Report from Tampa Bay Comic Con

By

 

Dora Machado

 

We had a blast at the Tampa Bay Comic Con this last weekend. Along with my Twilight Times Books colleagues, Scott Eder and Maria DeVivo, we enjoyed an exuberant celebration of fantasy and science fiction in books, television, movies, and videogames. The Con was a triumph of the human imagination. It was fun, chaotic at times, but supremely entertaining. My favorite? The panels.

Maria, Scott and I sat on several panels together with authors Tracy Akers and K.L. Nappier, to discuss the best novel-to-movie adaptations, building believable worlds, and character development. It was the first time that writing panels were included at the Tampa Bay Comic Con, thanks to the efforts of Tracy Akers and Scott Eder, who organized the panels.

The result were great. Not only were the panels extremely well attended, but they were also full of clever readers who knew their fantasy, promising aspiring writers, geniuses disguised as kids, and a host of fascinating characters.

We had awesome discussions with amazing audiences. If you are a writer, consider going to a few of these. I really enjoyed hanging out with my fellow authors, meeting so many smart and interesting readers, and sharing my writing experiences with folks who love writing, reading and fantasy as much as I do.

 

 

Fellow Twilight Times Books Authors

Maria DeVivo, Scott Eder and me in the middle.

Friends and family stopped by the TTB booth.

 



 

Yours truly at one of the panels.

 

Book signing.

 

From left to right, authors Scott Eder, Tracy Akers,

K.L. Nappier, Maria DiVivo and me.

 

 

******

 

Dora Machado is the award-winning author of the epic fantasy Stonewiser series and her newest novel, The Curse Giver, available from Twilight Times Books. She grew up in the Dominican Republic, where she developed a fascination for writing and a taste for Merengue. After a lifetime of straddling such compelling but different worlds, fantasy is a natural fit to her stories.

 

When she is not writing fiction, Dora also writes features for the award-winning blog Murder By Four and Savvy Authors, where writers help writers. She lives in Florida with her indulgent husband and two very opinionated cats.

 

 To learn more about Dora Machado and her award winning novels, visit her at www.doramachado.com , email her at Dora@doramachado.com, find her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.

 

 



 

Are we having fun yet?

A number of things have happened to me recently that just re-emphasizes the fact that a writer cannot quit writing no matter how hard they try. No, I didn't try to quit, but I did go absolutely silent for the summer.

First off, let me say that free books are such a joy! I love 'em and recently one of my online friends hooked me up with this one


Needless to say, I was thrilled. And reading is what spurs me to the writing desk, so this was the very first nudge.

Then, another writing friend, MB4's fabulous-noir-lady-about-town Marta Stephens began writing a new book and shared it with me and it just tickled my writing bone all summer long.

Most recently, my good friend, Stephen Zimmer invited me to be a panelist at next year's FandomFest: Outgrowth of Fright Night Film Fest in Louisville KY, and at Duckon, in Chicago IL next June.

A PANELIST??? omg. I am too honored and thrilled and heck yes, now seriously involved with getting back into the writing seat. So... here we go again. This post is my official reunion post as I rejoin the writing world.

PS-I am also LEAVING the radio world. If you are a fan of the show, I am so sorry because you are the reason I did it for nearly two years. But to be honest, my writing must take precedence over all now, and the show is a major time constraint.

Cheers to you, fabulous fan, and here's to a great year ahead!