Publication date set for Servant of the Manthycore!

You heard it here, first! Our official pub date is November 17th. I'll have much more later!

Actually important stuff

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Asphodel #1

My pal Celina Summer's book The Reckoning of Asphodel JUST WENT TO NUMBER ONE on the Fictionwise Fantasy bestseller list.
You can get your copy by clicking here.
Wow!



*psst! Did I mention she is my pal?

"Who Comes for the Mother's Fruit"

Just heard from Jordan Lapp:

"We are pleased to tell you that we have decided to publish your story,
"Who Comes for the Mother's Fruit" in Every Day Fiction."

This Manthycore flash will run on the release date of The Servant of the Manthycore --- I had a lot of fun writing it, and I hope you will enjoy reading it. If you haven't already, slide on over to Every Day Fiction and sign up. It is easy, free, and will reduce your cavities at your next check-up by an average of 22%.

Portrait of the artist as a (very) young man

Ann Scarborough thinks I will sell more books if my picture on the back looks like this :)

Scriptorious Rex

Welcome vistors from Jeff Draper's blog, Scriptorius Rex!
We have a special introductory offer for you! For those who came here from there, all free content on this site is now half price! :)

...and boy are my arms tired.

Back from Vegas. We had lots of fun, attended some pretty good seminars, got to meet Howard Dean, slept too little, ate too much.
The mysterious hum story will have to wait--- Joe Denfar's next case will be in Vegas at a casino that is about to be torn down. It is roughed in my mind pretty clearly, and if there is a place in the world that would make poor Joe twitch at its overdone poor taste, where ever came in second would be a far distant to LV. :)

A "Servant" flash

"Who Comes for the Mother's Fruit" went out today to Every Day Fiction. I promised Jordan Lapp I would send him a story first opportunity. A cool idea presented itself, and I ran with it. Hope he likes it!

Strange moment

There are some experiences that words simply cannot capture. I just had one of those.
A few moments ago, Rachel Marks sent me one of the first preliminary sketches for the interior illustrations for The Servant of the Manthycore.
I wrote the first draft of "Voice of the Spoiler" over 12 years ago. The character has haunted me, in more ways than one, ever since. Now that the book will be out soon, I have more than ever been living with her as a constant, though surly, companion.
Opening that file was seeing her face for the very first time. Rachel was concerned that she get it right-- judging by the butterflies doing gymnastics in my mid-section right now, I'd say she did.
You are really going to like the interiors of this book!

Lester Dent: Pulp Master from Missouri

A little something for my fellow pulp fans!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbBH4WE2wEg

Servant's sword

The good folks at Albion Swords made this quite wonderful bronze sword, which is close to the description in the stories. It is unfinished, but I will be doing some work, hilting and maybe engraving.

Finished

The new novella for the middle of "The Servant of the Manthycore" book is finished--- I typed the last word around 2:30 AM. It finished up at a little less than 14k words, which means the book total will be well over 40k-- short by contemprary novel standards, but novel-length nontheless. The folks who buy this book will certainly get their money's worth, with the interior illustrations by Rachel Marks, the beautiful cover, and an introduction by Sword and Sorcery legend...
No, not yet! There is a BIG surprise attached to this project. By September, when everything is in place, you won't be able to get me to shut up about it, but for now, shhhhhhhh.
In the meantime, I can tell you this. The new story takes place immediately after the events of "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here," which is up right now at The Sword Review, and is part of the new adopted daughter arc. It has mystery, ancient ruins, monsters, a Biblical Patriarch, a Babylonian goddess, murder, betrayal and death--- you know, a love story.

Would you believe...

August must be the book month. I know it is hard to believe, but I am claiming yet another friend with a book. Elizabeth Ann Scarborough was the first guest at our new house a couple of months ago, where I treated her to burnt chicken and overdone burgers. Here is the latest installment of her collaberation with Anne McCaffrey, Acorna's Children, Third Watch. You know you want to buy it. You know you do!

Poltergeist

*UPDATE* Welcome readers who got here by mistake, by clicking on that wonderful image above! While you are here why not visit the latest posts, or even take a chance and check out my book, The Servant of the Manthycore. For reviews and info at Amazon click here!


And my other good friend Kat Richardson (I know, hard to believe I'd have two!) has a new book, too. This is the second in her Harper Blaine Greywalker series, and from early reviews it is even better than the first one.

Check out this book!

My good friend Celina has a great new book, The Reckoning of Asphodel, full of magic and wry observation as only she can concoct. Check it out!

Canfield speaks, you listen

An awesome rant from Mike Canfield about... well about just about everything that is wrong with our genre.

As I say, it's mostly the non-Hero's non-journey of no Plan with a capital Pee for me. I like to read working-stiff fantasy. You can keep your Frodos, your Bilbos: significant Hobbits of Destiny. Give me Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser any day and every day of the week: a couple of guys trying to make a dishonest buck, and hoping to avoid getting turned into turtles by the local Wizard-King. Sure, Fritz Leiber is known only to approximately one one-millionth of Tolkien or Lucas fans: but that is their loss, the loss of the millions, the multitudes loss. Not mine.

Absolutely hilarious

--This is the funniest thing I have seen all week. It runs as a series of .gifs--

Weaving Spiders Come Not Here

The latest "Servant of the Manthycore" story is up right now at The Sword Review. This story starts a story arc that I think you will enjoy, with new characters, challenges great and small, and a new source of hope for the poor immortal swordswoman. Check it out!
Next month The Sword Review will feature "Nothing but Our Tears", and in October the series will wrap up with "The Scarlet Colored Beast".

"Servant" project update

The plan as it stands right now for the "Servant" book is that it will have enough new stuff in it to make it appealing to everyone, including the fans who have read the short stories. To this end there will be one longish new short story that my beta readers have unamimously declared the best so far, and a novella length story that I think is turning out to be even better. "Novella" means at least 17,500 words, which is okay because I am guessing the final count on this story to be 18,000-20,000. I have co-opted the premise and the title from the started-on novel--- "The Tears of Ishtar" are the McGuffin here as well as the title. Bill Snodgrass made a couple of suggestions that really started the juices flowing, and now I am typing just as fast as I can to get it all out.
The word count stands at bedtime tonight at a little over 5700, which puts me nearly a third of the way done, which is the place I am at story-wise as well. If this rate continues the story may be ready for beta readers as soon as the end of next weekend.
I am really having fun with this, by the way. The new direction has really opened the floodgates, and I am writing stuff that seems quite vibrant and alive to me, almost like I was watching an old movie that somehow perfectly captured the end of the bronze age in rich and interesting detail. It is a good feeling!

Book news

Had a very busy and exciting week in discussion with the publisher and the artist for the "Servant" book. Wow, I am stoked!
Beautiful artwork, both for the cover and the commissioned interior illustrations... yes I did say interior illustrations, done by Rachel Marks, who is one of my favorites--- planned at this point as 7 full page charcoal drawings. This will be a book that will be nice to hold, and beautiful to read. Hopefully the readers enjoy the words as much as the package!
No official time-line yet, other than "soon". I have a few thousand works of "filling out" to finish. One thing I can promise is that the book will take the Servant to places the reader may never have expected, and she will meet with even more exciting and terrifying adventures!
For those of you who have been following her saga, The Sword Review has reprinted the first two stories in June and July, and will have three more in the following months. The book will have two more previously unpublished stories of pretty substantial length, bringing the tale together and making it an episodic novel rather than a collection of short stories. There will be lots to love!

Speculative Fiction Authors Considered As High School Students

Very amusing little post on Live Grenades with a mention of my freind and crit group mentor Nisi Shawl.

Every Day Fiction

Are you an aspiring writer? Looking maybe for your first few publication credits? Or perhaps you are a more established scribbler, and would like a venue to drive traffic to your site. Either way, Jordan Lapp has just announced the beginning of a new flash fiction magazine that may be just what you have been looking for! Every Day Fiction promises to deliver what its name implies-- fresh fiction every day. In return they pay one entire dollar, some fleeting fame, and a link to whatever project you are pushing. Some outstanding writers have lined up to provide 1000 word or less fiction, and in the first week they have over 100 subscribers, so the exposure looks to be substantial.
And if you like your fiction in bite-sized pieces, delivered hot and fresh daily, you might want to subscribe.
Give em' a look!

Cover art

Just received cover art for Unparalleled Journeys II; Ed was nice enough to let us see it. Very cool looking, a couple of spaceships tearing across a blue background. You'll like it.
And Ron Shiflet sent us final proofs for Damned in Dixie. It looks great, too. It should be ready for your purchasing pleasure within a couple of weeks. I will most certainly keep you posted!

First Joe Denfar story in print? Maybe!

Just got an email from James Van Pelt, who says that the first Joe Denfar story, "An Exorcism Straight, Hold the Elvis" has made the first cut for the Hardboiled Horror anthology. We won't know until after the submission period ends in September, but I am pretty stoked. This looks like a great anthology, one I would be thrilled to be a part of.
As always, I'll keep you posted!

Meta stuff

Just added a new column to the right "Read me in 2007!" which lists everything out this year, and did some less visible or obvious tweaking otherwise.

Night of Shadows, Night of Knives

Just heard from William and Rob at Ricasso Press-- they will be using my story "Night of Shadows, Night of Knives" for the Magic and Mechanica anthology.
I am thrilled to be part of this project! The concept is tres cool, and the anthology looks to be something quite spectacular. I think it will be out in October.
I'll keep you posted!

Servant of the Manthycore

The second Servant story is up at The Sword Review. The next three will follow one a month there. If you haven't read it, go take a look!

New Joe Story

My new Joe Denfar story, "Lon Chaney Playing Poker, on Velvet" was sent today to Aberrant Dreams. While they have yet to buy anything from me, in the past they have offered decent feedback. Cross fingers, this time it will be what they are looking for--- I would love to be in their magazine.
Also, sent out "A God by a River in Egypt" to Ficticious Force, and "Can We Truly Know Why the Junkie Pixie Sings" to Worlds of Wonder, both fine magazines I have had my eye on.
This leaves me with everything under submission or sold. My inventory is getting pretty light--- I either have to hurry up and finish a novel or two, or take an occasional break to write a short.

re: "Stars by Law Forbidden"

That's what I'm talkin' about!

Michael,


Just a note to say we have decided to accept this story for publication in our anthology UJII. I will be forwarding a contract to you soon, probably via snail mail.

Thanks,

EK

Unparalleled Journeys II looks to be a good anthology. I'm excited to be a part of it!
More as I know more.

Update

I have been lax, I know, but here we go: "Love is the Slayer" a Servant of the Manthycore to A New Century of Sword and Sorcery, "The Death of Number 23" to Cross-genre Cthulhu, "Night of Shadows, Night of Knives" to Magic and Mechanica, "The Stars by Law Forbidden" to Unparalleled Journeys II, all anthologies, and "The Amityville Sensimilla Growers Guide to Bigger, Healthier Plants" to Chizine.
Recently rejected and being re-worked: "Can We Truly Know Why the Junkie Pixie Sings", and "A God by a River in Egypt", tweaking on both should not take much as they are both fairly strong. "Lon Chaney Playing Poker, on Velvet" a Joe Denfar story, is finished and waiting for me to decide where I want him to appear next.
And "The Beast of the Bridge" is pending as part of the Orphans of the Gods anthology put together by my online crit group.
In print is the first of five Servant of the Manthycore stories, "Voice of the Spoiler" first printed in The Sword Review Oct 2005, reprinted by them, followed by "Servant of the Manthycore" in July, "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here" in August, "Nothing But Our Tears" in September, and "The Scarlet-Colored Beast" in October, which finishes out that story arc and provides a little closure for the poor gal.
Any day now we are expecting to see "Six Zombies Doing that Mick Jagger Strut" (A Joe Denfar story) in the Damned in Dixie anthology, and "Darkling I Listen; and for Many a Time" will most likely be in either this month's Fear and Trembling Magazine, or next month's.
In progress is "Warner Ducked" a space opera shoot-em up, the only short on my list right now, and The Tears of Ishtar, a Servant novel. Also I am hoping to get some time for Dancing with the Cannibal King, a muti-universe novel.
Busy guy!

SFReader Webring

SFReader is a place I hang out alot, instead of writing. So when Howard Von Darkmoor (might that be an alias?) a regular poster on that site sent me an email titled "An offer you can't refuse" with an invitation to join the SFReader Webring, what could I do? It said I couldn't refuse, right there in the subject line! So I did, and in a couple of days you will be able to go to the bottom of this page and click into another page by one of the excellent writers, editors, readers, and general posters at one of my favorite sites!

Update: Wow, that was fast! Looks like we are already live. Check out some of the other sites!

Manthycore

Babylon

"The Babylonian Marriage Market"

"Darkling I Listen"

My flash horror piece "Darkling I Listen, and for Many A Time" sold today to Fear and Trembling, a new horror magazine. Their first issue was out not long ago, and I must say, true to the norm of other DEP publications, the cover was a joy. I am looking forward to being in the sharp-looking magazine!

Fear this!

"Servant" novel

So I started it. The word has been that now would be a good time to write a "Servant" novel, as in the last half of the year there will be at least 5, maybe 6 stories in the series in print.
Working title is The Tears of Ishtar, which is both the McGuffin and evokes some classic pulp titles for me, including the quite wonderful (but now unreadable as an adult) classic Ship of Isthar by A.A. Merritt.
For those of you who are interested in the process, I will keep you posted!

Lon Chaney Playing Poker, On Velvet

Just finished the latest "Joe Denfar" short-- I like this one best of all, so far. Out to crit, and then to find a home.

Servant Series started at Sword Review

Check it out:

"High pay, great danger, long journey, bad company."

How could you not be tempted by an offer like that? In the days of the ancient near-east, a story of love, betrayal, murder, magic and a fell beast.

"Voice of the Spoiler" is revived from our archives to lead off a five-part serial from Michael Ehart. This story appeard in The Sword Review October 9, 2005. Next month, we reprise "Servant of the Manthacore" and follow after that with three never before published stories that complete the tale.

Baby Got Back - Gilbert and Sullivan Style

This has nothing to do with writing and everything to do with cat-vacuuming.

Moved and moving into high gear

Finished our move, which had a major disruptive effect on my writing, but now I have a lovely new space and plenty of privacy for writing. This weekend I nearly finished the new Joe Denfar story. I also had a chance to revisit my rejections---- my ghost rat story got yet another glowing rejection--- everybody loves it, nobody buys it. The submarine story was rejected, too, just as well because I really like the magazine I sent it to, and it has already killed two other magazines. It gets bought, and then the magazine dies.
And I am still waiting on the "Servant" story that I sent to the invited anthology. I have high hopes, as I feel that this is the best one in the series, and I would really like to be a part of the project I sent it to.
Time will tell!

Check out this blog

I've been moving, so there has been very little here lately. To tide you over, go here: http://jordanlapp.com/blog/ and check out new writer Jordan Lapp's diary of his journey to bestsellerhood. Entertaining, educational, with a slight dash of lemon-lime.
I met Jordan at Norwescon a couple of weeks ago. He is quite serious about this whole writing thing. Give him a try!

NorWesCon report

Checked into the con Thursday night, 'cause I know the lines are huge on Friday, even for pros. We live less than 30 miles away, so get to sleep in our own beds, always seems like a good idea until the middle of the drive home, early Saturday morning, with AM panels just a couple hours away :)

Old friends in the greenroom, but my scedule was so agressive that there was only time for a couple of quick hugs and a couple of Laurel and Hardy handshakes and then it was off to work.
My first panel was
"Why Ain't It Happened Next? What with writers of horror, science fiction, and speculative military fiction coming up with all these nifty ideas for terrorists, how come there ain't been any in the US since 9/11. Is Bush right and we're getting them all in Iraq. Is our Homeland Security that good? Are the terrorists spread that thin?"
Christopher C. Konker (M) Mike Brennan Michael Ehart Mike Shepherd Moscoe
Panel was a great start--- packed room, lots of lively debate, strong panelists. Weirdly, after all these years of hanging with Mike Moscoe at cons, this was the first time we were on a panel together. Worth the wait. There were a few familiar faces in the mix, including an old friend from the real world I see too seldom, lately mostly at cons, John Kono, a fellow IT geek and history fanatic. John has an encyclopedic knowledge of Middle Kingdom Egypt, and is a generally great guy to boot.


Next was my reading--- book board in place, I flew through "Six Zombies Doing that Mick jagger Strut." Well recieved, though I was stopped by more than one fan in the hall outside before asking if I were going to read a "Servant" story again this year. Apparently last year after the reading of "Servant of the Manthycore" a number of ancient Syrian Death Goddesses made D&D appearances in the gaming room :) I am starting to see familiar faces at readings, which I take to be a good sign.

"My favorite science fiction book If you had to recommend just one science fiction book from the last thirty years, which would that, be?
Kathy Watts (M) L. Timmel Duchamp Michael Ehart Judith Herman" ---This was much livelier than you might expect. Instead of a dull list there was a ton of interaction. Everyone was good on this panel, too, but this was my first of a long con with Judith Herman, who was simply delightful, full of sly, dry and very rich wit and wonderfully amusing anecdotes.
After I hung for a bit with a former student, Jonathon, and managed to spill my dreadful green room coffee on Kat Richardson, with whom, by the way I was on my next panel, and is one of my favorite (unindited) co-conspirators.
And then it was time for lunch. My wife, who was able to attend only sparsely, came and got me and we went home for Bob's Barbeque ribs and links, and her mom's quite excellent collard and mustard greens with bacon. A too short nap, and then we flew back to the con for--

"Bounty Hunter, PI, Cop--Mystery Protagonists in Fantasy/Horror/SF It's not new, but it is popular. Cross-genre authors discuss melding the traditional characters and structures of Mystery with Fantasy/Horror/SF.
Kat Richardson (M) Michael Ehart Kaitlin Kittredge Pat MacEwen Cynthia Ward" Of course, I will always love a panel with Kat, but I think that this one may have been one of my favorites--- Kaitlin was adorable, Pat had some nice grim CSI stories, and Cynthia co-wrote "Writing the Other" with my crit-mate Nisi Shawl. It also kicked off a thought process that followed through most of my writerly panels concerning noir elemnts in just about every aspect of my writing.

This segued nicely into my next panel "Noir vs Dark/Horror vs Fantasy Where does the darkness of Fantasy become Horror? What's the difference between "Dark" Fantasy and "Noir" Fantasy? What's this darned "noir" thing anyhow? Is any Fantasy with a monster in it "Dark?" Get the skinny at this discussion.
Michael Ehart (M) Kaitlin Kitteredge Gordon Van Gelder" My second in a row with the adorable Kaitlin, who has an interesting series coming soon from St. Martin's, coincidently the house where Gordon used to labor before he bought F&SF. Gordon was incisive and sharp, in that "Columbo" style he uses.
I hung a little at the penthouse pro party, had a nice chat with Gordon and met a few new folks. BTW, the pate was dreadful, as evidenced by the very small amount of it consumed by a group of writers, whom as you must know would most likely eat library paste on a cracker if it was free :)

My wife was able to make it back in time for the Midnight Horror Readings. Donna Barr raced in, read a very short Nazi buracracy story. I read my ghost rat story "The Amnityville Sinsemilla Growers' Guide to Better, Healthier Plants." Joe Cooke read a wonderfully titled and memorable story-"The Late Early Guest" and Pat gave us a cannibal tale. We baled after that, as our fatigue level had reached critical mass.

Saturday started with one of the panels I have done at several cons---
"No, Really, That Makes Sense Our distinguished panel of experts explains why certain widely- seen SF and fantasy elements that seem absurd actually have legitimate explanations. Come hear why it makes sense for barbarian sword babes to wear chain-mail bikinis, why computers on starships never crash or lock up with indecipherable error messages, and why male scientists in SF are always really good looking guys who are irresistible to brilliant, beautiful women."
Michael Ehart (M) Amy Thomson Kat Richardson Lori Edwards --- This was a very funny bunch--- Amy in particular has a very sick sense of humor, and is extrodinarily quick with a pun. Kat and I wandered over to the autograph session and sat together with plenty of time to admire the very long line for the artist GOH and its contrast to the length of the line autograph seekers in front of us:)

Next was another political panel, "Mercenaries-The Eclipse of the Citizen Soldier From the Dendari, onward, how have they been handled in the genre? In Iraq, we have 140,000 (as of this writing) soldiers in country ... and 100,000 contractors. Is the citizen soldier going the way of the hoplite? Why does America seem to want a vigilante superhero rather than an Everyman with his finger on the trigger?
Alan Paulsen (M) Donna Barr Michael Ehart Stoney Compton" Lively again, with an audience memeber who actually was a Blackwater employee, and several amusingly "Soldier of Fortune" types lurking in the back of the room, menacing in thier wrap-around shades, but otherwise non-contributing. Donna is an old friend, and her wired craziness added a very nice edge of instability to the discussion. This panel sparked some of the best hallway discussion, too.

"Plots That Fly And Plots That Die! Every story needs one. Some get away with two or three. Where do they come from? How to you entangle and tighten them? Other plots just seem to lay there and do nothing for the book. How to make your plot earn its pay!
LJ Bothell (M) Michael Ehart Kay Kenyon Richard Wadholm James Cobb" was the most "grown-up" panel I was on, and it was very well attended. Some good info for both the pros and the folks in the folding chairs.

"Computer misconceptions in science fiction literature and film Viruses that take out alien computers, text that flows across the screen, code written in a few keystrokes to do complex tasks. How does the presentation of computers in literature and media affect the expectations of the public?
Michael Ehart (M) Judith Herman Craig Figley" Judith again, who was tech consultant on a number of films, including "War Games" and just as funny again this go-around. "Swordfish" got an especially good going-over (ahem).

"Die Laughing Horror's not funny! Or is it? How do authors like Christopher Moore make things that ought to gross you out give you the giggles? What's the trick to making Horror hilarious?--come and find out.
Michael Ehart (M) Lorelei Shannon Kij Johnson M.K. Hobson Leon West" Another lively panel, full of laughter, as we worked our way through a number of examples. Leon was incredibly funny. By the way, Jordan Lapp made it to this panel--- unfortunately his time was very limited, so we only got to chat for a few minutes--- I had hoped to have a drink with him. Nice guy!

Speaking of nice guys, Joshua Palmatier was on my next, and day's final panel "Creating Emotion-Driven SF/F Speculative fiction is often called the fiction of ideas, but wonderful ideas will never see print unless they create an emotional impact. Learn to begin with emotion and then wrap the story around character to affect the reader.
Mary Rosenblum (M) Michael Ehart Joshua Palmatier Richard Wadholm" Mary is one of my favorite panel mods, and this was a very good panel. Too bad it was so late, but the attendance was still good, and there were a lot of really good insights on the subject. A short trip to the VIP lounge, a hall wander to a couple of parties with a crowd including my wife, Kat and her husband and others. Such old fogies, we toddled off early.

Sunday started with "How the web is changing the face of politics. Web pages, YouTube ads, email, the internet has allowed even minor candidates to get their message across. How will the internet continue to change to the political process?
Michael Ehart (M) and others---" I arranged for two of the leading techno-political operatives in the state to join us for this one panel, Noemie Maxwell and Ray Minchew, and they did not disapoint. Lively, and substansive, and clearly a success measured by the amount of hallway discussion after.

Kat bailed me out on this panel "Too Many Women Are there too many female characters in Fantasy/Horror? Do girls rule or are is it an illusion? Does gender matter to readers? sales? writers? Does fantasy need more men (like Mars Needs Women)?
Michael Ehart (M) Joshua Palmatier" as Joshua had a flight change and couldn't make it. It was a hoot, very well attended, and we weere able to persuade a number of male readers to try some of the fantastic female writers out there.

The on to-- "We've Broken Their Code, Sir!" Encryption is often an important part of many stories, as well as modern security systems, but often times they leave the reader scratching his head. One author has codes broken in days by an expert who knows the system in use, another declares that messages using some strange code are absolutely unreadable without the key, not just for computers today, but for computers in use a billion years from now. Who is right? Come join us while we discuss where encryption started, where it is now, and where it is going.
Michael Ehart (M) Judith Herman JT Traub"--- my last panel with judith, who continued to amuse. Part techie and part show-biz, this was a hugely attended panel, and geeky as all get-out. had a great conversation with Judith in the green room after.
Then finally!!!!
"Strangest story ever read We've all had the experience of finishing a science fiction or fantasy novel/story, sat back and said "huh?". Come prepared to talk about the strangest story or novel you've read in these past thirty years.
C.A. Scott (M) Michael Ehart Stoney Compton" Wow, did we come up with some weird stuff! C.A. Scott was unable to attend, so Stoney and I swapped moderator duties. Everyone was suffering from con fatigue, so there as a bit of con-rumminess that was entirely appropriate. Good ending to a great con!

Overall, it seemed better attended than last year. As always there was a huge number of wonderful costumes. sadly I was so heavily booked that I only was able to attend the panels I was on, but the variety of those was delightful. Lots of old friends there, Jay Lake, Bruce Taylor, a hall nod to Greg Bear and a glimpse of Astrid, and a dash past their daughter Alexandra who was sitting in a hallway, many others unmentioned (and some unmentionable!) great art everywhere, and much laughter.

Servant Sword

Folks send me pictures of swords from time to time, asking if they are like the sword carried by the Servant of the Manthycore. This one, though Mycenaean
and from slightly later, is the closest so far:




Here is another view:

Which SF writer are you?

I seem to be RAH

I am: Robert A. Heinlein Beginning with technological action stories and progressing to epics with religious overtones, this take-no-prisoners writer racked up some huge sales numbers.

Which science fiction writer are you?

How about you?

http://paulkienitz.net/skiffy.html

Grinding away

Actually, rather than a grind it was an explosion. This weekend I was able to squeeze out a little time, and blazed through (well, perhaps "blaze" is a little strong) the first "Servant" story of the new story arc. Off to crit, and then to one of the anthologies I have been invited to sub to. Lots of blood, betrayal, and despair as always.
You know---- a love story.

Damned in Dixie

The cover is up and the Table of Contents. Note the inclusion of a familiar name right at the end:

Emancipation by John Hubbard
Bury Me Deep by Josh Reynolds
Beating Josephat by Lawrence Barker
A Little Nest Egg by Kenneth Goldman
Hearken Not to the Zurry Bird's Cry by Edward DeGeorge
A Cold Day in Hell by Ron Shiflet
Miss Magnolia by Anna M. Lowther
Hell Hath No Fury by Rob Rosen
The Skeleton by William B. Kaliher
Hours With the Dead by Lee Clark Zumpe
The Best Ghost Tour in Savannah by Mark Allan Gunnells
The Big Shot by Loretta Giacoletto
The Tooth by Mark E. Deloy
Such a Sweet Girl by Mark W. Johnson
Sleeping in the Kisatchie by A.C. Wise
Ghosts of the Bayou by Trent Roman
Six Zombies Doing that Mick Jagger Strut by Michael Ehart

Yes, for those who have asked, it is a Joe Denfar story! The anthology should be out next month.



Take a look!

View from the Shotglass Floor

Up now. Enjoy!

Too true

Stolen from 101 Reasons to Stop Writing.

The View From the Shotglass Floor

Just heard from Ray Gun Revival that they will be using my story "The View from the Shotglass Floor" in their magazine. I am stoked! I love their covers, and have really enjoyed the content over the last year or so they have been in business. I'll keep you posted on dates and such when I know more.
In the meantime, give them a visit:
http://www.raygunrevival.com/

RadCon 4C, Pasco WA

Itinerary for Michael Ehart

Sun Feb 18 11:00:am Sun Feb 18 12:00:pm Eragon and Star Wars
Citrine Looking at the parallels, are there any new stories to be told
Michael Ehart John Redeye Knight Irene Radford Darragh Metzger

Sat Feb 17 5:00:pm Sat Feb 17 6:00:pm Why the Leather Bikini
Harvest Room Hear these folks explain away the whys and wherefors of all that is quirky in F&SF
Christine Morgan Michael Ehart Deby Fredericks Eve Gross

Sat Feb 17 2:00:pm Sat Feb 17 3:00:pm Leaving it to the Reader
Sage Readers have imaginations; use them! To much, too little? Fining the baby bear approach to getting it just right.
John Pitts ElizaBeth Gilligan M. J. Engh Michael Ehart Michael Hiebert

Fri Feb 16 4:00:pm Fri Feb 16 5:00:pm Star Trek
Sage RCW 4813.6.1(c) states: No science fiction convention shall be liscened to do business in the State of Washington without 1 (one) period of time, not less than 50 minutes, dedicated to Star Trek. This period of time must be scheduled and a copy of that schedule provided to attendees of said convention.
Michael Ehart J. Steven York Dean Wesley Smith John Hudgens Vickie Mitchell

Fri Feb 16 3:00:pm Fri Feb 16 4:00:pm To Outline or Not to Outline
Harvest Room Some folks swear by the outline, others swear at it. Both sides make their point.
Renee Stern Darragh Metzger Christine Morgan Michael Ehart

See you there!

Damned in Dixie

He's baaack! For those of you who have been jonesing for a Joe Denfar fix, good news! I just heard from editor and writer Ron Shiflet that the latest Joe story "Six Zombies Doing that Mick Jagger Strut" will be in the "Damned in Dixie" anthology coming in March. It will be a collection of "dark fantasy/horror tales set in any of the 13 states that comprised the Confederate States of America."
More details as I get 'em!

In first place!

For nearly 12 hours. It might not last, but it sure feels good. Go vote if you haven't!

Please vote for me!

My story "Servant of the Manthycore" has been nominated for the Preditors and Editors poll for best Fantasy/SF Short Story of 2006. Pleeeease vote for me! he whined.
Poll here: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/shortstorysf.shtml

Story here, for those of you who haven't read it yet: http://www.theswordreview.com/item.php?sub_id=431

Thanks!

A few thousand science fiction magazines

This is just plain wonderful---

*Thanks to Donna Barr

Orycon---See you there!

Sun Nov 19 3:00:pm Sun Nov 19 4:00:pm Libraries of the Future: From Science Fiction to Reality
Mt. Hood Libraries must constantly adapt to new technologies. How close are we likely to get to the science fictional concepts of future libraries?
Cory Doctorow Michael Ehart Laura Majerus Bill Sattler David W. Goldman

Sun Nov 19 2:00:pm Sun Nov 19 3:00:pm No, Really, That Makes Sense
Medford "Our distinguished panel of experts explains why certain widely-seen SF and fantasy elements that seem absurd actually have legitimate explanations.
Come hear why it makes sense for barbarian sword babes to wear chain-mail bikinis, why computers on starships never crash or lock up with indecipherable error messages, and why male scientists in SF are always really good looking guys who are irresistable to brilliant, beautiful women."
Rhiannon Louve Ellen Klages Michael Ehart Sonia Lyris Richard A. Lovett

Sun Nov 19 1:00:pm Sun Nov 19 1:30:pm Reading: Michael Ehart
Salem A reading by Michael Ehart
Michael Ehart

Sat Nov 18 5:00:pm Sat Nov 18 6:00:pm Computer Viruses Then and Now
Medford What has changed from the day of Melissa, Chernobyl and Michelangelo to the present and how do you keep your computers virus free.
Michael Pearce Ben Yalow Frank Hayes Michael Ehart Dave Slusher

Sat Nov 18 4:00:pm Sat Nov 18 4:30:pm Autographs by Michael Ehart
Autograph Table An Autograph session with Michael Ehart

Fri Nov 17 11:00:pm Sat Nov 18 1:00:am Midnight Horror Readings
Portland Short and scary! Fans read short stories or scenes guaranteed to provide a chill! - bring your favorite story.
Michael Ehart Cheryl Scott Anthony Pryor Dianna Rodgers

He's back!

Good news for those of you who have been bugging me for a new Joe Denfar story. Last night I finished "Six Zombies Doing the Mick Jagger Strut" and sent it off to STEW, the Seattle crit group that is kind enough to let me hang out with them. After a good going over, I'll be shopping it around. I'll be keeping you posted.

"Servant" stories and an update

Just got the (near) final word on the "Servant of the Manthycore" stories. In June of next year, The Sword Review will re-print the first two stories, "Voice of the Spoiler" and "The Servant of the Manthycore" and in July we will see "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here". August will bring "Nothing But Our Tears" and September "The Scarlet Colored Beast".
Things can still change; they may run the first two separately, which would push back the last three a month each.
The print date for the "Timeflash" anthology has been changed to January, 2007, so Christmas orders are out. Perfect for President's day, though! :)

Sold!

Just learned that the latest three "Servant of the Manthycore" stories are in the "accepted" column at The Sword Review. No information on release dates, yet, but they will most likely be in three sequential months, as they together consititute a major story arc with the character and her history.

The titles are: "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here", "Nothing But Our Tears", and "The Scarlet Colored Beast".

For those of you who enjoy the series there is even more good news. I have been persuaded to write a novella length story that takes place 50 years after the events in "The Scarlet Colored Beast" so the poor gal will not get any peace. I promise that her reaction to the new mis-fortunes will be the same as her reaction to anything else: chopping everyone in sight into sushi. :)

Kat

My friends Kat Richardson's new novel Greywalker is coming out October 3rd. If you like supernatural mysteries and an intriguing new take on ghosts, you will definitely want to pick this one up. If you are in the Seattle area on October 7, Kat will be doing a signing at Seattle Mystery Bookshop at noon, and another at the University Bookstore November 3 at 7PM.

V-Con Coming up!

Vancouver's Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Gaming Convention
October 6th, 7th and 8th, 2006

Executive Airport Plaza, Richmond

Here is my draft schedule:


Friday 6:00 PM Historical Fantasy: Where Does History End and Fantasy Begin?
Westminster North 1 hour
Saturday
12:30 PM Reading by Michael Ehart Boardroom B .5 hour
3:00 PM Future Of Short Fiction (and the Magazines) Boardroom A 1 hour
Sunday
10:00 AM Fantastic Women Executive Boardroom 1 hour


If you make it, come look me up!

Letting me down gently

I have gotten some great rejections lately---- rejections, great or not, are a writer's first experience, and until you are at the level of Steven King or Robert B. Parker you are just going to have them as a part of your everyday world.

But the last three or four in a row have had a much different tone than I am used to. The one I got today made me laugh out loud:

Hi. I really enjoyed your story. If only we'd gotten a dozen more this good. But we didn't. As a result, Lodestone has been put on hold. Sorry to have kept you waiting. I hoped to get some good submissions between now and when you submitted, but didn't.

Drew

True or not, this is almost at the level of the apochryphal rejection from a Japanese magazine where the editor declined because printing it would be so close to the ultimate expression on the topic that printing any other story after would be unnecesary.

I have been remiss

with my posting lately, so here is an update.
Got "Night of Shadows" back and "Pixies" as well but I haven't had time to turn them around yet. Also, I got the revision notes for the three "Servant" stories, so I should have them revised and out by the end of the week.
Last night, moments before deadline I submitted my shared-world story for the Dragon Tales anthology--- "The Beast of the Bridge". I was pretty happy with how it turned out. The protagonist is anything but heroic, a con man, a seducer and a theif. I like him a lot.
I'm starting to get pretty antsy, as I haven't had enough writing time lately. It sort of builds up, like too much time spent in the car, until finally like a too-full bladder it demands a pull-over at the next writers' rest area. I realize this is a very dopey metaphor, but it is one of those evenings :)

Virgin Galactic plans space flights by 2008

Must... win... lottery...

I'm ready to go! (Shaharazahd, my wife, may feel differently about this!)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13904981/

Virgin Group, owned by billionaire businessman and part-time daredevil Richard Branson, said on Monday it was on track to launch the sub-orbital flights for the year after next and had sold tickets to its first 150 passengers.

Thirteen AWOL

Looks like Thirteen Magazine, a fine European horror mag, has departed this vale of tears. For those of you who hadn't read "Dancing with the Elder Gods" yet, your opportunites just became quite limited.
Much to my surprise, this story published last October still seems to be drawing people to this site. It may behove me to submit it to another mag, perhaps an e-zine, so that it stays available. I'll look into that.

Catching Up

For those of you who are interested in the process, this is what I have out right now:

"Darkling I Listen, and for Many a Time" to Millenium Shift

"Night of Shadows, Night of Knives" to Horrors Beyond

"Do We Truly Know Why the Junkie Pixie Sings?" to Blood, Blade, and Thruster

"The Amityville Sensimilla Growers Guide to Bigger, Healthier Plants" to Until Somebody Loses an Eye

"Weaving Spiders Come Not Here" to Sword Review

"Nothing But Our Tears" to Sword Review

"A God by a River in Egypt" to Chaos Theory

"Stars by Law Forbidden" to Intergalactic Medicine Show

"The Scarlet-Colored Beast" to Sword Review


Accepted, and out soon:

"The Death of Number 23" in Dark Krypt, July/August issue

"The View from the Shotglass Floor" in Timeflash in August

So that makes 9 in submission and 2 pending.

I am working on 2 short stories--- yet another "Servant" story, and the long-promised new Joe Denfar tale. Plus I hope to get back to the novel soon!

Which Fantasy/SciFi Character Are You?

It seems that I am Yoda.

Who are you? Click the picture and take the Quiz.

Bronze Age Sword

LOLOL--- a friend of mine just emailed me this link. It seems that the sword wielded by the protagonist of my Servant of the Manthycore series has just come up on ebay :)
I'll ask my wife, but I know she will say that for 500 bucks we shouldn't have to settle for used :)

Beautiful Luristan Sword

Buy some books, already!

Nisi Shawl writes:

You like them, and it's in a good cause:***************************************************In June, the Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle will donate 20% of their proceeds from the sale of certain books to the Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund of the Carl Brandon Society. Books must be purchased in person or over the phone, during the month of June. Online purchases do not qualify.The donation will be made as part of Elliott Bay's "Books for a Change" program. Titles for June include "Dark Matter II," edited by Sheree Renee Thomas; "Fledgling" and "Kindred" by Octavia E. Butler; "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollan; "Cinnamon Kiss," "The Wave," and "Fear Itself" by Walter Mosley; "Zorro" and "City of Beasts" by Isabelle Allende; and many, many more.For a complete list of the books that are part of the June donation program, please call the store at (206) 624-6600 or (toll free) 1-800-962-5311, or go to . Then, either place an order for any of these books over the phone, or buy any of them at the store to make your selection count towards our total.The Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund will support writers of color attending the Clarion and Clarion West Writing Workshops, beginning in 2007. It is administered by the Carl Brandon Society, a nonprofit organization focusing on the presence and representation of people of color in the fantastic literary genres. For more information about the Carl Brandon Society and the scholarship fund, please visit our website at .

Servant done!

I just submitted the final story, at least for now, of the Servant of the Manthycore series. It is a bit longer than the others, at a little over 8300 words, making it a novelette. This brings the entire lot to around 23,000 words, and with the intro by Ann Scarborough and some interior art and maybe a couple of maps of the ancient near-east with story locations marked, it should make a decent little volume.

Look for the stories over the next few months in The Sword Review, and the collection in the fall!

The story still has no title, but...

Finally! A strong 2400 words on the final story of "The Servant of the Manthycore" series.

It is looking like it may end up as a novelette rather than a short story--- it just depends on how wordy the dialog gets. So I am thinking at most I am halfway at 3500 words.

But I feel much better about it!

Back from the Mountains of Madness

or something like that. This weekend was the test I was preparing for. I now have a little time to breathe, so I got the re-write to "Darkling I Listen; and for Many a Time" done and out. I still need to re-write "Night of Shadows, Night of Knives" for a quite patient magazine editor, and perhaps take another turn at "Do We Truly Know Why the Junkie Pixies Sing". There is a Joe Denfar story to complete, and of course the fifth Servant of the Manthycore story needs to get written in the next few weeks.
Oh, and I promised to contribute to the "Tales from the Dragon's Den" anthology.
Somewhere in there I need to get some work done on the novel.
Wish me luck!

"Servant" reviewed in Tangent

This review at Tangent Online from Paul Abbamondi:

"Servant of the Manthycore: A Tale of the Ancient Near-East" by Michael Ehart follows a female protagonist, the servant of the Manthycore, as she discovers a scene of murder and destruction by a desert oasis. Waiting there for her is Ananth, a goddess of death, ready to offer her a chance for freedom from the beast of sorcery she serves.
Reminiscent of the classic sword and sorcery tales by Robert E. Howard and Michael Moorcock, Ehart's yarn of servitude and choice is finely crafted. A vivid setting, a strong, intelligent heroine, a moody atmosphere, and a battle with the undead, make this the best entry of the issue. The ending is wickedly fun."

Pardon me while I widen the doorways so I can get my head through.

"The View from the Shotglass Floor"

Stumbled across this good news: "The View from the Shotglass Floor" will be in T. N. Thomas' TIMEFLASH Anthology, a collection of short time-travel stories. I haven't gotten the acceptance letter yet, but the story is on the website list of TOC. Looks like the publication date is the 1st of August.

Congratulations, Nebula Winners!

Though I was unable to attend this year, I hope y'all had a good time!

Winners here.

Turn around

Finally heard back on "Amityville"--- sadly, after all these months, not the answer I wanted. Such is the nature of the biz, though, and I had a perfect market to turn it around to.
Also turned around "God by a River". I was hoping to have the new Joe story done this week, but with the agressive schedule I am on it just didn't happen. I'll try to make time this week, but it might be a couple before it is done and out.
I only have six stories out, with three more that need re-writes before they make the rounds again. This month is looking to be far more busy than I anticipated, so my output is going to take a hit.

Progress update

For those of you who are interested in the process:

Sent out "The View from the Shotglass Floor" to the Timeshot Anthology.

Still waiting for for responses to "God by a River in Egypt" to Deep Magic, "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here" and "Nothing but Our Tears" to The Sword Review, "The Amityville Sensemilla Growers Association" to the Vermin Anthology, and "The Stars by Law Forbidden" to Strange Horizons.

About 1/3 into the latest Joe Defar story, "Six Zombies Doing that Mick Jagger Strut" and a few lines into the 5th "Servant of the Manthycore" story.

My output took a big hit this week due to con fatigue and RL business. I am hoping by Friday to have the Joe story done and some substantial progress made to the "Servant story.

"Servant of the Manthycore"

My story "Servant of the Manthycore" is up at The Sword Review: http://www.theswordreview.com/item.php?sub_id=431

This is the story I did at my reading this weekend at NorWesCon, where it was very well received (I heard that elements ended up that evening as sub-plots in at least one session in the gaming room)--- it is accompanied by some stunning art-work by Rachel Marks.

Go check it out--- you know you want to :)

Norwescon Final Schedule

Here is where I will be, when not at parties and other folks' panels--- I also said I would be available for fill-ins, so if there is time I will update from there.

Reading: From his selected works ("Servant of the Manthycore") Thursday Cascade 3 9:30 PM
Michael Ehart

Autograph Session 1 Signings Saturday Evergreen 1 & 2 11:00 AM
Michael Ehart

Sharon Beatty Talmany's Daughter Saturday Baker 2:00 PM
David Silas
Kathy Watts
Janin Ellen Young
Michael Ehart

Victoria Dzenis Arden Saturday Baker 3:00 PM
David Silas
Michael Ehart
Janin Ellen Young
Ken Rand


Midnight Horror Readings
Boo! Did that scare ya? No? Well, come and listen to some folks who will.
Saturday Cascade3 12:00 AM
Chris Bruscas
Michael Ehart
Roberta Gregory
John Moore
T. Brian Wagner
Kathy Watts


Robert Boyd In the Course of Diplomacy Sunday Rainier 12:00 PM
Brenda Cooper
Michael Ehart
Brian Tillotson
Susan R. Mathews

A God by a River in Egypt

I finally had time and energy to participate in the "Friday Night Write" that the Dragon Tales folks do... well, every Friday night. The idea is that a topic is introduced, and all participants go away for an hour, and return with a story. Several of the entries were pretty darned good, including one by "Lesliweird" about a swamp goddess that completely cracked me up.
Mine turned out pretty well, too, so I polished it up and sent it out. All in all a productive and fun way to spend an hour :)

Conan the Barberarian

From an e-mail exchange with Elizabeth Ann Scarborough wherein I was compelled to write this travesty:

"Grimly the iron-thewed Cimmerian wielded his mighty blade. Once, twice, thrice he stroked, and all were swept away by the ferocity of his attack. The air was filled with the coppery smell of lime-scented shaving cream, and snowy droplets of water-mixed soap were flung to each side. "Crom!" he grunted as the disposable razor, so expertly guided, still managed to nick his nipple, and his chest encrimsoned with the flow of the mighty barbarian's life's blood."

Norwescon Readings

I'm doing two readings--- the first is Thursday night at 9:30--- with the kind permission of the folks at The Sword Review, I will be reading my latest "Servant of the Manthycore" story, and will have a print of the fantastic illustration by Rachel Marks for all to marvel at.
I'll also be doing the Midnight Horror Reading Saturday night. Rumor has it that Joe Denfar may make an appearance --- still just a possibility, but I'm working on it :)
I'll see you there!

"Servant of the Manthycore" stories to be collected

I just got an exciting email from a small press publisher asking if I was interested in collecting my "Servant" series into a book. This is very cool, as I was thinking that they would make a pretty spiffy collection. I'll have more news on this in the coming months--- as always I will keep you posted!

Stars by Law

Finally finished the hard sf story I have been struggling with for almost two weeks. Got it off to crits just in time.
Not terribly certain where I am going to send this one, hopefully the folks at STEW or Dragon Tales will have a suggestion.

Vermin Anthology

I normally don't talk about stuff that is out in submission, but for some reason I am really jazzed about the Vermin anthology by Carnifexpress. I submitted months ago, and Armand, the editor, just did an update. As he is reading at random, it is silly to read anything into this, but I still haven't received a rejection, so my rat ghost story is still in the running for one of two reasons; either he still hasn't read it--- he is down to 100 submissions unread out of 456 or something, or he has read it and it is one of the 16 second round stories being held so far.
I really like the story and I am pretty impressed with Carnifexpress's anthologies, so combined with my feeling that it is a great fit and the fact that I haven't received the e-mail of death yet has got me uncharacteristically wound up.
Those who know me will testify to my detachment during the submission process--- once the story goes out into the world, it pretty much is product with little emotional attachment involved. I do most of my artistic suffering during the creation phase.
I'll feel pretty silly if I go to my email after posting this to find the story rejected, but somehow I am not feeling that this is the case :)

Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund

Nisi Shawl sent me the link to this press release:

Warner Books, Seven Stories Press, Beacon Press, The Carl Brandon Society, Writers House, and the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame announced today the creation of The Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of the internationally acclaimed fiction writer, who passed away last month.

For more information go to:
http://sfwa.org/pressbook/2006/0327a-Butler-Scholarship.html

More Norwescon Scheduling

Here is my crit schedule, for the writer's workshop:

Thur 4 p.m. Mt. Baker
Victoria Dzenis, Arden

Sat 2 p.m. Mt. Baker
Sharon Beatty, Talmany's Daughter

Sun 12 p.m. Mt. Rainier
Robert Boyd, In the Course of Diplomacy

I'll also be at the Saturday afternoon social, to meet the workshop participants in a more relaxed setting, from 2 to 4 p.m. in Presidential Suite 1360.

Norwescon update

The programming grid is set. Looks like I will be doing a reading Thursday night, 9:30 to 10:00 in Cascade 3. I seem to be the opening act for Bruce Taylor, Mike Moscoe, and Jay Lake--- pretty exciting company to be keeping!
Updates as I get 'em!

"Voice of the Spoiler"

Here is your chance to catch a print version of the first "Servant of the Manthycore" story. Better Fiction has it available in their quarterly magazine, along with stories by Scott M. Sandridge and Honore de Balzac.
It looks like a nice product, can't wait to get mine!

http://www.lulu.com/content/252877

"Death of Number 23"

Here's the kind of email a writer loves to receive:

"Dear Mr. Ehart:Congratulations! I'm pleased to inform you that your submission, "The Death of Number 23" has been accepted for publication in the JUL/AUG 2006 issue of The Dark Krypt webzine."

I'll keep you posted!

"Nothing But Our Tears"

I got "Nothing But Our Tears" finished today, the 4th story in the "Servant of the Manthycore" series. One more and a coda, then on to other projects.
I really liked this one. It was hard though, because I told it from the POV of an observer who gets caught up in the dreadfulness of the Servant's life. There is even a bit of a love story.
Of course she ends up killing nearly everyone one in sight and feeding them to the beast, same as always, but hey, find your romance where you can, I always say :)

"Voice of the Spoiler"

Reprint alert: my story "Voice of the Spoiler" from the Servant of the Manythcor series is being reprinted in Better Fiction: Volume 2, Issue 1. Available March 15th. Cover art by Melinda Reynolds. Fiction by: J.P. Delova, Michael Ehart, Scott Sandridge, Honore de Balzac, S.E. Ward, Melinda Reynolds, and Karina Kantas. Articles by: Homer Hickam, Austin Caver and Jordan Stoner, J.P. Delova, "Maggie", Brad Templeton, and Roger J. Carlson. Edited by Wade Ogletree.

It will be pretty cool sharing a TOC with Scott Sandridge, who posts at the sf reader board. Honore de Balzac is no slouch, either :)

Weaving Spiders

Caught a breath from all the activity--- the food bank where my wife is the Executive Director lost our building on almost no notice, so this weekend I moved the equivalent of a medium sized convenience store and a small clothing boutique, including fixtures.
Writing was such a releif from hucking canned goods that I managed to finish "Weaving Spiders Come Not Here" the third story in the Servant of the Manthycore series. A quick run against the crit group, and it will be ready to submit.

Online crit group

I can't believe I have been so remiss--- a couple of weeks ago I was accepted into an online crit group by Daphne Charette, a screen writer who has turned to sf/f, clearly an act of temporary insanity, but a welcome one. It is a good, lively group with only about a dozen memebers, which is just the right size for quick shakedowns of stuff on its way out, or for floating ideas that are not quite ready for prime time.

Norewescon coming up

I am starting to get excited about Norwescon. There are several people I am looking forward to seeing again, and they always have great programming. I have signed up for both a regular reading and the midnight horror reading, at which I am planning to preview a brand-new Joe Denfar story.
When I get the programming, I'll post it here, and maybe I'll even be able to post from the con, though that is always iffy. Since it is only 25 minutes away, we won't be getting a room, which actually menas that I will get enough sleep, or at least what can charitably be regarded as a facsimile of such :)

Fans from Turkey

I get a lot of traffic on this site from my friends in Turkey--- just thought I'd ask, would it please you if I were to set one of my "Servant of the Manthycore" stories there? The Hittites had a fascinating bronze age culture, and it would not be out of scene for her to wander over your way. Let me know in the comments!

"Servant" Sold

My second story about the immortal slave of a terrible beast, "Servant of the Manthycore" has just been sold to The Sword Review. Its parent story, "Voice of the Spoiler" appeared in the same publication. This time, though, you will be able to get it in print, as The Sword Review has gone to sim pub both as a webzine and as a print 'zine.
I'll let you know as soon as I learn the pub date--- they have gone to a pretty nifty automated contract, so I signed and returned it almost as soon as I got the acceptance email.
Who knows, it may be out soon enough for me to sign for you at Norwescon; if not then we can hope for the Nebs :)

Norwescon

I received and filled out the survey for Norwescon this weekend. It will be interesting to see to which panels I am assigned. There are several folks I want to see, and some of them would be a hoot to join a la panel. Shaharazahd will be joining me, so if any of you are going to be there, please look for me, okay? I'll be the middle-aged white guy with a goatee, can't miss me :)

The "Voice" that keeps on giving

More good news. My story "Voice of the Spoiler" which finished 6th on the Preditors and Editors Readers Poll for Best SF/Fantasy story of 2005--- have I mentioned that someplace before? :)--- will be re-printed in the March Issue of Better Fiction, which is available through LuLu I believe. So for those of you who have been dying to have something for me to sign the next time we meet at a convention, your wish has come true, without you having to buy a plane ticket to Europe to grab a back copy of "Thirteen" magazine. I know you all would, but now I can save you all that money and hassle :) I'm just that kind of guy. More details as I have them.

Great new writing book--- "Writing the Other"

For those of us who are middle-aged white guys, this book is essential--- heck it is a must read for anyone wanting to write characters outside of their ethnic group. Nisi Shawl is the driving force behind STEW, the crit group in which I play, and I can tell you, she really knows her stuff. Here is a blurb:

During the 1992 Clarion West Writers Workshop attended by Nisi Shawl and Cynthia Ward, one of the students expressed the opinion that it is a mistake to write about people of ethnic backgrounds different from your own because you might get it wrong, horribly, offensively wrong, and so it is better not even to try. This opinion, commonplace among published as well as aspiring writers, struck Nisi as taking the easy way out and spurred her to write an essay addressing the problem of how to write about characters marked by racial and ethnic differences. In the course of writing the essay, however, she realized that similar problems arise when writers try to create characters whose gender, sexual preference, and age differ significantly from their own. Nisi and Cynthia collaborated to develop a workshop that addresses these problems with the aim of both increasing writers' skill and sensitivity in portraying difference in their fiction as well as allaying their anxieties about "getting it wrong." Writing the Other: A Practical Approach is the manual that grew out of their workshop. It discusses basic aspects of characterization and offers elementary techniques, practical exercises, and examples for helping writers create richer and more accurate characters with "differences."

Check it out here--- it is reasonably priced, too. http://www.aqueductpress.com/conversation-pieces.html##Vol8

And you can order it here: http://www.aqueductpress.com/