Prolific author William F. Wu will be the Guest of Honor for the Twin Cities, Minnesota science fiction convention, Diversicon, now in its 18th year.
NOMINATED FIVE TIMES for the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards, William F. Wu has published over a dozen novels as well as over 50 short stories that have appeared in a wide variety of magazines and anthologies, which include Omni Magazine and the best-selling 1996 STAR WARS: Tales from Jabba’s Palace.

On panels at science fiction conventions where he has frequently been guest of honor and toastmaster, Wu is known for his contemporary fantasy short stories, such as “Wong’s Lost and Found Emporium,” a multiple award nominee that was adapted into an episode of the television series The Twilight Zone. Recognized for his historical accuracy and action-adventure, Wu is often a requested speaker for students in middle school history and literature classes. He is the author of more than a dozen novels including the 6-volume young adult science fiction series from Avon titled Isaac Asimov’s Robots in Time. With a Ph.D. in American Culture, Wu has taught college writing courses and led creative writing workshops for writers of all ages.

His most acclaimed book, Hong on the Range, was chosen for the Wilson Library Bulletin’s list of science fiction “Books Too Good To Miss” and was a selection for the American Library Association list of Best Books for Young People, the New York Public Library’s Recommended Books for the Teen Age, and was also a Young Adult Editor’s Choice by Booklist Magazine. The novel is based on Wu’s Hugo and Nebula Award nominee “Hong’s Bluff,” which first appeared in Omni Magazine.

Hong on The Range has been adapted into a comic book trilogy by Fly Paper Press for Image Comics and is in development for film and television entertainment with Matinee Entertainment.

Diversicon celebrates diversity in speculative fiction, including diversity in media, of SF fan and professional groups, and cultural diversity. It value both our commonalities and the things that make us different, and they strive to help the local SF community reflect the cultural range of Minnesota in the Third Millennium. Given its size (100–125 persons), it’s one of the most panel- and discussion-intensive SF cons that Minnesota has. Previous guests of honor have included award-winning authors such as S.P. Somtow, Kay Kenyon, Kelly Link, Sheree R. Thomas, Minister Faust and Lois McMaster Bujold.

Review by Kevin Lucia of SHROUD MAGAZINE:

THEATRE OF THE MACABRE, (Skullvines Press), by Roy C. Booth

“From the internationally award-winning playwright who brought Brian Keene’s TERMINAL to the stage comes a trilogy of one-act plays perfect for the late October chill. In THEATRE OF THE MACABRE, Roy C. Booth offers chills, thrills, and spots of humor and cynicism as well. Even in one acts, these tales are quick, tasty bites that will leave a shiver under your skin long after you’ve read them.

In “Smoking Will Kill You”, cruel irony deals an appropriate hand to an arrogant, dismissive psychiatrist and his scheming wife. In “He Who Gets Laughed At Last”, a pompous comedian with no real talent goes to extreme measures to get a laugh, only to discover the last one is on him…forever. Perhaps the best, most satisfying tale is found in “Death Under Gaslight”, where three robbers get more than they bargained for, and a classic, Gothic character plays a pivotal role.

Pick up this collection and enjoy the laughs, screams, and cries…if you dare.

Visit http://skullvines.com/?page_id=538. Buy it today.”

And there we go…

Co-wrote a new 10-Minute zombie play tonight that could possibly be extended even further. We’ll see.

Also:

An editor of mine was (unjustly) fired recently, so a certain project is no more, BUT I’m now expecting a contract to do the same (a hybrid monologue/poetry project) from newly created Bandersnatch Books, so…

Also expect an announcement soon concerning more upcoming published stuff with Stygian Publications.

I will be making some science-fiction related short story and novella submissions in the short months ahead as well.

My Arcana 39 pictures are up on my MySpace profile.

Hopefully more news soon concerning THE ONE as well.

Just found out that my children’s fantasy play SHITA-KIRI-SUZUME will be performed 12/11/09 in Coupeville, WA, another one of my plays that made its debut at Bemidji State University back in the day.

https://www.hitplays.com/default.aspx?pg..=sd&st=SHITA-KIRI-SUZUME
This will then make my 13th production in Washington and the play’s 17th production overall.

SUZUME is also the first play I wrote entirely on my own, and was the second of mine ever to be produced and published (then by International Readers’ Theatre, Winnipeg).

Yep, we’re Guests again at Arcana 39 to be held this weekend in Bandana Square, St. Paul, MN. Below are our schedules (and a few highlights) as sent to us by Eric M. Heideman:

Saturday, October 17, 2009:

*11:05-11:55 a.m., Soo Line. Panel: Dragons in Fact, Folklore, Fiction, and Film. Arcana traditionally celebrates a “Monster of the Year.” This time we’re examining two, starting with the Dragon. Eric M. Heideman, mod.; Bryan Thao Worra, Kim Harrison, and Roy C.Booth.

*1:00-1:55 p.m., Soo Line. Panel: Monsters in Comics. A panel of artists consider the long relationship between comics and monsters. Steve Fastner, Christopher Jones, Melissa S. Kaercher, Rich Larson, and Roy C. Booth.

*2:00-2:55 p.m., Soo Line. Panel: What are You Reading? In which people talk about cool stuff they’ve read in the past year, especially, though not exclusively, new work; especially, though not exclusively, fiction of the Dark Fantastic. Thomas Marchlewski, mod.; Kim Harrison. Bryan Thao Worra, and Cynthia Booth.

*3:00-3:55 p.m., Soo Line. Panel: Edgar Allan Poe: A Bicentennial Tribute. A look at the very wide-ranging contributions of Poe (1809-1849) to American and world literature, with special attention to his formative contribution to horror. Eric M. Heideman, mod.; Brian K. Perry, Mark Rich, Cynthia Booth, & Roy C.Booth.

4:00-5:15 p.m., Soo Line. Reading/Autographing: Kim Harrison. In which our Guest of Honor reads from, answers questions about, and signs her work.

7:30-7:45 p.m., Soo Line. Awards Presentation. The Minnesota Fantasy Award is presented to Lois McMaster Bujold.

Sunday, October 18, 2009:

*1:00-1:55 p.m., Soo Line. Panel: Witches in Fact, Folklore, Fiction, and Film. Our second “Monster” the misunderstood, but fun, Witch. Eric M. Heideman, mod.; Kim Harrison, Roy C. Booth and Cynthia Booth.

***** I will also be hanging out with R. Scott McCoy of Stygian Productions in the dealer’s room doing signings, and, of course, in Krushenko’s.

And yes, that’s Steve Fastner and Rich Larson of Fastner & Larson fame mentioned above.

And here’s what they’ve got posted on the matter:

Tuesday, Nov. 10: “Trials and Tribulations of a Playwright”
Presenter: Roy C. Booth, writer, journalist, and comedian.

Booth, an accomplished playwright with more than 40 published plays, will explore the inspiration to write. Booth will encourage participants to consider their own personal experiences and to examine the message you want to deliver to your audience. The presentation may also include a world premier of a new 10-minute play by Booth.

The ALL lecture series is made possible in part through private donations and support from Bemidji State University. More information is available by contacting the Center for Research and Innovation at (218) 755-4900 or by visiting http://www.cri-bsu.org.

The Bethany Public Schools of Bethany, Oklahoma have once again purchased the rights to perform GRANDPA JIM IS DEAD (Booth/Paslawski) for the second year in a row.

https://www.hitplays.com/default.aspx?pg=sd&st=GRANDPA+JIM+IS+DEAD

This will mark the plays 29th overall production and its third in Oklahoma.

Had a blast at the 6th Annual BWA Writing Contest held at Central Lakes College. Had a devil of a time getting there due to the weather, but well worth it nonetheless. I really wish we could have been there for the entirety of the workshop — from what we did get to sit on it sounded very much similar to my own personal viewpoints on poetry, especially in lines with invocation and the dreaded “I” poem.

Making preparations for Arcana (more on that later), including another series of book and article pitches since there will be more than a few publisher types in attendance. R. Scott McCoy of Stygian Publications has graciously offered to have me camp out at his table in the dealer’s room, so now I can squeeze some more signing/face time in in-between panels and Krushenko’s.

For those of you who lurk around my profile on Facebook, I’ve “shared” some pics from the recent “Out of the Hat” performance a few week’s back in my Profile area.

Featuring Sabine Barring-Gould and the Werewolf by Roy C. Booth and Lauri Gardner — Lauri is a Finnish/Canadian citizen who teaches ESL at the University of Oulu.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2513081&l=e09a4387d1&id=705497729

Also: Just completed an interview with the Northern Student and the Bemidji Pioneer will be running a story on me in Sunday’s edition.