Category Archives: News

News, Appearances, Announcements

Listen to Me on the Radio December 21!

If you’ve been following me on social media (and why not?), you heard that I’ve been invited to appear on a local radio show. In this case, it’s “SPEAK NOW with GENA” on WELT 95.7 RadioActive. I’ll be one of several local authors being interviewed on the segment “Jamming with Jazz” December 21, 2018. The show airs 4pm-6pm EST, but the interview will be around 5pm.

According to the show’s Facebook page,

My passion is embracing the narrative of VISION through fireside chats and sharing the narratives of LIVING WELLNESS.

And…

Providing a culture of globally sharing, connecting community globally.

While the details are being worked out, my understanding is we’ll be discussing things like the creative process and advice for other writers. It could go anywhere, though—it’s live!

As said on the station’s website,

WELT-LP is a non-commercial, listener-sponsored, member-controlled community radio station licensed by the FCC to broadcast within Allen County. From the studios at the downtown branch of the Allen County Public Library, WELT-LP’s volunteers and staff promote communication, education, entertainment, and understanding by providing quality programming and services to the Fort Wayne community. By providing a forum for both the discussion of public issues and the expansion of musical and cultural experiences, WELT-LP facilitates community expression by giving Allen County access to the airwaves for the purpose of sharing music, culture, news, and information.

Be sure to check out Gena’s YouTube channel and give the show a listen. She’ll be interviewing local authors the next three Fridays (December 7, 14, and 21).

 

News, Appearances, Announcements

My Next Book Signing: The ACPL Local Author Book Sale

(Yeah, an announcement blog hardly seems substantial, but I do need to start promoting this).

I’m happy to announce that for my next book signing, I’ll be returning to the Allen County Public Library for their Local Author Book Sale. This event is replacing the annual author fair they’ve been holding for the past several years. I’ll be joined by my friend/collaborator Nick Hayden, although I expect I’ll know a lot of the authors who will be present.

According to the ACPL’s event page,

Previously called the ACPL Author Fair, the Local Author Book Sale will take place on Saturday, December 15 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm in the Great Hall of the Main Library during ACPL’s Winter Book Sale.  Local authors will be selling their work and signing copies of their books.  Come and browse unique books by local authors!

This will be part of the library’s Winter Book Sale, which takes place December 13-15. You can buy thousands of books for no more than $1 each! All the proceeds from the Winter Book Sale “will be donated to the Friends of the Allen County Public Library to support programs and outreach in our communities,” says the website.

If you’re looking to buy books as Christmas gifts for the readers in your life, stop by! You can get signed copies from me!

So, once again, that’s December 15, 2018, from 12pm-4pm at the Allen County Public Library in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Be there or be square!

 

 

News, Poetry, Appearances, Announcements

‘Bards Against Hunger’ Indiana Book Launch

(Yeah, an announcement blog hardly seems substantial, but I do need to start promoting this).

The cover of the anthology. (Great job making it my favorite color). 🙂

I’m excited to remind everyone that Bards Against Hunger: Indiana Edition will have a book launch party from 1pm-3pm November 17, 2018, at the Elwood Public Library. It features over 100 poems from over 40 authors—including yours truly—from across the state. The book will be available on Amazon for $15.

The contributing authors have all been invited to attend the party and read their work. I haven’t decided if I’ll be able to attend yet. Stay tuned for more updates. I admit I’m tempted because these are the first poems I’ve had published (aside from one that was in Pandora’s Box).

The proceeds from the book will be donated to the Homeless Advocacy Center of Anderson and Madison County, which is set to open soon. So, I highly recommend buying a copy to support this charity!

According to their official website,

Bards Against Hunger was founded in 2013 by the Bards Initiative, a poetry group on Long Island, NY that hosts many readings and publishes local anthologies. The leaders of this group came up with the idea to host a poetry reading that would gather food for the hungry around Thanksgiving time as a way for poets to give back to their local community. The poets of Long Island loved the idea and flocked to help organize, read at the event, and gather food.

The event was such a success that the group decided to make it an annual event–and keep the tradition strong and growing each year.

This should make one of my professors at university happy since he’s a poet himself.  🙂

If you’d like to have a copy, let me know so I can preorder one for you!

News, Announcements, Blog

Blog Day has Moved!

Image courtesy of ThemeFuse.

You may have noticed I didn’t have a blog last week. That’s because I just started grad school, a new university job, and I’m about to move into a new apartment. In light of this, I’m moving my weekly “blog day” from Thursday (or Friday, if I’m late) to Saturday. 

So don’t fret, True Believers! I have a new blog in store for you this weekend!

Blog, News, Appearances, Announcements

My Upcoming Appearances for Summer 2018

I may not have a new book out this year (yet), but I am making appearances at several events in the tristate area this summer. This will give you several opportunities to meet me, buy a book, and get it autographed. I’ll be participating in other events at these shows, as well, so you can see me outside the vendor hall and hang out.

So, in chronological order:

G-Fest XXV
When: July 13-15, 2018
Where: The Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois
Website: http://www.g-fan.com/html/gfest_xxv/gfest_xxv.php

This is the annual gathering of the kaiju nerds. I attended last year with my Kaijuvision Radio co-host, Brian Scherschel, to promote our upcoming podcast. (Although, I did get myself on a kaiju writing panel). Now that KVR is up and running, we’re returning. This time we’re on several panels throughout the weekend—including a live KVR episode recording entitled “Godzilla and the Japanese National Spirit.” I’ll also be on two kaiju writing panels and one for the recent film Pacific Rim: Uprising. I won’t be in the vendor hall, but I’ll have copies of Destroyer and The Worlds of Nathan Marchand available for purchase and signing.

Gen-Con 2018
When: August 2-5, 2018
Where: The Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana
Website: http://www.gencon.com/

“The best four days in gaming” returns for another huge year. It’s become a staple of my summer and the biggest event I attend all year. I’ll be in Authors Avenue in the vendor hall with all my Gen-Con writer friends. I’ll be selling and signing my own books as well as the newest volume of Missing Pieces, which features a new short story by yours truly. I might slip away to a few events throughout the day, and I’ll be attending events in the evening for sure, so we can hang out, if you want.

FYI: It seems the time was changed since this poster was created. The event’s pages now say 10am-4pm.

True Believers Fest 2018
When: August 11, 2018, 10am-4pm
Where: Marquis Comics in Kentwood, Michigan
Website: https://www.facebook.com/events/2144061572493810/

This is a small one-day event I was invited to vend at thanks to my partner in crime and Nerd Chapel founder, Eric Anderson. It’s a free family event. I’ve never been to this comic shop before, but I’m always in the market for finding cool new nerdy hangouts. It’s appropriate that I’m vending at this event since I, like Stan “The Man” Lee, like referring to my fans as “True Believers.”

I’ll see you…out there! Be there or be square!

News, Appearances, Blog

Upcoming Book Signings for 2017

Hello, True Believers! It’s October, and the nip in the air signals the oncoming end of 2017. But it also signals Halloween and the holiday season. This is one of my favorite times of the year.

My book signings have been a bit sparser this year, but I do have two more coming up in the next few months. One I’ve been committed to for several months and another that I just applied for. Here’s all the pertinent info.

Fantasticon Fort Wayne, Oct. 28-29

I’m returning to my new “hometown” comic-con! Once again, I’ll be joined by my co-authors/collaborators Nick Hayden and Eric Anderson. Nick and I will hopefully have copies of our new book, Zorsam and the God Who Devours, which we co-wrote with Aaron Brosman, available for purchase. The guest list will include several actors from The Walking Dead, a few comic book artists, and a replica of the Optimus Prime truck from the Transformers movies (if you can call that a “guest.”

The venue will be the Grand Wayne Center in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. Admission is cheap, so don’t miss it!

According to the show’s website:

Fantasticon is a mid-size show created for true comic book and pop culture collectors and fans. The fans that come to our shows are true collectors that are looking for those rare items for their personal collections. Most leave very satisfied as we pride ourselves on having great dealers and artists at our shows. If you collect it, you will find it at a Fantasticon Show.

It’ll be a great way to your Halloween weekend!

Seventh Annual Allen County Public Library Author Fair, Nov. 11

Another returning favorite. I’ll be one of 70 local authors attending this event at the main branch of the Allen County Public Library in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. There will also be author-led panel discussions (fingers crossed that I get in one) on various subjects. Best of all, admission is free!

You can learn more about the event and the library here.

See you around, True Believers!

Blog, News, Appearances, Announcements

My Upcoming Book Signings/Convention Appearances

My blog this week is a simple one. First, I need to update this info. Second, I need time for my “real” writing. 😛

Anyway…

Convention season is in full swing, and if you’ve been following my social media, I’ve already been to several shows, though not as a vendor. Regardless, I’ll be attending several conventions as either a vendor or an attendee between now and the end of the year. What follows are my currently scheduled appearances. I will probably add and subtract appearances as time goes on.

“Official” Appearances

Gen-Con 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana (Aug. 17-20) – I return to the “best four days in gaming” for the sixth year in a row. The show will be held at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium. I’ll be in the massive vendor hall in Authors Avenue, which next door to Artist Alley and near other literary-themed vendors and guests. I’ll hopefully have a preview chapter and cover art for my next book (that’s something I should blog about soon…). I’ll also have a new story in the annual anthology Missing Pieces, which compiles stories written by Gen-Con authors.

You can learn more about the convention here.

 Fantasticon Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, Indiana (Oct. 28-29) – Last year was so fun, I had to return to my new “hometown” comic-con. The traveling show will once again be held at the Grand Wayne Center. I’ll be joined by my writer friend/collaborator Nick Hayden and possibly my Kaijuvision Radio co-host Brian Scherschel. By then, my new book should be out, so this might be your first chance to get signed copies from me.

Learn more about this show here.

Stay tuned about possibly signings at a bookstore in Goshen, Indiana, and author fairs at libraries in Fort Wayne and Kendallville, Indiana!

“Unofficial” Appearances

G-Fest XXIV in Rosemont, Illinois (July 14-16) – I’ve been a Godzilla/kaiju fan for a long time, but this will be my first time attending this show, which is essentially the San Diego Comic-Con of the giant monster fandom. It’ll be at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare. Brian Scherschel and I will be there promoting Kaijuvision Radio, although we won’t be behind a table in the vendor hall. No, we’ll be mingling with our fellow fans and attending film screenings and events.

You can learn more about this show here.

I may also attend Indy Pop-Con, Grand Rapids Comic-Con, and Grand-Con. I’ll keep you posted if I do.

See you around, True Believers!

News, Appearances, Announcements, Blog

My Remaining Book Signings for 2016

Today’s blog is a simple but important one. As you can see, I’ll be a busy little chap, what with all the stuff I have to prepare for, but I wanted to make sure you knew where and when you could come see me for the rest of the year.

I have three book signings between now and the end of the year (well, more like between now and the end of November, but let’s not get technical). The biggest one is this weekend, but the others are certainly noteworthy as well. They are…

Fantasticon Fort Wayne


I’ve written about this show before, so I won’t go into copious detail. However, what makes this one special is I’ll be joined by my partners in crime, Nick Hayden, Eric Anderson, and Jarod Marchand. With it being Halloween weekend, I may as well wear my Captain America costume and say, “Avengers assemble!” Nick will be selling his own books, including The Unremarkable Squire and a new short story collection. Eric will be promoting his ministry, Nerd Chapel, and selling our devotional, 42: Discovering Faith Through Fandom. My brother Jarod will be selling his artwork, which includes some illustrations he’s made for my stories. This will be Nick and Jarod’s first times as vendors. We’re all getting tables next to each other, so you can easily get autographs from us. It’s being held at the Grand Wayne Center in downtown this Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6-pm and 10am-5pm, respectively. Guests will include film directors Scott Russo and Scott Spiegel as well as a replica of the 1966 Batmobile.

Allen County Public Library Author Fair 2016

acpl-pic
Nick and I will once again be returning to the annual author fair held at the main branch of the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana, November 12 from 1pm-4pm. We’ll be two of the dozens of authors in attendance. There will also be several seminars offered by some of the authors at the fair (sadly, neither of us are participating, but I may attend one). You can learn more about the event and see the full list of authors here.

Author Fair 2016 at Whitley County Historical Museum


I haven’t mentioned this one because I wasn’t sure I’d attend, and then after I signed up, I was told it was cancelled. But yesterday I got a phone call saying it was “un-cancelled.” There’s nothing on the museum’s website about it yet, but it’s happening November 19 from 11am-2pm with a writing seminar taking place afterward. Me, Nick, and my friend Michelle St. Germain-Weidenberger attended last year, so we were invited back. However, I think I may be the only one of the three of us who’s returning. Once I have more details, I’ll pass them along.

Be there or be square!

 

News, Announcements, Blog

NEW BOOK – ‘The Worlds of Nathan Marchand’

The cover that CreateSpace kept refusing to approve.
The cover that CreateSpace kept refusing to approve.

You read that right—the title of my new book is the same as my website. (I guess I’m just that pretentious. :P)

The familiarity doesn’t end there, though. This book is a collection of “unpublished” short stories spanning my entire career. I put quotation marks on “unpublished” (I did it again!) because many of these stories have already been posted here on my website. I learned at a Gen-Con writing seminar that stories posted on an author’s website are considered published. I may have tom rethink how often I post stories on here, then.

Regardless, I wanted to have this book finished in time for Gen-Con last week, but CreateSpace, the website I use for my self-published stuff, kept being nitpicky about the cover. It took me too long to make it happy. (I still had great sales at Gen-Con, though).

What’s the theme of this collection? I’ll let the back cover copy explain:

From the mind that brought you
Pandora’s Box & Ninjas and Talking Trees
comes…a little bit of everything.

  • An amnesiac cybernetic vigilante confronting the man he once called “comrade”—after he was murdered by him.
  • A pro-wrestler accosted in the ring by a mysterious hooded figure the night before his brother takes him to court.
  • A living gargoyle who protects a young wayward woman from her persecutors—and a demon.
  • Santa Claus’ race with a flying saucer on Christmas Eve.
  • A young man flying a hang glider through a ruined city to save his stranded twin siblings from a giant monster believed to be an angry god.

You’ll find these and other fantastical things in this, the first short story collection from Nathan Marchand. This anthology spans the vast breadth of the universe and genre. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and then you’ll do both again. Herein you’ll find adventure, drama, tragedy, and…ninjas (because they make everything better).

Prepare to enter…

The Worlds of Nathan Marchand

That pretty much says it all.

Barring any more unforeseen hiccups, the book will be available on Amazon within the next few days. The eBook should follow soon afterward.

Sidenote: Speaking of eBooks, I’ve been making eBook versions of some of my other books lately. 42: Discovering Faith Through Fandom is now available as such. The next will be Ninjas and Talking Trees.

News, Appearances, Announcements

It’ll Be Fantasticon!

I’ve added another signing to my itinerary, True Believers. In fact, I just bought the table a few minutes ago as I write this. For the first time, I will be attending a local convention as a vendor. In this case, it’s Fantasticon 2016 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the Grand Wayne Center October 29-30.

I won’t be the only noteworthy person there, though. My friend and fellow Children of the Wells creator Nick Hayden will be joining me at the same table. We’ll be selling and signing our individual books and, obviously, some CotW collections. However, my brother Jarod, who has done some great illustrations for my short stories and YouTube show, will be at the table next door selling his artwork. The icing on the cake is if Brian Scherschel and I can get our Godzilla podcast going by then, he may also join us for part of the con to promote that.

This sounds like a recipe for awesome!

According to its website,

Fantasticon is a mid-size show created for true comic book and pop culture collectors and fans. The fans that come to our shows are true collectors that are looking for those rare items for their personal collections. Most leave very satisfied as we pride ourselves on having great dealers and artists at our shows. If you collect it, you will find it at a Fantasticon Show.

Fantasticon is proud to have a presence in multiple cities throughout the mid-west. Currently we are in four different cities in Michigan and Ohio, and expect to expand into Indiana in the near future. We also, are very proud of the fact that our admission price is the lowest of any other comparable shows. And the cost for being an exhibitor or artist at the Fantasticon is far less than any comparable comic cons out there.

In other words, this is a smaller traveling convention. If you’ve never been to a con before, this would be a great one to start with. It’s smaller and more manageable. Don’t be crazy like me and start with something huge like Gen-Con (although I did attend a tiny Star Trek convention in high school in Warsaw, Indiana).

I don’t know who the special guests will be, but at its previous stops the con has featured the likes of Billy Dee Williams (aka Lando Calrissian) and Michael Dorn (aka Worf) as well as some comic artists and writers, among others. In other words, I’ll probably be in good company.

Be there or be square, because it’s gonna be…