In case anybody wants to know where to find me this weekend, here’s the list of panels and activities I’m scheduled for. There’ll be unscheduled ones, too.
5/27/11 7:00 PM Room: Chesapeake Track: New Media
Podiobooks Free Serial Audio
Free audiobooks that are worth it
Let’s face it, most free stuff is crap. However, Podiobooks.com stands out as a gem among the poo. Find out about the authors on podiobooks.com that you know and the ones you don’t who have chosen to release some of their works for free.
5/28/11 7:00 PM Room: Chesapeake Track: New Media
Creating The Brand
Crafting a Recognizable Presence for Your Podcast
Our panel of professionals take you through the perilous journey of creating a concrete presence for their podcasts. Learn what you’ll need, who to hire and what questions to ask. Formulate a sensible budget for your story and create a brand that will attract more listeners than ever before.
5/28/11 8:00 PM Room: Derby Track: New Media
Making Stories Worth Hearing
It’s been over six years since the first podiobook appeared on the internet, and in that time, audio fiction has exploded into a variety of styles and formats. Authors have grappled with the often conflicting demands of story, serial format, audio presentation and immersion. Having just a good story does not always lead to a good podcast, and while expansive voice casts and custom-composed music can help draw the listener in, they come with their own problems. Join some of the best fiction podcasters as they discuss their solutions to making the written word worth hearing.
5/28/11 9:30 PM Room: Chase Track: Readers
Nathan Lowell — Reading
5/29/11 11:00 AM Room: Maryland Foyer Track: Autographings
Nathan Lowell, Phil Rossi, and Roberta Rogow
Autograph Session
Nathan Lowell and Roberta Rogow Autograph Session
5/29/11 12:00 PM Room: Derby Track: New Media
Book Launch: The Empress Sword
The Empress Sword by Paulette Jaxton is a newly published book from Dragon Moon Press. Come meet the author, hear a reading from the novel, try some Trader’s Stew, refreshments served, games and giveaways.
A brave prince, a ferocious dragon, and a magic sword are all familiar elements of the classic adventure story. But for thirteen-year-old Prince Aster of Caledon, the quest for the Empress Sword — the only magic strong enough to defeat the dragon menacing his kingdom — is just the beginning. Even though the royal sorcerer forbids it, the prince sets out on the epic quest alone with only a stable boy as escort. A chance encounter with a lovely shop girl threatens to send the prince on a different sort of quest, one of the heart, but he perseveres and eventually discovers the sword’s ancient resting place. Aster has always been told that wielding great magic requires a sacrifice, but what the Empress Sword demands from him is the last thing he ever expected to lose: his own identity as crown prince and the king’s only son.
5/29/11 3:00 PM Room: Salon C Track: Publishers (Mini-Program)
Ridan Publishing Presents
The Changing Face of Publishing. Meet publisher Robin Sullivan, along with science fiction writers Nathan Lowell, Mashall Thomas, and best-selling fantasy author Michael Sullivan who will explain how ebook and POD technology is permitting indie authors to earn a living writing full time. All three will be signing books (including the launch of Full Share – the third book in Lowell’s Solar Clipper Series), and answering questions. In addition, there will be plenty of door prizes including book giveaways, T-shirts, and Special Edition Coffee Mugs. Come on by and see how publishing has changed — forever.
5/29/11 6:00 PM Room: Derby Track: New Media
Tech for Writers
Does anyone else find it peculiar that Science Fiction authors tend to be technophobic? Well, not all authors tend to feel that way. With gadgets, software, and hardware at their disposal, authors are embracing technology that is not only surpassing what the legends were writing about, but helping them be better writers. Find out what tech toys are appealing to writers out there.
5/29/11 10:00 PM Room: Chesapeake Track: New Media
Geek Parenting and New Media
Our panel of geek parents chime in with their thoughts on raising young geeks. What is the right age to show the kids Star Wars? Do you show them all 6 or only the good ones. What websites are good and safe for kids at what age? How do you teach your kids about Internet privacy? How do you prepare them for “Greifers” on gaming systems? When is it OK for them to use their real name?
5/30/11 10:00 AM Room: Salon C Track: Literary
Network vs Platform: Can you tell them apart?
Most authors know they need to develop a platform but many seem to be building networks instead. Knowing the difference can help sell books. This panel will discuss the difference and explore the opportunities that social media tools provide to foster both.
First off, I love your books. My wife and I bought your Quarter and Half Share and finished that off with the iTune podcasts of all your other books. You very successfully pulled off a series without a villain. Kudos.
I wrote two SciFi books (at compuhead.com) about the first human-computer cyborg and the singularity. Like your stories, it only temporarily has protagonists. Like yours it also is a coming of age story, both in terms of the hero and humankind.
Unfortunately, I’m near Boston but would have loved to attended your Chesapeake talks. I would like to attempt to Kindle publish them. The same with an audio version (I bought a decent microphone) but haven’t done more than test reads.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
On a side note, a question about your Solar Clipper books: In them I notice two remarkable themes. 1) No one has vacations, weekends, or even days off, and 2) Except for Richard and the few pages on the family owners, no one stays married. Furthermore, despite the above ruthless absolute hold on human life, the corporations are seen as benign despots. Even Horatio didn’t feel angry with how they treated him following his mother’s death. As another example, in your Shaman’s Tale story, the corporation has threatened to deport the entire population from the only home, society, friends, livelihood they ever knew, yet Jimmy doesn’t have a single bodyguard and his father has but one. Little protection against a mob of thousands.
On the other hand, I found the lack of attachment to the family (e.g., Jimmy’s father threats him identical to a mid-management employee and not at all like a son) very consistent with the destruction of the nuclear family.
Again thank you
Nate,
Perhaps when you see the Ridan folks you can get some idea of the timeline for the HS and FS hardbacks? Enquiring minds want to know…
BC44.97 – Social Media for the Midlist Author Panel link
http://balticonpodcast.org/wordpress/podpress_trac/web/308/0/BC44.97-SM4MidlistAuthor.mp3
I listened to Empress Sword by Paulette Jaxton – it was quite entertaining as far as the audio goes, but sadly it wasn’t finished. Is the book every going to be completed in audio format?
I really enjoyed all of the different voices! I did buy the book to finish it, but I’d love to hear the audio.
Yes. I talked to Paulette and she was in the process of finishing the edits when her wrist gave out. It’s coming — sooner rather than later.
Hey, Nate, just a word of warning. I love the mug, which is a great design. However, the design on mine was not “fired.” It is coming off rapidly, day by day, even with hand washing. My fingernail could take off the whole thing in a very short time. It may just be a defective mug, but I think before you put your logo on it, that should be dealt with. Don’t you just love problems like that? Anyway, I am not complaining, just giving you a heads up for this as I think you should inform the mug maker that the quality to match your books is not there.
which mug? the green one from Ridan or the Cafe Press one?
It is green, with the “Trust Lois” top line, what we in quilting call a compass star under that, and “Quarter Share” below that. Is that the one? Maybe it was just a small number of them for the 1st book.