Events

Ongoing Events

Blades in the Dark: The Case of the Cindered Seal

A series of Speculate 2.0’s actual play episodes using the Blades in the Dark system, in a joint production with Gregory A. Wilson’s Twitch channel. Brandon O’Brien GMs the crew of Michael R. Underwood, Valerie Valdes, Iori Kusano, and Jeoi Gawain Lin as they explore a cultist mystery in the city of Duskwall. New episodes once a month.

Next episode: September 26, 2021 on Twitch

Live Game Streaming

Monday through Thursday night at 9pm ET on my Twitch channel, I play a video game for fun! Chat with me as I ruminate about the gameplay, characters, narrative, design, graphics, real-world connections, and sometimes my own life as it relates to whatever is happening on-screen.

Currently playing: Diablo III, Mass Effect 2 and Horizon: Zero Dawn

Upcoming Events

Given the current pandemic situation, all upcoming events are virtual; there are no in-person events being planned for the foreseeable future.

FIYAHCON

September 17, 2021

1:40pm ET: Marginalized Might: The Fiction of Oppressed Supers

September 18, 2021

Clarion West Writing Workshop

Myriad Methods of Outlining Fiction

September 30-October 14, 2021 from 4:30pm-6:00pm ET (1:30pm-3:00pm PT)

Most people think of outlining as a boring bullet-point approach to organizing a narrative, but there are a variety of ways to put together an outline that looks nothing like what you might expect. In this series of classes, you’ll learn different approaches to outlining fiction that you can add to your toolbox so you’ll always have something that works for you and the story you want to tell. Guided in-class exercises will let you practice these methods and receive feedback to improve your workflow and output.

Past Events

Summer SciFi Panel

July 29, 2021 at 8pm ET (6pm MT)

Old Firehouse Books is thrilled to welcome four fabulous science fiction authors to a panel of stellar proportions! KB Wagers (Hold Fast Through the Fire), Mike Chen (We Could Be Heroes), Valerie Valdes (Prime Deceptions) and Jackson Ford (Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air) will be talking scifi adventure on Thursday, July 29th at 6pm MT. The event will be streaming to the Old Firehouse Books Facebook page, and is free.

San Antonio Book Festival

Something Queer Is Happening Up in Space: Space Operas

April 11, 2021 at 2pm ET

The diversification of fictional love stories happens not just on Earth but in space too. We’ve asked the writers of two excellent novels set high above Earth to talk about their characters and their loves in this session. A Desolation Called Peace is the spectacular space opera sequel to Arkady Martine’s genre-reinventing, Hugo Award-winning debut, A Memory Called Empire and Everina Maxwell’s Winter’s Orbit is her gut-wrenching and romantic debut. Moderated by Valerie Valdes.

Flights of Foundry

April 16, 2021

6pm ET: Constelación – Founding a Bilingual Magazine

April 17, 2021

12pm ET: Writing Contest Winner Showcase: Monique Laban
10pm ET: Surviving Your Debut
11pm ET: The Clockwork of Mechanized Emotion in Games

April 18, 2021

10am ET: Co-working Session
6pm ET: What Puzzles in Games Do
11pm ET: Trends in Speculative Poetry

How We Get Through: Writing During a Second Pandemic Year

Sunday, March 7th, 2021 at 3pm EST

How do we write through a second pandemic year? Join us for discussion with writers and novelists who are working with these questions every single day. We’ll talk about what’s been difficult, ways to cope, and how to move forward. Featuring Valerie Valdes, author of Chilling Effect; Marshall Maresca, author of The Velocity of Revolution; Ryan Van Loan, author of The Sin In The Steel; Premee Mohamed, author of Beneath The Rising; A.J. Hackwith, author of The Library of the Unwritten; moderated by Karen Osborne, author of Architects of Memory

Clarion West Writing Workshop

Sprint to the Finish: Completing a Novel in a Short Time Frame

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021 from 7-8:30pm EST (4-5:30pm PST)

This workshop covers how to prep for and make it through a noveling marathon over a short, fixed time period (such as 60 days or eight weeks!). It includes time management strategies, self-analysis tools to maximize productivity, typical emotional trajectories the writer might experience and how to handle them, rewards and incentives, and other tips and tricks to get from idea to finished draft as quickly and smoothly as possible. It will also include exercises designed to help you leave with a solid plan for how to start or complete your own project.

Hometown Novel Nights

Thursday, January 21st at 6:30pm EST

The people who bring you HNN author events are now starting a writer’s group! Meet with established authors to learn from them about the craft, learn what the publishing world is like, talk with people on how to get past your creative blocks, or ask how to build your world. Featuring Randy Gravitt and Valerie Valdes, presented by the Newnan Carnegie Library.

Book Boot Camp: How to Write a Novel Fast

Saturday, January 16th at 2:00pm EST

Writing a book can be a logistical and emotional challenge. Author Valerie Valdes shares techniques and tools to help you commit to and follow through on finishing a novel in a short time frame.

Worldbuilders

I’ve NaNoWriMoed, Now What?

Thursday, December 3rd, 2020 at 12pm EST

Featuring Mur Lafferty, Casey Lucas-Quaid, Vida Cruz, Coral Alejandra Moore and Valerie Valdes.

Experience “Blades in the Dark”

Friday, December 11th, 2020 at 8pm EST

The Strange Friends crew brings new characters to a one-shot that showcases the heist-filled fun of Blades in the Dark. Featuring GM Brandon O’Brien, Michael R. Underwood, Valerie Valdes, Iori Kusano, and Jeoi Gawain Lin.

Rituals for Moving On From 2020

Tuesday, December 15th, 2020 at 12pm EST

Featuring Valerie Valdes, S.L. Huang, Gray Miller and Jamie Dillion.

New Voices from Orbit 2020 Reddit AMA

Tuesday, December 8 through Wednesday, December 9

Head over to Reddit r/Fantasy to ask me and other Orbit authors your questions about life, the universe and everything.

Soundclash: The Clampdown Fundraiser

Sunday, November 22nd, 2020 at 10:00am EST

A fundraiser to help improve the production of an all-BIPOC cast actual-play of a brand new game, with Brandon O’Brien and a bunch of cool folks.

Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WCXPGRspyU&feature=emb_title

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Live Author Panel

Friday, November 20th, 2020 at 3:30pm EST

Organized by the South Hampton public library in collaboration with Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

RoberCon (all times EDT)

Saturday, September 26th, 2020

11:00am: Speculative Poetry: Tips for Writing the Best Verse in the ‘Verse
3:00pm: Speculative Poetry Reading: Dramatic Journeys to Unknown Realms
4:00pm: Sprint to the Finish: Completing a Novel in a Short Time Frame

Sunday, September 27th, 2020

11:00am: From the Mind to the Story: Making the Journey of Ideas Smoother
4:00pm: Hooked to Our Screens: Video Games in the Time of COVID-19

Space Moms Launch!

Tuesday, September 8th, 2020, 4pm-10pm

Karen Osborne and Valerie Valdes host a virtual literary house party to celebrate their book releases. Scheduled to appear are: Andrea Stewart, Marina Lostetter, Mike Chen, Megan O’Keefe, C.L. Polk, K.B. Wagers and Michael R. Underwood, with more guests to be announced.

Columbus NASFiC

Friday, August 21st at 8:00pm EDT: BIPOC Round Table
Saturday, August 22nd at 12:00pm EDT: The Ever-Expanding Universe of Space Operas
Sunday, August 23rd at 1:00pm EDT: Reading

Hometown Novel Nights

Thursday, August 20, 2020 at 7:00pm EDT

Hosted by the Newnan Carnegie Library, featuring Valerie Valdes, Pat McKee and Angie Gallion. Each author will share about themselves, their writing journey, and their latest book(s). Books will be available to purchase from the Carnegie or Corner Arts Gallery & Studios.

R.A. Salvatore In Conversation

Sunday, August 16 at 10:00am EDT

A virtual panel at ReedPop Metaverse with Salvatore in conversation with author Valerie Valdes (Prime Deceptions) as they discuss the highly anticipated release of the final book in the Drizzt trilogy, Relentless (Legend of Drizzt: Generations #3) and their mutual love affair with fantasy and games in general.

ConZealand

Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 8:00pm EDT: Reading
Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 8:00pm EDT: Kaffeklatsch
Friday, July 31, 2020 at 11:00pm EDT: Not Your Parents’ Space Opera
Saturday, August 1, 2020 at 8:00pm EDT: In Space No One Can See You Hide the Evidence: Crimes in Space

The Ivy Bookshop

Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at 6:30pm EDT

A virtual reading and conversation with Michael R. Underwood (Annihilation Aria) and Valerie Valdes.

Comic-Con@Home

Friday, July 24, 2020 from 3:00pm – 4:00pm PDT (6:00pm – 7:00pm EDT)

Galaxy Grrls, or the Female and Non-Binary Authors who Bridge the new Frontier of Space Fiction

Featuring Nicky Drayden (Escaping Exodus), Marina Lostetter (Noumenon Ultra), Jessie Mihalik (Chaos Reigning), Valerie Valdes (Chilling Effect), and K.B. Wagers (A Pale Light in the Black).

Flights of Foundry

May 16, 2020