February 24, 2014

NEW KaCSFFS Writers News


Announcing a NEW Regular Feature!

Bryan Thomas Schmidt will edit the new feature.
ATTENTION WRITERS!  Our own Bryan Thomas Schmidt has agreed to create a new monthly feature for the KaCSFFS Blog—but he can’t do it without you! If you read this blog, you're eligible to submit information.

He’s looking for announcements about:
·      Something soon to be published
·      Something you just sold to a publication or publisher
·      E-publications of your work
·      Readings you’re scheduled to do
·      Conventions you’re attending
·      Book-signings
·      Other similar events

Appearing somewhere?  Signing books?  Tell us!
Guidelines for Submitting an Item:
·      DEADLINE: 2nd Monday of the month it will be published
·      Submit to bryan@bryanthomasschmidt.net
·      Use the subject line “KaCSFFS Writer News”
·      Include URLs for your website, blog, Facebook page, Twitter feed, Google Plus page, etc., and/or your publisher’s website, or (for author appearances) that of the convention, bookstore or other venue.
·      If you can send a bio photo or cover art, please send as a JPEG (72ppi, no larger than 500 pixels in either direction.
·      Be aware your content may be edited for style or length.

Schmidt's The Returning was published in 2013.
Who is Bryan Thomas Schmidt?
Here’s a little bit about your columnist (from his website’s bio):
Bryan Thomas Schmidt is an author and editor of adult and children’s speculative fiction including the novels The Worker Prince and The Returning, and the children’s books 102 More Hilarious Dinosaur Jokes For Kids (ebook only) and Abraham Lincoln: Dinosaur Hunter- Land Of Legends. His debut novel, The Worker Prince (2011) received Honorable Mention on Barnes & Noble Book Club’s Year’s Best Science Fiction Releases for 2011. His short stories have appeared in magazines, anthologies and online. He edited the anthologies Space Battles: Full Throttle Space Tales #6 (Flying Pen Press, 2012), Beyond The Sun (Fairwood, July 2013), and Raygun Chronicles: Space Opera For a New Age  (Every Day Publishing, November 2013) and is working on Shattered Shields with co-editor Jennifer Brozek (Baen, 2014). He also hosts #sffwrtcht (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writer’s Chat) Wednesdays at 9 pm ET on Twitter and can be found via Twitter as @BryanThomasS, on his website atwww.bryanthomasschmidt.net or Facebook.

IMAGE CREDIT: The photo of Bryan Thomas Schmidt is from his website's bio page.  The image of Robin W. Bailey signing books at ConQuesT 42 (2011) is by Keith Stokes, courtesy of Stokes' Midamerican Fan website. The cover image for The Returning is from Bryan's page about this book, released in 2013.

February 15, 2014

The Game's Afoot for SF&F Literati


Next meeting: February 24, 2014!
It's time to get started on February's Selection!
Book of the Evening: The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbes
Author: George Mann
Overview from Barnes & Noble:
A collection of short stories detailing the supernatural Steampunk adventures of detective duo, Sir Maurice Newbury and Miss Veronica Hobbes in dark and dangerous Victorian London. Along with Chief Inspector Bainbridge, Newbury & Hobbes will face plague revenants, murderous peers, mechanical beasts, tentacled leviathans, reanimated pygmies, and an encounter with Sherlock Holmes

Available from Barnes & Noble and other fine booksellers.

Remember! it's time for new selections.
Bring your list of books for the discussion of what the group can read next. 

IMAGE CREDITS: Book cover image for The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbes is courtesy of the bilingual Norwegian and English blog of Cluva, "Bookworm with a Writing Itch."
 

February 13, 2014

Come to the Black Masquerade!

What: KaCSFFS Monthly Meeting
Where: The Writers Place,
3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111
When: Saturday, February 15, 2014
Board Meeting: 5:30 p.m. (open to all interested members)
Regular Meeting: 7:00 p.m.

Meeting Theme: "Black Masquerade"
Wear black--Dress up or down, depending on time and inclination, but if you have something fun in black, this is definitely the moment to wear it! 

Got something cool in black Gothic?  Black lace?  Black leather? Okay, at least wear your favorite black T-shirt!

Masks optional, but encouraged!

Dark Cuisine, Anyone?
Extend the theme into a food item you can bring!  

It doesn't have to be black, but we encourage you to explore the "dark side," as in the accompanying illustration of "Black Velvet Rose Cupcakes" (Recipe).

Use your imagination, and release your inner dark gourmet.

Add Games to the Fun!
We'd like to encourage anyone who has a game they enjoy to bring it and share. There are tables on the landing and the second floor where you can set up a a favorite game after the business meeting.

IMAGE CREDITS: Many thanks to "The Little Things in Life" for the cool mask art, and "Diary of a Mad Housefrau" for the Black Velvet Rose Cupcakes illustration and recipe!

February 08, 2014

KC Horror Book Club February 2014 Meeting

The Ruins

By Scott Smith

Details:
Date and Time: February 9, 2013 (Sunday) from noon to 1:30.
Location: The Green Room Burgers and Beer
Address: 4010 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite D, Kansas City, MO.
Event Notes: 

Come and discuss The Ruins and grab some food too.

Trapped in the Mexican jungle, a group of friends stumble upon a creeping horror unlike anything they could ever imagine.Two young couples are on a lazy Mexican vacation–sun-drenched days, drunken nights, making friends with fellow tourists. When the brother of one of those friends disappears, they decide to venture into the jungle to look for him. What started out as a fun day-trip slowly spirals into a nightmare when they find an ancient ruins site . . . and the terrifying presence that lurks there.

-Vintage & Earline Beebe


Check the Facebook Event Page for more information.

Please contact Earline Beebe for more information on the Facebook event page.
Image from: SITE. Published by Vintage.

February 03, 2014

Laser Rangers 2014 February Meeting

Opposites Attract
Date: February 8, 2014
Time: 4:50pm
Location: David Sooby’s home theater with 51-inch Samsung HDTV, a 5.1 Surround Sound Dolby Digital sound system, a full set of audiophile-grade speakers, and upgraded seating for about 15 people without crowding.
Captain Laser: CAPTAIN NAME
Food: FOOD
Costume: COSTUME

To learn more, please visit our Facebook Event Page.


Short features will be shown before each feature. Don't miss them!

Continental Divide

(1981, 103 minutes) Directed by: Michael Apted

Starring: John Belushi, Blair Brown, Allen Goorwitz, Carlin Glynn

A hard-nosed Chicago journalist has an unlikely love affair with an eagle researcher. -IMDB

Watch the trailer here!










~~~~~
After the first feature, please join us for a potluck dinner. Bring something to share. It can follow the theme, or be something you prefer.
~~~~~

Feature Presentation!
Crocodile Dundee

(1986, 97 minutes) Directed by: Peter Faiman

Starring: Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski

An American reporter goes to the Australian outback to meet an eccentric crocodile poacher and invites him to New York City. -IMDB

Watch the trailer here!












The home of the Laser Rangers is located about four miles north of the Kansas Speedway, NW of the intersection of I-70 and I-435 on the Kansas side of the Greater Kansas City area.

IMAGE CREDITS: The information for all of these shows come from the invaluable IMDB. The movie posters come from Wikipedia or the movie's respected distributors. 


The movie screen frame image used for the Laser Rangers contact information is courtesy of Psychology Today Online. Many thanks to these websites!