This weekend, I will be a Special Guest at Columbia, Missouri’s ComicCon: DoDecaCon. Fellow guests include New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller.
Here’s the layout of booths. I will be at Special Guests Table 2. (click to enlarge)
My panel schedule is Saturday only, with the following two panels:
2:00 PM Special Guest Q&A with Bryan Thomas Schmidt, John Jackson Miller and D.A. Roberts-Main Stage
3:00 PM Writing in an Established Universe with John Jackson Miller-Panel Room A
Barnes and Noble, Columbia, will be selling my books and I will sell others at my table. To help me out, please buy my Baen books from B&N then come have me sign or personalize. I will likely do signing times each day at B&N as well (TBD). The rest of my books will be on sale at my own table, Special Guest Table 2.
So, I was not given an official kaffeeklatsch. Not many were. So I am scheduling my own.
Saturday, August 20th, at 2 p.m. in the Downtown Marriott Lobby, 2nd level where the tables are, I will do a kaffeeklatsch. I will be giving away some signed cover flats, signed books, even a couple signed story manuscripts. Sign up here in comments to attend. I will take the first 20.
August 18-21, 2o16 — Kansas City Convention Center/Bartle Hall
Here’s when and where to find me officially. I will be at the WordFire table signing at other times throughout the convention, so you will also find me there in the Dealer Room–booths 4, 5, and 6.
George Lucas set Star Wars in a Galaxy far, far away, but also a long time ago. What is the importance of setting his saga in the distant past? How would our perceptions of it have been different if it were set in our time in a galaxy far, far away or if it had been set in the future?
Bryan Thomas Schmidt (Moderator), Kevin J. Anderson, Matthew S. Rotundo, Anna Raftery
Come join Baen Executive Editor Jim Minz and an assortment of Baen authors for the Baen Traveling Road Show. Learn about their new and upcoming releases. See the pretty covers. Win fabulous prizes. There will be free books for a lucky few…
Jim Minz (Moderator), Dr. Charles Gannon, Joelle Presby, others–I will be attending in case my books are discussed and to sign free copies given away
Saturday Aug 20, 2016
2:00PM
Kaffeeklatsch: Bryan Thomas Schmidt
Downtown Marriott, Lobby-2nd level
I am offering my own unofficial kaffeeklatsch and will be giving away signed books and cover flats, maybe even a couple manuscripts. Sign up here.
Professionals talk shop about editing and publishing anthologies. What does it take to craft an anthology that people actually want to read? What are the dos and don’ts when pulling together stories into a single book? We’ll identify some examples of well-done anthologies and how the editing process differs between anthologies. Join us for an indepth discussion and find out what our panelists enjoy most when working with anthologies.
Ellen Datlow (Moderator), Erin Underwood, Jonathan Strahan, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Kathryn Cramer
Okay, I am going to Los Angeles for Stan Lee’s Comikaze Comic Con, a place I lived for 7 years and have not visited in 19. Excited to see old friends and see how the city has changed. I will also be hanging out with some very cool people, both at the WordFire Booth #1342, on panels and at the Con generally, including stars from Star Wars, The Flash, Star Trek TOS, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and more. Come join us. I will have early release copies of both my novel, The Worker Prince and my Baen hard SF anthology, Mission: Tomorrow. Here’s where to find me Friday through Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center:
Friday Panels 10/30/15:
4:00 – 4:50 pm Writing Existing Worlds
A panel of authors and editors discuss writing media tie-ins, comics and more in popular franchise from Star Wars to X-Files and more
Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Panelists: Kevin J. Anderson, David Farland, Jody Lynn Nye, Peter J. Wacks, Neo Edmund
Panel Moderator: Bryan Thomas Schmidt
Room: 505
Saturday Panels 10/31/15:
11:00am-11:50pm Worlds of WordFire
Publisher Kevin J. Anderson and several authors discuss existing and forthcoming titles from WordFire Press, a small up and coming small press publisher whose authors include New York Times Bestsellers like Frank Herbert, David Farland, Jody Lynn Nye, Todd McCaffrey, Alan Dean Foster, and More
Genre: Sci-Fi / Fantasy
Panelists: Kevin J. Anderson, Peter J. Wacks, David Farland, Jody
Lynn Nye, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Neo Edmund, Rebecca Moesta,
Quincy Allen
Panel Moderator: Kevin J. Anderson
Room: 502A
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4:00pm-4:50pm Publishing Unlimited: The Many Paths to Worldwide
Publication for Writers
E-Books. Digital Comics. Newsletters. Blogs. Print on demand. For those of us
with a passion for telling stories through the written word, there are now
limitless opportunities to publish, produce, and distribute our work. Of
course, with so many options, it can be a brain scrambler to know which path
is best suited for a particular project. Write it as a book? A Screenplay? A
comic? Is it better to go indie or seek out a traditional publisher? Join this
awesome panel of professional writers and story editors, and story editors as
they discuss the many paths they’ve taken to get their work published and
produced.
Genre: New Media
Panelists: Kevin J. Anderson, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Peter J. Wacks, Rebecca Moesta
Moderator: Neo Edmund
Room: 502A
Sunday Panels 11/01/15:
12:00pm-12:50pm Iron Author:
Like Iron Chef except with writers. Each person Includes subject and a
“secret ingredient”. The audience judges the winner
This year, Claire Ashgrove, my Finish The Story editing partner and I are guest speakers at the Longview Literary Festival in Lee’s Summit. Here’s our schedule for the day, which is Friday, October 23, 2015.
TIME
CAC 114 – READINGS
CAC 116
CAC 118
BLACK BOX THEATER
10:00 a.m.
Editing 101: A Workshop by Claire Ashgrove and Bryan Thomas Schmidt
11:00 a.m.
Panel Discussion: Working with Small Press: D.L. Rogers, Sean Demory, Marshall Edwards, Bryan Thomas Schmidt
12:00 p.m.
Closed for Keynote Speaker
Closed for Keynote Speaker
Closed for Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker – Claire Ashgrove –Writing Contest Winners Announced
1:00 p.m.
Closed for Featured Speaker
Closed for Featured Speaker
Featured Speaker – Bryan Thomas Schmidt
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Bryan and Claire at Vendor Table
4:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Editors are NOT the Enemy: Claire Ashgrove, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Sara Lundberg
5:00 p.m.
Bryan and Claire at Vendor Table
6:00 p.m.
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closing Remarks – Announcement of Winners of Contests Occurring at The Festival
It’s time again for my trip to Collinsville, IL, almost an annual event, for the great Midwest Con ARCHON. This year’s incarnation is number 39. Guests of Honor include Jacqueline Carey and Esther Freisner, as well as special guest Harlan Ellison. Below are the panels in which I will be participating. Larry Smith will be selling my books so I will also hang around his table between panels and probably in the table area outside LaSalle at the end of Bookseller’s Row when I am not in the Dealer’s Room.
My schedule for next weekend at @Archon 39 in St. Louis:
Fri 5:00p Marquette A Networking: Building Contacts for Writers (M) – Bryan Thomas Schmidt (Moderator), Robin Wayne Bailey, Elizabeth Donald, Jack Snyder
Fri 7:00p Marquette A Author Reading with Bryan Thomas Schmidt (30 min) Reading from THE WORKER PRINCE: Author’s Definitive Edition (WordFire Press)
Sat 12:00p Signing Table Author Signings with Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Julia S. Mandala
Sat 2:00p Salon 4 The Art of Anthologies (M) Bryan Thomas Schmidt (Moderator), Rich Horton, Harlan Ellison, Esther Friesner
Sat 4:00p Salon 4 Editors Are Not the Enemy (M) Bryan Thomas Schmidt (Moderator), Claire Ashgrove, Jacqueline Carey, Robin Wayne Bailey, Selina Rosen
Sun 12:00p Cahokian Reflections of Ourselves: The Need for Diversity in SF – Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Lacie Carmody, Kasey Mackenzie
Sun 1:00p Marquette A Then He Said: Writing Dialogue (M)
Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Claire Ashgrove, Sara M. Harvey
Here’s my schedule for the World Science Fiction Convention, Sasquan, in Spokane, Washington, August 18-23, 2015. I look forward to seeing some of you there. I will be at the WordFire Party, Wednesday night, the Baen Books Party, Thursday Night, the Fairwood Press Party, Friday and the Hugo Loser’s Party, Saturday. Beyond that, I will be wandering and at the WordFire Press table in the Dealer’s Room.
Thursday, August 20th
PANEL: The Work of Being a Writer, Thursday 9:00 – 9:45, Bays 111A (CC)
Writers write, but there’s more to being a writer than writing. Come learn how to work with editors, agents, other writers, marketers, and fans. Can writers’ groups and social media make you or break you? Learn about all the work involved in being a writer and some strategies for success.
Randy Henderson (M) , Brenda Cooper, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Susan Palwick
Join a panelist and up to 9 other fans for a small discussion. Coffee and snacks available for sale on the 2nd floor. Requires advance sign-up.
PANEL: The Changing Role of the Editor, Friday 3:00 – 3:45, Bays 111B (CC)
With the various ways that fiction is published (print/online/audio/self-published), how is the role of editor changing? Does the editor need to be more technician than tweaker? Is self-publishing making the editor’s job obsolete?
Gordon Van Gelder (M), Scott H. Andrews – Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Hugo Nominee, Yanni Kuznia – Subterranean Press , Wendy S. Delmater – Abyss and Apex – Hugo Nominee, Bryan Thomas Schmidt – Hugo Nominee
Saturday, August 22nd
Autographing – Jeffrey A. Carver, David Hartwell, Esther Jones, David Peterson, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Saturday 10:00 – 10:45, Exhibit Hall B (CC)
Jeffrey A. Carver, Esther Jones, David Peterson, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, David Hartwell
Hugo Awards Ceremony, Saturday 8:00 – 10:30, INB Performing Arts Center (CC)
The 2015 Hugo Awards promises to be one of the most memorable ceremonies in years. Come be a part of history. Your Masters of Ceremony will be Sasquan Guest of Honor David Gerrold and Tananarive Due, and they’ve both promised an entertaining ceremony.
Pantsers vs. Planners – A panel of writers discuss two different approaches to writing, the advantages and disadvantages, varied approaches, etc.
Panelists: Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Travis Heermann, Matthew Rotundo, Jason Bougger
5:00 p.m., Room TBA
Saturday, August 1st
Editor AMA: Bryan Thomas Schmidt – Hugo nominated editor Bryan Thomas Schmidt who edits anthologies for companies like Baen Books and EDGE and novels for Wordfire Press will be on hand to answer everything you’ve wanted to know about editors. What do they do? How do they do it? Does it hurt? You name it.
Panelist: Bryan Thomas Schmidt Room: Colorado B 10:00 a.m.
Reading – Bryan Thomas Schmidt reads from the Author’s Definitive Edition of his critically praised debut novel, The Worker Prince, releasing October 2015 from WordFire Press.
Panelist: Bryan Thomas Schmidt Room: Wyoming 11:00 a.m.
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Anthologies – Learn everything from how to create and sell.anthologies to how to find them and submit your stories to how they work behind the scenes. A Hugo nominated editor for Baen Books leads the discussion.
Panelists: Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Jason Bougger Room: Colorado B 1:00 p.m.
Swimming in Slush: What Editors See – A panel discussion of what editors and agents experience in a typical day, sure to include a long list of dos and don’ts for writers of every skill level. What is it like to sift through a hundred manuscripts and query letters a day? And how does the writer leverage this knowledge in the best possible ways?
Panelists: Travis Heermann, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Jason Bougger Room: Colorado B 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 2nd
It Ain’t the Writing, It’s the Rewriting: The Power of Revision – Rewriting and revising are arguably the most important part of the writing process. These experienced authors talk about revision techniques to make your story shine, without polishing the shine right back off again. How do you find your invisible weaknesses? How do you work around those weaknesses?
Panelists: Travis Heermann, Bryan Thomas Schmidt, Matthew Rotundo Room: Nebraska A 12:00 p.m.
Editing 101 For Writers – Key techniques for self-editing writers need to know taught by a Hugo nominated editor.
Panelist: Bryan Thomas Schmidt Room: Nebraska A 1:00 p.m.
Jay McShann A (Kansas City Marriott Downtown, 200 West 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105)
Moderators: Bryan Thomas Schmidt Panelists: Lou Antonelli, Claire Ashgrove, Robin Wayne Bailey, Chris Gerrib
Look forward to seeing some of you there. I am also throwing a party Friday night at 8 p.m. with Robin Wayne Bailey. We will be signing copies of SHATTERED SHIELDS, the Baen fantasy anthology for which co-editor Jennifer Brozek and I are nominated for Hugos this year and in which Robin has a story. And Jenn has signed them, too. You can get the for $14, no shipping and $1 off. My other anthologies will be available as well.
Bryan Thomas Schmidt
Bryan Thomas Schmidt is a critically praised author and Hugo nominated editor whose works include THE SAGA OF DAVI RHII space opera trilogy (Wordfire Press, 2015), GALACTIC GAMES (Baen, 2016), MISSION: TOMORROW (Baen, 2015), SHATTERED SHIELDS (Baen, 2014), BEYOND THE SUN (Fairwood Press, 2013), RAYGUN CHRONICLES (Every Day, 2013) and many more. His debut novel, THE WORKER PRINCE, received Honorable Mention on Barnes and Noble’s Year’s Best Science Fiction Releases of 2011. He regularly hosts Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Chat on Twitter under hashtag #sffwrtcht and can be found on Twitter as @BryanThomasS or via his website at www.bryanthomasschmidt.net.
So I got nominated for a Hugo for Short Form Editing. Wow. Found out two weeks ago and it surprised but thrilled me. I didn’t campaign. A group of people deemed me worthy and nominated me. Since nominating people you think are worthy is how the system works, I didn’t say a thing, except thank them for their confidence and wait to see what happened. I know I was nominated by people who are not Sad Puppies because they told me. Several, in fact. Some were Sad Puppies, but most who told me were not. The only thing I know is I have worked very hard and this is a major achievement and career moment, and it is unfortunate some people are choosing to attempt to spoil that. I just discovered April 8 that I am was on a slate called Rabid Puppies. I would have demanded removal had I known but I didn’t know it existed until nominations and had no clue who was on it. I don’t associate with the person running that campaign and am deeply disappointed by how he conducts himself and his presence on the slate. I deeply regret this but there is nothing I can do.
Thing is: forever on I am a Hugo nominated editor. The only change. I will do what I’ve always done: strive to make the best books possible. From the beginning I have worked hard to do so, by picking the best new and old pros I can find to write stories, seeking diversity in the pool from right to left, white to POC, LGBT to straight, etc. With a diverse pool in place, I then pick the best stories and hope what I get reflects that well. So far, I think it has. It has varied, of course, but that is the way it goes for every editor. Still, when you want to make books with broad appeal to a broad and diverse readership, that is the only way to do it right. I have always believed that, no matter what some detractors may say. Taking someone’s ambiguous statements and twisting their interpretation does not make them fact.
A few figures of my anthologies so far:
SPACE BATTLES
11 male writers
7 female writers
2 LGBT (that I know of)
11 Progressive (that I know of)
6 Conservative or independent (that I know of)
BEYOND THE SUN
9 male writers
9 female writers
2 LGBT (that I know of)
11 Progressive (that I know of)
7 Conservative or independent (that I know of)
RAYGUN CHRONICLES
14 male writers
11 female writers
3 LGBT (that I know of)
Not sure of the political alignments but some each stripe
SHATTERED SHIELDS
1 female co-editor
10 male writers
7 female writers
3 LGBT (that I know of)
10 Progressive (that I know of)
7 Conservative or independent (that I know of)
And none of this reflects the content itself which includes diverse subject matter and stories.
Don’t believe me? Go check the Tables of Contents posted online. Research it yourself. 3 of these were edited solely by me. I made all decisions. The last was co-edited by my fellow nominee Jennifer Brozek. We made decisions jointly in full. She has written about it on Locus.
The stats on my 9 forthcoming anthologies are not finalized so I can’t post them but these are the works that got me to where I am. The last is the one that qualifies me for a nomination.
I have spent a good portion of my life working with the disadvantaged from poor to non-westerners to LGBT. I have friends I love of all stripes. Anyone who actually knows me will tell you I do not discriminate. I also avoid kerfluffles unless I am dragged in. And even then I try to be gracious. My philosophy is treat others how you want to be treated. Help people when you can. And live and let live.
I take pride in having accomplished all these things. A number of writers have made first sales to me, including Anthony Cardno, who is gay, for example. Many have gotten to find new audiences and appear alongside their writing heroes. I love that I can make that happen. Getting to work with my heroes is part of the thrill of doing this as well.
I love diversity. Don’t believe the critics. I always have and I seek it out. It is the single best gut check I know for keeping me honest and widening my point of view to see outside the box in which I live. That’s so important that I seek it out. I don’t have to agree with everyone to listen to them. But hearing how they see the world makes me see it bigger. Makes me better.
From day one, it has been a privilege to make books and I only seek to serve the SFF community as best I can. It’s such an honor to be a part of it (most days). And I really am humbled that I get to do what I love. If I get rewarded for that with awards, that will be mindblowing. But make no mistake. I did not campaign for awards. I just try and do good work. And I will continue to do so, hoping people will give it a fair chance.
To the nomination voters, thank you for your confidence in me. Sorry for the uproar. Don’t let it spoil the moment if you can. You made me part of science fiction history. It’s so amazing, and I am truly grateful. Now, may the best person win, whomever they are. I leave it to the works.
Bryan
Bryan Thomas Schmidt
Bryan Thomas Schmidt is an author and Hugo nominated editor of adult and children’s speculative fiction. His debut novel, The Worker Prince received Honorable Mention on Barnes & Noble Book Club’s Year’s Best Science Fiction Releases for 2011. His first children’s books, 102 More Hilarious Dinosaur Books For Kids and Abraham Lincoln: Dinosaur Hunter- Land Of Legends appeared from Delabarre Publishing in 2012. His short stories have appeared in magazines, anthologies and online. He edited the anthologies Space Battles: Full Throttle Space Tales #6 for Flying Pen Press, Beyond The Sun for Fairwood Press, Raygun Chronicles: Space Opera For a New Age for Every Day, and Shattered Shields with coeditor Jennifer Brozek for Baen Books with nine more forthcoming, including Gaslamp Terrors, Mission Tomorrow: A New Century Of Exploration (BAEN), Galactic Games (BAEN), Speculations KC, and several others. A Junior Editor for Wordfire Press, he acquires and develops books of all kinds. He also hosts #sffwrtcht (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Chat) Wednesdays at 9 pm ET on Twitter.
This weekend, I will be a Special Guest at Columbia, Missouri’s ComicCon: DoDecaCon. Fellow guests include New York Times bestselling author John Jackson Miller.
