“It’s Not Just a Job, It’s an Adventure!” Starting a Small Press: a Presentation by Catherine Lundoff, publisher at Queen of Swords Press.

Queen of Swords Press is a new small publisher of genre fiction, with 4 titles out so far and more on the way. Catherine will be talking about how she got started in independent publishing, what she’s learned so far and what’s next. Q&A to follow. Queen of Swords Press titles will be available for sale and light refreshments will be served.

On Wednesday, December 13 at 6:30 p.m. BRIANA LAWRENCE and JESSICA WALSH read from theIr respective works. Sixteen years ago Briana and Jessica were two fanfiction-writing ladies who geeked out over Gundam Wing boys and Resident Evil. Now? Those fanfiction days have transformed into writing careers that range from published books, freelance jobs, and articles about cosplay and the issues that come up in the community. Briana writes geeky scripts for WatchMojo.com that focus on video games and anime and also has a cosplay column for “Twin Cities Geek.” She’s also had articles published by “The Curvy Fashionista” “SyFy.com” and various other websites. She has had several books published, including her latest series, “magnifiqueNOIR” that focuses on black, queer, magical girls. Meanwhile, Jessica has had her work in Apex Magazine, Simplicity’s “Cosplay Culture,” and has also started writing for WatchMojo. She’s also been noticed by Dreamspinner Press and has a novella published called “Ironbound Kisses” along with the short “Spiked and Feathered.” Her upcoming book “Little Creepers” is an anthology of short horror stories and will be released in 2018.  Together, the two ladies are also working on a series of urban supernatural books in their “Hunters” series. This series, which has a creature who can change people’s lives with just the turn of a page, has two books so far and there are seven planned altogether.  Whether they’re doing solo works or writing together — and somehow not killing each other along the way — they always bring their best so that they can promote their work. Always promoting positivity and always supporting one another, Briana and Jessica are smiling their way through the geek scene.

The Speculations Readings Series continues monthly, mostly on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:45 p.m. at DREAMHAVEN BOOKS, 2301 38th St E, Minneapolis. Each reading includes a reception with free soda pop and cookies, and a post-reception expedition to a local bistro.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven Books and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural speculative fiction organization that also hosts a midsummer SF convention, DIVERSICON, the 26th edition of which will be
held July 27-29, 2018, with Guests of Honor CHARLIE JANE ANDERS and BRYAN THAO WORRA .

On Wednesday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m. Speculations will host the fourth annual ROUND ROBIN READINGS. Interested persons should bring poetry or short prose submissions sufficient for a five-minute reading, plus up to ten minutes of additional material in the event that the first round gets done early.

The Speculations Readings Series continues monthly, mostly on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:45 p.m. at DREAMHAVEN BOOKS, 2301 38th St E, Minneapolis. Each reading includes a reception with free soda pop and cookies, and a post-reception expedition to a local bistro.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven Books and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural speculative fiction organization that also hosts a midsummer SF convention, DIVERSICON, the 26th edition of which will be
held July 27-29, 2018, with Guests of Honor CHARLIE JANE ANDERS and BRYAN THAO WORRA .

On Wednesday, February 7 MICHAEL MERRIAM reads from his fiction. Michael Merriam is an author, actor, poet, playwright, and professional storyteller. He has published three novels, two short story collections, four novellas, and over 90 pieces of short fiction and poetry. His debut novel, Last Car to Annwn Station, was named a Top Book in 2011 by Readings in Lesbian & Bisexual Women’s Fiction. His scripts have been produced for stage and radio, and he has appeared on stage in the Minnesota Fringe Festival and over the air on KFAI and Minnesota Public Radio. Michael is a co-founder of the Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers and a member of the Artists with Disabilities Alliance, the Steampunk Artists and Writers Guild, and Story Arts Minnesota. Visit his homepage at www.michaelmerriam.com.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven Books and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural speculative fiction organization that also hosts a midsummer SF convention, DIVERSICON, the 26th edition of which will be held July 27-29, 2018, at the Best Western Plus—Como Park (by Bandana Square), Saint Paul, with Guests of Honor CHARLIE JANE ANDERS and BRYAN THAO WORRA.

On Wednesday, March 21, ROB CALLAHAN reads from his work. Rob
Callahan trained as a broadcast journalist but couldn’t get much work,
so he started doing weird short stories to keep his writing chops up.
He made his first professional sale in 2003, got his first novel out
in 2008, and then spent the next eight years working as an arts
journalist. In 2017 he completed a new novel, titled The Devil’s
Descent, and is currently planning a sequel, workingly titled A World
Within the Walls. If you ask what he writes, he will ask what you’re
buying.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven Books and SF MINNESOTA,
a multicultural speculative fiction organization that also hosts a
midsummer SF convention, DIVERSICON, the 26th edition of which will be
held July 27-29, 2018, at the Best Western Plus—Como Park by Bandana
Square, Saint Paul, with Guests CHARLIE JANE ANDERS and BRYAN THAO
WORRA.

On Wednesday, April 18 David J. Schwartz reads from his fiction. Mr. Schwartz’s’s first novel, Superpowers, was nominated for a Nebula Award. His short fiction has appeared in anthologies such as Glitter and Mayhem, Paper Cities, and The Best of Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. He lives in Minneapolis and is probably not a group intelligence of misplaced bookmarks. Probably.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven Books and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural speculative fiction organization that also hosts a midsummer SF convention, DIVERSICON, the 26th edition of which will be
held July 27-29, 2018, at the Best Western Plus—Como Park by Bandana Square, Saint Paul, with Guests CHARLIE JANE ANDERS and BRYAN THAO WORRA.

Get out there and support your favorite local independently owned bookstores!

On Wednesday, May 30, SCOTT BURTNESS reads from his fiction. Scott Burtness lives in the midwest with his wonderful wife, Liz. He has always enjoyed reading horror, sci fi, and thrillers—especially comedic takes on these genres. For Scott, reading is a fun escape, a chance to live vicariously through someone else’s adventures. He decided to start writing with the hope of entertaining readers like himself. When Scott isn’t making madcap adventures about bowling vampires, beer-guzzling werewolves, and zombies that love watching T.V, he spends his time bowling, guzzling beer, or sitting in front of the T.V.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven Books and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural speculative fiction organization that also hosts a midsummer SF convention, DIVERSICON, the 26th edition of which will be held July 27-29, 2018, at the Best Western Plus Como Park by Bandana Square, Saint Paul, with Guests CHARLIE JANE ANDERS and BRYAN THAO WORRA.

Dan Gearino, author of Comic Shop: The Retail Mavericks Who Gave Us a New Geek Culture will be in the store talking about his book and comic shops in general. Come hear about the history of the comic shop in general and where DreamHaven fits into the picture!

On Wednesday, June 27 at 6:30 p.m. DC EDWARDS reads from her fiction. dc edwards is a writer, Afrofuturist and pop culture junkie. Her first novel, Bright City, debuted in April 2017. dc edwards has a somewhat healthy obsession with Lego Minifigures, any character that has powers–she can’t choose between DC and Marvel–and the Assassins Creed video game series–her favorite one being Black Flag. dc participates in the Sunday Weekend Writing Warriors challenge where you have to write a story or an excerpt of something you’re working on in 8-10 sentences. Check her out at dcedwardswrites.com. She lives in St. Paul with her partner and their two weird cats.

Speculations is a co-production of DreamHaven Books and SF MINNESOTA, a multicultural speculative fiction organization that also hosts a midsummer SF convention, DIVERSICON, the 26th edition of which will be held July 27-29, 2018, at the Best Western Plus Como Park by Bandana Square, Saint Paul, with Guests CHARLIE JANE ANDERS and BRYAN THAO WORRA.