Compliments Graciously Welcomed and Accepted

/ Review, Squeeage / By

Like many writers, I worry — constantly — about the quality of my work. I don’t go fishing for compliments, but it means a lot to me when people say nice things about stuff I’ve written. Reviews from professional-type review people are gratifying, even if they don’t always like my stories; I’m of the school of thought that says apathy is worse than active dislike, because at least with active dislike you get a reaction. But it’s compliments from readers, of the just-looking-for-entertainment type, that tend to have the greatest impact on me, because that tells me I’m really doing […]

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Good reads of many kinds

/ Causes, Natter, Pimping / By

Over on LJ, author Cat Valente is going through some hard times, and is offering a novel literary experiment to make ends meet. Basically, she’ll post her latest chapters of her latest work for people to read and pay for as she goes along. I can’t donate at the moment because I’m kind of struggling myself, but I’m spreading the word. I loved Valente’s The Orphan’s Tales stuff, so I suspect anyone who can participate will get something beautiful for their money. Speaking of something beautiful, have recently discovered Goodreads. Where have you been all my life?? I like it,

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My voice acting debut; first person angst at the Magic District

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Busy little bee, me: Over at PodCastle, I’m reading Alaya Dawn Johnson’s “Shard of Glass”. I had a cold while I was reading most of it, and kept having to pause/edit the recording to cough, so I hope it sounds OK. -_- Also, posted something over at the Magic District on first person. Why do people hate it so much? Some thoughts. In other news, have reached 3000 words on the newest version of Book 3. Go go go!

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Shoo!! Shoo!!

/ 1 Comment / On Writing, ShiningStar, Shorts / By

I’m plagued by short story ideas lately. Have written two of them, actually — a short one set in Brooklyn called “Non-Zero Probabilities”, in which the laws of probability go haywire; and a novelette currently called “Pirate Jessie”, though I’m not sure I want to keep that name. The latter one, a steampunk espionage historical lesbian romantic adventure, was for an anthology invitation. (No, really.) Have other ideas, though, circling ’round my head like gnats. It’s as if, after six months of doing only novel work, my shorts-producing brain cells have revolted, demanding quick hooks and triple pay for overtime.

Shoo!! Shoo!! KEEP READING

Sybil’s Garage #6 is out!

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A reminder to all who enjoy good, brain-twisting fiction: Sybil’s Garage, produced by Senses Five Press, run by Matthew Kressel of the (my) Altered Fluid Writing group, has just produced its phenomenal sixth issue. I had the honor of being a slush reader for this, so I feel a bit of proprietary pride here. I mean, seriously — check out this ToC: Poetry Liz Bourke — “The Girl” Donna Burgess — “Ashes” Lyn C. A. Gardner — “God’s Cat” Alex Dally MacFarlane — “The Wat” Susannah Mandel — “Metamorphic Megafauna” Tracie McBride — “An Ill Wind” Kristen McHenry — “Museum”

Sybil’s Garage #6 is out! KEEP READING

Wow.

/ Natter / By

From the Tokyo Fantasy Show as reported at Pink Tentacle, images of a post-apocalyptic, empty Tokyo. My favorite is Shinjuku — an area of Tokyo that I visited when I went there several years ago, which is amazingly sleazy and yet also surreal. Later I learned that Shinjuku is considered the “spiritual” center of Tokyo, i.e., the most likely part of the city to suffer some kind of supernatural/magical apocalypse. And this is what it might look like: Just a thought — how come the apocalypse is considered science fiction? I mean, what, people think magic can’t blow stuff up

Wow. KEEP READING

RIFFING ON STRINGS IPPY award!

/ Shorts, Squeeage / By

Riffing on Strings, an anthology of fiction and essays inspired by String Theory, has won a Silver Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY)! My short story, “Too Many Yesterdays, Not Enough Tomorrows,” is in this, along with some other phenomenal contributors (including Michio Kaku!). Yay! Announcing 2009 IPPY Awards National and Regional Results Recognizing Excellence in Independent Publishing – 13th Annual Awards Jenkins Group is proud to announce the results in the 65 National categories and 20 Regional categories of this year’s Independent Publisher Book Awards. 3,380 books were entered in the national contest (an average of 50 contenders per category)

RIFFING ON STRINGS IPPY award! KEEP READING

The Million Writers Award

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No, I’m not up for it. But a friend and colleague of mine is — Kris Dikeman, whose phenomenal story “Nine Sundays in a Row” got quite justifiably nominated. This contest is a “reader’s choice” award, so you can vote for the story you like best. You don’t have to vote for Kris, of course… (…OK I lied you totally do.) Anyway, go look, and if you like, vote.

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Spock and Biraciality

/ 7 Comments / 100K, Natter, ShiningStar / By

Went to see Star Trek last week. Quite liked it, despite problems like the women of the series still getting short shrift in the agency department, and much of the frenetic action having no real purpose. (Why did Young Kirk trash that beautiful car? I cannot condone random destruction of works of art, not even as characterization shorthand.) But have seen several convos on the ‘net that triggered some thoughts. Namely — whoops, spoiler-cut —

Spock and Biraciality KEEP READING

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