The mad scramble to prepare for LibertyCon 38

How did we get to mid-June already???

First off - let’s take a look at my “official” schedule. Starting with Friday:

Once upon a time, adventure was adventurous, heroes were heroic, and villains twirled their mustaches without filing an apology afterward. Then the Culture Police showed up with red pens and trigger warnings. From Sax Rohmer’s Fu Manchu to Burroughs’ jungle lords, Lovecraft’s eldritch horrors, Fleming’s secret agents, and Dahl’s delightfully awful children — the list of “problematic” authors keeps growing faster than you can say “revised edition.” In this irreverent (but informed) panel, we’ll dive into the pulp, passion, and peril of reading what modern gatekeepers want scrubbed from memory. Why were these books loved in their time? What do they still get right about storytelling, adventure, and imagination? And why is it that the books people warn you not to read are usually the most fun ones? Bring your sense of humor, your contrarian streak, and maybe a brown paper dust jacket — because we’re going there.

This panel was pitched by, and will be moderated by my good friend M.G. Martin. M.G. is the hostess of my monthly writing group, and we’ve been coworkers/colleagues at two different companies in our respective “day job” careers. She’s got a wicked sense of humor, is genuinely unflappable, and her stuff is great fun to read. Her debut book, Necromantic Nights, is well worth your time. Along with her, I’m joined by two more good friends - Karl Gallagher (I often style myself as Karl’s stunt double) and OldNFO (JL Curtis).

Right after opening ceremonies I’m off to my next panel:

What are the Tropes of Modern Fantasy? Our panel of fantasy writers will discuss how fantasy is evolving in the modern era, and how it's tropes are evolving with it.

Right in the wheelhouse of the LibertyCon consumer, I expect this to be a wide-open discussion. Looking forward to co-paneling with C.V. Walter - who is at least partially to blame for my diving into this writing thing due to a chance encounter at FenCon 2022.

After an evening that will likely involve beverages, room parties and karaoke, my Saturday schedule will look like this:

I will join my fellow Raconteur Press stablemates Sam Robb and TC Ross for a fantasy-centric reading, where we’ll read from our latest projects. I’ll be reading from my latest novel, Muses’ War: Fugue of Fire.

While I’m not officially on the panel - I will not be surprised if I’m offered up as tribute at some point to talk about Fugue of Fire and what’s coming up for Muses’ War in the next twelve months (which if all goes to plan will include a collection and the third novel).

In all fairness, that’s background to the BIG news - formally bringing out Bill Willingham for his first appearance as a Rac Press author.

I first met Bill at BasedCon ( The Official BasedCon Substack ) three years ago, and every time I’ve gone back I’ve enjoyed everything he’s shared about his experience as a pro and his takes on art and storytelling. To actually be working for the same publishing house is an honor.

Writing exceptional or unusual events into Mil/SF is easier when the real world is so unpredictable, so often. Panelists discuss how White Swan mentality reflects on works/events past and how it affects their writing.

This is this one I feel most over my skis on - my contributions to MilSF are a whole two short stories, but they are ones I am fond of. (The anthologies those stories are in, Space Marines II and Space Marines III, are on sale this month!) I’ll be sharing the panel with the incoming Wafflemaster of P-Con 2026, Fred Hughes (I was the Wafflemaster of P-Con 2025) and look forward to meeting the rest of the folks there.

I’ll be hosting a room party on the 16th floor Saturday night that will serve as the Raconteur Press party and the release party for Fugue of Fire. Much merriment will be had!

Outside of the Kaffeklatsch, I am free of obligation on Sunday.

Not officially - I didn’t sign up for Author’s Alley or an autograph table.

I am planning to bring books, though! If you’re looking for a signed copy of any of my Rac Press novels or anthologies, I’ll have a few of each available (though it may require me to make a quick dash to the room—books are heavy!). If you wave a book under my nose, I’m happy to sign it, especially if it’s mine.

If you buy a book from me or get an autograph from me at LibertyCon, I’ll have a little something for you as thanks.

More to come!