The Little Match Girl

I’d forgotten about this. One of my first short stories appeared on Pseudopod last year and it remains one of my faves. The audio of The Little Match Girl lives here http://pseudopod.org/2008/03/13/flash-the-little-match-girl/ and is not suitable for small children (then again, nor is the original, let’s face it, people – it certainly traumatised me). This story originally appeared in the lovely Shimmer, Vol. 1, Issue 3.

(Illustration above by the wonderful Arthur Rackham.)

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Has anyone? Or just a bit of a shout into the void …

Has anyone turned any of their short stories into comics/graphic novel-ish substances? Am curious about the process and how people have found it …

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Kind Words – Review of New Ceres Nights

A very  nice review of New Ceres Nights from Alexandra Pierce lives here at ASif http://www.asif.dreamhosters.com/doku.php?id=new_ceres_nights

It includes these kind words about my story “The Piece of Ice in Miss Windermere’s Heart”:

Finally, the anthology is wrapped by Angela Slatter, in “The Piece of Ice in Miss Windermere’s Heart.” It wraps up the whole anthology in a rather delicious way that can’t be explained without ruining the story completely; suffice it to say that the story involves theft, murder, surprises, and a not entirely satisfactory conclusion – the sort of conclusion that definitely leaves the reader wanting more. It brings in some of the more interesting New Ceres-specific issues, and – as with all of the stories in this anthology – deals with them in a consistent, logical, and entertaining manner.

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Kyle Cassidy’s Where I Write: Fantasy & Science Fiction Authors in Their Creative Spaces

This is cool … it’s awesome … in fact, it’s a gravy boat of awesome sauce. Photographer Kyle Cassidy’s series of photos of writers in their work spaces lives here http://www.whereiwrite.org/ and it’s fab. C’mon, haven’t you ever wondered? 

And count the cats …

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Here’s One We Prepared Earlier – or Richard Morgan is top of Author Behaviour 101

I was lucky enough to go along and see Richard Morgan at his QWC-FQ gig in Brisneyland last night. He was funny, erudite and unpretentious. He talked about his writing, his inspiration, his journey to becoming a fulltime writer, and his complete lack of planning when he writes (a comfort for the rest of us to know that successful writers also fly by the seat of their pants). He was generous with his time, answering all questions, signing books for everyone who asked and chatting to everyone who came along.

I was also lucky enough to score a pass to go along to dinner with Richard, his lovely, clever wife Virginia, Kate Eltham and Rob Hoge of FQ, the fabulous Ron and Ian of Pulp Fiction Books, and the lovely man who footed the bill, the very charming and intelligent Brendan Fredericks (publicist with Orion-Hachette).

How authors behave is one of my favourite topics. I’ve seen so many authors behaving badly, acting as if a book deal has somehow rendered them godly, as if they no longer need to be polite and generous to their readers. The longer I’m around the profession, the more convinced I am that there should be a compulsory class for writers called Author Behaviour 101. It would cover broad topics such as ‘Don’t be an asshole to the people who buy your books’, ‘If your first book tanks, you better have been nice to the people you met on the way up coz you’ll be seeing them again on the way down’, ‘Be nice to the bookseller’, and ‘Don’t piss off the publisher/publicist/sales team/your agent’.

Not everyone can be charming and funny. But everyone can make an effort not to be unpleasant and ungrateful. If you don’t like doing readings or answering questions, then suck it up. It’s part of the business and it’s part of how we have to promote ourselves. Not everyone gets to be Thomas Pychon. Hell, Thomas Pynchon doesn’t even get to be Thomas Pynchon anymore. Being seen by readers, talking to them and interacting with them is essential. Failure to do so will affect your career adversely.

My point? I don’t know – I got lost too. Oh yes! Author Behaviour 101 – Richard Morgan goes to the top of the class. He should be the model all wannabe authors take as their template. He ticked all the boxes for top marks in Author Behaviour 101 – gold star!

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New story at The Daily Cabal ‘Aeaea St’ – a title for the uber-nerdly amongst ye …

They ran on all fours, pausing only to sniff the air and howl.

Sometimes they were men, sometimes wolves, always grey though, always hungry. The moon lit their way as they slipped like shadows along the streets. Sometimes they got distracted by trash cans ripe with enticing rot, but the other pulled them on, so they didn’t stop for long. Nipper, Gnasher, Grinder and Bob.

They had her scent, warm on the cool night air.

http://www.dailycabal.com/

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Available for Pre-Order: ‘Horn’ by Peter Ball

It’s good – very good. I beta read it back in the days when I had time for that sort of indulgence. Go here http://twelfthplanet.livejournal.com/ and pre-purchase with impunity.

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‘Eyes Like Stars’ – or the Destruction of the Fairycake

Hilarious! My lovely, talented friend (and occasional lovely, talented editor) Lisa Mantchev has produced not only a wondrous debut novel, Eyes Like Stars, but also a child with wings and a fairycake and you-tubery. Is there anything this woman cannot do? The fairy’s outfit even matches the cake, and the wings and the hair-decos tone in beautifully.

And I want those wings!! Watch! Laugh! Be overtaken by the urge to make and eat fairycakes in a highly messy manner. Oh and seek out Eyes Like Stars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDDfde1uvUg&feature=player_embedded

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Argh! No pressure!

This has just appear at Save the Semiprozine Hugo. Terribly kind to list me there – and no pressure at all! 🙂 . And congrats to my buddies on the list! 🙂

Who are some of the best new writers appearing in semiprozines?

Posted by: Markets In: Recommended Reading

It is said by some that semiprozines are publishing some of the best new writers. Who are the authors people should be on the lookout for?

Robert Neilson, Albedo One

The Albedo One authors who have impressed me most in recent times are Philip Raines & Harvey Welles, Colin Harvey, Nina Allan, Julian West, Will McIntosh and David D. Levine (his story in Albedo One is far better than his Hugo winner). I have also been mightily impressed with Dutch author Teis Teng but unfortunately most of his work is in Dutch. You can find some of his work in English in a collection from Babel Books called Systems of Romance (he wrote half the stories). Modesty forbids mention of my editorial colleagues.

Beth Wodzinski, Shimmer

A year or so ago I would have called out Aliette de Bodard — but she’s already well on her way, and is a Campbell nominee this year. I think she’s right at the beginning of a great career.

I’ve got my eye on Angela Slatter and Shweta Narayan; they seem to me to be poised for really broad success, and are terrific. Also terrific: Becca De La Rosa, Alex Dally MacFarlane, Vylar Kaftan, Caitlin Paxson, Alex Wilson, Josh Storey, Claude LaLumiere, and Amal El Mohtar. Well, I think everyone we’ve published is terrific.

If I can call out a few artists, too: Chrissy Ellsworth, Sandro Castelli, Aunia Kahn, and Carrie Ann Baade are amazing.

Hildy Silverman, Space & Time

There are some great ones out there. Maurice Broaddus is a terrific writer who I don’t think the Big Three have published yet, but are bound to discover at some point. Aliette de Bodard is popping up in a lot of places, and has been nominated for the 2009 Campbell award. Oh, and keep an eye on multiple-workshop grad Larry Hodges, who is finally getting around to sending out more of his work.

Sean Wallace, Fantasy Magazine

Where to start? Fantasy Magazine has a lot of new, exciting talent, between what was published last year and this year, or soon to be published: Camille Alexa, Erik Amundsen, Stephanie Campisi, Becca De La Rosa, Willow Fagan, Berrien Henderson, Darja Malcolm-Clarke, Gord Sellar, Rachel Swirsky, Genevieve Valentine, and many more. However, the field is full of new authors being published all over, and the zines listed on this website are a great start for a reader to dive right into!

Scott Andrews, Beneath Ceaseless Skies

I think there are lots of very good neo-pro short story writers being published these days in semiprozines.  Beneath Ceaseless Skies has published a number of up-and-coming writers who’ve been Finalists or Winners of the Writers of the Future award, including Tina Connolly, Sarah L. Edwards, and Erin Cashier.  Our stories from other newcomers such as Matthew David Surridge and Grace Seybold have also received strong reviews.  And we’ve published two authors who are nominees for this year’s Campbell Award for Best New Writer–Tony Pi and Aliette de Bodard.

http://savesemiprozine.org/2009/05/22/new_writers/

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Q: Is the publisher always right?

I don’t know. I’m still thinking about this. More to come …

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