Keynote Thingy

Here's a cool thing: I'm giving the keynote speech at the BYU Honors Banquet and Ball at the end of the month!

BYU is my alma mater, of course, and I was part of the Honors Program there as an undergraduate. I generally enjoyed my experience with the Honors Program, and I'm looking forward to sharing some things I've learned as I've progressed in my writing career with the current generation. Delivering a full-blown keynote speech is a first for me, and I'm both honored and very excited to tackle the challenge. If you're curious, my presentation will include most of, but probably not all of, and likely won't be limited to, some of the following:

- "Non-Stop" from Hamilton (will I be performing it??? maybe*...!!!) 🎤 

- References to THE WAR OF ART by Stephen Pressfield 🎨
- Various Buffy the Vampire Slayer references (who am I kidding, this might be ALL my keynote is...) 🧛‍♂️
- References to MINDSET by Carol Dweck 🧠
- Me with long hair on BYU campus 👱‍♀️
- The answer to life, the universe, and everything 4️⃣2️⃣
- Various relevant high school basketball and college ballroom dance anecdotes--possibly including a demonstration of the fact that my hips ABSOLUTELY DO NOT LIE, YA'LL 💃
- Something about Magic Johnson? 🏀
- How the Chaos Queen Quintet series ends 📚
- References to OUTLIERS by Malcolm Gladwell 💹
- Me wearing very red shoes 👠
- And much, much more (or, alternatively, much much less?)!- Various Buffy the Vampire Slayer references (who am I kidding, this might be ALL my keynote is...) 🧛‍♂️ - References to MINDSET by Carol Dweck 🧠 - Me with long hair on BYU campus 👱‍♀️- The answer to life, the universe, and everything 4️⃣2️⃣- Various relevant high school basketball and college ballroom dance anecdotes--possibly including a demonstration of the fact that my hips ABSOLUTELY DO NOT LIE, YA'LL 💃 - Something about Magic Johnson? 🏀 - How the Chaos Queen Quintet series ends 📚 - References to OUTLIERS by Malcolm Gladwell 💹- Me wearing very red shoes 👠 - And much, much more (or, alternatively, much much less?)!

That may or may not be the very outline I use for the keynote. Attend at your own risk, I guess. But I think it'll be fun!

New Audiomachine Album

A new Audiomachine album just came out a few days ago!

If you aren't aware, I'm a big fan of Audiomachine--their albums are my go-to, all-purpose epic writing music. This new one, titled Volturnus, is my current soundtrack for revising book 3.

It's cool. Also, book 3 is going to be good.

Dark Immolation on Graphic Audio!

Some of you may remember me raving about the Graphic Audio version of Duskfall last year when it came out. To wit: they did a fantastic job adapting the book, and it is a delight to listen to.

Well, I'm happy to say they've done it again! The Graphic Audio version of Dark Immolation: Part 1 (they're doing Book 2 in two parts; you can see the order page for Part 2 here, and it should be finished in a few months) is AWESOME. These folks really know what they're doing, and I really like how they interpret the stories I'm telling.

Also, I really like that cover image. 👌👍🙌💯🔥💀

Check them out!

Blood Requiem Final Draft

Just got editorial notes for Blood Requiem back from my editor yesterday. I have to say, I'm very excited about the final draft of this book. I've already gotten some great feedback from my writing group on a few of the sequences in the book, and looking at my editor's notes, I think it will all synergies very well. Book 3 will coalesce into something pretty awesome, I think.

I'm back to the point with book 3 where I'm excited about and proud of what is going on, which is always a good place to be as a writer. Like most writers, I inevitably go through phases with each project where I'm alternatingly excited about, bored with, horrified/embarrassed by, excited about again, and ultimately proud of a given book. It's nice to be in the positive swing of that once again.

I'm aiming to get the final revision done by 12 March. That should be doable. After that, it'll go through copy edits, and before you know it I'll have ARCs in my hands!

Anyway, all this is to say that I generally enjoy and like what I write, and I think that's a good thing :-).

If you've got a mo, give me a vo!

Ya'll!

I didn't find out about this until recently, and then was too busy with Pensacon to post anything, but apparently my book Dark Immolation on the long list for the David Gemmell Legend Award this year!

Go here to vote for me, if that strikes your fancy.

I ever-so-brilliantly coined the phrase "if you've got a mo', give me a vo'" (because vo = vote, right? it's now my campaign slogan for all of that extensive campaigning I do, you know...)

And, while you're out there vo-ing (getting ridiculous now), might I also suggest Dave Butler's Witchy Eye for the Morningstar Award. It's awesome.

Anyway. I'm up against some pretty awesome authors, so my hopes aren't too high, but it's an honor just to be on the long list! 🙏 🙌

Pensacon 2018

Hey ya'll! I'll be at Pensacon this weekend in Pensacola, Florida! It'll be my first time attending this con, and I'm particularly excited. I'll be there chiefly as part of the Bard's Tower traveling bookstore with some other fantastic authors:

But I'll also be on a couple panels! Check them out:

Friday 23 February 2:45 - 3:30 PM - Professional Geek (Pensacola Grand Ballroom C)
Join authors Jim Butcher, Dan Wells, Christopher Husberg, and Andrew Gaska as they discuss what it takes to make the passions pay the bills, overcoming challenges and reveling in what makes it all worthwhile.

Sunday 25 February 2:45 - 3:30 PM - The Future is Now (Saenger Theater 2nd Floor Room A)
Join Claudia Grey, Dan Wells, Joshua Vogt, and Christopher Husberg as they discuss the influence of future and space on literature, movies, and games. From immersive gaming experiences like "The Void" to why we keep coming back to franchises like Star Wars.

So, if you're in the Pensacola area, come on by!

#metoo makes it to Publishing

The #metoo movement has started making waves in the publishing industry, and you can find all sorts of opinions on it.

Janci Patterson, author and all around awesome human being, shared her experience, and it is worth reading in every way, no matter who you are. She doesn't just share her experience with harassment, but also through the process of healing. I'm grateful for her courage and the change posts like this can bring about in the writing industry, and in the world. This kind of thing heals, and helps us be better.