Service Guarantees Citzenship

The coolest part about being a writer is supposed to be writing a perfect sentence, or seeing your name on a cover of a book - and I'm not saying that isn't cool, but I'm nothing if not honest. And here's the honest truth - the coolest thing about being a writer is meeting other writers. Beautiful, ridiculous, creative, and fun writers who always have side projects going and let you jump in and have fun with them.

I mentioned that I will be at MidSummer Scream next weekend, and I really can't wait - but wait, I must. Lucky for me, my friend Kit Power got ahold of me last week to ask me back to his killer podcast Watching RoboCop with Kit Power. If you're unfamiliar with it - it's exactly what it sounds like. Awhile back I was on to... watch RoboCop with Kit Power, and watch it, we did. We provided our own commentary track, sometimes completely off topic, and had a fucking blast.

If you missed it, you can listen here.

This time, I'll be joining Kit for a bonus episode, to talk about my favorite Verhoeven film - Starship Troopers. I'm not sure when it will air, but you can listen to us wax philosophical about the anti-Oprah in RoboCop in the meantime. This episode should be a lot of fun - I love Starship Troopers, but since Kit and I had thrown the idea of doing this around several months ago, I decided not to give a re-watch. I can't remember the last time I saw the movie, so it'll be a little like the first time all over again.

A preview of things I will more than likely say:
-Something about how Jake Busey was really popular for a moment.
-Something about co-ed showers being considered futuristic.
-Something about the bugs where I used to live looking exactly like the bugs they fight.
-Something about the USMC Commandant's Reading List.
-Something about not fucking remembering that!

And more!

Can't wait to share it with all of you, and/or jump in on your next fun side project.

Dreams Really Do Come True

My birthday is coming soon and all I've really ever wanted was for it to be Halloween in July. I love Halloween. I love watching horror movies all month, decorating, handing out candy, seeing cute kids in adorable costumes - there isn't anything about Halloween I don't love (except for those assholes that stole all our candy one year - bowl and everything. I hate them). This year, I learned that if you work hard and believe in yourself, all your dreams can come true.

I've been invited to host a panel/workshop at Midsummer Scream 2017 in Long Beach! We'll be discussing how to plan a killer (haha, get it?) wedding if you're Halloween obsessed or just have a really dark soul. My wedding was small and mostly traditional, but we always dream of a big 10 year vow renewal that will knock everyone's socks off, so I'll be asking questions and taking notes. After that I'm going to do my damndest to find Cassandra Peterson (best known as Elvira) and get a picture.

The whole event is like a love letter to my perfect birthday and I can't wait. If you're local, or just fucking love Halloween, you should come check it out (Midsummer Scream).

Maybe our vow renewal will be Kurt Russell Themed?

I've also been asked to host a panel at BoucherCon, and I hope to peer pressure a lot of you into coming to see me ask questions about "California Schemin'" - California's influence on our beloved genre.

Two and a half years of Books and Booze has paid off! I am an expert at asking questions while inebriated, so this won't be a challenge at all!