World Horror--Toronto, Day 1 and 2

Wi-fi at the Marriot Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto is not proving terribly good, so this is going to be short and sweet.

Arrived yesterday after a smooth flight and connected with Jason Whitley. Did a quick tour of the neighborhood before picking up our badges and officially launching into the con. Got some cool stuff in the official con "swag bag," including Heart-Shaped Box, the debut novel by Joe Hill, which I've been hearing good things about.

Later, we bounced back and forth between a pair of parties and chatted with many of our fellow horror folks. Spent some time catching up with Allen K. and his wife Christine. Allen gave me a sneak peek of the cover for Inhuman # 4, which looks great.

Today's highlights: a panel of top editors and agents serving up some useful tips and info about pitching to agents and editors, a short stop-motion film adaptation of "The Pit and the Pendulum," and an hour-long discussion between Tom Monteleone and GOH Joe Lansdale.

Tonight: more parties.

Are We Blogging Yet?

Welcome to my blog.

About 10 years back it occurred to me I ought to start some sort of regular online column on my website (www.shadowhouse.com, at the time) as a way of keeping in touch with my friends and readers and hopefully attracting some new readers. This was back before “blog” had made into the dictionary. It seemed like the thing to do. But being me, I promptly procrastinated the idea into oblivion while the world roared onward. Blogging turned from novelty to necessity to a no-holds-barred flood of information, opinion, facts, pseudo-facts, and wishful thinking. And every time I thought about gearing up my own contribution, I ran up against the same obstacle.

What could I possibly add to the din?

I’m not blogging from anywhere special or for anyone in particular, other than my readers. I’m not dishing up the inside scoop from behind the scenes, and I harbor no aspirations of becoming a pop culture maven. I don’t spend hours scouring the web, so I can’t offer a multitude of links to witty animations, clever websites, and obscure resources. I'm not a politico, I don’t want your vote, and I generally don’t have breaking news to report, except about my writing. And I’m not especially eager to bare my soul and secrets to the world at large. I’m a private person by nature, and I prefer to sneak such things into the world disguised (heavily) as fiction.

So, what can I possibly blog about?

My fiction writing, for one thing. I'll start there.

Beyond that I’ve decided the best way to find out is trial by fire. Thus, I’m launching this blog the day before the World Horror Con begins and will be blogging from the con as hotel Internet access permits.

Comments and blogging tips are most welcome. A decade after I was ahead of the curve, I'm now pulling up the rear of the pack. Perhaps Toronto shall lead me to my blogging destiny.