Category: event (Page 1 of 2)

RobinsonFest 2024 Wrap-Up: Good Times, Great People, and Gators Galore!

RobinsonFest 2024 has come and gone, and I’m left here basking in the glow of what was one of the most fun-filled, laughter-packed, and memorable weekends in recent years. If you were there, you know exactly what I mean. If you weren’t, well, it’s time to start planning for next year—because this past Fest in St. Augustine, Florida was the stuff of legend!

Thursday: Kicking Off the Fun

We kicked things off with our classic meet-and-greet at the Homewood Suites. The energy in the room was electric and it had nothing to do with me. We were old friends reuniting and newcomers diving in like seasoned Fest veterans. Imagine walking into a room of people you’ve never met and being welcomed like you’re long-lost BFFs with forty people. That’s the kind of welcome people get at these gatherings, and it blows me away every year. Before long, we were swapping stories, giving hugs, and laughing like we’d known each other forever. The night continued at Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grill, where the outdoor courtyard buzzed with conversations (which had the occasional battle against St. Augustine’s surprisingly loud and determined cicadas). Special shoutout to raffle winner Julie Carter, who joined us for dinner and brought an extra dose of cheer to the evening.

Friday: I See Dead People…and Pirates!

Friday morning saw us on a trolley tour that provided just the right mix of historical tidbits and context for what was to come: the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. There, we marveled at centuries-old stonework and found the secret room where a former commander had chained his wife and her lover to the wall before sealing them in—fun! Lunch at Meehan’s Irish Pub was a hit (their fish and chips is divine), especially with Heather Beth Eisenberg (that meal’s raffle winner) seated beside me.

The afternoon was a leisurely stroll through downtown, which turned into a dramatic, patience-testing wait to board the Black Raven pirate ship. Once on the vessel, though, the frustrations melted away as we were regaled with seafaring tales, yo-ho-ho-ing aplenty, and enough “Arrrghs” to last a lifetime. It was during this voyage, as I stood on the uppermost deck, looking over a ship full of friends laughing and having fun, that I was struck by a feeling of having accomplished something undeniably good.

Sure, I write novels that people love, but we all generally experience the stories separately. Coming together with a common love of characters and stories, in an atmosphere that allows us to stay casual is a unique experience. I don’t normally feel pride about my novels, but I do about RobinsonFest.

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KAIJU MONDAY SALE!

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Forget Cyber Monday. KAIJU MONDAY is taking over.

Beware of Monsters is commandeering the day and launching a sale that dwarfs all others, in scope, content and savings! What could we possibly be selling that’s so big, for so little, you ask? *Just play along…say, “Yes.”

The answer (as you probably guessed from the blog’s title): Kaiju! 

That’s right, SIX Kaiju Thrillers (available for Amazon Kindle) are now on sale for $0.99. The price will change to $1.99 at midnight tonight (11/28/2016) so don’t waste any time dilly-dallying. Snag your Kindle, and spread the word to monster lovers everywhere. The $1.99 price will revert back to full price at midnight on 11/29/2016, so even if you’re late to the sale by a day, it’s still pretty good pricing.

Which books are included in the sale?

I’m glad you asked (pretend you did). Essentially, every kaiju novel I’ve written. Links and samples of all books included in the sale can be found below!

PRO TIP: If you prefer audiobooks, you can buy the $0.99 Kindle edition and then get the Audible audiobook for just $1.99, which is obviously cheaper than buying it outright.

 
 

 

BONUS KAIJU NOVEL!
That’s right, there’s more!
Just $0.99! No shipping and handling!

 

ROBINSONFEST – AUTUMN OF DESTRUCTION – Post Event Wrap-up

 

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Going into RobinsonFest 2016, I had two fears. The first was that, given my recent personal challenges, I wouldn’t feel up to being social; that people would feel they’d wasted their money to hang out with a mopey, boring dude. The second was that the magic that was the first RobinsonFest wouldn’t be repeatable, and again, people wouldn’t have a good time.

It’s now been two days since RobinsonFest ended, and I can pretty confidently say that both of my fears were unfounded. While I’m still afraid I didn’t get to really connect with everyone who attended, I think everyone had a great time, and the magic that was the inaugural RobinsonFest returned in full force, despite the screwballs thrown our way by the weather.

RobinsonFest isn’t a sterile event where the author is held at a distance, exchanging platitudes and small talk. In addition to the ridiculous child-like fun, we also openly talked about our lives, the good and the bad, and how we’re coping. As a result, I now have a large number of new friends, and deeper relationships with those who attended last year. Given my mental state for the last few months, I was extremely grateful for this.

Okay, enough with the blathering! Here’s a breakdown of the event, and gobs of photos (in a randomly ordered gallery below).

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ROBINSONFEST 2015 – THE EPIC EVENT OF APOCALYPTIC PROPORTIONS

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I learned something over the past weekend. The success of an event like RobinsonFest doesn’t hinge on all my planning and machinations. It has everything to do with the people attending. And in the case of RobinsonFest, the folks who attended made this one of the most memorable events of my life. As the group filtered together on the first night and headed out to a meal that was simultaneously described as “food art” and “roadkill on a chalkboard” this band of people didn’t feel like strangers from the far reaches of the globe (Australia, England, Seattle, Florida, Michigan, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Pennsylvania), they felt like old friends. We visited sites featured in the Project Nemesis books, Kronos, Antarktos Rising, SecondWorld, Xom-B, and The Last Hunter, stormed a slew of restaurants, held two author panels at Barnes & Noble, and took a harbor cruise to an island populated by killer seagulls…but no BFSs.

But again, none of that compares to the people, who made every moment fun, who kept me smiling so much my cheeks hurt at the end of the day, and who brought this severe introvert out of his cloistered author shell. Below is a collection of photos from the weekend, including brief descriptions. I’d like to invite all the RobinsonFest attendees to post their favorite moments in the comments section. Let’s make everyone green with envy and hope they join us next time…and there WILL be a next time! Huge thanks to everyone who came. The first RobinsonFest far exceeded my expectations, and that had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with all of you.

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