Now you see me, now you don’t … here are some of the times and places I’m popping up like a groundhog on a cloudy day.

2020

SiWC Author Showcase, Friday 23 October

Pulp Literature Autumn 2020 Launch, Saturday 7 November, 2pm

Pulp Literature Issue 28, Autumn 2020 is ready to launch! Join us for live author readings, chat with our guests, ask questions, and enter for your chance to win a fabulous door prize!

We’re streaming author readings live on YouTube, and invite you to join our Discord channel for the pre- and post-show chat. So put on your Saturday afternoon best — or your coziest jammies — because we’re bringing the party to you!

Past Events

Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium, March 2020

What the Wind Brings Launch, 27 October, New Westminster BC

Join us for a convivial evening of readings and book signings from Matthew Hughes and other Pulp Lit authors as we launch this magnum opus alongside Pulp Literature Issue 24 at the Wylde Wood Collective in the River Market at New Westminster Quay. I will be premiering my new series, La Bergere, featuring Toinette, a plucky shepherdess-turned-spy in 17th century France.

SiWC Author Signing, 26 October, Surrey BC

I will be signing books along with other Pulp Lit authors JJ Lee, Tyner Gillies, KT Wagner, Deepthi Atukorala, Susan Pieters, and Margot Spronk at the Surrey International Writers Conference. The signing takes place in the Fraser Room from 5-7pm and is free to the public.

Pulp Literature Issue 24 Launch, 23 October, Port Coquitlam BC

Join PULP Literature and EVENT magazine at Western Sky Books for an evening of literary delights.

Carosella 2019 27-29 September, Langley BC

From curious onlookers to dedicated knights, there is something for everyone at Academie Duello’s three day celebration of mounted skill at arms. The symposium at Cornwall Ridge Farm in Langley BC includes two full days of clinics and workshops, followed by our popular annual Knightly Games Tournament. View the full schedule here.

Swordsquatch 2019, 6-8 September, Seattle WA

Just Add Horse: Measure, Breadth, and Tempo Considerations in Mounted Work: Fiore dei Liberi provides us with a beautifully complete weapons system from unarmed combat, through short and long weapons, to mounted combat, with actions and concepts that are often interchangeable between weapons. However, the speed, dimensions, and differing mobility of a horse add complexity and restrictions to mounted combat that are not found in ground-based combat. In this workshop we will explore how single-handed sword actions need to alter when taken to the saddle. As well, we will look at which actions translate seamlessly and are your ace in the hole, regardless of where you’re fighting from.

When Words Collide 2019, 9-11 August, Calgary Alberta

Schedule tba, but will include a Pulp Literature Book Social and my ‘David vs Goliath’ presentation.

Vancouver International Swordplay Symposium (VISS), 5-7 April 2019

Just Add Horse: Measure, Breadth, and Tempo Considerations in Mounted Work: Fiore dei Liberi provides us with a beautifully complete weapons system from unarmed combat, through short and long weapons, to mounted combat, with actions and concepts that are often interchangeable between weapons. However, the speed, dimensions, and differing mobility of a horse add complexity and restrictions to mounted combat that are not found in ground-based combat. In this workshop we will explore how single-handed sword actions need to alter when taken to the saddle. As well, we will look at which actions translate seamlessly and are your ace in the hole, regardless of where you’re fighting from.
Teaching Every Body: Adapting your Curriculum for Gender Differences: The historical swordplay treatises we work from were generally commissioned, written, and illustrated by men, for men, and about men. In this workshop we will explore the skeletal, muscular, physiological, and psycho-social differences between women and men in a martial arts context. Is a canonical position illustrated in the manual effective for all body types? How does elbow attachment and femur angle affect stance? What are the barriers faced by women entering into a traditionally male-dominated art, and how can we help level the playing field? Many of the insights from this session will be applicable not just to gender differences, but to differences in ability, build, and background as well.

The Creative Ink Festival, 29-31 March 2019, Burnaby BC

Pitches
Writing Fight Scenes
Storytelling on the Fly
Levels of Editing
Creating Tension
Red Pencils
Blue Pencils
Live Action Slush
How Editors Think
How to Write About Horses Without Sounding Like an Ass

DC HEMA Capitol Clash, 1-3 February, Washington DC

Facing the Knight To a foot soldier, there could be very few more frightening sights than that of a fully armoured horse and riding bearing down upon you. Not only is the horse heavier and faster, the rider has the advantage of height. This workshop will examine attacks and defences against the mounted opponent, strategies to even the odds, and a few dirty tricks unhorsed combatants can keep in their back pockets.

VCON 42, 5-7 October, Richmond BC

Panels tba, but I will be reading at the Friday night launch, and will be found at least part of the time at the Pulp Literature booth in the vendor room.

Pulp Literature Autumn Launch, 4 October, The Cottage Bistro, Vancouver

Join Pulp Literature editors and authors as we launch our historic 20th issue!

Swordsquatch, 7-9 September, Seattle WA

Saturday 8 September, 11am – 1pm: Mounted vs Unmounted Combat: Facing the Knight. To a foot soldier, there could be very few more frightening sights than that of a fully armoured horse and riding bearing down upon you. Not only is the horse heavier and faster, the rider has the advantage of height. This workshop will examine attacks and defences against the mounted opponent, strategies to even the odds, and a few dirty tricks unhorsed combatants can keep in their back pockets. Drawing primarily from Fiore as source material the workshop will focus on longsword, but if time and equipment allow, spears on both sides of the equation will be considered.

World Con 76, 16-20 August, San Jose, CA

Saturday 18 August
- 1pm: Wound Patterns and Survivability in Preindustrial Warfare – Implications for Classic Fantasy Sydney Thomson (m) JM Landels Bruce Davis Richard Dutton Seanan McGuire From bladed weapons (swords, daggers) to pointy bits (lances, halberds) to powder weapons (hand cannons, flintlocks), the nature of injury and wounds changed throughout the Medieval and Renaissance eras. Medical treatments also changed, but more slowly. Where do you find out about all of this? And how does one apply this knowledge when writing classic fantasy?

Pulp Literature will have a table in the Dealer room at World Con throughout the convention. Pop by and say hi to Sue, Jess, Laura, and me anytime!

Pulp Literature Toronto Launch, 18 July, Another Bar, Toronto ON

Join Pulp Literature authors and editors for our first ever Toronto launch party! JM Landels, managing editor and author of Allaigna’s Song: Overture has been briefly lured away from the left coast and will be joined by local authors and poets Mary H Auerbach Rykov and David Clink, as well as authors Rina Piccolo and Douglas Smith.

Ad Astra, 13 – 15 July, Toronto ON

Friday 13 July
- 9:00pm: Style vs Editing. MJ Moores (m), JM Landels, Erik Buchanan, Matthew Bin, James Alan Gardner, Marilyn Kleiber. What’s the difference and how to remain true to your voice without sacrificing craft.
Saturday 14 July
- 2:00pm: Pulp Lit Presents. Selections from recent Pulp Literature Press releases.
- 3:00pm: Writing About Fighting. JM Landels(m), Bill Fawcett, Erik Buchanan, Tom Gofton, Stephanie Bedwell-Grime. Join panelists for tips on writing effective fight scenes. Learn what to include, what to avoid, how to make them fit your story and dispel some myths and fallacies about fighting. Battles may break out among panelists.
Sunday 15 July
- David vs Goliath: writing the mismatched fight scene. Everyone loves an underdog, and having the little guy triumph in your story is gets your audience cheering along. But how do you make the reader believe it when your 90 lb weakling takes down the musclebound bully, or your wee slip of a girl lays out an armoured knight, a gang of street thugs and a pack of wolves? In this fun and interactive session, author and editor JM Landels brings her years of sword fighting and martial arts (mostly against larger opponents) to the writing table to demonstrate techniques that actually work, and discuss the realistic use of equalizers like swords, guns, horses and office furniture.

Mounted Combat Arts Intensive, 2 – 6 July, Red Colt Farm, Richmond BC.

The level 1 Mounted Combat Arts Intensive is a one-week 50-hour immersive program for practitioners of all levels. Throughout the week you will learn the foundation of our approach to Italian Longsword, English Riding, and Horsemanship. Each day we will develop you as a rider and martial artist through detailed practical and theoretical lessons.

Pulp Literature 2018 Summer Launch, 29 June, The Cottage Bistro, Vancouver.

Summer is the time for beach reads! Before you head out to the sun and sand, stop by and pick up the latest issue of Pulp Literature. There will be readings and signings from local authors, Jasmin Nyack, Sylvia Stopforth, JM Landels, Susan Pieters, Angela Caravan, and Christine Levicksky Riek. And of course good food, good friends, good books, and good beer!

The Creative Ink Festival, 18 – 20 May, Burnaby BC

Friday 18 May
- 1:00pm: Designing Character Backgrounds. Brenda Carre (M), Chadwick Ginther, Kevin Hearne, JM Landels, Randy McCharles. You have an idea for a character, now you have to figure out how to flesh out the character. Come listen to our panelists discuss how to do this.
- 4:00pm: Slush Pile Confidential with JM Landels. Learn what goes on behind the scenes at a literary press. What is the slush pile, how does it work, how long should you wait for a response? Learn what catches an editor’s eye and what can turn them off your story, and, once it’s accepted, what steps it goes through to become a published work.
- 7:00pm: Blue Pencils S.G. (Sandra) Wong/JM Landels/Ellen Michelle
- 8:40pm: Friday night reading, JM Landels
Saturday 19 May
- 10:00am: Beyond Social Media JM Landels (M), Tod McCoy, Kristene Perron, Jonas Saul, Sylvia Taylor. Creative Book Promotion goes beyond Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and all of those social media resources. What can be done to promote yourself and your work in other areas of the internet or in person?
- 12:00pm: Real Life Superwomen Lisa Gemino, Sandra Wickham, JM Landels and Kristene Perron. What do you get when you put an MMA fighter, a pro fitness competitor, a mounted combat expert and a stuntwoman together on one panel? A rousing discussion about the realities of being a “strong woman” and how that compares with their portrayal in fiction. Join authors Lisa Gemino, Sandra Wickham, JM Landels, and Kristene Perron as they KAPOW the stereotypes and share the truth about the lives of superwomen.
- 1:00pm: Writing Fight Scenes Kristene Perron (M), Kevin Hearne, C.C. (Chris) Humphreys, Tyner Gillies, JM Landels, TG Shepherd. Join panelists for tips on writing effective fight scenes. Learn what to include, what to avoid, how to make them fit your story and dispel some myths and fallacies about fighting. Battles may break out among panelists.
- 4:00pm: Pitches JM Landels – Pulp Literature
- 6:00pm: Storytelling on the Fly Krista Wallace (M), Adam Dreece, Manny Frishberg, JM Landels, Kristene Perron. Writers know that nasty little editorial voice that wants to control every idea, every sentence, every word. Come and share some laughs with these writers as they send that nasty voice away kicking and screaming. With only a few prompts, they will create a story together, one sentence at a time. It WILL have a beginning, middle and an end. It WILL NOT make much sense. There WILL be mirth.
Sunday 20 May
- 11:00am: Pulp Literature Presents CC Humphreys, JM Landels, Mel Anastasiou, Susan Pieters, Brenda Carre, Tyner Gillies, Kristene Perron, Krista Wallace. Join Pulp Literature editors and authors for a glimpse into what’s new at the press and enjoy readings from issues past, present … and future!
- 1:00pm: Publishers Panel. Mel Anastasiou (M), JM Landels, Tod McCoy, Sylvia Taylor. Publishers and editors discuss industry trends, their working relationship with authors and agents, the impact of ePublishing on their business, and audience questions.
- 3:00pm: Red Pencils JM Landels/Tod McCoy/Jonas Saul