Welcome to another edition of Author's Corner. I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season. It's hard to believe that we're into a new year already.

This year is already starting out with a lot of exciting things for me. I'll be in Chattanooga for the ChattaCon festival from January 21st to the 23rd. This will be my first visit to Chattanooga in about twelve years. I've heard that it's changed quite a bit and is a lovely place to visit. I'm participating in three panels on Saturday, the 22nd, so if you're there, stop in and say hello.

I'll also be at MegaCon in Orlando from February 25-27. On Friday, the 25th, I'll be hosting my own panel discussion on New Writers: Marketing, Promotion and Strategies from 4 to 5. If you are at the convention, come in and join me. I'll also have a table near the main aisle for the weekend as well. Books will be available for those who are interested. Of course, I'd be happy to autograph them for you as well.

The Virginia Book Festival isn't far off. I'll host a table in the dealer's hall at the Omni Hotel on March 19th.

I'm working on details for TechniCon in Blacksburg, Va for April 1st to the 3rd. More to come on this next month.

I'll be in Baltimore for Memorial Day weekend at BaltiCon. I will host a table in their dealer's hall as well. I haven't received word whether or not I'll be included on any of their panels yet but it's still early.

I expect to be at WesterCon which is held in Calgary, Alberta this year over July fourth week. I haven't received details yet from them either.

Astronomicon is a new one I hope to participate in. They are based in Tampa and hold their festival from November 11 to the 13th.

I'm also looking into MileHiCon in Colorado. Their festival is held from October 21 to the 23rd.

Other possibilities are Albacon (Rochester), CopperCon (Phoenix), LosCon (Los Angeles), ConCarolinas (Greensboro) and TrinocCon(Durham) and NecronomiCon (Tampa). I'll keep you updated as I receive word.

I recently finished the final touches on the ten episode TV series I've written for Fractured Time. This includes four episodes from the book that were not included in the movie screenplay and six new ones. If the FT screenplay is picked up for a movie, the TV series makes a great leader into the second screenplay for Twisted Fate.

After working diligently with my agent for the last few months, we've come up with several changes in the FT screenplay which have a ripple effect all the way through the trilogy. Currently, I'm modifying the Twisted Fate screenplay to accommodate those changes and I'm laying the groundwork for the Twisted Fate TV series.

I'm also working with my designer to develop a cover for the first book in the Space Frontiers series, The Eye of Icarus. I have a publisher for the new book but I'll release that news when the details are finalized. I'm also outlining the screenplay for the new series as well.

I'm in a difficult spot because I'm anxious to start the second book in the new series, but I have to continue work in the trilogy yet. As my ideas become clear for different projects, I write them down in some form or another.

Well, enough about me. This month's Writer's Tip is about appearing at the festivals. The first time you have an opportunity to attend as an invited guest, you'll have many questions. Before I attended my first, I decided that I would do what made sense to make a good impression on my listeners. I dressed professionally but talked casually. I wanted my listeners to feel free to ask questions. On this note, I was a bit surprised. One of the male participants on a panel wore Bermuda shorts, flip flops and a tee-shirt. The females dressed casually but tastefully.

The second thing you'll learn is that writers are from different areas, backgrounds and perceptions. Some are sociable, others are defensive and protective, while some can be overbearing. One particular gentleman made a habit of putting down everyone on the panel. In rebuttal to his "shots", I explained to the listeners that this was an example of how there are different ways to be published and marketed. There are no wrong ways if your path fits your plan.

Sometimes it's difficult to explain everything about a topic in an allotted time. I found that it helps listeners to know that you're available after the session to talk further.

As a courtesy, I try to include other panelists who might have something to add about a particular topic relative to what you reply.

It's not easy making friends with others in the writing field. It seems that there is a lot of tension among many of the participants making conversation difficult. I find that making friends at the festivals, regardless of whether they're fans or peers, is the best part of being there. If you have other questions about appearing at festivals, please don't hesitate to e-mail me and I'll do my best to answer your question.

Thanks again for dropping in. Join me again next month.

- Michael D'Ambrosio

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