On WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022 AT 6:30 PM – 8 PM I will be reading from my work and selling books at DreamHaven Books, 2301 E 38th St, Minneapolis as part of The Speculations Readings Series including a reception and autographing and an expedition to a South Minneapolis bistro to build a sense of community among Twin Cities readers and writers. You’re encouraged to arrive early to mingle and shop!
I will be at Marscon in Minneapolis, March 11th-13th. I will be selling books, appearing on panels, and generally hanging out in various convention spaces and the hotel bar. Here is my tentative schedule which is certainly subject to change, so please check your program book.
Friday 8:30 pm
Panel: SteamPunk, DieselPunk, DecPumk and More!
Let’s talk about reinventing the past with style and story.
with Catherine Lundolff
Saturday 11:00 am
Reading in Re(a)d Mars (Eagle’s Nest Room)
Saturday 4:00 PM
Panel: When I am Old, I will Pilot a Starship and Kick some Butt!
Aging in Speculative Fiction–are depictions of older people changing? What’s great, what’s not, what do we want to see more of?
with Catherine Lundoff, Kathryn Sullivan, and Joan Marie Verba.
Saturday 5:00 pm
Meeting: SF Writing Groups: the 2022 Scene
Since 1986, the Minnesota Imaginative Writers’ Alliance has held an annual meeting–recently at MarsCon–at which solo science fiction/fantasy writers who are looking for a writing group get a chance to connect with SF writing groups that are looking for new writers.
with Eric Hiedeman and Tyler Tork
Saturday 9:00 pm From Head to Page to Print
Panel: Join a group of indie authors as they discuss and share tips on developing, writing, and publishing your story/book ideas.
with T. Aaron Cisco
Sunday 12:30 pm
Panel: Artistic Inspiration: Pandemic Edition
Authors and artists discuss what inspires them to write or create, and how their tried and true models have worked (or needed modification) during the pandemic. What sorts of things spontaneously inspire you? What things do you seek out when you need inspiration? What does this look like in the world of lockdown? How has the pandemic feed or crushed your creativity? We’ve all heard of writers’ retreats, is there a good way for people to hold their own or communal virtual writers retreats? What squelches your enthusiasm in a big picture way? What are the little daily things that get in the way? How can we beat those back to a manageable level?
Ongoing
Author Autograph Tables
I will be signing up for various slots to sell and autograph my books.
I will be at 13 Gears selling my steampunk/weird west books. I will be tabling with Queen of Swords Press and Patrick Marsh. There will be merchants, music, and general merriment. Sunday March 6th, More information in the link.
I’m starting to fill my schedule and thought I’d better drop that right here on the front page. I’ll be at a few in-person conventions and day events, and I’ll be on the air as well! I’d love to see you at one of these events.
Here is a list of conventions and other events Michael will be attending!
I will be at 13 Gears selling my steampunk/weird west books. I will be tabling with Queen of Swords Press and Patrick Marsh. There will be merchants, music, and general merriment. Sunday March 6th, More information in the link.
I will be at Marscon in Minneapolis, March 11th-13th. I will be selling books, appearing on panels, and generally hanging out in various convention spaces and the hotel bar.
I will be appearing over the air on KFAI radio on along with Queen of Swords Press and author/agent Jennie Goloboy. We will be on the air March 15th at 7:00 pm on the Write On Radio show.
I will be at Paganicon on March 18th- 20th in Plymouth. I don’t have a schedule or a table, and will mostly be hanging out in my hotel room having a mini-writing retreat while the rest of my household does the convention, but I will be on the floor and at programming from time to time.
I have added 13 Gears, a local steampunk event, to my list of events next year. I will, of course, have all my steampunk/Weird Westerns. More information closer to the event.
https://www.13gearsmn.com/
Contract is signed and returned, so now it may be spoken of. Sold my winter holidays space opera short story “The Most Wonderful Time” to Electric Spec.
I will be at MCBF Fall Con at the State Fair Grounds on September 25th. I will have my books and books from Queen of Swords Press as well!
I am spending this evening working on an author/artist plan (especially as it pertains to being an indie artist, but also for my more traditional stuff as well) to implement in 2022.
I’ll be 20 years into this phase as a writer/performer next year, and I feel that’s a good time to reassess and make plans about how to deliver my work to the widest range of readers and listeners possible, how to manage my intellectual property more effectively, how to cut out distractions to increase productivity, and how to manage and increase the time I spend on my art.
I will also be assessing the things that fill me up as both an artist and a person versus the things that drain me or cause roadblocks.
I have a lot to think about.
If you all want to stalk me this weekend. I’m easy to find. I’ll be the big guy in a loud shirt with a white cane.
Michael’s Diversicon 28 Program Schedule
Thursday, July 29:
6:30-7:45 pm DreamHaven Books, 2301 38th St E, Minneapolis
Reading/Autographing/Reception by Diversicon 28 Guest of Honor Michael Merriam and Special Guest Abra Staffin-Wiebe
Except as noted, all subsequent items in Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West
Friday, July 30:
4:00-4:55 pm Mainstage (Studio 2)
Panel: Writing at Different Lengths
What are the challenges of writing from flash fiction to short story to novelette, novella and novel?
Abra Staffin-Wiebe, Michael Merriam
7:00-7:25 pm Mainstage (Studio 2)
Opening Ceremonies
Scott Lohman, MC: Michael Merriam, Abra Staffin-Wiebe, Eric M. Heideman, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury in absentia.
7:30-8:25 pm Mainstage (Studio 2)
Guest of Honor, Michael Merriam Interview
interviewed by Scott Lohman
Saturday, July 31:
Noon-12:55 pm Mainstage (Studio 2)
Panel: Writing While Disabled
What are the unique challenges of writing while disabled? A look at technology, time management, and balancing energy levels when you are disabled and an artist. Will include a small survey of disabled authors working in the field today and some of their works.
Michael Merriam, mod; Eleanor Frisch
2:00-2:55 pm Mainstage (Studio 2)
Fiction Reading: Our guest of honor, Michael Merriam reads from his work.
5:00-5:25 pm Mainstage (Studio 2)
Massive Autographing: Abra Staffin-Wiebe, Michael Merriam, et al.
SF Minnesota/Diversison Auction Mainstage (Studio 2)
7:00-7:30 pm Auction items available for inspection
7:30-8:20 pm Bidding: Round One
8:20-8:30 pm Auction Half-Time, incl. Flash Fiction Contest Winner
8:30-9:20 pm Bidding, Round Two
9:30 pm Krushenko’s Annex (Studio 6)
Sunday, August 1
11:00-11:55 am Mainstage (Studio 2)
Panel: The Roaring 20’s (and other decades). Writing in a historical setting. Tips and tricks for researching and writing SF/F in history. What do you keep? How do you decide what history you might change?
Micheal Merriam mod. Abra Staffin-Wiebe
3:00-3:55 pm Mainstage (Studio 2)
Panel: Disabled People in Fiction-Getting Past the Tropes
Why are so many disable people relegated to the three roles of “Wise Mentor Who Dies in Act II,” “Evil Villain of Evil” and “Sad Thing to be Fixed?” How do we move past these tropes and allow disabled characters to be both disabled and a main protagonist/hero of the story?
Michael Merriam, Mod.
5:00-5:30 pm Mainstage (Studio 2)
Closing Ceremonies: In which our guests get a chance to say their goodbyes. But wait! We still have…
Scott Lohman, MC; Michael Merriam, Abra Staffin-Wiebe, Eric M. Heideman; Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov in absentia.
Hey Everyone, just a little reminder that I will be reading, along with my dear friend Abra Staffin-Wiebe, at DreamHaven Books on Thursday July 29th. Details here!
And then, I will be Guest of Honor at Diversicon 28 – July 30th – August 1st, 2021 in Minneapolis, MN. Details here!
I really hope to see some of you there!
