Windy City Pulp and Paper 2025 - Howard Andrew Jones panel and Connecting with the Community

 

This captures moments from my first Windy City Pulp and Paper Convention, in April 2025. 

Most photos are mine, but I did glean a few from John O'Neill. Highlighted first is the Howard Andrew Jones Panel, Top Image L-->R Arin Komins (Moderator), John O'Neill, James Enge Seth Lindberg, John C. Hocking. Other speakers: Greg Mele (center left), Kevin Cook (center Right), Ryan Harvey (Bottom Left), Bob Byrne (Bottom Right). In short, Howard Andrew Jones passed away this January but his legacy of bring the Sword & Sorcery community together continues strong. swords Together!

Desi Accent Indian restaurant- Dinner and Black Gate friends

• Right: John O'Neill (Black Gate overlord), Ryan Harvey (Turn over the Moon!), Rich Horton (a walking vault of infomration), James Enge (Ambrose!), John C, Hocking (Conan!), David C Smith (Oron!), John Majka, Erik Mona (Paizo Creative Director, knew HAJ during the Pathfinder years)
• Left: Steve H Silver (esteemed author and editor), Dieter Zimmerman (DCC), Bob Byrne (Son of Nero Wolfe?), SE Lindberg, Arin Komins, Rich Warren, Josua DInges
• Mirror photo below

Bob Byrne, Greg Mele, SEL

Book Signings!

• David C Smith, John C Hocking (signed the Terra Incognita anthology which we share a TOC), James Enge sgned all the entire Ambrose series!) as renowned Black Gater Rich Horton chills to the right.
• Below, Joe Bonadona (aka Jobo) signs Monsters in Hell (we collaborated and wrote separate stories in that), and...
• Arin Komins (moderator of the HAJ panel) had me sign her TftMS#9 issue!

New Friends and Connections or Attendees of Note

New Pulp: Andy Fix, who met HAJ at Windy City years ago, sent me to the Neo-Pulp Publishers. Photos beow

• Ron Fortier Airship 27
• Robert J Mendenhall Code Name Intrepid
• Van Allen Plexico (who won a Grand Master Pulp Award at the con!)

• Randy Broecker -- A TftMS artist had a table there and is on staff, but I didn't make the connection until after I went home. Next time!
• Apparently Randy was sitting next to Gary Gianni! Cripes, how did I miss that?
• Robert E. Howard Foundation Table

Left: Ron Fortier Airship 27 / Right: Robert J Mendenhall Code Name Intrepid

Howard Andrew Jones Memorial -2

Leading up to this, I captured a number of memorials and obituary tributes :

Link to PDF of Writer-Focused HAJ Photo Montages (link). 

Below is a collection of select photos of the Celebration of Life (link) held in Evansville, IN Feb 22, 2025.

From the official obituary:

"Howard Andrew Jones, 56, of Evansville, passed away at his home Thursday, January 16, 2025 surrounded by loved ones.

Howard was born July 19, 1968 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Shirley (Jewell) Jones and the late Victor Howard Jones. He graduated from Indiana State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Radio-TV-Film and completed a Master’s Degree at the University of Southern Indiana in Liberal Studies.

Howard was an outstanding story teller, an expert in several genres, a musician/composer, a shotokan black belt, a loyal friend, a hobby farmer, an encouraging editor, a kind soul, and a beloved family member who improved the lives of everyone he encountered with his bright inquiries, quick wit, and warm support. He spent years pursuing his writing goals and championing heroic fiction, leaving behind 12 novels, numerous short stories, and countless editorials.

He was devoted to and will be greatly missed by his wife of 33 years, Shannon Jones, MD; his adult children, Darian Vincent Jones and Rhiana Christina Jones; his mother, Shirley Jones; his sisters, Sydney (Chris) Argenta and Alli (Chris) Anderson; and many nieces, and nephews. His passing will also be mourned by his close friends from around the world, his fellow authors, his fans, in-laws, neighbors, and even acquaintances. The good world is diminished without him."

Peace to Shannon, Rhiana, Darian Jones, and all who knew him.

Swords Together! 

Link to PDF of Writer-Focused HAJ Photo Montages

Jason Ray Carney, J. Chris Hocking, Mark Rigney, 

SE Lindberg, Andy Fix, Sean CW Korsgaard

SE with Sean CW Korsgaard

Greg Mele, SELindberg, Cinda Hocking, J. Chris Hocking, Christopher Rowe, Darian Jones, 

Sean CW Korsgaard, Jason Ray Carney, Andy Fix, CSE Cooney, Mark Rigney (John O'Neill)

 Greg Mele, SELindberg

Cinda Hocking, J. Chris Hocking, Christopher Rowe, Darian Jones, 

Sean CW Korsgaard, Jason Ray Carney

Sean CW Korsgaard, Jason Ray Carney, Andy Fix, 

CSE Cooney, Mark Rigney, John O'Neill

Skull's Office

Gen Con 2024 - Writers Symposium Behind the Scenes Photos

Click here for my Gen Con 2024 coverage table of contents.  

Opening Ceremony

Chris Bell had very kind words regarding my previous Chair roles and passing the torch to him.  He rocks as a leader.

Gen Con 2024 - Deep Madness

Click here for my Gen Con 2024 coverage table of contents. 

Being a huge Deep Madness fan and reviewer of Diemension Games' writer Byron Leavitt's work (link to many previous posts)... and having interviewed him and had him on panels at Gen Con and contributed to the Madness Reborn expansion (thanks to Phil Blake and Oscar Bok and others), I had to catch up with Byron and Sarah at their booth.

Gen Con Panels 2024 - Sword and Sorcery, Pulp, & Horror (aka Beautiful Nasty stuff)

Click here for my Gen Con 2024 coverage table of contents.  

Thanks to Sean CW Korsgaard, (editor/author/S&S-aficionado) who filmed a bunch of Gen Con 2024 panels, you can listen in on two of the panels I moderated.

Milton Davis - Meeting a Role Model

 

I have a mission to meet the authors my stories share anthologies with ("selfie" tag), and for Perseid Presses' Heroika and Heroes in Hell Series, I've cornered a bunch in Chicago, Indianapolis, New Orlean, Norman OK, and now Atlanta!  Beth Patterson, Charles Gramlich, Joe Bonadonna, Jack William Finley, Tom Barzcak  ... and now Milton Davis!

Just ran into one of my inspirational role models for writing and publishing Milton Davis (in this case, I was in Atlanta for an American Chemical Society Green Chemistry convention...which is cool because Milton has been a formulation chemist for decades).

Grateful to chat about storytelling and chemistry. Grabbed an extra signature for Changa and the Heroika Dragon Eater anthology (we both have a story in that) and on Eda Blessed II, which I was honored to provide a cover blurb for. Thanks for your time, Milton!

Blurb on the back cover for Eda Blessed 2:

"Omari Ket is a rogue warrior, not a spy, but he is as suave, cunning, and as lethal as any Secret Agent Man. ‘Agency’ is a term for the capacity of a character to act independently, and Omari is an Agency onto himself: he reports to no one. Omari is a ladies’ man in a dog-eat-dog world. If you like a cut-throat, libertine, action-oriented protagonist, then you are ‘Eda Blessed.’"

Milton and I share a few table-of-contents too:

• Terra Incognita: Lost Worlds of Fantasy and Adventure  (more info on my blog )
• Heroika: Skirmishers (read more on the blog post)

WFC 1996 - Selfie with Dennis L. McKiernan

 

Reflecting on my first literary convention, the 1996 World Fantasy Convention.

I was able to have Dennis McKiernan sign my copy of The Dark Tide (Book #1 of the Iron Tower Trilogy).  I'd get to meet him again in Columbus OH at the WFC 2010, where he spent a good portion of his life.

The Alan Lee covers really drew me into that series, as well as the Foul Folks, especially the Ghuls. I read that series before Toliens Lord of the Rings (which inspired McKiernan to write his work).

Annual Barczak Retreat - 2023

During my annual trip to the IASR surfactant consortium meeting in Norman Oklahoma, well before breakfast was served, I sought out my author/artist friend Tom Barczak (link to prior join-ups) and we snuck in a few minutes of drawing together. 

This time we convened at the newly opened DIAK office, the architecture firm owned by Tom's wife Shannon Barczak. Their clients are mostly indigenous (Native American) communities. Below is a blurb from their website. 

DIAK Architects is a Full-Service Native Woman Owned Architectural Firm, a leading design firm that specializes in producing a wide range of innovative architectural and interior design applications. 

DIAK is an Apsaalooke word, meaning “To make.” ​To make something, to create something, that wasn’t there before, and to take on the honor and responsibility for its effect on everything and every life that it touches. It is a gift, and a responsibility not to be taken lightly.

Authors serving the Skull meet at Dingles Irish Pub

 

Had a blast meeting up with fellow Sword and Sorcery authors at the local pub. With Andy Fix and Bill Pearce ... we salute Howard Andrew Jones whom we've admired and perhaps even served as Skull Interns. All hail the Skull!

With Bill Pearce who has a story in Tales from the Magician's Skull issue #11 (link to Gen Con 2023 when we first met),

Gen Con 2023 Game Playtesting and Playing

 Gen Con Writers Symposium 2023 - S.E. Lindberg Chronicles

• Gen Con Writers Symposium 2023 - Overview from the Chair
• Panels: Sword & Sorcery & Handling New Releases
• The Skull from Tales from the Magician's Skull: Ziggurat, Gorgar Pinball, Shattered Lands, etc.
• Playtesting & Previews:  Dante, Conan, Scott Lynch, Bittcoin Hodl Up [you are here]
• Selfies and Connections: Peter Adkison, Fred Malmberg, many authors & friends

Gen Con 2023 - Connections and Selfies

 Gen Con Writers Symposium 2023 - S.E. Lindberg Chronicles

• Gen Con Writers Symposium 2023 - Overview from the Chair
• Panels: Sword & Sorcery & Handling New Releases
• The Skull from Tales from the Magician's Skull: Ziggurat, Gorgar Pinball, Shattered Lands, etc.
• Playtesting & Previews:  Dante, Conan, Scott Lynch, Bittcoin Hodl Up 
• Selfies: Peter Adkison, Fred Malmberg, many authors & friends [you are here]

Barczak 2022 - Mystics in Norman

Fellow Perseid Press author Tom Barczak and I built a relationship in 2014 when I interviewed him about his Evarun series. Since, we've shared a table of contents in several anthologies, most recently Mystics in Hell.

Every November I visit Norman for the Institute of Applied Surfactant Research consortium annual meeting and seek out Tom before the meeting starts; I have a blogger tag/label dedicated to our visits. 

We share a common muse to create Dark Fantasy experiences via mixed media (art, prose). I purchased one of his sketches on a prior visit. This round, he graced with an orc drawn with conté sticks.  Thanks Tom for the friendship, discussion, and the art!

 

Two Liars from Hell in Chicago

A work trip brought me to Chicago, and I managed to meet up with Joe Bonadonna for a few hours.  In 2021, I visited the same restaurant in lieu of that yr's canceled GenCon Writer's Symposium. Had hopes of tracking down David C. Smith again, and perhaps John O'Neill, but fate would not have it. Turns out Greg Mele is nearby too. Next time, I'll have to track them all down!

Of course, Joe is hoot. He and I have been collaborating with our Heroes In Hell stories, ensuring themes and characters are shared. Enjoy satire and horror?  Check out Liars in Hell!  

I recently interviewed Joe for my Beauty in Weird fiction series on Black Gate.  He really does make dark-fantasy fun. 

Cheers!

 

Conan IP and the Board Game - Playing with Rogues at GenCon 2022

This is one of a series of reports on GenCon 2022; other links coming soon from this Table of Contents, to be posted in random order:

·                 Rogues in the House Podcast 

·                 Conan IP Owner and the Board Game - Playing with Rogues [You Are Here]

·                 The Skull from Tales From the Magician's Skull roams the Exhibit Hall

·                 Dawn of Madness Gameplay with Byron Leavitt

·                 Writer's Symposium Overview

·                 Moderating Sorcery & Sorcery, Horror, Pulp, and Game Panels

Conan at GenCon 2022

Thanks to Matthew John (Rogue podcaster, author), I was able to guest my way into the Cabinet Entertainment mixer.  Here I continued great discussions with Sean CW Korsgaard (Baen Books), Steve Diamond (author), Jason Ray Carney (author/professor), Howard Andrew Jones (undead necromancer/author), and Gilles Plantin (COO Monolith Games) ...got introduced to Heroic Signature's "consigliere" (Steve Booth) and snag a selfie with Fredrik Malmberg (CEO Cabinet Entertainment, IP holders of Robert E. Howard material) and even Peter Adkison (GenCon owner).  Conan IP is always a hot topic.  We covered some of that in the Writer's Symposim:

Conan IP and Pastiche Coverage in the Writer's Symposium

• Gamifying Stories and Storifying Games (SEM22214106); Fri, 2:00 PM Aug 5th 2022: Translating from one media to the other. Jennifer Brozek, Byron Leavitt, Matt John, Lucien Soulban, S.E. Lindberg (M).
• Link to recording coming soon

• SWORD & SORCERY PASTICHE (SEM22214157) Saturday, 5:00 PM Aug 6th 2022;  
• How to adopt someone's writing style, and where to blur the line to original. 
• Howard Andrew Jones, Matthew John, Jason Ray Carney, S.E. Lindberg (M).
• Link to recording coming soon

• Link to S&S Rogue Podcast at GenCon Writer's Symposium

Conan the Board Game - Playing with Rogues

With all the hubbub going on in the Writer's Symposium at GenCon, I barely played any games. The primary battle I got to join was hosted by Deane Geiken and Matthew John (and Jimmy McGuire); Jason  Ray and Nicole Carney joined in too (Nicole was wicked at throwing dice.....to complement Deane's lack of luck).  Conan was slaughtered, but his sacrifice enabled us to win the scenario against overlord Matthew John! 

Dawn of Madness Gameplay and GenCon 2022 coverage

This is one of a series of reports on GenCon 2022; other links coming soon from this Table of Contents, to be posted in random order:

·                 Rogues in the House Podcast 

·                 Conan IP Owner and the Board Game - Playing with Rogues

·                 The Skull from Tales From the Magician's Skull roams the Exhibit Hall

·                 Dawn of Madness Gameplay with Byron Leavitt [You Are Here]

·                 Writer's Symposium Overview

·                 Moderating Sorcery & Sorcery, Horror, Pulp, and Game Panels

_______________________________________________________________________________

Dawn of Madness Gameplay and GenCon 2022 coverage

I'm a bit of Diemension Games nut, having (a) interviewed Byron Leavitt, (b) contributed stories with the "Sanguine Heretics" fan-group that made the Exhalted Blasphemies expansion, (c) created the Deep Madness Scenario Chronology (with Phil Blake), and (d) reviewed the Shattered Seas novel for Black Gate. 

God, Darkness, & Wonder: An Interview with Byron Leavitt

Exalted Blasphemies - Fan-Made Expansion for Deep Madness Boardgame 

Deep Madness Scenario Chronology

Shattered Seas Novel Review - Review by SE

As part of my Event Coordinator role at GenCon Writers Symposium I championed getting Byron on some panels and was able to hit the Exhibit Hall for some Dawn of Madness footage! 

Byron Leavitt on GenCon Writer's Symposium Panels (to be loaded soon)

1) Repulsive Appeal  (SEM22214058); Thursday, 11:00 AM EDT Aug 4th 2022

How do we make horror appealing? Maurice Broaddus, Richard Dansky, Byron Leavitt, Jason Ray Carney, Steve Diamond, S.E. Lindberg (M) - link to recording coming soon

 2) Gamifying Stories and Storifying Games (SEM22214106) ; Friday, 2:00PM Aug 5th 

2022 Translating from one media to the other. Jennifer Brozek, Byron Leavitt, Matt John, Lucien Soulban, S.E. Lindberg (M) - link to recording coming soon

DAWN of Madness - Gameplay of Emily Hawkins (The Nurse) Story: "Bonds of the Twins"

The King of Average's Diemension Games Coverage

Deep Madness reprint with expansion coming this October?! 

Giant new mini's of the epic monsters!

GenCon_2021_ In Lieu of the Writer's Symposium

This is part of a set of posts summarizing my GenCon 2021 experience:

1. Overview of Gen Con 2021
2. Gaming Hall & Painting
3. in lieu of the Writer's Symposium <-- You are Here
4. Dead Man's Cribbage Unboxing

_______________________________________________________________

In lieu of the Writer's Symposium:

Just a few years into volunteering with the Writer's Convention, I was sad when it got canceled in 2020 (with the entirety of GenCon, and again this round). Covid didn't help at all. Additionally, some key planners, volunteers were also struck with life changes (even two tragic deaths largely unrelated to the virus). In short, the future of the Symposium is in peril/disarray.  As per Melanie Meador's suggestion, I've reached out to GenCon's event coordinator about assisting in reviving it, but have not heard back. I'll be trying to stay in touch with others to get something going in 2022. For now, I found other ways to connect with the author/publishing crowd.  

Chicago? My own personal panel with two S&S role models

Okay, without any Writer's Symposium volunteering to do Wed. night I arranged a visit with Joe Bonadonna and David C. Smith. They live in Chicago, and I figured I could handle a ~7hr round trip (3.5hrs each way) drive to see them during the time slot I planned to network in Indianapolis. We had a four-hour discussion over lunch at Moretti's Ristorante.  

Joe has had my back ever since 2015 when he reviewed Lords of Dyscrasia for Black Gate. Since then, he and I have shared several TOCs for Perseid Press's Heroes in Hell and Heroika anthologies. Great guy, His Dorgo the Dowser books are fun to read, in part since Dorgo feels like a natural extension of him.  

Meeting David C. Smith in person was awesome too. Of course, he and Joe have partnered to write several short stories and the Waters of Darkness novel. I got to know David via reviewing his Oron books (including this tour guide on Black Gate). Managed to update his wikipedia page too as I worked with him to iron out the reading order (check out his photo!).

These two both have muses rooted in cinema. I soaked up their conversation as best I could. Was honored to share signing books with them.

Back in Indy: Author's Avenue

I met Chris A. Jackson during my first time to GenCon. He's writing a bunch of Pathfinder material now, and ~3 other series. I liked his Weapon of Flesh previously, so I picked up Zellohar and Nekdukarr, which are Sword & Sorcery novels co-written with his wife Anne L. McMillen-Jackson.

He shares an interest in reviving the Writer's Symposim. He clued me in on the never-ending "continual convention" too: https://www.continualconvention.com/.

Film Scripting Panel Video Film Festival

I infiltrated the Film Festival to learn how they approach writing. Apart from using Final Draft software, their process for creating a story differs in many ways from a novel. Namely, the story creation is often a team effort, so the interplay between writers, actors, and the directors is interesting.

Game ID:  FLM21197368 Gen Con Film Festival

Description:   Making a movie? First you'll need a script! Learn from our experienced scriptwriters!

Start Date & Time: / Friday, 12:00 PM EDT; Location: / Westin : Council

Indie Design & Publishing Roundtable

Game ID:  SEM21195822. Satine Phoenix, former community manager of Dungeons & Dragons & Jamison Stone, Creative Director and CEO of Apotheosis Studios, have gathered some of the great minds of indie gaming for a live roundtable discussion on game design & publishing.

Start Date & Time: Friday, 1:00 PM EDT /  End Date & Time:  Friday, 2:00 PM EDT /  Location: Westin : Grand IV

L-->R : Sam at Indiegate, EmiIy Setigue, Jamison Stone (Creative Director and CEO of Apotheosis Studios,), Satine Phoenix (former community manager of Dungeons & Dragons)

Artists

Lots of great artists were present. I got a print and spent some time speaking to Echo Chernik https://www.echo-x.com/index.aspx. Her art nouveau style may be a good fit for depicting Dr. Grave's daughters (whom I am writing about now).

Unsheathed

I recognized Unsheathed in Jay Erikson's booth (I'm a big Charles Gramlich fan who has a contribution in this Sword & Sorcery book).  Had a great conversation about gamifying novels into 5e or Pathfinder modules, and learned about the July 8-10 2020 Imaginarium symposium (entertheimaginarium.com).