San Jose—World Fantasy

The World Fantasy convention was held in San Jose, California this year from October 29 to November 1. Tons of writers and some fans attended (1200 total, which is the maximum allowed at this professional convention). I was able to room with my writing buddies, Brad Beaulieu and Patrick Tracy. We had a good time and I was able to meet with many writers, publishers, agents, and a few editors. What happened at the convention? It’s top secret for now, but there were good things and bad things. Some doors closed, others opened. I don’t know what will happen next, but I got some excellent career advice from the president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Russel Davis. He’s so cool and he loved my first book, The Golden Cord.

I attended some great panels, including one on steampunk. Since I was recently asked to write a steampunk short story for another DAW anthology, edited by Jean Rabe, and I’m doing all the research I can. It’s going to be a fun story and I’ve got an idea for the setting, and main character, but not the story. That will come soon. I’ve got until February 1, 2010 before I have to turn it in.

My book signing at the mass author signing was excellent, and meeting with my writing teachers, Kij Johnson, Mike Stackpole, and my editor, John Helfers was very cool. I met so many new friends and I’m looking forward to seeing them all again. Overall, the convention was a big success, with a few setbacks. Not everything is magical for me, though. I get kicked in the gut once in a while, and have to fight through the pain. The publishing industry is hurting, hence the writers are hurting. It’s so hard to be in this field, and even if you do almost everything right, you can still get the crap kicked out of you from time to time. The good thing for me is that I have such awesome friends to prop me up when I nearly fall down. Brad, Pat, Barbara Webb, and my new friends kept me going no matter what. Here’s the public link to the Facebook pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=160927

Best wishes,

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com

Santa Maria: Alice Shaw and Dunlap, October 27-28

When I was in sixth grade my best friend and I made an emerald castle in the desert. Okay, she provided the emeralds. I mostly helped by using old junk, like a discarded shower stall and tin sheeting. Our emerald castle was made out of junk, but in our imaginations, it was a magnificent fortress. Everything was perfect until the older kids came and kicked us out. Rotten kids! Christy and I were like the two kids in the book and movie, Bridge to Terabithia. We would explore the desert, hike around, and hang out with our other friend, Amanda. Who knows what would have happened if Christy had stayed in Beatty? I think we would have been great friends for years and years. Then tragedy struck. Not as bad as in Bridge to Terabithia, though. She moved away toward the end of sixth grade and I was heartbroken. Then we lost touch, seeing each other a couple of times after that. Then it was seventeen or so years later when we found each other on Facebook. She invited me to visit Santa Maria, a city near San Luis Obispo in California. I wanted to meet her, her husband Erik, and their three kids. We had a great visit and I loved going to the schools she set me up with.

Dunlap Elementary School, where Christy’s son Jack went, was one of my best school visits ever—in the top two for sure. The speech to a large group was one of my best performances of all time. Sometimes you just rock the house. I don’t always. But I connected with the kids and we had so much fun. Then the two writing workshops afterward went extremely well. The students came up with fabulous ideas and the stories we created were top-notch. Then I signed posters for the kids in some classrooms and hung out more. It was a wonderful visit from beginning to end. The presence of my friend, Christy, made it all the better. Did I mention she’s also the best cook in the world? Her husband Erik is good too. He made baby back ribs on his grill that were awesome. Christy’s fish tacos were incredible and I’m amazed Erik is in such good shape. If I were him, I’d have a big gut!!

That night I visited Alice Shaw Elementary from 7-9 PM. The principal, Janet Bertoldi, hosted an event for families from both Dunlap and Alice Shaw. It was very well attended and the event was a big hit. Speaking about writing and teaching the kids a writing workshop was fabulous. We came up with such a cool story. The signing afterward was incredibly successful.

Leaving Santa Maria was bittersweet. I’ll always be friends with Christy and really enjoyed meeting her family—especially her son, Jack. Here’s the public link to the Facebook pictures.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158609

Happy reading!

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com

The Wilson’s in Whittier, plus Leffingwell Elementary School, October 26, 2009

While I was in Los Angeles on my book tour, I visited the city of Whittier, where my friends Jason and Natalie Wilson live with their kids, Ariel and Chara. I love them all so much, and am so happy to be “Uncle Paul” to Ariel and Chara. Jason is now Dr. Wilson, and works as a professor at Biola University after attaining his PhD in statistics. He’s such a good man and his kids are amazing. I wish I lived closer so I could see them more. The visit was too fast. I’ve got pictures on Facebook at this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=160869

I visited Leffingwell Elementary School in Whittier and had a good time speaking to the kids. The people at the school were very hospitable and I would definitely go back. Then I went to Whittier High School in Cerritos, which is one of the top-rated, if not the highest rated school, in all of California. I spoke to some students in the career center during lunch, and then did a writing workshop for about 120 students. It all went very well. It was my second time visiting them and I would absolutely go back. It was one of my better speeches, and the high school kids seemed to be quite into it. I love it when the speech comes off like that.

Best wishes,

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com

October 25-26, 2009

Neil Gaiman hitched a ride with me from Flagstaff to Los Angeles. It was a good trip. One I won’t forget. It’ll be forever remembered as the trip that I listened to American Gods (written by Neil Gaiman), on audio CD. To be clear, Neil wasn’t physically with me in the car. His words, however, were, and I really enjoyed the novel. The man reading the book was amazing.

The novel won the World Fantasy Award for best novel a few years ago, and I see why. I finally got the book and I’m glad that I did. The story is awesome and the scope of the novel was extremely impressive. Who knew that the ancient gods could fall so low? I don’t want to get into the nuts and bolts of the book, but let’s just say that the ancient gods have come to America with their worshippers. Now they exist as shadows of their former selves, barely gods anymore as they are worshipped very little, and seem very, very human. They drink, eat, love, and mostly steal. It was a fascinating book that follows a character named Shadow. Who is he? You’ll find out very slowly as you read the book—or listen to it. The novel is huge, but worth it in the end. It did have a slow pace most of the time, but I found it interesting throughout, even when the plot moved very little. I got a little sick of hearing about what they were eating all the time, but the detail was excellent. Gaiman’s ability to describe a scene is top-notch.

The social commentary in the book was brilliant and it holds up the mirror to America and shows us that worshipping certain technologies, (or personalities), has some serious consequences for all involved.

American Gods is a literary fantasy in my opinion, and I would recommend it to mature readers who want to see what all the fuss is about with Neil Gaiman. I knew he was cool, as I met him once, at World Fantasy in 2002 in Minneapolis. He’s an interesting and very charismatic man, and if you get a chance to hear him on a panel at a convention—don’t miss it.

Happy reading!

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
Book One of the Iron Dragon Series
www.paulgensse.com

Flagstaff, Arizona October 23-24, 2009
(see the pictures on Facebook)
Public link on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=157506&id=583339135&l=0c5c092840

Did you know I’m a lumberjack? It’s true. I’m a graduate of Northern Arizona University—mascott: Louie the Lumberjack. I graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. I returned for homecoming weekend and had a blast.

I visited my enduring friend, Jennifer Hayes and her family, did a book signing at the NAU bookstore, and went to the football game with a fellow NAU and Beatty grad, Natalie Kobinski (formerly Tobin). Visiting my good friend Jenny in Flagstaff, was fantastic. She has a great family, Ariel, Nicholas, and her husband, Byron. Jenny was my study partner in school, along with Leah Latham. The three of us made it through school together and I was so happy to see Jenny again. She’s one of those really amazingly nice people with a heart of gold. She’s been blessed with fabulous children, Ariel (12), and Nicholas (5). It was so cute to see how close their whole family was. I’m really happy for Jenny and going out to dinner with her was an excellent catch up time. I haven’t seen her in many years, though we’d send X-mas cards and such.

The book signing went well at the NAU Bookstore. The people there were really cool and I got a good amount of traffic. The NAU Bookstore people really know how to throw an event. I’d love to go back someday. Many thanks to Kathy and Ken.

The football game afterward was lots of fun. NAU beat up Idaho State and the people around us were really fun to watch the game with. I went with my friend (and adopted little sister, Natalie). She’s one of my very best friends and I love her dearly. Getting to see her and Jenny were the highlights of my Flagstaff trip.

Afterward, Natalie went back to Phoenix to her kids and I had a lovely evening with Jenny’s family at their home—once I found it! My GPS and I had a disagreement over where her house actually was. I blame the dark! I think my GPS needs nightvision goggles. Or may I do?

Anyway, simple little things like watching Jenny’s five year old play with their dog were priceless. The hang out time was great too, and Jenny gives the best and tightest hugs you could possibly imagine. I had to have two of those wonderful hugs before I left Sunday morning for my seven-hour drive to L.A.

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com

October 21, 2009

Hello,

Getting to Phoenix, more precisely, Mesa, was not as easy as I thought it would be. Much of the road from Las Vegas to Phoenix is under construction. I had an 1.5 hour delay, and had to cancel part of my appearance at Stapely Junior High in Mesa. I was supposed to be there at 2:00, but got there at 2:35. I should have been there at 1:00 or 1:15. It was a very frustrating drive as I hit construction site after traffic jammed construction site all along the way.

Anyway, I made it and the visit was good. I got to hang out with a big fan, Nebraska Atwood and a bunch of cool kids. I was invited to speak at the school by Nebraska’s dad and this kind of story makes it all worth while. Nebraska wasn’t that into reading, was having some trouble with school, then he met me at a book signing and loved my books. Now he’s a big reader and is doing really well in school. Nebraska’s dad said I changed his son’s life, and hearing things like that makes all of this struggle to be a writer worthwhile.

(the pics are all on Facebook)

Later that night I had dinner with my best friend from high school, Jordan Stephens, and his wife Karen, plus their great kids. It was so cool seeing them. I have awesome friends. I stayed with another high school and college friend, Natalie Kobinski and her family. Nat is like my little sister. I love her dearly. Her kid, Alex and Maya are very special as well.

The next day I made it to Diamond Canyon School in Anthem, Arizona. Three presentations to 6th and 5th graders, then I signed posters and sold books in the library at their book fair. What a fun time.

Dinner with friends and family at Red Robin, then a book signing at the Happy Valley Towne Center Barnes and Noble. The store was pretty dead, but I did well and sold a good amount of books. Some of the kids from the school came, and lots of old fans and friends. A good time was had by all, and seeing old friends from college was so cool.

Now I’m off to Flagstaff today. Thanks for reading.

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com

Nationwide, it’s teen reading week. The theme is “Read Beyond Reality.” Here’s a video I shot at Bob Miller Middle School promoting reading to the school. Librarian Scott Hensley is such a good librarian and the kids are in good hand with him.

Happy Reading

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com

Visiting Las Vegas was great. I went to Bob Miller Middle School in Henderson, and visited Scott Hensley, at his amazing library and taught writing to the students. Scott took a couple of videos of me. One is above. The other is in a post coming soon.

Then I went to George E. Harris Elementary School, where I went for five years. It was fabulous to give back to a school that helped me go so far. I went there last year and that was wonderful. I spoke to hundreds of kids, then taught a writing workshop, then signed a couple hundred posters putting the kids’ names on them. I love those kids and their teachers are top notch. This is a school where I know I made a difference.

After that I was off to Paseo Verde Library, where I met up with Linda Hanks, a very cool librarian friend of mine. She interviewed me on camera and it went really well, though I only had a few minutes there. I’ll be back with Linda in the Spring (in April) teaching at a writing conference.

Dinner was with Anthony Koerner, the grandson of my former coach, teacher, and principal, Keith Koerner. Anthony is a cool guy, a former marine, avid snow boarder, who found himself becoming an accountant. He’s trying to get back into the military now, despite his injuries that slowed him for a while kept him out. He just loves the action and wants to blow sh*t up! I hadn’t seen him in many years, and catching up with old friends is so special for me.

The book signing at the Charleston Barnes and Noble was okay, though book stores have been pretty slow lately. Some old friends came by and I met a few new fans. I stayed with the Stratton family, pics on Facebook, and seeing them is always a huge hit. I’ve got a lot of great people in my life and am very fortunate to have no less than two pairs of adoptive parents.

The next morning it was off to Phoenix!

Paul Genesse
Author of The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com

Beatty Public Library, Nevada: Monday, October 19, 2009

I was brought out to my home town, Beatty, Nevada (100 miles north of Las of Vegas) by the Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

I didn’t ask for money, but the library wanted to go for the grant, and they got it. They had me teach a two-hour writing workshop at the Beatty public library. It’s the same little building where I found refuge so many years ago—except now they have computers. Going back to the library where I discovered Lord of the Rings was wonderful and the staff there were great. I donated a copy of six of my short stories and book two of the Iron Dragon Series, The Dragon Hunters.

The workshop went well, and the dozen adults, plus the kids watching from the periphery, were fun. A couple of my former teachers were there as well and seeing them was fantastic. My school visits didn’t work out, but that just gave me more time to hang with my mom. Anyway, at the workshop, we talked about writing and I did my best to tailor the presentation to their individual needs. We all have some story to tell, but figuring out how to tell that story is often very difficult. I think now many of them have some new skills to bring to the table.

My mom still lives in Beatty for part of the year and I was able to hang out with her. I’ll see her later on the tour, but it was good starting this leg of the tour at the place where I grew up.

Paul Genesse

Author of The Dragon Hunters

www.paulgenesse.com

Hello,

Here’s a link to the newly recorded podcast of the opening of The Golden Cord. I hope you enjoy it.

http://web.me.com/paulgenesse/Site/Podcast/Entries/2009/10/17_The_Golden_Cord_Podcast.html

Best wishes,

Paul Genesse
Author of The Golden Cord and The Dragon Hunters
www.paulgenesse.com