Can you believe LoneStarCon3, the 71st World Science Fiction Convention, is only 12 days away? Now that it’s just around the corner, the participants have been given their final schedules, so—here’s where you’ll be able to find me in San Antonio.

Stroll with the Stars
Friday, August 30, 09:00-10:00

Kaffeeklatsch
Friday, August 30, 13:00-14:00

Stories From the Bullpen
Friday, August 30, 15:00-16:00
The Marvel bullpen and the DC offices were magical places in the 1970s and 1980s, full of wisecracking pros, hardworking artists, and tale-spinning editors, if you believe the letters pages. But what was it really like? Get a peek behind the curtain with our panelists!
with Anthony Tollin and Phil Foglio

Autographing
Saturday, August 31, 14:00-15:00
with Sanford Allen, Grant Carrington, and Rick Wilber

Playing in Other People’s Sandboxes: Writing Comics that aren’t Your Own
Sunday, September 1, 15:00-16:00
Whether you’re writing Spider-Man, Jonah Hex, the Incredibles, or Fruit Ninja, you never get to really own these characters. But they sure are fun to play with! Hear some stories about what it’s like dealing with today’s corporate overlords.
with Alan J. Porter, Paul Benjamin, and Howard Tayler

Arouse Is Not the Past Tense of Arise
Monday, September 2, 12:00-13:00
Why do so many new writers have problems with grammar? How important is grammar? Has it lost relevancy in communicating with some portion of the reading public?
with Teresa Nielsen Hayden, Ginjer Buchanan, and Alberto Chimal

Reading
Monday, September 2, 14:30 – 15:00

Remember, though, you might also catch me in Austin—if you’re a BBQ nut, that is.

As I told you when I shared my tentative schedule last month, I will be making an early morning road trip Thursday to Franklin BBQ, which reportedly serves the best brisket in the world, thanks to pitmaster Aaron Franklin. No need to tell you all over again why 300-400 people are usually waiting before the joint even opens (it quickly sells out once it does), but … did they really have to start airing a commercial a couple of weeks ago showing Chef Nobu Matsuhisa dropping by?

As if the lines weren’t long enough …

In any event, I may still have one remaining seat in my car, which will leave San Antonio at 7:00 a.m.—which is the time we’ll need to head out to make sure we arrive by 8:30 when there’s still a chance of us getting our hands on that brisket. If you’re the right kind of crazy, and want to tag along, let me know!