Wild Wild West Con

From the second I took off from Nashville to the moment I left Arizona I had these Murder By Death lyrics running through my head from the song, Until Morale Improves, The Beatings Will Continue, "I walked the road, from Tucson to San Antonio. The smell of blood on my breath." Yeah, I probably only had stuck in my thoughts because Tucson was the location of Wild Wild West Con, a wonderful new steampunk con that took place at the ultra amazing Old Tucson Studios. (over 300 movies have been shot there. Tombstone, The Quick and The Dead, Winchester 73, Three Amigos, Etc...)


Anyway, it was awesome! The location was super cool. Everything in the town was totally western and yes they had beer in the saloon. So, yeah, guess where I was popping in every now and then?

Some rad highlights. Steam Powered Giraffe. Seriously, they caught me off guard doing a song called Honey Bee... Amazing voices and an amazing show. I'm just bummed I didn't get to see more. I'll definitely catch them at The World Steam Expo in May. Here we are with them after their performance outside of The Inn.





I did a super fun reading at The Baroness' Tea Party in the saloon in front of about 150 people with Cherie Priest, Elizabeth Darvill, O.M. Grey and David Lee Summers. Here we all are posing together outside the author vending area at The Inn, then me reading in the massive saloon.






We also hung out quite a bit with the wonderful Frenzy Gals from The Frenzy Universe who are some of my favorite people in the world. I know I pimp them all the time but seriously, if you haven't been to their website, its really amazing. Check them out here: Frenzy Universe

We had awesome neighbors in the vending area too. The writer and an actor from the steampnk web series Mantecoza were there showing their trailer and giving swg from the show away. Super fun people and the series looks so fun. Look out Sci-Fi Channel! Check out the trailer here!

I also attended Elizabeth Darvill's adult only reading late on Saturday night which was also super fun and totally different for any con I've ever been to. It was such a success that it's going to probably be a regular thing at future cons. I highly recommend it. I tried to get pictures but the mood lighting was too dark for my ghetto camera.


I've been to a lot of first time steampunk cons and this was a blast. I'm absolutely going back next year.

Next Up:
I'm taking some time off from traveling for a few months but I will be at The Artifice Club's Clockwork Carnival with Elizabeth Darvill in Decatur, GA on April 16th vending and having a blast with the Atlanta Steampunk crew.

Anachrocon

My first Anachrocon (Atlanta, GA) was last year and it was a blast. This year they are growing by leaps and bounds, making a rock solid home for hardcore steampunks in the South East. They improved the hotel, they have more programming, many more bands, and so so much to offer anyone in the Steampunk community. I'm telling you, if you're in the are, or if you're not, Anachrocon is an amazing con and not to be missed.

I was on two panels, "Not Your Daddy's Steampunk" with Dan Hollifield and "Victorian Science Fiction Literature" With Kimberly Richardson, Emilie P. Bush, G.D. Falksen, Allen Gilbreath, and Dan Hollifield. Both were awesome panels and It was so good reconnecting with all my steampunk writer pals. When you're gone like I am, I really miss them. They're the kind of people that if we lived in the same town, we'd hang out often.

Something I have to give HUGE kudos to was the burlesque show that Talloolah Love put on at Anachrocon. I've seen my fair share of cabaret and burlesque and this blew the doors off any performance I've seen before. Top notch all the way. Basically it was like seeing a huge production on a smaller stage. Such a treat. Fun, Funny, Sexy, and even a little spooky at times, this show seriously bested anything I've ever seen and given me a renewed respect and love for burlesque.

Next Up:

This weekend, I'll be in Tuscon, AZ for Wild Wild West Con which is a very hyped steampunk con held at the Old Tuscon Studios (where they filmed a ton of old western movies). This one promises to be a very busy and awesome con for a steampunk starved area of the country. Very excited to see so many of my friends coming down for this one. If you're there, I'll have a table set up as well as participating in "The Baroness' Tea Party" with O.M. Grey, Elizabeth Darvill, and none other than Cherie Priest!

And now for Anachrocon Pictures!

I LOVE shelties. So my heart melted when I saw a steampunk one at Anachrocon named Sebastian.




Here are the amazing, talented, super driven, always perfect Frenzy Gals giving the "Nicky V" sign. If you want anything Steampunk you must go to there site HERE.


I had to get a picture of this... Yes they digital eye moved around.



The Extraordinary Contraptions! A band rocketing into steampunk stardom. Always a good time and a great band.

Thomas Riley Nominated in The Predators & Editors Readers Poll

Tis the season for nifty award nominations! Thomas Riley has been nominated for best novel in the Preditors & Editors Readers Poll. Click the link below. (TR is toward the bottom if you feel so inclined.) Vote, and put your name and email in the form. (They will not spam you) And be sure to verify your vote via email. It takes a few seconds and is super easy.

Thanks everyone!

P&E Readers Poll

Shadowcon 2011

Shadowcon (Memphis, TN) was the first con I ever sold Thomas Riley. Everyone was absolutely amazing a year ago. It was a small con but wonderfully perfect in every way. This year, they asked me to be the Writer Guest of Honor, so of course I most happily said yes.


This year was just as perfect as last year. Seriously, everyone there is absolutely amazing. Shadowcon is a family-ish con home of the SCA (Shadow Legion) and I have to say that I really feel like part of the family there. We had a blast as usual with all the Memphis crew and this year I was one of the judges in the costume contest. Yeah, I was pretty stoked about that. (Congrats to Steampunk Batman for the overall win by the way!)

A really fun bit that I didn't expect is we did a live radio read of the stage version of Arsenic and Old Lace where I was chosen by King Kane to read the part of Mortimer Brewster (Yes Cary Grant's part in the movie!) I was petrified at first but had a blast once it started up. Kudo's to the Shadowcon organizers for putting that on. Super fun!

Ooo! And here's a print magazine called Imagyro that I have an interview in! Look closely for a rare image of Ensign Sparklebunny.


And here I am coloring before breakfast at Cracker Barrel (You can;t deny the color pages...)


I really hope to go back next year! Thank you so much Shadowcon!!!

Next Up:I'll be writing for a bit so no travel until Anachrocon in Atlanta at the end of February. Yes, I'm kind of excited about it too.

Thomas Riley Nominated as Steampunk Book Of The Year

Sometimes really cool things just happen. This is totally one of them. I'm honored to say that my novel, Thomas Riley, has been nominated as a finalist as steampunk book of the year by steampunk.com. Honestly, this is a really nifty surprise. So I have to say thank you to everyone at steampunk.com and the people that nomintated the book.


The rest is up to voters so go forth and vote for Thomas Riley.
http://www.steampunk.com/vote-for-2010-steampunk-book-of-the-year/

The Great Explosion of 2010

2010... What do I say? It's been the most amazing, devastating, wonderful, stressful, blissful and exhausting year of my life. Hands down. Nothing can compare to the events of this year of the Tiger. Off I go, jumping the boards, going to sea, rocketing into the upper atmosphere... Whatever you want to call it, I'm on board and the ship has a one way ticket only.

You want to know what's even more insane? 2011 & 2012 are poised to be full of absolute whirlwinds of life changing events. So stay tuned for mass chaos. I promise you will be entertained.


To wrap the year up I have a special blog planned for next week or so and with any luck, you'll have a montage (It's a montage!!!) video of 2010 in mid to late January. Think H-Street skate movies meets behind the scenes rock video. I have over 100 videos from events this year so you'll get a glimpse of my year (Well, the busy work parts anyway.)soon.

The last event of 2010 was a signing at Hastings in Murfreesboro, TN. As always, I've been met with nothing but awesomeness from every Hastings staff I've met. I love those stores! I get the next 3 weeks off... wow, that seems like such a long time. And I'll be the Guest of Honor at ShadowCon in Memphis TN on Jan 5th, 6th and 7th... You'll see lots of new and fun things at that one. It'll be so good to see my Memphis friends again and to debut some new things.

So stay tuned... The Year end blog is coming next. So if you haven't gotten your fill of holiday scandal... well, it's coming.

Wizard World Atlanta Comic Con

Word around town says this blog is "Scandalous, infamous, and highly revealing under the top layer."

"Nick Valentino's blog is a keyhole into the side of life that you always wanted to look at but would never admit it to anyone."
-Cleo Divine

Well, they're probably right. You do get little cryptic snippets, often times very unintentional of some pretty crazy things. Just look, then look a bit harder. It's kind of like one of those Magic Eye pictures. If you stare at it long enough, you may see something that wasn't there before.

The Atlanta Comic Con
The con season is over. Everyone has packed up and is gearing up for the summer. There are a few left that hang on for odd, cold and possibly snowy dates. Atlanta's Wizard World Comic Con was one of those snowbirds. Being a "fist time con" for Wizard World in Atlanta, they tried to pack the halls with con goers by shipping their usual celebrities to the scene. Adam West, Linda Blair, The Cast from The Walking Dead, Billy Dee Williams, Vivica Fox and Henry Winkler were just a few on hand signing autographs and glad-handing fans.

I spent the con signing books next to the most fabulous and awesome Steampunk Paranormal Romance author, O.M. Grey. We were pretty much the steampunk contingent at the con save for a few crossover artists. We ended up chatting most of the time and greeting fans and curiosity seekers.

We also took a little jaunt out to decautur GA (Right outside of Atlanta)to visit the Brick Store Pub (Highly recommended by the way)and met good friends, Doctor Q and Taloola Love. Thanks guys! We had a blast.

So, want some fun pictures? Of course you do.

This is none other than Billy Dee Williams. Now, look closely and see the epic nature of this picture. Here is Lando signing a case of Colt 45 for an Imperial Biker Scout. I kid you not.


Here is John Strangeway (Steampunk Boba Fett) showing off his costume armor signed by Jeremy Bulloch and now Billy Dee Williams... You have to love that Williams put "Lando" under his name.


Awesome Friends Doctor Q and Steampunk Boba Fett.


My neighbor, amazing author, and good friend O.M. Grey.


Next Up:
This weekend finishes a crazy crazy crazy 2010 with three events in and around Nashville TN. If you want your copy of Thomas Riley before Christmas, well, this is you'r chance.

Friday Dec 10 Books-A-Million 5PM (Nashville TN) (Nashville West Shopping Center)
Saturday Dec 11 Books-A-Million 1PM (Murfreesboro TN)
Sunday Dec 12 Hastings 1PM (Murfreesboro TN)

Holidays
The holidays are here or coming fast.

Get Thomas Riley Here

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