Balticon begins in four days, and it will once again be virtual — which means no matter how far from Baltimore you happen to be, you’ll be able to join me.

Here’s what you need to know about my reading and four panels —

Reading
Friday, May 28, 2:30 p.m.
I’ll either read an opening section from “I Shall But Love Thee Better,” due out shortly in the anthology Prisms, or “Lost Out There in the Stars,” which will be published next year in the third issue of the new magazine Parsec. Or maybe a little bit of each! Both are novellas, and both will be released by PS Publishing.

Writing Psychological Horror
Saturday, May 29, 7:00 p.m.
Good horror will go beyond gore and mess with a reader’s mind. What is it about certain ideas and concepts that disturb us and how can you incorporate your personal fears into your works?
with L. Marie Wood, Nick Mamatas, John Wiswell, and Nino Cipri

Using Writing Prompts and Exercises Effectively
Sunday, May 30, 4:00 p.m.
There are a plethora of books, magazines, and websites offering writing prompts and exercises for creators of all experience levels and interests. We’ll talk about how to determine which are the best for you and how you can get the most from them.
with Joshua Bilmes (moderator), Beth Morris Tanner, and Sarah Beth Durst

Non-Linear Narratives
Sunday, May 30, 5:30 p.m.
The end is the beginning is the middle is… and sometimes THAT’S too straightforward! When an author tries to mix up a series of events, the results can be mind-blowing, confusing, or both. What are some non-linear narratives that have worked, some that haven’t, and ways a creator can prepare to tackle one themselves?
with Arkady Martine, Daniel M Ford, Nick Mamatas, and Ada Palmer

Sustaining Tension in Your Writing
Monday, May 31, 1:00 p.m.
Any narrative work will maintain audience interest through the buildup and release of tension. But how do you keep the tension going after you’ve resolved the major plot point and there’s still more story to go? Panelists will discuss writing and organizational techniques for handling multiple sources of tension in a single work.
with Monica Louzon (moderator), Mary Fan, C. L. Polk, and Joshua Palmatier

I hope to see you there!

Howard the Duck was supposed to get laid (sort of) in his debut issue cover-dated January 1976 — and though I no longer remember why he didn’t get laid, I have proof of that editorial alteration thanks to papers discovered in my late sister-in-law Ellen Vartanoff’s collection.

In that issue, there’s a scene where Howard lands in a nest and explains how it “reminds me of where I was first hatched.” But that is not how the word balloon was originally lettered. (more…)

I was horrified to hear that David Anthony Kraft — whom I first met 40+ years ago when my comics career began and last saw at the 2019 Marvel Celebrates Stan Lee afterparty — died on May 19, 2021 of pneumonia induced by COVID-19.

Here he is with Jo Duffy and me at that latter event.

Saying I was shocked and stunned is too tame. Though I can’t be sure, I likely met Dave at Marvel the same day I met my wife. My first day on staff there was June 24, 1974. I was 19. Irene’s first day was April 15, 1974. And Dave began in the Bullpen slightly earlier than either of us, on March 25, 1974.

An additional reason David Anthony Kraft’s death felt and still feels unbelievable — aside from the fact the death of any contemporary seems shocking — is only 24 hours prior to learning of his death, I discovered the apoplectic paperwork sent by the Comics Code Authority censoring one of his stories, and was going to call him.

As those who’ve been following me know, I’ve been sorting through my late sister-in-law Ellen Vartanoff’s collection. She taught comics and art, and over the decades was donated artifacts which showed how the sausage was made. This particular find relates to Giant-Sized Dracula #4 (March 1975). (more…)