Category: Appearances

Cleveland ConCoction 2015

Posted on by Ty Schwamberger

Clev Con

I’m pleased to announce I’ll be a guest at Cleveland ConCoction 2015 at the Sheraton at Cleveland Airport. Cleveland ConCoction is Sci-Fi, Gaming and Fantasy based, but it’s been three years since the last time I attended a convention, so I thought it would be fun to get back out there. Below is my schedule for the weekend (you can check out the entire programming schedule here):

FRIDAY, MARCH 13TH

6:00pm
Author Showcase (Session 1)
When: Fri, March 13, 6:00pm – 6:45pm
Where: Pegasus (map)
Description: Listen to your favorite authors read excerpts from newly released and soon to be released novels. Find your next great read. Ask questions, and discover the world behind the books. Panelists: S. Andrew Swann (M), Megan Engelhardt,        Ty Schwamberger, Mary Turzillo
Type: Panel, Ages: All

7:00pm
Autographing (Session 1) – Author Alley
When: Fri, March 13, 7:00pm – 7:45pm
Where: Lyra (map)
Description: Meet and talk with your favorite authors and rising stars. Purchase books and have them signed. The only thing more intimate is our Sunday morning Author Breakfast. Authors: Megan Engelhardt, Brian Hagan, Ty Schwamberger, Addie J. King
Type: Book Signing, Ages: All

8:00pm
Darkness & Light
When: Fri, March 13, 8:00pm – 8:45pm
Where: Orion / Main Programing (map)
Description: Fiction needs more than relentless grim-dark, and more than sparkly unicorn rainbows, in order to work well. Panelists: S. Andrew Swann (M), Ty Schwamberger, Brian Hagan, Marcus V. Calvert, Sarah Hans
Type: Panel, Ages: All

11:00pm
Horror Q & A: Check Yourself at the Door
When: Fri, March 13, 11:00pm – 11:45pm
Where: Gemini (map)
Description: Q & A about horror and why the macabre is so appealing. Panelists: Ty Schwamberger (M)
Type: Q & A, ages: All

SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH

3:00pm
Common Problems Encountered by New Authors
When: Sat, March 14, 3:00pm – 3:45pm
Where: Pegasus (map)
Description: Discuss common problems published authors encountered as new authors and get advice on how to avoid these hurdles in the modern publishing age. Panelists: Sandra Gurvis (M), Tobias Buckell, Ty Schwamberger, Pete P.J. Grondin
Type: Panel, Ages: All

4:00pm
Building Toward the Ultimate Literary Climax
When: Sat, March 14, 4:00pm – 4:45pm
Where: Orion / Main Programing (map)
Description: Lessons on writing to build anticipation and heighten any story’s climax. Panelists: Sandra Gurvis (M), S. Andrew Swann, Ty Schwamberger, Adrian J. Matthews, Christine Benedict
Type: Panel, Ages: All

 

For the book signing on Friday, I’ll have copies of Deep Dark Woods, Last Night Out, DININ’, Fell Beasts and The Death of a Horror Writer available for purchase. You are, of course, more than welcome to bring your own copies for me to sign (but then you have to buy me a beer at the bar).

Hope to see you there!

 

Signing On Saturday!

Posted on by Ty Schwamberger

Dinin_coverLast Night Out_cover

 

Ty will be making his first public appearance in more than two years on Saturday, May 17th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Barnes & Noble, 4015 Medina Rd, Fairlawn, Ohio. DININ’ (Bad Moon Books, 2012) and Last Night Out (Crowded Quarantine Publications-UK, 2013) will be available to purchase at the event, but you are more than welcome to bring your own copies for Ty to sign.

Hope to see you there!

Updates & News

Posted on by Ty Schwamberger

I know my online presence (at least on here) has been very sporadic so far this year. But, let me assure you, that doesn’t mean things, lots of things, aren’t happening behind the scenes. I’ve bullet-pointed them, below.

  • I’ll be making my first public appearance in more than two years on Saturday, May 17th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Barnes & Noble, 4015 Medina Rd, Fairlawn, Ohio. This is a “Local Spring Author Exhibition” and should be a fun event. The store will have copies of DININ’ and Last Night Out available, but you are more than welcome to bring copies containing any of my work for me to sign. Also, my good friend and fellow (sports) writer, Vince McKee, will be signing at the event. Come see us, buy some books, then after the event join us at a nearby bar for a few drinks.
  • The narration for the audio book editon of The Killing Club by Chloe Golden is nearing completion and should be available for purchase within the next month.
  • I’m pleased to announce I’ve signed another narration contract with Chloe to produce an audio book edition of Last Night Out. It will be available later this year.
  • Re-Vamped: Blood Lust Revenge, co-edited with Adam Lewis, will be released in Kindle format this coming weekend. This is a re-release of the former Fem-Fangs (2010) anthology.
  • In March, I turned in a 80,000 word manuscript for my first non-fiction (horror) book to my UK publisher. Details are forthcoming, but I’ll warn you now, save your money and be ready to pre-order quick, because this limited edition hardcover (which will NEVER be printed again while I’m alive) is going to blow your mind!
  • I didn’t find out until last night, but The Best Horror of the Year, Volume 4, edited by Ellen Datlow and released by Night Shade Books in 2012, gave a nod to the Fell-Beasts anthology I edited. At the beginning of the section Ellen noted, “I will not be mentioning every original anthology I’ve received during 2011. I will try to provide descriptions of the best of those containing what I deem good horror or very dark fiction.” Nice to get a compliment every once in awhile. Thanks much for the kind words, Ellen.

And remember…

The End is the New Beginning.

Hittin’ the road…

Posted on by Ty Schwamberger

…tomorrow at noon to drive down to Columbus, Ohio for Context 23.  If you live in or around the area you should stop by and listen to some great panels and stick around for the fun times at night.  You can click here for details of what my weekend will entail.

Hope to see some of you there!

Context 23 Schedule

Posted on by Ty Schwamberger

As you know, I will be a guest at Context 23, in Columbus, Ohio, August 27th – 29th.  If you haven’t already booked a room at the adjoining hotel, well, I’m not sure what in the world you’re waiting on.  I had a wonderful time at Context 22 last year and I’m sure this year won’t disappoint.  In any event, I wanted to update you on my schedule for the weekend (the below list does not include any of the devious things I’ll be getting myself into throughout the weekend):

Friday, August 27 at 8:30 pm – Showing of my short film, Cake Batter, followed by a brief Q&A session (a VERY limited number of copies – like, seven, which is all I have left – will be available for purchase right after we watch the 22 minute film).

Saturday, August 28 at 1:00 pm – Sitting on the panel, Making A Living As A Writer, with Tim Waggoner, Rosemary Laurey, Elizabeth Massie, Jerry Gordon, William H. Horner and Elie Harriett.

If you’re planning on attending the convention, please feel free to come up, say hello and chat a bit.  The overall atmosphere at this con is very laid back (with a great night life) with plenty of diverse panels to attend to learn more about writing, publishers or the business side of the industry.

Hope to see you there!

So You Want To Be A Fiction Writer

Posted on by Ty Schwamberger

‘So You Want To Be A Fiction Writer’ – is the next class I am teaching at the University of Akron (Ohio) come this Fall.  You can now visit UA’s site and read the class description, class topics, location, dates and times and cost by clicking here.  The ‘textbook’ I will be using for the class will again be Writers Workshop of Horror edited by Michael Knost.  You can then go to the top of the page and use their Online Registration to sign up and pay for the class.  

For those of you that are seriously interested in the class below is the Class Objective & Outline what will be covered during the 5 class meetings.

Learning Objectives –

Some of the skills that will be taught during these sessions include:

  • Turning your idea into a book or short story
  • Developing characters, plot, pace, and more
  • How to stay focused and avoid distractions
  • Finding time to write with a busy schedule
  • How to find a Publisher
  • How to promote your work after it has been accepted and released by a Publisher

 

Topical Outline –

  •  Turning your idea into a book or short story
    • How to come up with ideas that a general audience or a particular niche would enjoy
    • How to expand on a general story idea and be able to compose an effective novel or short story from it.
    • How to organize your thoughts so they are coherent throughout the entire story
    •  Developing characters, plot, pace, and more
      • How to write believable but fascinating characters
      • How to format your plot so that readers will stay focused on the story
      • How to space out character descriptions, action, sub-plots and general scenes while not making it boring for the reader
    •  How to stay focused and avoid distractions
      • How to find your own time to write without the worry of outside distractions of a busy life
      • How to keep your eye ‘on the prize’
    •  Finding time to write with a busy schedule
      • How to find time each and every day to write if it is your passion
    •  How to find a Publisher
      • Where to look for a publisher of books and magazines that accept short stories
      • To self-publish or not
    •  How to promote your work after it has been accepted and released by a Publisher
      • How to use all the media outlets; magazines, the internet, radio, newspapers, etc, to market and promote yourself and your work

 

So, if you live in the Greater Cleveland/Akron area and are truly interested in being a horror writer or just an overall better writer in whatever your chosen genre might be, this class may be just right for you!

Context 23

Posted on by Ty Schwamberger

Last year I was a guest at Context 22 in Columbus, Ohio, and had a fabulous time.  You can check out the recap from 2009 here.

This August 27-29, I will be returning to Columbus, Ohio, for Context 23.  I will be sitting on a few panels and something is in the works to have a screening of my short film, Cake Batter, followed by a Q&A session.  Should be a great time.

Mark your calendars to be there!

Film Showing/Book Signing – Tomorrow!

Posted on by Ty Schwamberger

Tomorrow I’ll be at JR Clarke Public Library in Covington (near Dayton), Ohio, from 11:00 – 2:00.  My short film, Cake Batter, will be shown at 11:00 and followed by the actual book signing at 11:30 – 2:00.  A quantity of 25 copies of my novel and 15 DVDs will be available for purchase.  Each will be sold at $15.00.  You can also bring in your own copy of my novel, magazine, etc, for me to sign as well.  Night School bookmarks will be given away for free.  You can read the official Press Release here.

Should be a fun event.  Stop by and say hello if you’re in the area (and possibly a few drinks and laughs later that night)!