Meeting Follow-up

KaCSFFS' 46th Birthday Party is now part of history, but it needs a few follow-ups. The July meeting was held 7/15/2017 in our usual venue, The Writers Place, in midtown Kansas City, MO.

Third-place
"Out of This World" cake.

The pastry chefs of KaCSFFS rock!
We had a nice assortment of cakes for this birthday party, which were formally presented before the tasting. Then we tasted, voted, and here are the winners:

Second-place
"Artificial Gravity"
cake.

Third place: The Means Family, for their "Out of This World" cake (lemon cake with dark chocolate frosting).
Their prize: A copy of the Rocket Jockey card game.

Second place: Liz Gooch and Luke Plumb, for their "Artificial Gravity" cake (Banana with coconut and walnut topping, "adjusted for the spin"--i.e., sort of lopsided. But tasty!)
Their prize: A DVD of Aeon Flux, a movie from 2005.

First-place
"Rum-Soaked Fruitcake"--
Not a crumb left behind!

First place: Beth Moscato, for her runaway favorite, the adults-only "Rum-Soaked Fruitcake."
Her prize: a pair of tickets to the historic Screenland Armour Theatre (films), plus a coupon for popcorn.

These bested a field of other entries that ranged from an imaginatively-decorated cake featuring a rocket surrounded by little green (gummy bears) men, to a package of Fig Newtons ("It's not a cookie--it's fruit and CAKE!")

Special thanks go to Earline Beebe, and David and Marisa Means, who secured the prize donations.

Puerto Rico NASFiC presentation
Jan and Ty Gephardt put together a photographic presentation about their trip to NorthAmeriCon '17, the 2017 North American Science Fiction Convention, held July 6-9 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We've included it below, for your potential enjoyment:



Great stories from KaCSFFS' past!
We capped the evening with a funny and enlightening panel discussion by four longtime KAXFEN, Ken Keller (one of the co-founders), Robin Wayne Bailey, James "Jim" Murray (AKA Dr. Paisley), and Paula Helm Murray.

L-R: Ken Keller, Robin Wayne Bailey, Jim Murray, and Paula Helm Murray told some great stories from KaCSFFS' past.

They regaled us with stories of how the club was founded, friendships and a mutually-supportive community established, and also some humorous and/or hair-raising tales from the rich history of BYOB-Cons, ConQuesTs, and other notable events through more than four-and-a-half decades.

Members! Check your emails!
The summer 2017 selection for the Reviewers' Reading Circle, Stupid Humans by V. R. Craft, is now available for free download as a reviewer's copy.

This offer is open for all dues-paid KaCSFFS members. We are featuring this book starting with the July meeting through a live author interview with V.R. Craft at the August meeting, and concluding with the September meeting.

IMAGES: All the photos on this web page, and at least half of those in the NASFiC presentation, are by Jan S. Gephardt. Most of the remaining photos in the presentation are by Tyrell E. Gephardt; the remaining photos (credited at the end of the NASFiC presentation) are from the official website of the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, where the NASFiC was held. The Stupid Humans book cover image is from Amazon. Many thanks to all!

Spring 2017 Creative Corner

What have the Creative Friends of KaCSFFS been up to, lately? Quite a lot, as usual.

Mark your Calendars!
ConQuesT 48
Regional science fiction conventions are nearing--and not only KaCSFFS' own ConQuesT 48, although we think that one is particularly notable! Set for Memorial Day Weekend, May 26-28, 2017, technically every guest, programming participant, and exhibiting artist is a Creative Friend of KaCSFFS! So don't miss it!

Spectrum Fantastic Art Live April 21-23

KaCSFFS' Creative Friend John Picacio invites us all to come to Spectrum Fantastic Art Live, as it returns to the Kansas City Convention Center for a weekend of the best speculative art in the world. We are incredibly lucky to have such an event in our city. The show has shifted from its previous third-weekend-in-May time recently, but it is important for as many attendees to follow it as possible. We want to keep it in town! See John in Booth #418. He's bringing new originals and longtime favorites to display and sell.

John Picacio will offer four of his new Loteria pieces, as well as others, at Spectrum Fantastic Art Live, April 21-23, 2017. Be there!

Our Creative Friends will be at 
other events in April and May, too! 
Here are some of them:
April:
StarFest Denver, Denver, CO (April 21-23, 2017): Bryan Thomas Schmidt
Festival of the Arts, Oklahoma City, OK (April 25-30, 2017): David Lee Anderson
Planet Comicon, Kansas City, MO (April 28-30, 2017): Rob Howell; Aaron Hollingsworth (selling his books and also swords, in association with Ziggy's West).
Art in the Square, Southlake, TX (April 28-30, 2017): Randal Spangler

May:
Ad Astra, Richmond Hill, Ontario (May 5-7, 2017): Rob Howell 
Downtown Edmond Arts Festival, Edmond, OK (May 5-7, 2017): Randal Spangler
DemiCon, Des Moines, IA (May 5-7, 2017): Ty and Jan Gephardt, Dora Furlong
Comicpalooza, Houston, TX (May 12-14, 2017): Bryan Thomas Schmidt 
Tulsa International Mayfest, Tulsa, OK (May 18-21, 2017): David Lee Anderson, Randal Spangler
ConQuesT 48, Kansas City, MO (May 26-28, 2017): EVERYONE. Be there!!
Art Market of Estes Park, Estes Park, CO (May 27-29, 2017): Randal Spangler
Paseo Arts Festival, Oklahoma City, OK (May 27-29, 2017): David Lee Anderson

Aaron Hollingsworth on Kickstarter

Folded Steel: More Tales of the Weird and Woeful is a collection short stories by local KC author Aaron Hollingsworth. The collection features tales inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, and Clark Ashton Smith, with a loose theme of cruel irony. To cover the cost of printing and audiobook production for Folded Steel, Aaron is launching his first-ever Kickstarter Campaign. The campaign ends April 30, so if you want to back it, don't put it off!

Writer trio mounts regional book-signing tour

Little Green Men--Attack! co-editors Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Robin Wayne Bailey, both of whom also have stories in the collection, as well as James E. Gunn, who wrote another of the collection's stories, have been making the rounds of local book-signings in March and April.  

The anthology was released March 7, and in addition to work by Schmidt, Bailey, and Gunn, it includes stories by Robert Silverberg, Mike Resnick, Allen M. Steele, Esther Friesner, Elizabeth Moon, Seanan McGuire, Jody Lynn Nye, Kristine Kathryn Rusch and many more.

What's it about? "From the far reaches of outer space they come--inscrutable aliens, malicious invaders, wacky tourists from another planet--to conquer, study, and tickle us. From the battlefields of the Ozarks to the marble halls of the Boston Library, from Central Park to the skies above Washington, on the moon and in the seediest bars of Kansas City--they're here. But do they really know who they're up against? Not hardly!"

James K. Burk, A.K.A. Rob Jackson
Another March release, this one from WolfSinger Publications, is The Long Way Home, by James K. Burk, writing under the pen name of Rob Jackson. It's a science fictional break from Burk's previous fantasy genre novels and short fiction.

In this story, "a handful of men escape a Russian POW camp and make their way to Poland to alert whatever governments are left that the Russians are planning a strike simply called Operation A. They discover a world that has changed, devastated by plague and war, but where some groups are struggling to rebuild civilization, others continue to serve dead ideologies. The group becomes 'Recon Nine,' and sets out to track down the higher command from the prison camp who are instrumental in Operation A."

David Lee Anderson, Actor

David Lee Anderson

Longtime fantasy and sf artist David Lee Anderson has in recent years turned to additional creative areas. As noted above in the April-May calendars he has recently been showing his work in juried art shows and art fairs, alongside more traditional artists.

He also has been attending classes at The Actor Factory and landing parts in movies shot in Oklahoma. His most recent movie project was a lead role in a short film titled Assisted Living. He has already started on a "lead role in another project." We'll keep you posted about release dates, etc. when we learn about them. This is by no means his only role; as we announced in February, he also recently wrapped up a role, "Homeless Man," in a feature-length Harvey Lowry film called Southern Christmas.

IMAGES: The ConQuesT graphic is by Jan S. Gephardt and was created for use with KaCSFFS social media. The Spectrum Fantastic Art Live header is from the SFAL Facebook page. The John Picacio Loteria images are courtesy of John's Facebook page. The Folded Steel image is courtesy of Aaron Hollingsworth's Kickstarter page; it is the opening image in a short video about the project. Many thanks to Amazon for the cover of Little Green Men--Attack! The full, back and front cover image for The Long Way Home was provided by the author. The photo of David Lee Anderson is courtesy of his bio page. 

2016 KaCSFFS Thanksgiving

The KaCSFFS tradition of having a Thanksgiving dinner together each year was started so no KaXFAN would ever have to go through the season without Thanksgiving dinner (even if it was a bit time-shifted). We made sure of it yet again this year, at The Writers Place. Here are some photos.

We opened with a short business meeting, conducted by Margene Bahm.

While waiting for other diners to take their turn, we enjoyed good conversations.

Feasters began with the drinks and turkey meat.

From there, they moved on to the side dishes.

The dessert table offered a variety to finish things off. 

Then everyone dug in. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

After the meal, one group went upstairs to play a tabletop game. Others sat around and chatted, or participated in an informal beer-tasting. A good time was had by all.

IMAGES: All photos are by Jan S. Gephardt.

Costumes, treats, and Julia Mandala Headline October Meeting, 10/15/16

Susan Ives and Carol Doms
livened up the food table in 2013.

What: Halloween KaCSFFS Meeting

Where: The Writers Place

3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111

When: Saturday, October 15, 2016

6:00 Setup Begins!

6:30 Latest time the business meeting will start. 
7:00 The conversation with Julia Mandala begins! 

Food Theme: Halloween-themed Party Food! 

Consider dressing for the occasion 
KaXFEN usually come in costume for the October meeting, and we've had some strange and interesting looks over the years, from exotic wearable constructions to double-take-worthy makeup and special effects. But even if you don't feel like costuming up yourself, please come and enjoy the creations of those who do. 

Everyone in costume lined up for a photo at the 2014 Halloween meeting.

Every Halloween party needs food
If there's one thing we've learned, it's that KaXFEN not only love to eat--many of them also are excellent and creative cooks. Please bring something delicious and seasonally-appropriate to share. 

Tracy Majkol surveys the bounty at the 2014 Halloween meeting

Julia Mandala at this year's Archon.

Get ready to Meet the Author/Editor
Our main programming event this month is a live interview with our Reviewers' Reading Circle author, Julia Mandala. She will join us live and in her own costume via FaceTime, to discuss her new book book Blood Songs, our RRC Selection for October, and to tell us about the new Fantasy Writers Asylum imprint she's now editing for Yard Dog Press. 

IMAGES: Many thanks to Ty Gephardt and Jan Gephardt for photos of costumes and food from past meetings. Many thanks to Jim Hines, via Facebook, for the photo of Julia Mandala reading to an audience at this year's Archon 40 convention.

Creative Corner

Coming very soon! MONDAY Nov. 16!
Bryan Thomas Schmidt invites everyone to a reading and book launch for Mission: Tomorrow,inside the KU Student Union at Jayhawk Ink, 2nd Floor, 1301 Jayhawk Blvd., Lawrence, KS. 

Hugo-nominated Editor Schmidt, and authors James Gunn, Robin Wayne Bailey and Chris McKitterick will be reading selections from the new Baen hard sf anthology, and signing copies.

The event is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 16, from 5:30-7:45 p.m. Refreshments will be served. 

More News from Bryan Thomas Schmidt--and Friends

Robin Wayne Bailey

Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Robin Wayne Bailey are putting finishing touches on the anthology Little Green Men – Attack!, a humorous Science Fiction anthology for Baen Books. It will feature close encounter stories with a humorous twist and includes new stories from James Gunn, Mike Resnick, Elizabeth Moon, Esther Friesner, Selina Rosen, Seanan McGuire, Allen Steele, Jody Lynn Nye, and Kristine Kathryn Rusch, as well as Robin and Bryan and many others. It’s expected release date will be either late 2016 or early 2017.

Bryan Thomas Schmidt

Bryan Thomas Schmidt also sold a YA anthology, Decision Points, to WordFire Press publisher Kevin J. Anderson. The anthology includes new and reprint stories of science fiction, fantasy and horror that revolve around character choices.

A never-before anthologized “Ender” story by Orson Scott Card joins stories by Mike Resnick, Robert Silverberg, Steven Gould, Cory Doctorow, Lois McMaster Bujold, Jonathan Maberry, Alethea Kontis, Nnedi Okorafor, Robert J. Sawyer and KC-area writer K.D. McEntire, amongst others.

M.C. Chambers included in new Anthology

Author and KaCSFFS member M.C. Chambers has a new story in a just-released speculative fiction anthology from Hadley Rille Books, Ruins Excavation. 

It consists of 17 stories built around the theme "Women of Color Archaeologists excavate ruins across the world," and it is available as either an e-publication or as a paperback.

Her story, “Uno Por Cada,” is about an archeologist and her sister, a puppeteer, in conflict with a time-traveling slave trader.   

Mitchell Bentley, Artist and Thespian

The lovely and talented artist, our friend Mitch Bentley, has announced a new cover, plus two acting projects and an upcoming appearance in Kansas City. 

The cover art is for Posh Bytes: BeautyWorld Tales of Whimsey and Woe by C. Rose. The author has created a world wherein people wear electronic body suits that are programmable fashions - connected via web and neural implant, so one buys a new “dress” or even make-up program and they flick through their library of stuff to change what they wear or how they look. Rose bought all rights, so there will be one canvas, period. No prints.

He is in a play called Susquehanna to Freedom (not sci-fi/fantasy), written by Dr. Dorothy King, a professor at Penn State Harrisburg; she and Cathie McCormick (Mitch's wife) did the research for this together and traveled to several locations to gather information and go through archives.

John W. Jones Museum

This production is a fundraiser for the John W. Jones Museum in Elmira, NY. The story is about the underground railroad and how abolitionists and others helped slaves to freedom along the Susquehanna River. 

Mitch plays Dr. Howard Malcolm, the president of Lewisburg University (now Bucknell), in scene 5. The play is being performed in Elmira, NY. This is the 4th production of this play, which has been performed at several locations along the Susquehanna; Mitch has previously performed in two earlier production.

Mitch's 3rd full-length feature film and IMDB entry is also about to be released.The film is a comedy called Pretendagers, written and directed by Hal Cramer. He appears in the last ¼ or so of the film as the store owner, Stewart Eissen. He's not in the official trailer, but here it is: 

Mitch and KaCSFFS' own Sherri Dean are slated to be the Artist GOH and Author GOH respectively, at the KC Cosmic Expo, Feb. 13-14, 2016. Mitch's wife Cathie McCormick is the Fan GOH at this event.  

Randal Spangler Fantasy Art announces Holiday Open House

New print: "Tree of Enchantment"

Kansas City fantasy artist Randal Spangler will host his Annual Holiday Open House at his home on the first two weekends of December, on Dec. 5-6, 2015, and then again on Dec. 12-13. 

Hours for each of the Saturdays are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on each of the Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Come enjoy the season with cookies, coffee, Christmas music, and a beautiful Christmas tree. 

There will be new artwork, older pieces, and some originals. You also might score some bargains among Randal's marked-down "travel worn" pieces that have been to several art fairs or Renaissance Festival booths en route to their new homes. For more information, please see his website.

New Print: "Adventures in Reading"

Ty Gephardt appears in a KC Steak Co. ad

Now airing on Time-Warner Cable channels, former KaCSFFS President and current member Ty Gephardt appears briefly in the ad "We Own the Fillet" by Kansas City Steak Company. Ty is represented by Hoffman International Model and Talent Agency of Leawood.

 

Late Updates!

Book Debut and Book-Signing, plus an additional Art Open House
The Curse of Jacob Tracy, the debut novel of Lawrence-based Holly Messinger that has been getting very positive advance reviews, becomes available for sale December 1, in bookstores and online. 

Holly will be signing copies from 2-4 p.m. December 13, 2015 at the Topeka, KS Barnes & Noble, 6130 SW 17th St., Topeka, KS.

Digital artist and jewelry designer Deb Pellicano has announced she will hold a Studio Open House and Art Sale December 13. Several prints and original jewelry will be available. Watch this blog for location and more details!

Two new elf-girl prints from Deb Pellicano

IMAGES: The cover for Mission: Tomorrow is courtesy of Bryan Thomas Schmidt. The photos of Bryan Thomas Schmidt and Robin Wayne Bailey are courtesy of the two authors, via this blog. 
The cover art for Ruins Excavation is courtesy of Hadley Rille Books. 
The cover for Posh Bytes is from Mitchell Bentley, and is used with permission from C. Rose. image of the Jones Museum is from the Elmira, NY Star-Gazette. The Pretendagers trailer is via YouTube. 

The header, "Tree of Enchantment," and "Adventures in Reading" images all are used with permission from Randal Spangler Fantasy Art.

The screen-grab of Ty's half-second of fame is courtesy of Ty Gephardt, and the "We Own The Fillet" video is via YouTube. 

The cover art for The Curse of Jacob Tracy was provided by Holly Messinger.
The two elf-girl print images were provided by Deb Pellicano.

Many thanks to all!