Bite Into CopperCon This Weekend [Conventions]

Some geek conventions tend to focus on SF & Fantasy books, and tabletop gaming.

Case in point: Arizona’s CopperCon, of which the 31st manifestaion is presenting itself this weekend.

Although things like Anime are still a part of the experience, guests, panels, and events tend to focus on writing. This year’s theme seems to dwell on things that go bump in the night, like werewolves and sparkle-resistant vampires.

I’ve never been to a CopperCon, but I am a big fan of nerdy books – although less so of the vampire/werewolf variety.

Bite into these details if you’re interested:

• This weekend Sept 2nd – Sept 5th.
• At the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Avondale.
• Prices skew a bit high – $55 for the whole weekend, with daily rates as well.
• (Also, they only accept cash, FYI.)
• They’re bringing in some bigger authors, as well as spotlighting locals.

As I wrote about last year’s then-upcoming CopperCon:

I really like the idea of a convention that focuses less on promoting movies, TV shows, and video games, and instead dives deeper into books, writing, gaming, and the core of SF and Fantasy – ideas.

Phoenix Storytellers [Group]

We of the nerdy persuasion get to enjoy multiple forms of story telling.

Unwilling to limit ourselves to the mainstream forms of media – we get to go further with video games, tabletop games, comics, graphic novels, RPGs, webcomics, and web-series’. (And some of you even LARP.)

But it’s all story telling. It’s everywhere.

Which is why a group was recently formed at Gangplank, accurately called “Storytellers,” to help each other improve at this ancient art. They describe themselves as more of a support group than anything.

I think it would be a great resource for any of you who are writers, bloggers, novelists, NaNoWriMo’ers, comic or script writers, or even game masters who are interested in learning more about conveying ideas through stories.

Their first meeting is tomorrow night (Tues, March 15th) at 7pm.

Just wander in to Gangplank in Downtown Chandler, and bring your writer’s block, a willingness to learn, and your willingness to share what you’re good at.

From there they’ll be meeting every other Tuesday night, same time.

For more details, check out this post by local blogger Wendy Coneybeer, who helped organize the group.

When I was at Saturday night’s Cinematic Titanic show, Joel told us the story of how the night before the Mystery Science Theater 3000 pilot, he had the awful realization that he’d never actually asked anyone to man his two now-famous puppets.

Intuitively, he picked up the phone and called two people from a local writers group he was part of – and Joel, Trace, and J Elvis are still touring the country riffing movies.

You never know!

Our Steampunk Cup Overfloweth, & More [Friday Lightning]

Between Wild Wild West Con last week and Steampunk Street II coming up next month, the Gears & Goggles Scene is boiling over in Arizona before summer even shows up.

This week’s Friday Lightning is no exception, as most of the buzz I picked up this week centered around it:

Local web-series “Mantecoza” released their first trailer.

• You can check it out here on YouTube.
• The creators are swell blokes, so be sure to stalk them online.

“Restless Anthology” is looking for Steampunk stories and more.

• They’re gearing up (ha!) for a Steampunk Street II publication.
• If you’d like to contribute some Steampunk-ish stories, poetry, art, anything – be sure to let them know!
• Get the details on submitting to their publication here, and you can  email them too if you’re interested.
• (And if Steampunk isn’t your thing, they still might be interested in other writings.)

Local Geek Stuff Elsewhere:

• Nerdvana wrote a scoop on the Vul-Con Arena I event coming up, as well as Video Games Live.
• (He’s giving away tickets to some followers, so be sure to follow his links.)
• And Phoenix New Times had a love/hate relationship with Wild Wild West Con.

And finally, I was picked by readers as the East Valley’s Best Blogger!

• Here’s the announcement, and here’s my post on it.
• Thanks again everyone!
• You’re next, Best of West Valley… (which I just made up).

Got any tips on the nerd scene in Arizona? Want to get the word out on something?

Shoot me an email, message me on Facebook, or DM me on Twitter.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Maybe I’ll see a few of you at Cinematic Titanic on Saturday.

* Our prayers are with Japan and everyone who might be affected by the earthquake.