Quantum Prophecy

Oh hi there, October Convention-lovers!

These past few days, all we've been hearing are staged whispers about "letting out your inner geek" and "nerdgasming" and "transforming" and "rolling out", but what does it all mean?

Well, it may indicate a change in neuro-linguistical programming brought on by some kind of new mass-marketing machine built by Doctor Advertiso, OR, it could mean that Octocon 2009 is nearly upon us!

With only six days to go, we're putting together our final preparations for one of the greatest conventions of all time!

So, what do you have to look forward to besides The Golden Blasters film festival, Octocon's Next Top Monster, meeting Mike Carey, Derek Gunn, Michael Carroll, C.E. Murphy and more, meeting your fellow fans, and "competing to be the worst" at The Red Shirt Olympics?

We're glad you asked!

Two of Octocon's perenial favourite guests are returning in 2010 to discuss their work, and their thoughts on numerous subjects.

Michael Carroll, the astonishing author of The Quantum Prophecy and Superhuman novels and short stories, is welcomed back with open arms and we couldn't be happier to have him. Michael has written for such comic books as 2000 AD and FutureQuake.

Film-maker John Vaughan will also be returning, best known for the award-winning My Dad, which he calls "true horror". John Vaughan is also the man behind Octocon's Sci-Fi film festival, The Golden Blasters. We're so glad to have him back for 2010.

These two people have contributed so much to Octocon and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts.

Lots of love,

Octocon

In the second of our interviews with Octocon guests, we talk to the beautiful and charming writer of The Quantum Prophecy. We ask him about his many days of conventioneering, how technology has affected the craft of writing, and we find out why he gives such long answers!

Octocon: Mr. Carroll, thank you for joining us today. You've been coming to Octocon for a few years now... Has the time spent at panels and talking to other authors at cons changed how you write over the years?

Michael Carroll: I'm pretty sure it has, but I don't think I could point to many specific incidents. At least, none that have directly influenced my writing. I've picked up more from reading the works of fellow guests. I try to read at least one book by each guest with whom I'll be sharing a panel (just in case they ask!) even when said guests don't write in the genres I'd normally read. In fact, that's possibly one of the most important lessons about writing: don't just read the genres in which you write - you'll learn a lot more by reading outside your preferred genre.

I can certainly point to some specific incidents that have show me how to behave at convention. Or, rather, how not to behave... For example: Public readings should be kept short - five or six pages at most! One sure way to turn off potential readers is to bore the pants off them at a reading. There was a certain incident - a very long time ago, and not at a convention - in which an author spectacularly failed to entertain a roomful of people by reading from one of her books for a solid hour. I can remember nothing about the book, but I'll never forget how bored I was.