AYEM. Yeargh. So we mostly slept through it (false alarm) and woke up, showered etc, brought all our stuff downstairs to the car in time for ANOTHER FIRE ALARM. Decided to get breakfast at Subway (meh) and wound up coming back just as the fire alarm was being turned off. Set up my table and everyone was off doing con stuff while I sat and sold a few more books. Finally met ThatBitterGuy!

Overall, turnout was very low this year. Maybe due to the guests or the flagging economy or the price of gas, who knows? Generally the dealers were all saying the same thing, so I don't think it was just me. Still, there's always next year!

On the whole I had a great time. It was a whole new experience for me, and one I would like to try again.

Any artists out there taking commissions? I have an idea I want to bounce off you.

The third shipment of Squirrelman books (containing the second book, which is the first volume of SINS OF THE PAST, a possibly unique combination making it the first, second, and third book in a trilogy) arrived at my cousin's place today! Hooray! At some point there will be a photo of the open box etc, but tomorrow I'm headed to Polaris to sell as many as I can! Woo!

In case you were wondering, I'll be at Polaris this weekend. Look for me near the Two Wacky Pin Guys and stop by! Copies of Truthseekers and Squirrelman will be available for purchase, and I'll sign it for you!

Riding a robot Dracula through space, hurtling toward re-entry.

http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=46&issue=11

Still no word on the cover art, but AGES OF WONDER is up on the Amazon page:

http://www.amazon.com/Ages-Wonder-Julie-E-Czerneda/dp/0756405432/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214574279&sr=1-5

The Amazing Adventures of the Sensational Squirrelman is available at Amazon!




http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-Adventures-Sensational-Squirrelman/dp/0977100553/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1213979102&sr=8-1

More news when I get it!

So yesterday we (being myself, Cindy, and Max) went out for lunch at the Creole Cafe, where I had an awesome gumbo and ate alligator sausage.

I ate alligator!

Then we passed by the Most Haunted House in America, the Whaley House; met up with the Cap'n and his lady; went to a gaming store (because no trip is complete without some such geekery); walked around Old Towne; saw Balboa Park; then back to Cindy's to chill while we waited to get ready to bring me to the airport where I always get too emotional to speak.

Sleeping on planes = no fun.

Dulles Airport is aptly named - dull. And stupid people work there. I shouldn't have to tell someone who has looked at my boarding pass that no, I'm not going to London, I'm going to Montreal.

I may be cranky due to lack of sleep, though, so.

All in all an awesome adventure! (Yep, alliteration, definitely tired.) Thanks to Cindy and Max, and Jen and the kids, for putting up with my crazy Canadian ways!

Made it to Moorpark, met up with Jen and the kids, had a blast. The kids are getting so big, and the twins are all growed up! Saw Susan graduate, made Stephanie cry with the Truthseekers dedication. Great party and Jen's roommate Rebecca made killer martinis. Met the voice of Alucard from Hellsing! And Jen's Aunt Patti is Jen in twenty years.

Off to Disneyland, did the usual rides, saw the Electric Parade and the fireworks for the first time! And did the Space Mountain ride without the Red Hot Chili Peppers for the first time, it was SO AWESOME. All in all a great time was had by all.

Today, not sure what's on the books, beyond getting me to the airport by 7:00. Probably just geeking around with Cindy and Max. Then the redeye back for Father's Day tomorrow.

I miss California. Except for the smog, I love it here, I love my 'chosen family' here. Jet lag is kicking my ass this time around, don't know why, but another couple of days and that would have sorted itself out. Ah well, at least I can come visit.

Arrived safe and sound at LAX and had to hike it to another terminal to make the connecting flight, a prop plane that was on the runway almost as long as we were in the air, which is to say, I barely had time to undo my seatbelt before we were making our final descent.

Cindy is as gorgeous as ever and a great hostess. In n Out Burger for lunch, YEAH BABY! Then a bit of shopping and met Max, a very cool geek. Went to an SCA gathering/swordfighting practice where I was reminded how cold it gets once the sun has gone down here. The off to a late supper with Cindy and Max, where I had two great local brew beers - San Diego Amber (mot bad) and Old Town Nut Brown (very yummy). Then back to their place where I promptly turned into a pumpkin around ten.

Up this morning at 4:30 local time. Hooray jet lag, LOL! Cindy and Max went off to work and I walked around a bit, taking photos and finding a place fo breakfast. Brian's American Eatery served me a very nice Eggs Benedict with HUGE CHUNKS of avocado. MMM.

Later we're driving up to visit with Jen and the kids and see the twins graduate. Tomorrow: DISNEYLAND.

Woo!

Since I'll be in your neck of the continental woods in a little over 48 hours, who wants a signed copy of my short story collection, TRUTHSEEKERS?

Cindy, yours is already signed!

See you soon!

Warren Ellis has asked us fans to pimp his free weekly webcomic, FREAKANGELS, in our blogs.

Thus! http://www.freakangels.com Updated every Friday! In colour!




(Anyone else want some promotion?)

Better not bring any electronic devices with you. The Federal government is secretly negotiating an anti-copyright-infringement deal that will turn border guards into copyright police, charged with investigation and confiscation of electronic devices like laptops and MP3 players:

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=ae997868-220b-4dae-bf4f-47f6fc96ce5e

My band, Invisible, is rocking Clyde's Bar in Pointe-Claire this Friday May 30th at 9:00pm. No cover charge! Just ROCK!!

Where: Clyde's Bar, 286 Lakeshore, Pointe Claire
When: Friday May 30th at 9:00pm

Dear friends!

It is with no small amount of pride and joy that I announce the publication of my serialized story, TRUTHSEEKERS : Welcome to Blackriver, by Sabledrake Enterprises.

Moving to a small town from the big city is a challenge that can be hard enough for anyone. It's even harder for a teenage girl, leaving behind her friends, her school, her mall, her social life. After her parents are brutally murdered and fifteen-year-old Ashley Bennett is sent to the small town of Blackriver, Ontario to live with her only relative, her cousin Mark - a teacher at her new school! - she thinks her life can't possibly get any worse. But Ashley has no idea that the real challenges have only just begun. Not only is she faced with the normal teen experiences of making new friends, going to a new school, and adjusting to her new life, she's about to discover a whole hidden world that is both dark and strange. She's about to discover that her parents' deaths were anything but random, and that she herself might be in danger. Ancient conspiracies . secret societies . ghosts . vampires . cattle mutilations and cults . witches . mysterious disappearances . this eerily normal-seeming little town has it all, and Ashley ends up smack in the middle of it whether she wants to be or not. Now, to protect herself and her friends, Ashley must seek the truth . the truth behind the TRUTHSEEKERS.

Truthseekers: Welcome to Blackriver is a collection of short interconnected stories about the strange adventures of Ashley and her new friends as they explore the secrets behind the town of Blackriver, Ontario.


Copies are now available for purchase in the following manners :

1) If you’re the sort who likes to support the little independant guys, you can order directly from Sabledrake at http://www.sabledrake.com/buy_books.htm

2) If you prefer to deal with Amazon, you can check it out at http://www.amazon.com/Truthseekers-Blackriver-Rob-St-Martin/dp/0977100545/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211468632&sr=8-1

3) If you’re planning on attending Polaris in Toronto in July, I will have copies available for purchase. Naturally, I’ll be happy to sign your copy for you!

4) If you’re a local Montrealer, I will be happy to sell you a copy and sign it for you, whenever you like!

Yes folks, it's that time again: I'm heading to sunny Southern California to hang with my American homegirls! Tickets have been purchased and I'm going, going, outta here in less than a month!

WOO!

Ladies and gentlemen, Sabledrake Enterprises and I proudly announce:



With cover art by THE Karine Charlebois!

This weekend!

Saturday May 10th and Sunday May 11th!

THE ANNUAL GREEN CIRCLE GARAGE SALE!

Where? Green Circle, Dorval - yes, that's right THE ENTIRE BLOCK!

Come one, come all to the greatest block-wide garage sale in all of Montreal!

This weekend only!

Anyone else been having problems with Gmail loading in Firefox?