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On Spec Subscriptions for the Holidays (and an announcement)
As a different sort of gift for the readers you know you might consider giving them a magazine subscription. I’ve always enjoyed getting magazine subscriptions, especially when they were to magazine I might not otherwise have known about. If you know somebody interested in fiction — specifically science fiction, fantasy, and horror — might I suggest On Spec Magazine? This is a fantastic Canadian magazine and I’m not just saying it because I’ve sold three stories to them (“A Ragman’s Vow”, “From the Sea” and “Touch the Dead”). I was a fan of the magazine long before I started selling fiction to them. So if you are interested, the subscription…
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Aurora Awards 2011
Congratulations to the Aurora Award winners for 2011! Very pleased to see that Hayden Trenholm’s story the “Burden of Fire” won for Best English story. My story ‘The Kol Effect’ was in that same issue of Neo-Opsis. That’s the second time I’ve shared space with one of Hayden’s stories; my first sale to On Spec (“A Ragman’s Vow”) appeared in issue #73 with Hayden’s story “Love in its Season”. The full list of winners can be found at Locus Online.
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Read this Week
Read On Spec #82 this week; I’ve been slow to catch up on my magazine subscriptions because I’ve been reading some ‘research novels’. A strong issue, as always, with several interesting stories and really cool cover. And just as I finish it issue #83 arrives! Which was also a delight because at the end of it is a little blurb listing who will be appearing in upcoming issues and of course my name is there — my story ‘Touch the Dead’* will appear in a future issue. I also read the novel ‘Druids’ by Barbara Galler-Smith and Josh Langston (published by Edge), an epic historical fantasy set during the days…
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The Novel is Done
So I’ve finished the second novel this year! I still have to edit this one (and sell it!) before anybody sees it of course. Overall I’m satisfied with it. It is too long (115 000 words) but I overwrite my first drafts and I’m sure most of those extra words will disappear. Unlike the first novel there’s no major changes I need to make in the second draft. I’m going to read it over the holidays and come up with a revision plan and start tackling that in February. December and January will be devoted to playing around with some short story ideas I’ve put aside. For the curious this…
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Pure Speculation
Pure Speculation 2010 wrapped up yesterday. A great event, the panels I attended were all interesting, well worth the time. Friday night watched a reading (written by Virginia O’Dine) based on Robert J. Sawyer’s novel Rollback and that was quite entertaining. On Saturday Robert J. Sawyer and Tanya Huff discussed their different experiences having their novels turned into television series. I also attended Robert’s reading (the second of his I’ve been to, the last was at the Pure Speculation Festival a couple years ago) and had him sign my copy of his novel Wake*. I also got to watch an entertaining interview with Tanya Huff, where she discussed her novel…
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A Ragman’s Vow now available on AnthologyBuilder
My story “A Ragman’s Vow” which originally appeared in On Spec a few years ago (and then later reprinted in A Thousand Faces) is now available on AnthologyBuilder. This story is definitely one of my favorites and has been reviewed quite favorably (including a mention from Rich Horton). I now have four stories on AnthologyBuilder — John’s List, His Island, and The End of the Road are the others. What is “A Ragman’s Vow” about? Dan is the creator of a comic book series featuring Ragman, a dark superhero… real life and fantasy merge when Dan tries to find his missing wife.
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‘Touch the Dead’ sells to On Spec Magazine
Just signed and sent the contract to On Spec. This is the sale that I mentioned a couple weeks ago on Twitter and is my third to On Spec. I am super excited for a variety of reasons. As most readers know I’m a huge fan of On Spec and was eagerly waiting their response to this story. A couple years ago they saw a previous version of this story but declined. I took their feedback and the advice of my readers and rewrote the story. ‘Touch the Dead’ I think has been drastically improved by this feedback and I’m very happy with it. Some History This was actually the…
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New review for From the Sea
HorrorScope has posted a positive review of On Spec #78 (containing my story ‘From the Sea’). A nice summary of the issue. See also: From the Sea details page Main Review Page On Spec
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On Spec – The Canadian Magazine of the Fantastic
I’ve mentioned it many time so you all know that I’m a subscriber and have been for years of On Spec. I started reading the current issue today and thought I’d post another reminder for those of you who haven’t checked out this fine magazine to pick up a subscription or at least check out an issue to see what you are missing. There is also a digital option available that lets you read the magazine online or on your mobile device (iPhone, et cetera) — you can read a sample copy online. This issue, #80 (Spring 2010) contains: A Thousand by Leah Bobet Zebedee the Giant Man by Tina…
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"From the Sea", nice mini-review
Thanks to Tom Waters, a Writers of the Future finalist and up and coming writer for his review of the On Spec issue in which my story “From the Sea” appeared. His rating system is quick and to the point and he gave “From the Sea” a four out of five star rating. Yay! You can read the full post on his blog
