Doctor Who. I don’t need to say more. You’re already triggered. So we’ll move on from there. I made a post on social media, a cheeky one out of amusement, that posited that Donald Glover should play Wonder Woman, and if anyone disagreed, they were by default racist and sexist. Nothing about the above BBC […]
How Do We Fix SFWA’s Brand Part II: The Four Ps
Last week I spent some time and identified the public perception problems that the Science Fiction Writers of America has with a large portion of the independent writer and reader demographic which now comprises more than 50% of the product consumed by Amazon’s metrics, which detracts people from joining their club. I’ve been holding off […]
Geekchats: All Things Steampunk with Beth Cato!
Tomorrow, Tuesday June 11th at 12 PM PST, I have a very special guest on for Geekchats, author Beth Cato, famous for her Clockwork Dagger and Blood of Earth series, some of the best steampunk and alt-history around. We’re going to chat all things steampunk from tropes to alt-history to final fantasy and back again. […]
How Do We Fix SFWA’s Brand – Part I: Identifying the Issues
From my poll the other day about whether I should join SFWA. It was a good sample size for my audience, which I estimate to be at about 4,000 people overall based on blog clicks/book sales. It’s no bestseller status (yet) but no chump change either in the science fiction and fantasy community, which has […]
The Should I Join SFWA Poll
SERIOUS VOTES ONLY. I have been told that I will get what I give if I join SFWA. Should I do it? — Jon Del Arroz (@jondelarroz) July 7, 2017 So far, my audience is pretty adamant, but there’s still 12 hours left for SFWA to get a chance. President Cat Rambo, who last month […]
LibertyCon Round Up!
Just getting back from LibertyCon, and I have to say I was pretty blown away by how awesome it was. Almost as awesome as being a gangsta with author A.M. Freeman here: As much as I understand they had some issues with capacity for the hotel, the actual convention at a train station and inside/around […]
LibertyCon Schedule – June 30th, Chattanooga TN!
I’ll be going to libertycon this weekend, and I’ll be in Nashville a couple of days before that to go see the Charlie Daniels Band and watch the Nashville Sounds play baseball. I actually have a pretty packed schedule but I’ll do my best to make time for everyone. At libertycon: Day Time Name […]
Speaking Out Against The Disavow and Disassociate Game
I’ve dealt with this game for a long time on a personal level, and see it going on elsewhere on a regular basis. Back in 2015, I wasn’t all that well known in the science fiction community. I had my group of friends locally, and was on the periphary of Anne McCaffrey’s sorta crew (who […]
Behavioral Observations In Science Fiction
Now, I’ve been active in this scene for a long time. Been hanging around big name authors since about 2010, been reading since the 90s, so I think I have a good sample size of the general landscape, and how people react. Here’s the truth: There’s two groups, the old guard burnout mentality, and the […]
It Gets Even Crazier: Baycon and File 770’s Recent Tantrums
Last weekend, while I was having the time of my life, having a politics-free time with some cool folk who enjoy books and genres that I do, fake science fiction news site File 770 had one of their contributors write a weird fan fiction poem about me. Apparently, this person took quite the exception to […]
#Steampunk Clockwork Alchemy 2017 Round-Up
Clockwork Alchemy in San Jose, CA marked the first time I’d attended a convention wholly dedicated to steampunk – and it was a lot of fun! The crowd had about the highest percentage of people in cosplay I’ve seen, all in elegantly designed Victorian or Steampunk attire, and many I talked to are regular participants […]
Tordotcom Celebrates #SpaceOperaWeek By Censoring Popular Space Opera Author
When I first heard about #SpaceOperaWeek, I was excited. It provided a chance to talk about the sub-genre of Science Fiction that I love more than any other, and cross-platform across the internet through the use of the hashtag to where I’d be able to reach and connect with a lot of people. Unfortunately, the […]
#SpaceOperaWeek: Tor Dot Com Writers vs. #PulpRevolution Writers
Old establishment publishing during Space Opera Week (Tor Dot Com columnist): Derp derp, trump bad. trump bad. trump bad. #PulpRevolution new hot writers during Space Opera Week: We talk about science fiction. Is it any wonder that we’re talking over the genre? That more and more people are turning to us for content and fiction […]
The Cult Of The New And Its Destruction Of Culture
Here’s a topic I haven’t really touched before, but it’s relevant to the way that culture has been systematically destroyed by a certain group over the last few decades. I’ve seen it discussed elsewhere as “the cult of the new” — where it’s driven by this near thoughtless consumerism of I NEED THE NEW […]
BayCon Announces Program Riddled With Toxic Politics
A couple of months ago, I entered the conversation in the Science Fiction and Fantasy world in a big way by daring to speak out about a long-time sci-fi convention and their bad behavior with the way they treat anyone who disagrees with their staff politically. I was very scared at first, because I’d always […]
Jon Del Arroz’s Based Dragon Award Recommendations
Ran a poll yesterday on which blog my readers would like to see next, and the winner by no uncertain terms was my recommendation for Dragon Award nominations. If you haven’t seen the Dragon Awards before, they are the premier award for Science Fiction and Fantasy, given at Dragon*Con, arguably the best convention that exists. […]
When The Opposition Media Makes No Sense
Some of my favorite mornings are when my blog gets a truckload of angry comments. It means that not only have I done something right, but that somewhere out there, fake news has completely twisted what I said to imply what I didn’t say. Today, it was phony outrage about giving out free books to […]
Authors Who Care About Fans And Readers
I am pleased to make an announcement on behalf of several great authors in the Science Fiction and Fantasy community.That announcement is: fans, we care about you, and we want you to have a good time. We support your coming out to express yourself in fandom. A couple of weeks ago, an invited headlining guest flaked […]
Last Day For Locus Award Nomination!
A lot of you have already been super helpful, but do be sure to write-in Star Realms: Rescue Run by Jon Del Arroz for Best First Novel. You can do so here: http://www.locusmag.com/Magazine/2017/PollAndSurvey.html I have a few other recommendations as well if you care to check out: Best Novelette: “No Vacancy” By Bonnie Randall Best Short […]
Geekchats Redux: Running A Successful Kickstarter w/ Author Robert Kroese
Since there were some scheduling conflicts, I will be going live shortly with author Robert Kroese about his 8th Kickstarter, Saga of the Iron Dragon which is here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1434376384/the-saga-of-the-iron-dragon-an-alternate-history-t You can tune in to watch us:
Monday Morning Round Up
I had quite the busy week last week! Set up and sold books at Colossus Con in Pleasanton, a quaint con, but a fun one. Met some cool new people, sold a good amount of Star Realms: Rescue Run and had an all around good time. For the new folk who met me this weekend: […]
Reminder: ColossusCon in Pleasanton, CA Tomorrow!
Once again reminding that I will have hard copies of Star Realms: Rescue Run for sale, will be signing, and will have limited quantities of my old webcomic Flying Sparks in graphic novel form. I’ll also be bringing my copy of Star Realms to teach folk how to play who stop by. Should be a […]
When Hugo Insane
So much is happening today. I had a planned piece that I’m going to post tomorrow instead, as there’s just been too much sci-fi news to keep up with. Even posting my thoughts on the Hugos has already been scooped by Declan Finn, so I’m going to focus on something that I haven’t seen talked about: […]
So, I Wrote A Blog For Castalia House…
Which you can read here. I also made sure my most ardent supporters are aware of it. You think they’ll read with open minds to further the betterment of culture and the discourse on such?