Let’s Talk About Me For a Bit

So, hey, I know I often bring up helpful tips, exciting pieces of information and handy writing advice, but sometimes I like to talk about myself and what I’m doing.  Because I am selfish.  So let’s do that in the form of a Q&A, except a Q&A you didn’t participate in and I just made up and decided to create an unflattering persona of you to use.

So, Sam, when’s The Skybound Sea coming out?

I’m glad you asked.  I’m well on track to have it done by winter, so hopefully a couple months after that.  It could be anywhere from spring to summer, really.  I know that’s a little frustrating, but owing to the way publishing works (and the fact that the last volume tends to take longer because of wrapping up plot threads and all), it’s going to take a bit of time.

What about the eBook for Black Halo?

I’m as frustrated as you are.  I wish I had better information to give than that, but I’m afraid I don’t.  Amazon is kind of a bitch about this.

Any chance for an excerpt of The Skybound Sea?

Yes!  Sure!  Very soon!

Any conventions planned for the next few months?

As a matter of fact, yes!

Next week, I will be at Bubonicon with the likes of John Picacio, Diana Gabaldon and some upstart called George R.R. Martin.  I don’t think his books will be very popular, so you might come by and give him some pity.

The week after that I will be at DragonCon with many Pyr authors, manning the Pyr booth, selling Pyr Books.  I wholeheartedly urge you to stop by and check stuff out.  Andrew Mayer and I will be wrestling to determine whether fantasy is superior to steampunk, once and for all.  Given that I have about six hundred pounds on him, I expect to do Tolkien proud.

Once we get to October, I’ll be doing some work at Surrey International Writer’s Conference. This continues to be my absolute favorite con-type thing to do, so I hope you’ll stop by.  I’ll be doing Blue Pencils with them and I wholeheartedly encourage you to take advantage of it.  Just think!  15 minutes with Sam Sykes judging your writing!  What fun!

And then I’ll be at World Fantasy Convention fairly soon, fistfighting Brent Weeks.  It should be a…

…Weeks-end.

As ever, if you’re running a convention somewhere and would like me to attend, please feel free to contact me.  I am the absolute best guest, as is indicated by a tiny laminated badge I stole from another guy who legitimately won it.

And that’s about it!  If you find me at any of these events, I can easily sign your book!  And if you’ve already got your book signed, you can have one of my new snazzy bookplates.

Look at that.  God it’s nice.

Hope to see you soon!