5 Things For Geeks To Do This Weekend In Arizona [WE 09/04]
This weekend, Arizona bends some circuits, raises a few unicorns, pulls a sword from its chest, and has a SciFi & Fantasy convention.
And if you like this list of Arizona geek events, I post these every Thursday morning.
Come back often to stay on top of the local geek scene!
Thursday, September 1st
Electronic Music Night [Mesa]
- Learn all about circuit-bending while enjoying some electro-tunes.
- HeatSync Labs is hosting an evening on the subject.
- Starts at 7pm at their new place in Downtown Mesa.
- I will be swinging by, at least for a few!
- Learn more at HeatSync’s blog.
*Update – @onlydoniayouknow reminded me that, speaking of Electronica, Deadmou5 is playing in Phoenix.
Unicorn Sparkle Attack [Tempe]
- (Okay, that’s probably not what the event is actually called.)
- A local unicorn farmer will be discussing her latest book.
- Rainbows, cupcakes, glitter, and “precious moments eyes” should abound.
- Includes a performance by the improv troupe “Unicorn Warpath.”
- At Changing Hands, also starting at 7pm – and I will be swinging by this one too.
- Impale these details.
Friday, September 2nd
CopperCon 31! [Avondale]
- If you love reading SF and/or Fantasy, you may want to check it out.
- Especially if you’re interested in getting your foot in scene yourself.
- Goes all weekend long, and into Monday at the Hilton Garden Inn.
- Learn more from my post about CopperCon.
Scott Pilgrim vs The World [Mesa]
*Update – This show has been sold out. No tickets will be available at the door.
- It’s that wacky Scott Pilgrim with his Canadian 8-bit-generation-hipster charm!
- Fall in lesbian with him all over again on The Royale’s screen.
- Plus everyone there will be entered to win tickets to Devastation.
- Learn more
and get ticketssoonif you want to go.
*Update – 8-bit Art Show [Phoenix]
- Speaking of the NES Generation…
- Jackalope Ranch just posted info on an 8-bit art show this Friday.
- Check out the glorious low-res details.
Saturday, September 3rd
Arizona Browncoats Shindig [Phoenix]
- Get together with your local hardcore Whedon fans and make some friends.
- Starts at 7pm in the Bookman’s Phoenix Community Room.
- Read all about it here.
Will you be able to make it to any of these?
Know of anything else going on?
Let us know!
Flagstaff Gives You A Werewolf Sherlock [Book]
If you, like me, are already sick of waiting for more of the BBC’s Sherlock, may I suggest a local online read to help fill the void?
Up in Flagstaff, a writer is posting chapters of his book, which is a sort-of southwest werewolf-(werecoyote?)-meets-Sherlock-Holmes paranormal mystery. It’s called Little Lost Dogs and it’s been described as “a younger, hipper Sherlock Holmes … investigating local ghost stories.”
It’s written by William Soland, the writer for Green Bandit Press (I love their logo, by the way), who describes his work as:
“The story of a retired attorney in the midst of a midlife crisis. He meets a reformed con-artist who happens to turn into a coyote under the full moon. Together, they attempt to solve a kidnapping while avoiding murderous secret societies and eating a lot of Mexican food.”
I asked William a couple of questions about Little Lost Dogs:
—
So where did the idea come from?
The idea for the book came to me in the summer between college and law school, when I should have been studying. It was frustrating, throughout school, having ideas for creative projects, but feeling like pursuing them was a form of procrastination. I used to feel a twinge of guilt if I tried to develop a story beyond the initial idea.
After graduating and finding employment, I realized my free time actually was free, so I drug out a few of the ideas that still seemed like good ones and tried working on them. Little Lost Dogs was the one that got me the furthest.
The idea for posting it on the web, in a serialized format, for free, came from two places: my love of webcomics, and my love of Sherlock Holmes. I get most of my entertainment from the internet, and wanted to do something like a webcomic. But I can’t draw. I suppose the question of whether I can write is a matter of opinion, but my lack of artistic skill is a more objective issue. I thought about the old Sherlock Holmes stories, which were originally printed in serialized format, and thought I could make a go of a web novel.
Of course, web content almost demands illustration (your own blog is a good example of this). Which left me with the same problem of having no artistic ability. That’s why I started looking for illustrators, and thankfully I found Adriel Begay.
And how do you know the illustrator?
Believe it or not, Adriel Begay answered an ad I posted on Craigslist. I know he does graphic design work for Flagstaff Live! and Northern Arizona’s Mountain Living Magazine.
He’s a great guy, a total professional, and he’s helped me think of my work in a whole new light.
What are your plans for Little Lost Dogs?
For now, until the entire novel is up online, I’ll be posting one chapter a week, every Friday.
Once that’s finished, I’m planning on releasing it as an eBook, for sale. I’d like to do a dead-tree edition some day, but the up-front costs are a bit prohibitive (that’s why sane authors find publishers to deal with all of that for them).
—
Give the first chapter of Little Lost Dogs a shot and meet the protagonist.
If you dig it, keep on reading! And you can follow William on Twitter too.
7 Things For Geeks To Do This Weekend In Arizona [WE 06/12]
This weekend, Arizona puts its comicon costumes back on, gets some genre books signed, rocks out with wizards, and gets its Octocon on.
Wow, tomorrow is Lightning Octopus’ first birthday! It seems like only yesterday is was violently bursting out of my chest cavity, wide eyed and eager for human flesh.
Or, maybe I’m mixing that memory with something else. Hard to say.
Lots to do this weekend, friends – including my own little shindig way down there at the bottom of the post.
Thursday, June 9th
Zap! Pow! Bam! Costume Ball [Scottsdale]
- Costumes? Music? Yep.
- Free, and probably really fun. I might swing by.
- At the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts from 7:30pm to 10:30pm.
- Official details, but not much more, here.
- (Here’s some more context behind the whole idea.)
Friday, June 10th
Green Lantern Promo Event [Phoenix]
- The Arizona Pop Culture Experience is excited for that Green Lantern flick.
- If you are too, swing by Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to enjoy GL themed goings on.
- They’ll have costumed heroes about and will be giving away swag and prizes.
- Learn more on their (slightly old-school) site.
- Hey, it’s 2nd Friday, which means that Evermore Nevermore is probably doing something geeky for passers-by.
- Oh look, they are!
- This month it’s a round up of local genre authors at a Bizzare Book Bonanza.
- From 6pm to 10pm.
- (And peek inside The Royale while you’re down there, if Andrea lets you.)
Saturday, June 11th
- On more of an undead note, authors Weston Ochse and Yvonne Navarro will also be signing books this weekend.
- At Barnes & Noble – Metro Center from 2pm to 4:30pm.
- Learn more here.
- They will rock you like no other band of boy wizards can.
- If you’re wondering who Harry & The Potters are, just think of their band name and whatever you are envisioning in your mind is most likely exactly right.
- From 5pm to 8pm at this place in Tucson.
- Get the skinny here.
- Bustin’ mad sonnets ’bout steampunk topics!
- (That kind of rhymed, right?)
- Do better at Gotham City Comics from 6pm to 8pm.
- Enjoy Jackalope Ranch’s take on it.
- Oh this thing?
- Oh, it’s just this little shindig I’m throwing for fans of the blog and for LOs first birthday.
- From 7pm to whenev’ at Gangplank in Downtown Chandler.
- If you want to, bring a geek-themed birthday cake, wear a sweet costume, or just show up!
- It’s a nerd party, so be as geeky as you want to be.
Now get out and enjoy your weekends!
