Posts Tagged ‘Simon & Schuster’

Find David Mack at NYCC ’14

ST.Section.31.Disavowed.CvrJust a friendly reminder —

Kevin Dilmore and I will be hand-selling and signing copies of Star Trek: Seekers #1and Star Trek: Seekers #2 tomorrow, Thursday, October 9, from 3PM–4PM, in the Simon & Schuster pavilion, Booth #1828.

I will also be hawking special advance copies of Section 31: Disavowed, nearly three weeks ahead of its official shelf date, so if you’re coming to NYCC, you don’t want to miss this!

Also, look for me Saturday, October 11, from 7:15PM–8PM, in Room 1A24, where I will be taking part in the panel Star Trek at 50: From “The Cage” to Today.

See you at the con, folks!

 

My updated NYCC 2014 schedule (#SFWApro)

My schedule for New York Comic Con 2014 and its associated Super Week continues to evolve. Now, in addition to my signing and a panel, I will also take part in a full-day writers’ seminar. Details below!

Thursday, October 9

3PM–4PM — Autographing • Simon & Schuster, Booth #1828

ST.Section.31.Disavowed.CvrI and fellow Star Trek author Kevin Dilmore will be signing copies of Star Trek: Seekers #1 and Star Trek: Seekers #2, both of which will be available for purchase at the convention.

Also available as an NYCC exclusive, advance copies of my newest Star Trek novel, Section 31: Disavowed.

 

Friday, October 10

2:45PM–3:15PM — Novel Concept: How To Write & Sell Your First Novel

I’ll join Brendan Deneen, Pouya Shahbazian, Corey Sienega, and moderator Scott Mantz for this 30-minute panel. It’s just one part of the full-day writers’ seminar WRITE ON!, an NYCC Super Week event taking place at The Hammerstein Ballroom.

UPDATE: I was informed today (Sunday, October 5) that the WRITE ON! Writers Workshop has, sadly, been canceled.

 

Saturday, October 11

7:15PM–8PMStar Trek at 50: From “The Cage” to Today — Room 1A24

I’ll join a distinguished panel of Star Trek luminaries to discuss the long and venerable history of one of science fiction’s most successful and enduring creations.

 

See you all at the show, folks!

#SFWApro

 

New York Comic Con signing — Thursday only!

ST.Section.31.Disavowed.CvrIf you’ll be attending New York Comic Con this year, you won’t want to miss the first day — because that’s when I and Kevin Dilmore will be signing at the Simon & Schuster table in Booth #1828!

We’ll be there on Thursday, October 9, from 3PM–4PM, to sell you copies of Star Trek: Seekers #1 by yours truly, and Star Trek: Seekers #2, by Kevin Dilmore and Dayton Ward.  Kevin will have adhesive bookplates signed in advance by Dayton, so if you haven’t yet picked up signed copies of the Seekers novels, this will be your best chance to snag both at once.

Also scheduled to go on sale exclusively at New York Comic Con will be a limited supply of advance copies of my new novel Section 31: Disavowed. If that doesn’t get your Trek-motor revved up, I don’t know what will.

See you on the con floor, folks!

 

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Today has been a mixed bag, to tell the truth.

The Good

I received some excellent, detailed feedback on a new book-series proposal I’ve been working on for a while. Although the consultant found a lot of areas for improvement, which means I have a lot of rewriting ahead of me, I really feel like it’s going to make this project proposal better and more saleable. Some of the specific revisions and additions we talked about today sounded exciting to me.

The Bad

I’ve been stuck in the house all day, waiting for frickin’ UPS to deliver some books my wife ordered from Amazon. It’s so frustrating; because UPS can’t commit to any particular window of time, I end up a victim of house arrest from 8am until whenever the hell they show up. It’s currently 6:40pm, and there’s been no sign of these chumps. That’s my whole day, flushed. And I had stuff to do outside in the world, too.

The Ugly

In what I have to admit is a career first for me, I had a book canceled put on hold by the publisher this morning. (ETA: To clarify, it was one of four titles indefinitely postponed. Follow the link for more details.) (EATA: It has been pointed out to me that, technically, my book and the other three are not “canceled,” they have been “put on hold” — the difference being that in the latter case, there is a possibility that they might be published at some future date, while the former implies permanent oblivion. I apologize for the imprecision.)

The victim in this case is More Beautiful Than Death, my novel based on the recent Star Trek film by director J.J. Abrams. The official statement from Simon & Schuster is concise and unambiguous:

“With last summer’s blockbuster STAR TREK movie, JJ Abrams created a new vibrant, layered version of the Star Trek universe. After careful consideration, we decided to hold off on telling new stories while JJ and his team continue to develop his vision.”

My only comment on the matter is this: Though I’m disappointed that Star Trek fans won’t get a chance to read the novel I wrote (ETA: at least, not this year), I understand the publisher’s rationale for holding off on publishing the books, and I respect their right to do so.

Before anyone writes to me looking for more information, I’ll just tell you that I don’t have any. And, although the book was written and had been copy edited, I cannot and will not share it online or via e-mail. The nature of work-for-hire is that while I am entitled to compensation and credit for my labors, the final product is not my property. In other words, even though I wrote the book, it is not mine to share, sell, or give away, so please don’t ask.

Perhaps one day my “lost novel” and the others that were shelved along with it might see the light of day. For now, however, they belong to the realm of “what might have been.” Alas.

Last Edit: UPS delivered my wife’s books at 7:30pm.

My Sensei Has Left the Building

As reported on ComicMix.com and posted on kradical‘s LJ, Marco Palmieri, a senior editor at Pocket Books who was responsible for acquiring, developing, and/or editing nearly two-thirds of the Star Trek books published from 2005 through the end of next year, has been laid off from his job as part of a corporate-ordered general layoff of 35 workers at his company.

The bulk of my work as an author has been for Marco; he took chances on me as a new, untested writer that few (if any) other editors would have. He rolled the dice and acquired my first original novel when no one else in town would.

He has been not only my editor, but my teacher, my coach, my cheering section, my counselor, my brother, and my friend. I have for years called him my sensei; this is an honor I have afforded to no other editor.

The selfish part of me worries over how his departure might hinder my own future prospects as an author, but the more serious matter is that Marco was the sole provider for his family — for his wife and two children. And now, three weeks before Christmas, he has been deprived of employment.

So far, he remains upbeat and optimistic. It has always been his nature to look on the bright side. I recall vividly a quote that I will always associate with him: “Pessimism is a misuse of imagination.” Good advice. I wish that I were wise enough to heed it.

None of us knows what will come next. All I can do is hope that Marco will find gainful employment in his field, so that his wonderful talents and energy do not go to waste. I hope he finds something better than what has been taken from him. And I hope that he and I will have the pleasure and privilege of working together again, crafting books and stories, very, very soon.

Writing Star Trek books will not be the same without him there to guide my imagination. The annual Shore Leave convention will not feel right without him. But I know that he will find a way to go forward and roll with this change, so I will, too.