The Green Porch Archives - Page 26 of 30

Geeking out at Wild Wild West Con

March 7, 2011 by David Mark Brown

steam powered giraffe — Steam Powered Giraffe at Wild West Con

[dropcap2]A[/dropcap2] couple of months ago I came out of the shower. Now it’s time I come out of the locker room. (Gasp! What will he come out of next?”) You see, I played high school sports, but it turns out I’ve been a geek at heart all along. Now there’s no denying it. I’ve attended my very first con (nerd lingo for “conference”).

Albeit it wasn’t the legendary San Diego Comic-Con, but it was great fun nonetheless. While wearing a serape and sombrero I sipped cheap Cabernet from a clear plastic cup, surrounded by scads of brethren and sistren bedecked in various wild Western or Victorian English attire.

At first the connecting thread alluded me. My new friends included a lawyer, an IT professional, a musician, college students, retired homemakers, a dancer, a nurse, a librarian, etc. Some in their second decade of living, some in their fifth. What could possibly bond these people together? Until finally I seized upon it — inner geek.

Diesel vs. Steampunk: Publishing Ethics

March 2, 2011 by David Mark Brown

[dropcap2]W[/dropcap2]hen it comes to ethics, the RedneckGranola is driven by a prime directive — “stick it to the man.” Basically, greed and injustice demand civil disobedience. Thus sneaking food into a movie theater that charges two dollars for popcorn is unethical, while a theater that charges six dollars demands that I sneak in food to support the cause of the globally popcorn-oppressed. Simple. (a 200% markup is business, a 1000% markup is oppression).

But when it comes to the self-publishing ethics and marketing ethics of my upcoming novel, where do I draw the line? It has been said that “a duck is a duck is a duck.” But one could also respond, “duck, duck, goose,” so you can see my problem. (Truly mine is a dizzying intellect.) When writing a dieselpunk, weird Western, pulp adventure story there are two main options available for its marketing:

The Cowboy Code is state law

February 25, 2011 by David Mark Brown

Cowboy-Morpheus — Cowboy Morpheus calling it in.

[dropcap2]I[/dropcap2]f you’re not the sort to hitch up your girth and your only stirrups are on the bottoms of your pants, then you may not be aware that the Cowboy Code (as it is referred to by James P. Owen and not Gene Autry) is already official state code in Wyoming and making news in Montana.

Jumping Jodhpurs! What in the name of John Wayne is the Cowboy Code? And does it mean I’m now required to tip my hat at women? (it’s basic human decency, people. You should be doing it already. And if you’ve gone out and acquired a spanky new sombrero, like me, then I suggest you start tipping it.)

The Cowboy Code before the senate in Montana is referring to a 10-point code taken from the book, “Cowboy Ethics” by James P. Owen. But what are the ten points? And have state senates gone buckaroo banzai by stamping it into law?