Tag Archives: world horror convention

Joe McKinney Gives Advice on Being a Panelist

As I’ve mentioned already, I am going to be a panelist at the World Horror Convention this June in New Orleans. This will be my first panel, and I am a little nervous and excited about the whole thing. I went to my friend, Joe McKinney, and asked him if he had any tips on being a panelist. I have seen him at many panels and book signings over the last couple years and he always knocks it out, so I knew anything he had to say on this subject would be gold. And I was right.

 

I encourage anyone interested in being on a panel to read this. It’s really helpful and informative.

 

 

 

It’s a blast.

 

First tip. Be funny, have fun. The audience will appreciate it.

 

Second tip: Make sure you’re up on the topic, and whenever possible, direct the conversation to your strong points. If the question is: “What’s so cool about tables?” and you don’t know anything about tables, but know everything about chairs, tell the audience: “You know, the greatest thing about tables is how well they go with chairs,” and run with it.

 

Third tip: Don’t be a time hog and don’t be an ass. The first panel I moderated, this one guy (who was the only guy on the panel who hadn’t published in some recognized major venue) started talking about how great his world building skills were. I couldn’t shut him up. I kept waiting for him to take a breath so I could interject, but he just droned on, even as people got up to leave. Finally, one of the other panelists asked him if he was ever going to come to a point and that shut him up.

 

So, the moral of that story is: if you encounter an ass, and they’re causing people to leave, let them know they’re being an ass. People hate smart asses, but they love it when someone says what everyone in the room is feeling. Make sure you’re plugged in to the mood of the room. You’ll feel it, believe me. Listen to your instincts.

 

Above all, and this is point four, if you’re keeping track: Make sure you’re interesting. Invariably, there will be a blogger in the audience, someone who is clued into the internet and ready to report their thoughts on the convention. Be relevant. Be smart. Be the guy who surprises the crowd. Do this by being honest.

 

Remember that you approached horror, and made it your favorite, from some personal agenda. Something about you made you a horror fan, rather than an SF fan, or a fantasy fan. You are unique. Make sure that uniqueness shines through. For me, it’s always been the police angle. For you, maybe it’s the hotel angle, which is every bit as cool and pregnant of experience. In short, call every question back to what you know intimately. Be smart, be well-spoken, but above all, be informed.

 

This is the first among many, Max. You’re going to rock the house.

 

Today

 

Two years ago, I lived in Indiana. Two years ago, I was unpublished. Two years ago, I was nothing.

 

Today, I live in Texas. Today, I have over 20 short stories published. I have one book already out with Numen Books (True Stories Told by a Liar), and another scheduled to be released this June with Dark Moon Books (They Might Be Demons).

 

Yesterday, I had a third book set to be published in 2013, with Rainstorm Press.

 

Today, I’ve requested from the publisher to drop my contract, and the publisher obliged.

 

Today, I’ve realized I don’t have to settle for anybody who will publish me. Today, I know that my words deserve better.

 

Today, I am re-reading my novel, Black Cadillacs, and researching more publishers.

 

Today I am understanding that this novel is special, that it should be read by the world. That I won’t settle for anybody.

 

Today, I am editing stories for a respected quarterly horror magazine. Today, I am putting together the final touches of a new online/print magazine that is going to blow people away, a magazine that I’ve co-founded with a really awesome editor, writer and friend. A magazine that 200 people are interested in already, and we haven’t even given them the website yet.

 

Today, I am welcoming new members to the Horror Writers Association. Today, I am helping put together a new, professional horror poetry newsletter for the HWA. Today, I am outlining what I want to discuss as a goddamn panelist at the World Horror Convention.

 

Today, I am marketing and editing books that I am publishing. That people have submitted to the company  I own, fully trusting in my abilities. I will not let them down. Their words will be read, just as my words will be read. The standard I give to my writers is the standard I should expect from my future publisher.

 

Today, I am signing a check that will serve as a book advance for a future author of my company. An author with writing credits on HBO’s The Wire. I am sending this to him. Me. And he is giving us a book. From The fucking Wire. This is actually happening. And it is amazing.

 

Today, I am writing. I am editing. I am reading. I am marketing. I am socializing. I am taking care of children. I am supporting a woman I love.

 

And it is only 12:30 in the afternoon.

 

Today I am living in the Age of Opportunity. This is an age we all live in. If you aren’t taking advantage of it, if you aren’t living it to the fullest extent that you mentally and physically can, then I want you to smack yourself in the face.

 

This is the time.

 

Right now.

 

Join me in New Orleans at the World Horror Convention

So, a few people have let it slip already, so I am gonna go ahead and announce it as well. I will be a panelist at the World Horror Convention in New Orleans this year (June 13-16). I have gone my entire life successfully avoiding any sort of public speaking or even acknowledging other human beings, for that matter, so this will be very interesting. The panel in question will be about small press publishing. Seeing as I own my own small press, I do have quite a few things I’d like to discuss. Originally, I was scheduled to be on the Sexiest Writers Alive panel, but that was ultimately cut out of the convention for unknown reasons.

 

More details:

 

R16:11 SMALL PRESS PUBLISHING, PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

Royal Room, Sunday 11am-Noon

We talk about the many small presses, what to look out for, how to find the right one for your writing and career endeavors, and so much more

Moderator: Charles Day

Panelists: Kim Richards, Max Booth III, Mark C. Scioneaux and Pete Giglio.

 

For more insight, Charles and Pete are the masterminds behind Evil Jester Press, Kim is the co-founder of Damnation Books, Mark is the co-founder of Nightscape Press, and Max (hey, that’s me!) is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing.

 

See you all there.

 

Slices of Flesh (and whatnot)

I know it’s been a hell of a long time since I’ve posted here, but I can totally explain. You see, I’m lazy.

Right, moving on then. The World Horror Convention was a blast. Will hopefully get around to writing about that sometime here soon, but then again, probably not. Let’s look at it this way, by the time I have a write up of all the crazy events that occurred in Salt Lake City, the NEXT World Horror Convention will have already passed. But WHC did mark the launch of Dark Moon Books’ charity anthology, SLICES OF FLESH, which includes one of my stories. It also features some of horror’s greatest authors, such as Jack Ketchum, Joe McKinney, and Not-Brian-Keene.

You can will buy it HERE.

Also, if you wanted a little taste on just how awesome this book really is, why don’t you take a stroll over to Tales to Terrify, where the ever so kind host has recorded my story, MONSTER, on his podcast. And let me just say–holy shit, it is awesome.

Let’s see, what else, what else. Oh yeah, my horror western novella, BLACK, is coming closer to publication in the anthology, WELCOME TO HELL. The incredible cover art is as follows:

Obviously you should all buy this book when it comes out, because it’s going to kick a ton of ass.

I guess that’s about it for the moment. Am going to try to write more on this friggin’ thing, but then again, netflix.

Oh yeah, and if you’re wondering why I’ve completely changed this site’s theme, it’s because I am astonishingly indecisive.