Author: Travis

CINEQUEST Film Festival

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So this is the first blog post in a loooong time that hasn’t been a podcast episode or a reminder about some upcoming appearance. A job in academia tends to preclude a lot of basic writerly pursuits. I’m sitting right now at a Starbuck’s in San Jose, CA, across from the San Jose Repertory Theatre, where I’m awaiting the start of the CINEQUEST Film Festival Writers Celebration.  The screenplay I wrote with Jim Pinto, a horror-western called Death Wind, has made the Top 10 in the screenplay contest. This is not the first Top 10 or finalist status; DW gotContinue readingCINEQUEST Film Festival

New Interview at Podioracket

Cat Links Appearances, Writing Posted on Travis

Check out this new interview with yours truly at Podioracket.com! Which brings up a good point! I have been terribly remiss with keeping up with this blog, and I have also been remiss at putting out new episodes of Rogues of the Black Fury, in spite of my best intentions. The biggest reason for the last month is that I’ve been sick, and my voice has been shot. However, I am recovering. New episodes, coming soon!

The “Support Your Favorite Author” Holiday Shopping List

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Wouldn’t you just love to shop for people you love and support your favorite starving artist at the same time? Allow me to suggest the following gift ideas. Heart of the Ronin – Historical fantasy novel from E-Reads. Publisher’s Weekly calls it “a page-turning folkloric narrative of epic proportions.” Available also as an Ebook! “Snakes” – Horror novella, available print or Ebook from Damnation Books. Complete with a Holiday Promo code for 25% off your entire order! Here’s the Damnation Books Promo Code:  191W1WM6D6CY And, some anthologies including stories and essays by yours truly. Historical Lovecraft from Innsmouth Free PressContinue readingThe “Support Your Favorite Author” Holiday Shopping List

Constravaganza

Cat Links Appearances, General Posted on Travis

The next two weeks are going to be CrAZy. Two convention weekends back to back. I’ll be attending MileHiCon this weekend in Denver, CO and the World Fantasy Convention in San Diego over Halloween weekend. I’m seriously looking forward to both conventions. I’ll be doing a number of panels at MileHiCon, as well as reading. Friday 3:00 pm – Shifting P.O.V. Saturday 10:00 am – Superhero Movies, Assemble! Saturday 11:00 am – The ABCs of Podcasting Saturday 12:00 pm – Podcasting Workshop/Q & A Saturday 11:00 pm – Campfire Chillers – I plan on reading my story “Legs”, forthcoming inContinue readingConstravaganza

Healing Waves – Charity Anthology for Japanese Tsunami Relief

Cat Links Appearances, General, Writing Posted on Travis

I was heartbroken when news of the Japanese tsunami came across the U.S. airwaves, even more so when news of the radioactive catastrophe began to leak. I still have many friends in Japan and cherish my memories from when I lived there. So when I heard about an anthology where all proceeds go to tsunami, I knew I had to submit some work there. Healing Waves from Sky Warrior Books contains an experimental essay, “A Haiku Pilgrimage”, and some poetry of mine. It also contains a piece from my friend and fellow SF author, Jay Lake. So please go toContinue readingHealing Waves – Charity Anthology for Japanese Tsunami Relief

Rogues of the Black Fury – Forthcoming from E-Reads

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I just breathed an enormous sigh of completion as I finished the final edit/copyedit of Rogues and sent it off to the publisher. That was a bigger job than I anticipated, especially when some conversations with the cover artist sparked a frenzy of re-mythologizing. I’m delighted to have Alan M. Clark on board as the cover artist for Rogues. He did the original cover for Heart of the Ronin, so if you know that one, you’re familiar with his work. I’m really excited to see the final product. Now it’s time to get back to creating NEW stuff (ahem, finishingContinue readingRogues of the Black Fury – Forthcoming from E-Reads

On the Road – Great Rocky Mountain Walkabout

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So I just returned from a ten-day trip through the Rockies, northern plains, and Black Hills. Some might call it leaf mold, others, refilling the well, others, story fodder, but it was indeed an awesome trip. 2709 miles from start to finish. I do have stories to tell involving empty fuel tanks, wild life, breathtaking mountain scenery, thunderstorms, Indians, and fellow campers. If you ask, I shall regale you. Here’s a map of my route. Now it’s time to get back to the creative business.  More podcast episodes, finish up Sword of the Ronin, and a couple of other double-secretContinue readingOn the Road – Great Rocky Mountain Walkabout

Rogues of the Black Fury – A new fiction podcast from yours truly

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I’ve only been talking about this for a year, but I’ve finally launched my next audio fiction podcast.  Now available on iTunes!  It will soon be available also on Podiobooks.com, and I’ll make an announcement when that happens as well.  if you want to subscribe via RSS feed, go to the podcast’s website. Rogues of the Black Fury is a military fantasy novel best described as “U.S. Navy SEALS vs. Al-Qaeda in a Renaissance-like fantasy setting.” My agent calls this book “Pure Swash.”  So if you’re looking for action, muskets, high-seas adventure, you should give this one a try. AndContinue readingRogues of the Black Fury – A new fiction podcast from yours truly

Panels and Reading at OSFEST 4.0

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This weekend, July 22-24, is the 4th Annual installment of the Omaha Science Fiction Education Society’s convention, OSFEST, and I’ll be hanging out down there all weekend.  You’ll also find me in the Dealer Room at the Author Table at various times, where I’ll have books to sell. Here’s what on my agenda. Has Urban Fantasy become a serious sub-genre? – Panel, 6 p.m. Friday Reading – 12 noon, Saturday Harlan Ellison: The bad boy of SF literature? – Panel, 3 p.m. Friday Redshirts: How to kill your characters – Panel, 6 p.m. Saturday Ultimate Starship Challenge – 11 p.m.,Continue readingPanels and Reading at OSFEST 4.0

A Slither of “Snakes” from Damnation Books

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I’m stoked to announce that my horror novella “Snakes” launches tomorrow, June 1, from Damnation Books. The publisher is running a special.  Order it quickly enough and you might even get your copy for free!  The pricing starts at  $0.00 and increases by 25 cents for each purchase until it reaches the full cover price. So now’s the time to get your e-book copy.

First Lines Revisited

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“Write a more compelling first line and I’ll read your article!” was one Facebook comment on my post about first lines. Point well taken.  Could I have spruced up my first couple of lines? Certainly.  Do I intend every blog post to be a fine crafted work of art and a juggernaut of intellectual persuasion? Nope. Ain’t got time. I’m too busy trying to write fiction. Nevertheless, readers did have things to say about this list.  But first, here are the answers for my previous post on first lines.