The Industry

Stuff I discover and report with fascination as a new author journeying through the industry.

The Harlequin Horizons Thing

/ 21 Comments / The Industry, WTF World? / By

As you know Bob(s), I’m a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA). This is because a) there’s romantic content in many of my books, so there’s an obvious crossover of interests; b) I read and enjoy romance on occasion; and c) RWA is simply a kickass organization — quite possibly the most efficient and effective writers’ org I’ve ever seen. Beats the pants off both the Authors’ Guild and SFWA, IMO. Case in point: There’s been some drama in the past few days in the romance sphere because Harlequin, arguably the biggest and indisputably the best-known romance publisher, […]

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Everybody’s Doin’ It: NebDo!

/ 1 Comment / Pimping, Shorts, The Industry / By

(Ugh. OK, yeah, that was bad. I blame the lack of coffee.) In the category of “All my friends are shilling their Nebula-eligible shorts so I’ll do it too!” for a thousand, Alex: I had two short stories and two reprints published during the eligible period. The reprints aren’t eligible, and of the two, there’s only one short that I consider Nebula-worthy: “Non-Zero Probabilities”, which was published in Clarkesworld in September 2009 (Issue #36). If you don’t remember that one, it’s the one that io9’s Charlie Jane Anders seemed to like, and which I read at Bluestockings* this summer past,

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Another $%^ing one, what are they, breeding?

/ 6 Comments / Causes, The Industry, WTF World? / By

I posted last week in solidarity with the Outer Alliance, a spanking-new group of GLBTQI writers and straight/cisgendered allies. Lo and behold, within a week of its formation the OA has encountered its first incidence of homophobic discrimination. More on this there. It’s hard, sometimes, being a writer with a conscience. I mean, how much do you let conscience dictate business? As a writer, I’m engaged in the act of selling my creativity and dreams — little bits of my soul, quite frankly — for approbation and money. If that kind of spiritual prostitution doesn’t bother me (and sometimes it

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Strange Horizons Saved Me a Bunch of Money on Car Insurance and Cured My Astigmatism!

/ 1 Comment / Causes, The Industry / By

Okay, no, it didn’t. I don’t even have a car. I just wanted to get your attention. It might seem odd that in the wake of the Clarkesworld sale, I’m talking about Strange Horizons. Both magazines need donations, actually. But SH is nearer and dearer to my heart in many ways, because a) my first pro-level sales were to SH, and b) I made two of them. (When I sell two stories to Clarkesworld, I’ll like them more too.) Although this is SH’s fundraising drive season, they’ve asked people not to simply beg for money, but to talk about what

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On Book Covers and Race

/ 15 Comments / 100K, The Industry / By

I’ve been following and participating in the “Ain’t That A Shame” post over at Justine Larbalestier’s blog, in which she takes the risky (for an author) step of calling her publisher on its decision to post a white face on the cover of her forthcoming novel Liar. Whitewashing — the fannish term for when fictional characters of color are depicted as white in cover art — has long been a problem in the book publishing industry. Its root is racism, of course: the pervasive belief that people of color’s stories aren’t universal enough to play to white consumers. (Though white

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Org Shuffle

/ 2 Comments / Conventions and Workshops, The Industry / By

Have decided to let my membership to the Authors’ Guild lapse, after it ends this year. I joined them hoping for two things: a) inexpensive health insurance, and b) in-person networking opportunities. I ended up going with the Freelancers’ Union instead for a, because theirs was cheaper and more comprehensive, and never saw any sign of b. And I’ve been annoyed by the Guild’s politics. Cory Doctorow nails it better than I ever could. This pissed me off too. It’s not an easy fix; it puts the burden of access on the visually impaired, rather than normalizing/easing access for all.

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Verb Noire’s First Book!

/ Pimping, The Industry / By

Hi folks. Those of you who followed RaceFail 2009 may also be aware of one of its many positive results: Verb Noire, a new small press started up for the purpose of showcasing authors and characters of color in science fiction and fantasy. Well, I’m happy to report that their first novel, The River’s Daughter, is now out! I haven’t read it yet — ordered, but I’ve got a long list of Stuff To Read at the moment — but I wanted to spread the word. Check it out!

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MY COVER LET ME SHOW YOU IT

/ 20 Comments / 100K, Squeeage, The Industry / By

I’ve been sitting on this for a few days now, bouncing in virtual little-girl excitement, struggling to hold it all in. But now at last, at last I can share the joy!! Like it? Then bop over to the Orbit blog to tell Art Director Lauren Panepinto that she is the shit. Except don’t use shit. OK you can use it but don’t tell her I told you to. YOU WANT TO BUY IT DON’T YOU.

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100K update

/ 2 Comments / The Industry / By

…I had kind of mentioned this to friends and in passing, but hadn’t posted about it yet because there was still some up-in-the-airness going on. Anyway tho’, the official release date for The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is now February 2010. February 25, specifically, at least according to Amazon. (Quiet squee at the fact that MY BOOK IS ON AMAZON!!! …kinda. It’s not searchable on the US Amazon; I found it because it’s searchable on the UK Amazon and the US one is linked to that. Or something. Anyway, you might wanna bookmark that sucker; it’s slippery.) As for why it

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