Your “Hey I’m Traveling” Pimp Thread
Posted on April 22, 2010 Posted by John Scalzi 113 Comments
I’ll be heading inching toward Toronto most of the way, so while I’m away, why not take the opportunity to suggest something cool to the rest of the folks around here? Could be a book, some music, a Web site or Whatever; could be something you are doing, a friend is doing, or something someone utterly unrelated to you is doing. Whatever it is, tell people about in the comments.
One note: As always, I suggest that you do one link per comment, because the site’s moderation software will automatically boot you into moderation with three or more links, and sometimes does it with two. As I’m traveling most of the day, I won’t be able to do get into the moderation queue frequently, so single link comments are best. You can make more than one comment, however.
If you do get punted into the moderation thread, don’t panic; I will get to it by late afternoon or early evening.
So: I’m out of here. What cool thing do you want to point everyone else to?
Got something to say? Speak your mind at SpeakingIMHO.
http://www.speakingimho.com/imhoboards/
The second in the P.W. Catanese “Books of Umber” series, “Dragon Games” is out now. It is as awesome as the first.
Check out http://www.WorldsWithoutEnd.com for complete best novel listings for Hugo, Nebula, BSFA, Locus SF, Locus Fantasy, Campbell, BFS, World Fantasy, PKD and Clarke awards.
Been having a lot of fun reading the Universe Today blog lately, especially their series “13 Things That Saved Apollo 13.”
This is fairly local to me, but what the hell: I’ve gotten back on the boards, as they say, and am acting in a community theatre production of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple (I play one of the poker buddies). If you happen to be in the vicinity of Biddeford, Maine (about 20-25 minutes south of Portland) on the weekends of May 7-9 and May 14-16, and want to come see the classic funny, we’d love to have you drop in.
Click on http://www.citytheater.org for more info, tickets, etc.
I am looking to spread awareness for an amazing charity called Operation Ebook Drop. It was started by author Ed Patterson, as a means to give back to our troops who sacrifice so much fighting for us.
Since its inception on September 11th, 2009, over 350 authors have chosen to offer one or more of their books for free and over 100 service members are currently participating. This number is growing everyday, and we are working to actively get the word out. See the Operation Ebook Drop Website at (www.operationebookdrop.com) for more information.
First off, mega congratulations to James Owen for
getting his Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica adapted for film.
Second, if you’re ever in Tokyo, try Tsunahachi Rin for Tempura. ZOMG delicious!
The Sword in the Stone, by T. H. White. Not the rewritten version that forms the first part of The Once and Future King, but the original (and far superior) 1938 version.
Since the theme is cool….
Check out “the impossible cool” web site. The archive of previous posts is well worth the viewing. He just started a new one today called a conversation on cool.
http://theimpossiblecool.tumblr.com/post/521406585/flynn
http://aconversationoncool.tumblr.com/
Just got my alex e-reader ( with android operating system) and it is a very nice gadget indeed. And unlike the ipad, it fits nicely in my purse.
https://www.springdesign.com/us/index.action
A friend and recently started http://www.thefirsttimeiever.com/. It’s a community site where people can contribute stories about the first time they ever did anything (so far my stories are about the first time I ever gave myself a black eye and the first time I ever cut my own hair). If anyone wants to submit a story they can fill out the form here: http://www.thefirsttimeiever.com/submit/ or email it to admin@thefirsttimeiever.com.
I’d love for you all to check out my blog: http://thatneilguy.blogspot.com/
Recent entries include a link to a recently published (very very short) story, an unfinished short story about deadly toasters called “Come On Down” and 5 lessons on creativity I learned from David Lynch.
Thanks!
If you’re in the Massachusetts area and like steampunk, come by the Steampunk Festival being held at the Charles River Museum of Industry in Waltham, MA on May 1st! It’s the perfect venue for this sort of event.
http://www.crmi.org/
I’ve been playing the Small World board game on my iPad:
http://www.daysofwonder.com/smallworld/en/ipad
This has been rocking my geeky world lately…
(and no, I don’t work for Apple or for Days of Wonder… I just think that this is really cool!)
The 8th issue of Kaleidotrope — 80 pages of (mostly sf/fantasy) goodness — is now available!
I know John mentioned it a few weeks ago, but I just started reading Joe Hill’s Horns. So far pretty funny, in a creepy way. I can’t wait to see where this is headed…
Everybody should check out a blog I occasionally write for, geekachicas.com.
Also–sorry if everyone in the world already knows about this–Bayou is a webcomic filled with awesome.
This is probably even further afield, but a friend of mine (originally from Ohio as well) is in the midst of launching her pop music career. It’s a bit surreal for me, but people seem to like her stuff, since one of her music videos got over a million hits within a week or so of posting, and she’s getting radio play and such.
So, check her out on YouTube here if you’re interested. Thanks!
I have the most generic blog in the universe! I rarely do anything other than link other (hopefully interesting) content. And I’m a young(ish) white computer nerd who likes macs! On the internet, where my kind is so scarce!
Sigh.
Well, of course I want you to check out my own novel, THE FALLEN.
But I’m going to point out my friend Stephen Parrish’s first novel, THE TAVERNIER STONES. And get this–he’s hosting a worldwide online treasure hunt and the winner gets a real, genuine, one-carat diamond. Check it out.http://www.tavernierstones.com/
http://web.me.com/gmvader1/JW/Blog/Blog.html
Book reviews and photography. What happens when you stir them together.
http://jackcraney.wordpress.com/
A muse of black and white photography.
Anthony Peruzzo and I are doing The Assignment weekly over at R and R Comics.
http://rnrproductionsonline.com/wordpress/?p=330
It’s about, amongst other things, assassination targets that won’t stay dead, snake worshiping inbred telepathic red necks, ancient conspiracies, something big, mean and hungry living under the South Pole and, of course, whether rock and roll can save the world.
Enjoy!
The stuff he writes isn’t science fiction-y, it’s more romance, but if you like that kind of thing at all, go check out http://www.jtimothyking.com/. He’s also got a lot of interesting and helpful writing resources. Worth a visit!
The Zombie Opera that I co-composed now has its soundtrack for sale. Check it out at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/zombieopera
and for even more info go to http://www.zombieopera.net
thank you for your patronage!
and thank you, John, for pimping me with care.
I’ll put in a plug for my fellow Tenners (authors debuting in 2010) with speculative fiction novels out in the past few weeks: Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey (fantasy based on Maori mythology), Birthmarked by Caragh O’Brien (dystopia featuring a scarred midwife), and Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken (quest-style fantasy about a young weaver and a mysterious magician). Have either read and loved or am eagerly waiting to get my hands on each of these.
Speaking of Toronto, here’s a great blog by a Toronto-based photographer: http://wvs.topleftpixel.com
He posts a new photo every day, mostly images from Toronto streets, occasionally shots from his travels.
There are some fun flash fiction pieces over at http://powfastflashfiction.com/FlashFiction.html (including one from me).
For fiction lovers, I can offer my writing blog where I post my short stories, among other things.
http://www.marisabirns.com
Thank you. :)
I’m getting ready to livewrite my next book, “The New Real: Blast Radius”, starting tomorrow morning at noon ET. It’s a sci fi adventure about intergalactic drug enforcement, starring a suicidal cop and a frisky alien insect with a thing for bipeds. I let the readers influence the story as I go, so I’m never 100% sure what’ll happen. It should be done by Sunday night, barring any major outline errors or mental collapse after sleeping 4 hours a night. Fingers crossed.
It’s free and fun and if nothing else, it stands a decent chance of being a train wreck, so check it out at http://1889.ca/tnr
Eric Whitacre conducts a virtual choir!
He asked people to submit video of themselves singing one of the parts to his Lux Arumque, then edited it together. There is also a link on that page to the “How we did it”, which is more of a “How and why we did it”.
I love living in the future.
Over at Drollerie Press, we’re all going to be having us a month-long virtual writers’ convention in the month of May! We’ll be hosting a bunch of organized chats on various topics, including some with visiting SF/F and romance pros. Registration is free but you do need to register so that you can access the chat rooms for whatever sessions you’re interested in on the schedule.
Please go to http://coyotecon.com for details!
The Literary Underworld is spotlighting author Steven Shrewsbury this week, with his fantastic and brutal horror novels HAWG and TORMENTOR. If there’s such a thing as Midwestern gothic, Shrews has mastered it. I strongly recommend his stuff, though it’s definitely not for the fainthearted. Check it out at http://www.literaryunderworld.com – Shrews’ titles are 10 percent off this week only.
I’m excited I’m getting my hair cut (I know what everyone is thinking but keep reading) which hasn’t been cut for years!! The Parkinson Society of Canada is having it’s annual Cut-A-Thon in which you pay $35 and get your hair cut at a high end salon AND get a bag of products :)
Getting my hair cut is like going to the dentist I just never like it and beacuse of a medical condition I have it usually means if I go somewhere cheap I get what I pay for so I usually just don’t get it done!
I’m also getting my backyard ready for BBQ season going and buying a new BBQ and gazbo it’s going to be a GOOD weekend only downfall is I live SO close to Toronto and I’m going to miss you at the Toronto Public Libary… boo… :(
I would like to recommend ORAL HISTORY by Lee Smith. It is not a science fiction book, but it is a good Southern fiction book that deals with the history of a Appalachian family that have dealings with witches and ghosts and goes into the folklore and history of the rural Appalachians that are fast disappearing. Oral History is alot better than her other book, Black Mountain Breakdown. If yoy like books that take place in the South I think you will like Oral History. :)
So very few things make me literally LOL (no, I mean “literally” literally), but the Dayjob Orchestra treatment of ST:TNG (which btw I love hoogely), never seems to run out of apple jooce:
http://mycodehere.blogspot.com/2010/04/dayjob-orchestra.html
I was convinced by some crazy people to help write a super hero/horror web series thing called Deathless.
It’s been exhausting, frustrating, and pretty wonderful; we got the help of a directing class at Humboldt State University, and the end result is something I’m pretty proud of.
Our website is http://watchdeathless.com
My friend Tyler Nordgren has written a book about astronomy in our national parks called Stars Above, Earth Below. Pre order on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Stars-Above-Earth-Below-Astronomy/dp/1441916482
Shameless Self Promotion: I just posted a new article about submitting my first story to a new a magazine: since my mother is a writer it was oddly familiar.
I also recently posted a flash fiction story about what it would be like if we really did have transporters. Hint: Not Good. Comments welcome.
http://www.nadyaduke.com
This article about piano tuning is both funny and deeply fascinating, and yes, I’m perfectly serious:
http://www.slate.com/id/2250793/pagenum/all/
Shameless Self Promotion:
I just posted two things on my web site:
http://www.nadyaduke.com
The first is a post about the strange familiarity of sending off my first short story submission. Hint: my mother is a writer.
The second is a flash fiction about what the world would be like if we really had transporters. Hint: not good.
Not a pimp, but please confirm that you are not crossing the border at Port Huron…
But the Third One Was Great – the site that answers the question, “What happened after part 1?”
http://butthethirdonewasgreat.blogspot.com/
Our library’s teen services blog now has new posts going up almost every day, including somewhat regular reviews by real, live, teenagers. Yay! http://clpteensburgh.wordpress.com.
A website I’ve created:
http://www.querytest.com
It’s only been live for a few days. It’s a virtual slush pile for query letters. You submit your query letter and read other people’s query letters, responding to them the way an agent or editor would–simply responding YES or NO as to whether you’d request pages. All feedback is anonymous and private.
For those who submit a query, the feedback you get is a percentage–how many people said YES to your query. This allows you to test multiple queries head-to-head and see which one gets the best response. Reviewers also have the option of saying why they rejected the query, and about half of them take the time to do this.
The site’s in beta test, but I’d very much welcome some more people to give it a workout, especially if you have a query letter or two to submit, as we’ve only got 8 in the system right now, not enough for a real slush pile.
The site is free and non-commercial.
If you’re amused by silly religions and like to color, check out ‘A Discordian Coloring Book’
http://www.dreamspell.net/LKS/eris0.html
Some friends of mine are trying to start a Canadian SF magazine called “AE” and have a Kickstarter project to create the bankroll (since they intend to pay market rates.)
My friend recently made a short platformer game called Varvid: http://lijik.aisites.com/varvid/.
See, there are all these smiling spheres lying around the game, and the only way to get to all of them is by flipping the colors of the world. Missing a platform? Flip the colors and one appears. Spikes in the way? Flip the colors and they’re gone.
Might be a good ten-minute time sink.
I am going to take a break from shameless self-promotion on this one and just post the most deeply wrong, stupidly awesome mashup I’ve run across lately: Smack My Bitch Up The Orinoco Flow, which is exactly what it sounds like.
I’m posting my graphic novel Machiavelli in its entirety as I work on my next historical GN. I just posted the first pages of Chapter 2, so it’s a good time to jump in: http://donmacdonald.com
Containment: A geek event finder that lets you find events in the US and Canada by typing in your postal code: http://containment.greententacles.com/
It even provide rss feeds for each postal code, so you can syndicate the local cons for your hometown on your blog or website!
Whatever readers are cool people. Cool people like roller derby. Ergo, I thought you’d be interested in hearing about the Fourth Annual Honky Tonk Stomp, which is the Tennessee State Roller Derby Championship. It’s being held on June 12th in Nashville TN; all of the info is at http://www.nashvillerollergirls.com/honky_tonk_stomp_4/index.php . If you’re within reasonable driving distance of Nashville, come join us and spend the day drinking beer and watching ladies slam each other into the walls. We’re family friendly too, so bring the kids (really!) It’s a good time, I promise!
One the minus side: Yet Another Blog about World Of Warcraft.
On the plus side: it’s got me writing a few hundred words a day.
http://twentysilver.blogspot.com/
Come because you’re bored. Stay for the snark. Or not.
Hi, fellow readers! If you’re fans of music, you should check out the Capital City Ringers, a community hanbell choir from Lansing, MI. We’ll be performing this weekend in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan…selections from stage and screen: Phantom of the Opera, Les Miz, Lion King, Little Mermaid, Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean (nope, not kidding) and more. We also have two concerts in the local Lansing area on April 30 and May 1. All concerts are free. If you’ve never heard handbells you’re in for a treat…and even if you have, you’ve probably never heard them quite like this.
http://www.capitalcityringers.com/events.html
I’ve you’ve ever wanted to do something to help out a respected member of the science fiction and horror community, please consider visiting the Friends of Ed Bryant website and making a donation. Ed has ongoing financial and medical needs, and every little bit helps.
All funds go directly to a PayPal account managed by the Colorado Fund for People with Disabilities, which then disburses funds to Ed on an as-needed basis.
http://www.friendsofed.org/
Thanks in advance.
Y’all saw James Cameron opine on the state of science fiction literature, right?
I probably spend more time writing than reading science fiction. I find that science-fiction literature is so reactive to all the literature that’s gone before that it’s sort of like a fractal. It’s gone to a level of detail that the average person could not possibly follow unless you’re a fan. It iterates upon many prior generations of iterations.
Link doesn’t seem to have gone through, so here’s the whole interview:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2010/04/james-cameron-talks-the-enironment-the-avatar-sequel-and-more.html
For those of you who love grilled cheese this weekend sees the Grilled Cheese Invitational in Los Angeles. I’m competing for the 7th year in a row.
http://grilledcheeseinvitational.com/?page_id=9269
First I’ll shamelessly promote my own blog, Blizkrieg Babies, about my experiences getting twin baby girls to adopt from foster care. I compare the experience to an episode of Battlestar Galactica in a recent post, so it’s even got a tiny bit of SF to draw you in.
I gave an ignite talk (20 autofed slides in 5 minutes) about my hobby: Model Warship Combat.
http://igniteshow.com/videos/you-sunk-my-battleship
It was a blast to do, and I got a few people interested in the hobby.
Spend five minutes to see how cool the hobby is!
On May 16th I’ll be teaching an all-day “Creative Research for Writers” class in Seattle. Here’s the description:
Learn how creative research can help writers of fiction and nonfiction, get practical tips and advice on doing research and incorporating it into your writing, and discover how and where to find useful and unusual sources of information on the Web, in books, and in unexpected places.
Details and registration information are on my blog:
http://lisagoldresearch.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/register-for-my-may-16th-creative-research-for-writers-class/
I’ve been posting reviews of e-book reading apps for the iPad and iPhone at TeleRead. Here’s the category link:
http://www.teleread.org/category/chris-meadows/review-iphoneipad-e-book-apps/
So far, I’ve reviewed eReader, the Kindle Reader, and GoodReader. I’ll keep doing more, including some that actually don’t have “reader” in the name. :)
Secondly, I was going to email John and ask him to comment on this L.A. Times interview with James Cameron. The part I wanted John’s comment on I’ll quote here: “I find that science-fiction literature is so reactive to all the literature that’s gone before that it’s sort of like a fractal. It’s gone to a level of detail that the average person could not possibly follow unless you’re a fan. It iterates upon many prior generations of iterations. The literature now is so opaque to the average person that you couldn’t take a science-fiction short story that’s published now and turn it into a movie. There’d be way too much ground work you’d have to lay. It’s OK to have detail and density, but if you rely on being a lifelong science-fiction fan to understand what the story is about, then it’s not going to translate to a broader audience.”
I don’t really agree with Cameron, but then I thought about John’s recent announcement about his Fuzzy book, which might well qualify as something that non-SF fans might not get. But for the most part, it doesn’t seem to me that most of the SF I read fits Cameron’s gripe. (I just finished The Windup Girl and thought it would make a fantastic movie.) So what books is Cameron talking about?
John: Try to get to Joso’s while you’re in Toronto! Complete strangers are never wrong with restaurant advice!
-Herbie
http://www.josos.com/
Satyr, Syme, and Sandi have a new webcomic, Arpeggio. Kick-ass girl bard in a world just a little bit bigger than even she imagined.
Two offshoots of the splendid Warren Ellis-founded community of Whitechapel (http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/) for you good people:
Weaponizer – group-blog of disparate writers mostly in the field of ‘flash fiction’ – short, punchy works in a range of genres. Also some non-fic pieces. (Disclaimer – I’m a staff writer there, on the Fortean-occult beat). http://www.weaponizer.co.uk/index2.php
Space Shark – webcomic with an open-ended, almost Aeon Flux feel – except it’s about a shark. In space. ’nuff said.
http://spacesharkcomic.livejournal.com/
(If you’re not familiar with Whitechapel… simply one of the smartest, least flamey boards around. Primarily an offshoot of the webcomic Freakangels, all manner of things are discussd there. My primary online hangout.)
Award winning photography blog by Sam Javanrouh. Most of the pictures are of Toronto, with some from Sam’s travels.
http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/
My new favorite blog is Hyperbole and a Half. Here, the author explains how many common typos are really the result of tragic accidents/eagleness/knowledge of a fantastic monster the rest of us were unaware of.
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
#23 – Ellie
Sorry – I didn’t notice you’d already added Sam’s blog!
Waving Hello from Spadina and Adelaide.
Hrm, I just released an all-new version of my novel-planning and writing software (being a software developer, I procrastinate by writing tools to help me write books. It’s lovely).
It’s called Storyblue, and lets you drag and drop things, and create little electronic index-card-like things with character and scene and note notes, and write your chapters. Hopefully one day it will take the world over and find the perfect balance between staying out of the way and providing more than a reg’lar ol’ word processor.
http://storyblue.com
Had to read the title twice – thought you had found a new career.
If you’re into travelling, my partner and I have quit our jobs, sold everything and left the UK to travel the world indefinitely.
We’re seven weeks in and we’re documenting it all over at Never Ending Voyage.
@Elizabeth – The Alot is awesome, good call.
My friend makes these incredible miniature plushes. My favorite is the Nerd Bird — a tiny penguin complete with glasses and a book — http://www.etsy.com/listing/43876276/nerd-bird-small-felt-plush.
If you ask nicely she also does a Dr. Who version of the penguin with an itty bitty scarf. Her commissions have included the Tardis, Trogdor and other amazingness.
My friends and I have started a monthly podcast for all thing paleontological in nature. It’s called the Dinorama Podcast, and we’ve got our first episode up at http://www.dinorama.net.
Thank you for the generous invitation to pimp my blog. It’s mostly political with a little bit of whatever.
A hook: How about the totally (mostly) true story of how I took down a fence, sparked the Tea Party movement and almost killed health care reform.
http://bankslate.blogspot.com/2010/03/me-and-scott-browns-mom-how-i-took-down.html
In relation to Josh Jasper’s comment @6 If you are ever in Phoenix, stop by the Desert Ridge Barnes & Noble. We like to style ourselves as James Owen’s home store, and we frequently have many autographed copies of his books on the shelf. He comes to visit all the time and if you happen to be there on a lucky day he will sign and do a fantastic drawing in your book! He is one of our store’s favorite authors.
Thanks for the opportunity, John!
On May 2nd, Constellation Books (aka me)
is hosting a book launch party for SHADE by
Jeri Smith-Ready.
Guys, this is a seriously good book.
In Baltimore in a world where kids 16 and under can see/hear ghosts, Aura spends her time hanging with her folk-rocker boyfriend, working for her Aunt-the-lawyer and investigating henges in an Astronomy project for school. She is forced to re-evaluate her relationship with ghosts when her boyfriend dies. More here, including the first chapter:
http://www.jerismithready.com/
If you can’t get to Constellation Books in Reisterstown, MD on 5/2, check out the book at your local library or bookstore.
I’ve been working on making my molto groovy photos available online as prints/posters, postage, cards, binders and other delightful oddities. Please check them out:
http://www.zazzle.com/claireskinnerphotos*
If you’re interested in buying something, cards are 20% off and binders are 15% off with code ZAZZLEMOMDAY until April 26, 11:59 PT. All customizable. Use the Product Type links in the sidebar for Cards or Binders to see all the options.
I wanted to alert the masses to a really cool art poster by Children’s Book Author extraordinaire, Mo Willems*. It’s being sold to raise money for a much needed spruce up of the Children’s department at the Northampton, MA Public Library.
http://www.forbeslibrary.org/cartoonapalooza/index.shtml#poster
You can get a signed art poster mailed right to your door for $30 thru the magic of paypal. It makes a lovely end of the year gift for that special teacher or librarian!
*author of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Knuffle Bunny, among others.
I’d like to pimp my blog! It’s about writing, the journey to getting published, Seattle music, and other stuff… http://www.dissectingwords.com
Modesty doesn’t quite prevent me from recommending Morrigan Press’s ‘The Phantom Queen Awakes’ – stories of the Celtic goddess, the Morrigan (including one by me)
Seriously, though, have a look at my friend Mike Cobley’s ‘Seeds of Earth’ trilogy, book 2 ‘Orphaned Planets’ out now. Grand Scale space opera.
I just read Nisi Shawl and Cynthia Ward’s _Writing the Other: A Practical Guide_, the companion book to their Writing the Other workshop, in preparation for a panel on the same topic at Penguicon. The book is awesome. Check out their website for other resources and how to get the book:
http://www.sfwa.org/members/shawl/other/
These are two pretty cool bits of political satire pertaining to Sue Lowden, the likely Republican Senate candidate for Nevada.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZezfjWox5s
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2010/04/craigslist_ad_in_reno_nevada.php?ref=fpblg
If you’ve never checked out our podcast, I think this is the perfect time to give try it. (It’s not like pimp thread’s come around every day).
The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine is a story podcast. We do fullcast renditions of speculative fiction stories. We work really hard on the production, so they’re worth listening to. Afterwards, the hosts discuss various and sundry geek related topics. Hey, free stories, that can’t be bad, right?
http://www.dunesteef.com is the url. Hope you check it out. Thanks.
I’d like to pimp my blog!
http://www.dissectingwords.com
It’s about writing, the journey to getting published, Seattle music, and other stuff…
I update about twice a day :)
I am a visual artist in various media, and some of my work is currently for sale on Etsy.
In the interest of “one link per comment” here is The Floating Market:
http://TheFloatingMarket.etsy.com
The Floating Market is mostly jewelry and accessories with a recycled/found object, ubran fantasy bent. I make cuff links and earrings from transit tokens, scarves from neckties, and the like.
I must admit, I am fairly proud of the work I do, and think it is also reasonable priced. Please take a look.
My other Etsy store is Irving Place Photography:
http://irvingplace.etsy.com
Again, I am really proud of the work I do, and would be very, very happy to make a few more sales (with which to then fund more work).
You can also get to my blog via the link under my name.
Thanks!
kjo
My sci-fi noir serial is “Just Enough Power”. Psionics and nanotech weapons are most dangerous in the hands of a woman who knows how to use them.
I suggest everyone tie down the kitchen sink sprayer so that the next person who uses it gets a good spray to the face.
Hi there, I run a netlabel releasing hip-hop, IDM, electronica and spoken word. If it’s the kind of stuff you’re into, I’d realy appreciate a shout out!
http://www.blacklanternmusic.com
Thanks!
For those in Central Florida OASIS 23 (a local science fiction convention) will be held on Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-30).
Guest of Honor: Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (writers), Richard C. Livingston (art), Michael Hinman (fan), Rob Balder (filk).
For more info: oasfis.org/oasis
Crossed Genres is doing a new group blog called Science in My Fiction featuring essays on sciency topics as they relate to fiction. New posts go up twice a week (MF). I’m providing tomorrow’s, on worldbuilding with real worlds. Other topics: convergent evolution, piezoelectrics, medical nanotech, and cooking in space.
There’s an associated fiction contest for stories based on new scientific discoveries (research is required) with nice prizes, and a Kickstarter project to get the winners printed.
Please take a look.
The link to my blog is in my name. Another blog I recommend is Runesoup (http://runesoup.com/) where the blogger in question blogs on magic. Yes, they really do exist.
OOOO! The timing of this is perfect!
May 10 is World Lupus Day. As a lupus sufferer, I wanted to do something big-ish and art and media related in honour of this day. Something people from all over the world can participate it. And thus:
http://lupus.juliasherred.com was born.
Since I came up with the idea a few nights ago, the feedback and participation has been great. The Lupus Foundation of America has even come on board to help. It would be wonderful if more people would participate. This is to raise awareness and not funds and there are many ways to help out. So please take a few minutes to check it out.
I’m sorry to say this, but the highlight of my day was watching my physics teacher go bald for Haiti in front of my entire high school; as you can see my social life is pretty pathetic.
For good reads, I can suggest two amazing books. R. A. Salvatore’s The Highwayman is truly spectacular, and this is a great novel to begin with since his Legends of Drizzt series is over twenty books long (all of which are fantastic!). Also, Ed Greenwwod’s latest series begins with the Dark Lord, which I have had to set aside for a while while I prepare for my AP English test.
For fans of Cowboy Bebop, I’m now doing a series of re-watch posts for Tor.com.
I’m currently serializing a fantasy novel here: http://emittime.wordpress.com/ The links to the individual chapters are in the right sidebar. Lots of other interesting stuff, complete and partial fiction and ramblings there too.
We’re all (well, most of us) driven to drink at one time or another. Tell the world why here: http://www.whywedrink.com/submit
(yes, it’s anonymous)
A pimp for voting, and for helping.
This is a good time to check and make sure you are registered at your current address and with your current party choice. Avoid unpleasant surprises on your primary and/or general election day.
Also, this is a good time to check with the county clerk, town clerk, or whoever runs the polls where you live, to see if they could use your services on election day.
Sixteen pages in to my first webcomic venture. I’m working with an amazing artist, and it’s definitely worth checking out:
Fight or Flight
http://www.fofcomic.com
Nearly every Thursday a podcast is filmed at the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society round 6:00 p.m. check out their website:
http://www.neverendingpanel.com/
http://www.noagendashow.com Podcast
Media analysis, politics, economics, and some crazy conspiracies.
Amusing, entertaining and always funny to listen to.
Am I allowed to pimp something of my own?
Survival By Storytelling Magazine is open to subs of steampunk stories by young writers (25 and under). And the first issue is currently out (not steampunk, but folks seem to like the first issue, so, yeah): http://sbsmag.wordpress.com/ <–
In case anyone is interested. It is a paying market, and yes, we are hoping to increase payment rates in the future. Hopefully semi-pro next year…
Okay, I'll shut up now.
My sister-in-law’s web shop, The Copper Poppy. She was looking for a dogtag, but was shocked at the prices and decided to make her own. From the website:
Named in honor of our squirrel-crazy terrier, The Copper Poppy started from a creative desire to make unique, personalized pet id tags without the crazy pricetag! Each piece you see in the shop is completely handstamped with love, personalized to your specifications.
Each piece is handmade for you with high quality metals, with your (or your pet’s!) style and comfort in mind. Metal gauge is always listed in the postings, along with the most accurate description possible. Recycled materials are used as we’re able.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/theCopperPoppy
Check it out!
I’ll plug a friend’s project: Cheapjack Shakespeare, a serialized downloadable graphic novel that’s “a college comedy set in an outdoor summer Shakespeare festival.” It’s written by Shaun McLaughlin, the producer of the WB animated cartoons Batman Beyond, Justice League and Static Shock.
http://www.cheapjackshakespeare.com
We are now taking preorders for the anthology, The Worlds of Philip José Farmer: http://www.pjfarmer.com/forth.htm
Featuring Paul Malmont, Rhys Hughes, Chris Roberson, David Bischoff, Randall Garrett, James Gunn, Win Scott Eckert and more…
Oh yea, and previously unpublished material by Philip José Farmer himself!
If you are interested in online learning, might I suggest http://BestOnlineHighSchools.com or my blog on the topic at http://thomasnixon.com.
Just like to point out one of my other favorite writers’ sites: http://albruno3.blogspot.com/
Existential horror and RPG gaming humor. Sometimes at the same time. Or, as he puts it: “He prefers to write comedy and horror but is sometimes unsure of the difference.”
Seriously, read it.
There’s a nifty interview with P.C. Hodgell up at bookgeeks.co.uk – and reviews of the five books released in the Kencyrath Chronicles so far.
P.C. Hodgell
Here’s some Hidden Agenda, with evil and unnatural music that will probably endanger your immortal soul:
http://www.hiddenagenda.org/
Also available through iTunes…
I may be a little late to the party, but I’d be remiss in not pointing out that the new issue of Abyss & Apex is live at abyssandapex.com with another slate of outstanding stories and poems.
I’ll return the favor and do what SPY called “Logrolling in Our Time”.
Tom Mason’s got a great blog on comics and pop culture at:
comics.gearlive.com
It’s always great to read about comics and pop culture from a guy who has a point of view and isn’t afraid to use it.
The said title is applicable because it is known for its flawless fashion and wonderful style.
This can make the final drink taste bitter, but there are those who actually prefer that.
Another kind of soil, a white limestone called ‘alberese,’ is more fertile and soluble.