Cory Doctorow Reading

[Update] Now includes video, below

Doctorow Signing at Red Emma's
The place was packed

I was ecstatic to attend my first Cory Doctorow reading/signing yesterday at Red Emma’s bookstore. The small bookstore/coffeehouse was packed so tight that there was continued difficulty to open/close the front door to let more people in. The place has some amazing circulation, though, as it didn’t get stuffy or uncomfortably hot.

I made my way to the back of the store during the Q&A to buy an iced tea and a copy of Cory’s new book For The Win, and with luck was the third in line to get the book autographed. I can’t wait to start reading it as I loved the short story it was based on titled Anda’s Game.

The tea was quite good and if I lived closer to Baltimore I could see relaxing at Red Emma’s for a drink while browsing, reading, or writing.

Cory Doctorow speaking at Red Emma's
From the back of the store

Tonight Cory will be speaking at the

Battle Cancer and See Us Play

Next Wednesday we will be playing a live acoustic show in Alexandria, Virginia. The show is in support of a fund raiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I didn’t realize until yesterday that the day we will be playing is actually the one year anniversary of my brother Jamie’s death from cancer.

I cannot think of a better way to honor his memory – an amazing musician – than playing live and supporting this cause. Jamie had synovial sarcoma which is a soft tissue cancer, whereas Leukemia & Lymphoma Society support blood cancers – but hey – any progress made to eradicate ONE of these bastards is a win against all of them!

Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: The Light Horse at 715 King Street in Alexandria, Virginia

Here are the details from the Facebook event page:

Please come out and support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as we raise funds to help prevent blood cancers! Brett and I will be participating in The Nations Triathlon on September 12th. YES,That means swimming in the Potomac!!

The Light Horse has been very generous to host this event. There will be music by Phil Rossi and the Awakening,acoustic by Steve Bowes (personal friend of Trish’s), and Claire Gilbride . Also, our close friend John Krahulic will be bringing in his brew Holy Brew, the liquid confession!

Guest Bartender!! Devon McTavish from DC United!

Hope all can make it for a great cause. If you cannot make the event, please feel free to make a donation at http://bit.ly/a2231t

My Balticon 44 Schedule

I can’t wait to get to Balticon this Memorial Day weekend (May 28-31, 2010) and honored to once again participate as a panelist, performer, and moderator.

Here is a list of the events I will be participating in. Come on by and say hello- I’d love to meet you! The schedule is pretty stable, but there is always a possibility that some of the times or rooms may change – so please check back before heading out to make sure you’ve got current info.

Being a Parent in the World of New Media and Social Networking
When: Friday 9:00pm – 10:00pm
Where: Derby

Transparency vs. Reality
Being a parent alone can be hard enough, but in the world of New Media and Social Networking, there are some good things out there – and some bad things. We’ll talk about the various issues that parents have to deal with regards to New Media, as both listeners and creators, what’s out there for kids, and what measures parents can go to protect their children.

Into The Blender, Live
When: Friday 11:00pm – Midnight
Where: Chesapeake

Dealing with blended families
Chooch, Viv, and possibly a special guest discuss parenting; blended families (children from previous marriages); dealing with school, work, long distance family relationships; pop culture; gaming, and gadgetry geekiness.

Master’s Session: Audio Excellence in Podcasting
When: Saturday 9:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Derby

Presented by professional audio engineers
Master’s Session: Audio Excellence in Podcasting Our panel of professional audio engineers will discuss various topics surrounding audio engineering. They will help you get the best sound out of the equipment you have, help you pick the next piece of important equipment within your budget, and help you avoid burnout by streamlining your workflow to shorten the time you spend editing audio.

NaNoWriMo for Noobs
When: Saturday 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Where: Chesapeake

How it was won or lost
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a motivational novel-writing program for anyone who has wanted to write a novel but doesn’t know how to get started. The program provides guidelines, structure and countless tools for success yet many still do not complete the 50,000 words required to be a winner. This panel of NaNoWriMo participants and winners will discuss their strategies for success, and if finishing even matters.

Live Metamor City
When: Saturday 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Where: Chesapeake

SF/Urban Fantasy/Noir radio drama
Metamor City is a gritty mega-metropolis where the buildings soar hundreds of meters above ground and humans rub shoulders with vampires, shapeshifters, and even stranger beings. Come listen as creator Chris Lester and his all-star cast perform a live radio drama — complete with music and sound effects — and enter a world like nothing you’ve ever seen. A Q&A session with Chris will follow the performance

Phil Rossi and the Awakening
When: Saturday 9:00pm – 10:00pm
Where: Garden Room

Rock Concert
I will be performing as part of Phil’s band in the Garden Room for an hour of rock and roll. This will be my first time performing live in over 15 years! (gulp)

Sci-Fi / Fantasy Prom
When: Saturday 11:00pm – 2:00am
Where: Derby

Pirates, fairies, etc. This is what we wanted our prom to be…
This is the prom where geeks rule and freak flags fly. Come as your favorite fantasy or sci-fi character, and the very best costumes will be rewarded. Don’t have a partner? Throw on an undershirt and bring a toaster – bam, you’re Chief Tyrol! Tee Morris is the returning DJ, and Podcasting’s Rich Sigfrit returns as the Master of Ceremonies. This event is hosted by Chooch and Viv of the Into the Blender podcast.

May 28-31, 2010

Random Acts of Chooch