Sometimes when you walk around with something long enough, you forget you're carrying it. The weight becomes apart of you after a while. And then one day you're finally able to put it down, and you find yourself able to relax for the first time in ages...
That's how I feel right now.
A lot of you know that for the last several months AnimeCon.org CEO Ryan Kopf has been suing me in the state of Iowa. While I first wrote about Ryan Kopf back in 2013 on this site, the lawsuit was about articles I wrote over on Nerd & Tie.
My lawyer managed to get it dismissed on the grounds of personal jurisdiction (i.e. I write and publish from Indiana), but Kopf's attorney fought it -- dragging this whole mess out. The damned thing just. kept. going.
Until last week.
The judge finally ruled on Kopf's last motions to reconsider, and upheld the dismissals. My lawyer assures me that this thing is finally over. Well -- at least in Iowa.
There's nothing stopping Kopf from refiling this case in the proper venue (Indiana), and if he does the headache gets to start all over again. But I have to think that after all the bad PR this has generated for him, Kopf might take the hint that letting it drop is the best thing he could do.
But even if this respite is temporary, I will enjoy it.
On a more cheerful note, Anime Central is coming up in a week and a half, and I'm excited. I'll be spending the con bouncing between both my Trae Dorn Productions table (Artist Alley H04) selling UnCONventional and The Chronicles of Crosarth and the Nerd & Tie Expo table (CT14). If you're around, you should stop by and say hello.
It ought to be a good time.
- Traegorn
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So this weekend is No Brand Con in the Wisconsin Dells. For those of you who don't know, I have a bit of history with this particular convention... in that I co-founded it, held almost every position in the organization including Con Director, and may or may not have come up with the name (well probably not, but no one actually remembers who did).
While I do maintain a minor staff connection as co-founder, I haven't been an active part of management for years. That said, No Brand Con will always be home for me... even though it's now in a completely different city than when I was in charge of it.
Anywho, I'm going to be there, so you should be there too. If you are there, you can find me in a few places over the weekend.
First and foremost, I'll be bouncing between two tables throughout the day. I'm splitting my time between my table in the Artist Alley (selling print copies of UnCONventional and The Chronicles of Crosarth) and the Nerd & Tie Expo table (selling preregistrations and dreams).
I'll also be doing a handful of panels this year, which have been scheduled into a single three hour block... because the universe wishes to break me. Or something. In any case, they're all scheduled for Saturday night: Podcasting on a Budget Sat. 8:00pm Panel Room One
Want to learn to podcast but you're broke? Join me for an hour and I'll teach you how. By the end of it, I'm sure you'll be at least a little less confused.
Nerd & Tie LIVE! Sat. 9:00pm Panel Room One
Join Pher, Nick and Myself for a live recording of the Nerd & Tie podcast! Also joining us this episode is special guest host Gen Prock! Just because! Also, Pher thinks he'll be sober this time around. Let's find out if he's right!
Webcomics A to Z Sat. 10:00pm Panel Room One
Hey, I do webcomics! Hey I want to teach you how to do webcomics too! In a panel that I didn't expect to be in the middle of the night, join me as I walk you through all the stuff you need to know before you do a webcomic! It'll be an adventure! So yeah, that's what's happening. Remember, my next convention after this is Anime Central in the Chicago area May 20th-22nd. If you can't see me at No Brand Con, you can still totally find me there. But really, you should try to do both -- because that would make you an awesome person.
I mean, unless you can't afford to do both -- then you can still be awesome. Awesomeness knows no economic demographic.
Or something. I'm kinda tired right now.
- Traegorn
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Photo courtesy of The INDYpendent Show
There's not just one convention in the Greater Lafayette, IN area this weekend, but two. I'm not kidding, both Purdue's Boiler Con (ha, I came up with that name) and Laffy Con are scheduled for Saturday (in what seems like a poor choice for timing), and I think I'm going to skip both of them.
I'm just too damned tired.
I mean, last year I did one of them (the event that is now called Boiler Con), but between all the conventions and weddings I'll be at this year, I just need a regular weekend to decompress. Last weekend I had both a wedding in Wisconsin followed by The INDYpendent Show in Indianapolis (one of my favorite cons). Next weekend, April 15-17, is No Brand Con up in the Wisconsin Dells too. And anyone who knows anything about me and my history with that event (*cough*I co-founded it*cough*) there's no way I'm missing it.
So I skip two different cons, both almost literally down the street from me.
Choosing what conventions I do is a lot harder these days, because I'm being pulled in multiple directions. On the one hand, I want to keep doing shows and promoting myself as an artist. To do that I want to reach out into new markets and get my name out there in more areas. On the other hand, now that I'm running The Nerd & Tie Expo as well, I have to focus efforts on markets adjacent to Wisconsin where I used to be based.
I mean, it would make no sense to promote the Eau Claire, WI based show at most Indiana conventions.
It's a tough call figuring out which part of my life to focus on. Lord knows what I'm going to end up doing long term. Eventually I'll find the balance, but I'm far from that point yet.
On the upside, whenever I go to a convention I get to hang out with my friends. Between No Brand Con next week and Anime Central in May, I ought to have a pretty good time.
It's managing what's in between that's hard.
- Traegorn
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It's the spring, which means it's time for new print collections of UnCONventional and The Chronicles of Crosarth to hit the (mostly virtual) shelves! While it's true that my comics are all still available online for free, I know some people like to hold dead tree versions in their hands... so yeah. It's pretty neat.
You can buy both of these directly from my Createspace shops ( UnCONventional Book 6, The Chronicles of Crosarth Volume 2 Part 2), or you can get them on Amazon.com too. If you DO buy the books, please consider reviewing them on Amazon.com as well.
If you want to pick up copies from me in person, I will be doing some convention appearances over the next few months. I've been cutting back on them this year (to focus on the Nerd & Tie Expo), but I'm still doing a few. This is where you'll find me over the next couple months: - INDYpendent Show (Apr 3)
Wyndham West Hotel and Convention Center
Indianapolis, IN
- No Brand Con (Apr 15-17)
Chula Vista Resort
Wisconsin Dells, WI
- Anime Central (May 20-22)
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Rosemont, IL
The main advantage, of course, is that if you buy a book in person I can sign the thing and scribble all over it if you want me to. The disadvantage is that I'm probably not doing any cons outside of Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin for the rest of the year -- and mostly just the latter two.
But yeah, if you're impatient, you can literally buy them right now. Get 'em while they're hot. And remember, if you don't want dead tree versions but still want to help support me, I always have a Patreon running.
- Traegorn
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Some of you may be aware that in December AnimeCon.org CEO Ryan Kopf filed a defamation suit in the state of Iowa against me for articles I published over on Nerd & Tie. After I launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover my legal costs, Kopf had the lawsuit amended to include Pher Sturz (who had vocally supported me on Facebook).
Well, for the first time since this ordeal started, I'm happy to report some good news.
In February my lawyer filed a motion to dismiss on the grounds of personal jurisdiction, and I'm pleased to announce that yesterday that motion was granted. For now, it seems, I am (at least personally) out of the woods.
Now, this doesn't mean this thing is over. The case is still active for Pher Sturz, and he'll need to file his own motion to dismiss. That motion would also need to be granted by a judge, so the suit doesn't end until that happens. Likewise, this also doesn't prevent Kopf from trying to bring a case against me in Indiana (where I actually live).
But it's still wonderful news, and things are moving in the right direction.
Update: Aaaand Kopf's attorney has filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the Dismissal ruling and also a request to do jurisdictional discovery. Because of course he did.
Update 2: Hopefully the final update.
- Traegorn
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Friendly Reminder: You Can Still Support The Ryan Kopf is Suing Me Legal Fund! Y'know, because it's still happening and all.
  
So I always have about twenty competing project ideas going on in my head, but I'm forced to put them off to the side because, frankly, UnCONventional and The Chronicles of Crosarth suck up most of the time I can dedicate to creative projects.
That said, sometimes I still like to poke around at these ideas and flesh them out -- just to see what they'd be like if I ever got around to having the time to pursue them.
This particular example, Intersections with the Corridor, is one that is literally based off of a dream I had almost sixteen years ago. The concept is simple - playing with the multiverse.
"The Corridor" itself is a passageway that connects the various multiverse. It's ancient and in a state of disrepair. While it was clearly built by someone, whoever did so has long since abandoned it. I have a lot developed for this project, but I just haven't had time to do anything for it.
I hope I will one day.
- Traegorn
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So we do a lot of stuff at Nerd & Tie. We're starting a new convention, produce a podcast, just launched a new show, run panels at conventions, maintain a geek news blog, and provide in-depth coverage about conventions. That last one is a particular point of pride for us, as we do our best to dig for stories most other convention news blogs avoid or don't take time to investigate. Most of that coverage starts with reader tips sent to us via our contact form or email address.
AnimeCon.org/Chrono LC CEO Ryan Kopf has apparently taken issue with our coverage of some of his events though, and last week I was served a petition at my home. Ryan Kopf is suing me for defamation in the state of Iowa.
The case (CVCV295431) is specifically about the following two articles: Now, I don't want to discuss details, but I still stand by what I wrote - as do Nick and Pher (who co-own Nerd & Tie with me). I have secured legal counsel, and intend to fight.
But this isn't going to be cheap for me.
Because of this, I'm launching a GoFundMe campaign to try and cover my legal costs. If you can contribute, please do - as we aren't exactly a big operation at Nerd & Tie, and can only continue with the help of people like you.
Wish us luck... and, y'know, help out if you can.
- Traegorn
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So the headline implies that there's a whole new LP of Lt. Snorkel music sitting out there... and, well, that's not really true. What came out today is a "new" album of Lt. Snorkel music which has largely been released before. What I did was go back to the source files and remix (and in some instances re-record) some of my favorite original songs. So this is like a "greatest hits" album... if I had any actual "hits."
It's called " Recurring Dreams," and you should check it out.
The reason for this is that I've put the album up on BandCamp -- so while it's still free, you now have the option to pay for tracks if you actually want to. Also it makes my more accessible tracks a bit more accessible than before, instead of being buried between weird, esoteric stuff.
So yeah, check it out. It's fun.
- Traegorn
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Okay, so I've been super busy this month with keeping comics updated (November is always crazy for UnCONventional), writing content for Nerd & Tie, organizing a new convention, and that pesky day job... I almost forgot to mention that I'm going to be at a convention this Sunday!
That's right, it's time for the Fall 2015 INDYpendent Show!
It's being held this Sunday (November 15th) from 10am-5pm at the Airport Radisson in Indianapolis, IN. The INDYpendent show is kind of a unique event, exclusively featuring independent artists and publishers from around Indiana. It's probably one of my favorite events, and I try to do it whenever I can.
Admission is only $4 ($2 for student) and it should be a pretty awesome time. They're also adding a whole bunch of Podcasting stuff this time (although I'm just going on my own -- we're not bringing any Nerd & Tie stuff), which is pretty damned cool.
So if you're in Indiana and you'd like to spend a Sunday talking with a wide variety of creators (including yours truly), you should come down and check out the event. I've done this show twice before, and I can guarantee it'll be friggin' awesome.
This is my last con for 2015, as I won't be doing Daisho Con this year. I literally have never missed a Daisho Con since it was founded. I was a vendor and featured musical performer (hey remember back when I had a band?) at the first Daisho Con, and went back in some capacity every single time... until now. The stars just didn't align this time, and it's kind of sad. I'm still sorting out my 2016 commitments, but I'm sure I'll be back the area at least by No Brand Con (which I wouldn't miss for the world) in the spring.
So fret not, Wisconsin friends -- I shall return! Just not as soon as I'd like.
- Traegorn
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