January 2009

Margaret Ronald’s SPIRAL HUNT

/ 2 Comments / Others, Pimping / By

This? Go buy it. I know the author, yes, and she’s good. I’m not saying that because she’s my friend, but because she’s good. I remain jealous of her short story-writing ability. Her metaphors leave me breathless. I read this novel’s early draft back when I was in the BRAWLers writing group, and it kicked ass. I’m sure it kicks harder in its final form. So gird your buttocks, intrepid reader, and go forth to Amazon or a bookstore near you, and buy it. That’s one small step for peer pressure, one (hopefully) giant leap for a really good new […]

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In which Nora fangirls; Revisipalooza; SFWA Bulletin interview

/ 13 Comments / BrightGod, On Writing, Progress / By

I am utterly in love with this video by Janelle Monae, which has been blowing up my friends’ lists all over the blogosphere: I bought the album, which you should do too if you like this song. The whole thing kicks ass. The cyberpunkish theme continues throughout the album, with nods to Philip K. Dick, Asimov’s Laws of Robotics, anime, and more. I also love the way she weaves in the old stuff — James Brown and Little Richard most obviously, but Parliament Funkadelic, The Brother From Another Planet, and Sun-Ra too. Also, that “doo doo doo” thing she does?

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Nora hearts workshops 4eva

/ Conventions and Workshops / By

Workshops! Passing along word of two fantastic ones for budding fantasists. The first notice is a forward from Ellen Gunn, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Clarion West: Applications are open for the 2009 session of the Clarion West writers workshop, an intensive six-week, live-in workshop for writers preparing for professional careers in speculative fiction. Gifted writers are found in all races, but because speculative fiction reflects the prejudices of the culture around it, proportionately fewer writers of color are successful. Clarion West is dedicated to improving those proportions. Co-founded in 1984 by J.T. Stewart, a woman of

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Taking inspiration from games

/ 1 Comment / On Writing / By

The folks at Orbit asked me to do an interview that will hopefully be published in the back of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. After doing it, I realized I forgot to mention something in answer to the “what are your influences” question: video games. I say this while sitting down to play Persona 4, which I bought before Christmas but wouldn’t let myself play until I finished Book 2. It’s exactly the kind of game I like: deeply immersive, long enough to feel worth the monetary investment (P3 took me about 200 hours), visually pleasing, with really engaging characters, and

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The Cloisters

/ 1 Comment / Natter / By

Now that the bliss of completing Book 2 has worn off, I’m suffering serious existential angst. Part of me wants to immediately start Book 3; part of me wants to immediately revise Book 2; and part of me wants a vacation. For the moment I’m listening to the lattermost part of me, since that’s the part that’s making the most sense — after cranking out 100+ thousand words, anyone would need a vacation. It cleanses the mental palate, so to speak. However, since I’m planning to attend a number of conventions this year, I don’t feel quite justified in gallivanting

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