Blógünder Schlock http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog News, Views, and Eeeews from the Mind Behind Schlock Mercenary Sat, 17 May 2008 14:09:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 en I’m a Twit http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/17/im-a-twit/ http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/17/im-a-twit/#comments Sat, 17 May 2008 14:09:14 +0000 Howard Tayler Site News http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/17/im-a-twit/ Dunno if I’ll use it much, but here’s my twitter page. My cousin Kurt pressured me into this…

]]> http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/17/im-a-twit/feed/ It’s a Hit With The Listeners http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/15/its-a-hit-with-the-listeners/ http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/15/its-a-hit-with-the-listeners/#comments Thu, 15 May 2008 15:03:53 +0000 Howard Tayler Reviews Podcasts http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/15/its-a-hit-with-the-listeners/ We usually get nothing but positive feedback about our podcasts over at WritingExcuses.com. This week, however, the discussion under the ‘cast has been especially enthusiastic, and listeners seem thrilled with the podcast itself. Here are some samples:

Thanks so much for this podcast! I love hearing you guys talk about this stuff…
And Howard, thank you for finally hitting the nail on the head about Harry Potter.
–Lauren B

I love you guys! I’ve been killing myself to try to come up with a decent magic system for a story, and I wake up this morning to find that you guys did a podcast on it!
Get out of my head, get out of my head!
–Faith_Cross

Wonderful! Interesting - insightful - fun!
–LRK

I didn’t realize you were making up the example of Spock’s extra eyelids until you called them radioactive.
–Cy Reb, Jr.

… I was listening to this podcast for the third time this morning, taking notes…
–Guerry Semones

I absolutely loved this podcast. I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. And as always, I find your banter hilarious.
–Steph

See? They like us. They really like us. Go have a listen.

]]> http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/15/its-a-hit-with-the-listeners/feed/ What do I know about magic? http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/12/what-do-i-know-about-magic/ http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/12/what-do-i-know-about-magic/#comments Tue, 13 May 2008 04:10:40 +0000 Howard Tayler Merchandise Podcasts http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/12/what-do-i-know-about-magic/ Writing Excuses, with Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, and Daniel WellsThis week’s Writing Excuses is one of our very best episodes to date (if not our flat-out best.) We discuss magic in fiction, and specifically we cover rules-based magic systems, their strengths, weaknesses, and where to use them.

It’s one of those podcasts which makes me want to write fantasy books when I listen to it. That is saying a lot.

In completely unrelated news, I’m back from Leprecon 34, I owe you a con report with photos, and if you’ve pre-ordered shirts or mousepads, they’ll be shipping out in about 10 days. It’s not too late to buy some…

]]> http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/12/what-do-i-know-about-magic/feed/ Leprecon 34 This Weekend! (Here’s My Schedule) http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/08/leprecon-34-this-weekend-heres-my-schedule/ http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/08/leprecon-34-this-weekend-heres-my-schedule/#comments Thu, 08 May 2008 12:55:22 +0000 Howard Tayler Conventions http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/08/leprecon-34-this-weekend-heres-my-schedule/ Leprecon 34Per my last shout, I’m in Arizona this weekend at Leprecon 34. If you’re in the neighborhood, come on by and get your geek on. These local SF/F conventions are my very favorite kinds of events for a reason — they’re FUN.

The complete convention schedule PDF can be found here. I’ve excerpted the Howard Tayler bits below:

THURSDAY

  • Fly to Phoenix. Drive to Casa Grande. Eat. See sights. Miss my regular Thursday RPG. THIS IS A HUGE SACRIFICE, PEOPLE.

FRIDAY

  • 4:30pm - GoH Dinner: meet in the Hotel Lobby for the Guest of Honor Dinner with Howard and the other GoHs.
  • 8:30pm - Palo Verde Room: Sci-047 - “Will Space Colonies Be Like Hippy Communes or Military Bases?” (Howard Tayler, Emily and Ernie Hogan, Hugh S. Gregory, Wolf Forrest, Mike Wilmoth, G. David Nordley)
  • ALSO at 8:30pm - Art Show Walkthrough with the Guests of Honor… I may start my leg of the tour an hour late, since this covers a two-hour block.

SATURDAY

  • 1:00pm - Mesquite Room: Lit 004 - “You Don’t Have To Be An Expert to Write About It, But You Do Have To Do Research” (Howard Tayler, Emily and Ernie Hogan, Adam Niswander)
  • 2:30pm - Mesquite: Lep 003 - “Meet Howard Tayler” (My “Guest of Honor” Panel… here’s where you can ask me all those Schlock-specific questions and expect me not to deflect them for being off-topic.
  • 4:00pm - Palo Verde: Lit 003 - “You’ve Made The World, Now You’ve Got To Write In It” (Howard Tayler, Hugh S. Gregory, Adam Niswander)
  • 8:30pm - Boardroom: Lit 005 - “Web Publishing and The Free Content Business Model” (Howard Tayler, Emily and Ernie Hogan)
  • 10:00pm - Palo Verde: Lit 006 - “Writing Believable Characters” (Howard Tayler)

SUNDAY

  • 2:30pm - Mesquite: Lit 007 - “Space Opera vs Military Fiction: Is There A Difference?” (Howard Tayler, Bennie Grezlik, Kit Townsend)

MONDAY

  • Fly home, take a half-day off. Maybe paint some minis.
    I can’t tell you exactly when I’ll be sitting down and doing signings and sketchings, but I’m sure that’ll happen at some point every day of the convention. I probably won’t have time for complex commissions, but I’m bringing my markers with me, so hope springs eternal. I’m ALSO bringing the complete (though not completely COLORED) Teraport Wars bonus story with me, should you feel inclined to read it and spoil it for yourself three months in advance of publication of the book.

    I won’t have the new T-shirts or mousepads with me. Those aren’t being printed until next week. Sorry!

    ]]> http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/08/leprecon-34-this-weekend-heres-my-schedule/feed/ Leprecon 34 is This Weekend! http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/05/leprecon-34-is-this-weekend/ http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/05/leprecon-34-is-this-weekend/#comments Mon, 05 May 2008 14:19:07 +0000 Howard Tayler Conventions Merchandise http://www.schlockmercenary.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/05/leprecon-34-is-this-weekend/ Leprecon 34If you’re in Arizona, this weekend come see me at Leprecon 34, Arizona’s science fiction and fantasy convention. It’s being held at the gorgeous Francisco Grande Resort in the lovely desert hamlet of Casa Grande. I’ll have books, pins, shirts, and maybe even some of the new shirts and mousepads.

    I’ll also be on a number of panels, answering Schlockiverse questions, and discussing a wide range of topics of interest to science fiction fans everywhere. You’ve heard me on Writing Excuses… now you can hear me in person, and try to stump me with your own questions. Ask whatever you like!

    (Note: There are plenty of panels to attend, whether or not I’m on them. Check out the Leprecon 34 Programming Schedule here in PDF format.)

    I’m bringing my markers, so I’ll probably be able to bang out a few commissions, and I’ll definitely be able to throw down lots of free sketches. Don’t miss this chance to have me deface your Schlock book, or doodle in your sketchbook.

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