Eugie Foster Could Use a Little Help
Posted on October 7, 2013 Posted by John Scalzi 19 Comments
News comes to me that Nebula Award-winning author Eugie Foster has gotten a rather unpleasant surprise in the form of a fast-growing tumor in her sinuses — cancer, in other words. Here’s her write-up with the details. She’s prepping for surgery even as you read this.
The good news is that she does have medical insurance, which will cover much of her costs. The less-than-good news is that even with medical insurance, she is on the hook for quite a lot of out-of-pocket costs. To help defray those, she’s reminding people of the work she has available for sale, both collections and individual short stories. She’s a very fine writer (note that Nebula win up there), so her work is well worth your time. Also, if you’re so inclined, she has a way for you to donate to her directly.
Check out her work and consider helping her out. And if you do — thanks.
It is a shame that it becomes necessary to ask for help in such a situation and an honor to give it.
Just ordered .. well … everything. Good luck to you, Eugie, and thanks John for bringing her to our attention!
That’s awful. I’ve only come across one of her stories, which was on StarShipSofa a few months ago. I’ve been meaning to hunt down more, now I’ve am even better reason to.
Not having spare cash myself, I’m afraid the best I can do is go around and give her books many stars on B&N and Amazon.
Thank you for letting us know. I’ve ordered her two short story collections for my kindle.
I had heard good things about Ms. Foster’s writing and meant to get around to reading it eventually. Bought “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast” & the Mortal Clay, Stone Heart and Other Stories in Shades of Black and White collection and will pass the word along to other speculative fiction fans I know.
Aargh. I saw the headline, photo and first line, and assumed that the “Nebula Award-winning author” must be the tall person on the left with the glasses and beard.
You win this round, patriarchal assumptions, but I’m on to another of your tricks…
(While I might have been committing another patriarchal error by assuming that use of “her” and “she” imply absence of beard, in this case Eugie Foster’s website confirms that she is indeed the one standing on the right.)
Periwinkle, if you don’t already know Eugie’s work, you’re in for a very pleasant surprise.
Sinuses can be so evil, but this is the first I heard that they can get cancer. Evil-er! Hope treatment goes well for her. I don’t know her work, but I’m now looking forward to reading her Nebula winner!
I don’t know Foster’s work and my current finances forbid me from exploring it, but good wishes anyway, for what they’re worth.
Eugie Foster used to edit The Fix Online, a review site for short fiction, and took me on as a reviewer. Eugie was fantastic to work with, and my time with her and with the site was a milestone for my reading, writing, and all-things-genre-related. I’m very saddened to hear this news, and very glad to be able to help.
(And John, thanks for boosting the signal on this!)
Although I wish the circumstances had been a little more fortunate, I’m happy to discover another author writing Asian mythology-based stories, like Kij Johnson. :buys an e-book:
Sounds great, and pleased to be able to help. I’ve bought both ebooks from Smashwords.
This is noted in Foster’s blog post, but it might be worth stressing here that she isn’t currently receiving royalties for hard copies of her books. People who would like to get money to her by purchasing her work should opt for the ebook options.
Bought both the e-books of short stories from Smashwords: I see this as a win for me (more stuff to read!) and hopefully a win for her.
Reblogged this on J.R. Johnson.
To amplify: she’s not receiving royalties for print books due to nothing more or less than unfortunate circumstances.
I’ve been through my own wringer recently, and I feel no doubt that my awareness of my incomplete contracts (and the opportunity those give me to improve on my freshman effort) made a meaningful contribution to my will to live.
If my experience is a useful yardstick, then I can suggest that a demonstration of awareness, of – so to speak – giving a damn, can only help matters.
I’d never heard of this lady before, and it appears that my ignorance was my loss, so I’ll be buying those e-books.
Reblogged this on I Write. and commented:
I’ve admired Ms. Foster’s stories for some time. It’s time I bought one of her collections. Perhaps you’d consider helping her out as well. Writing careers don’t often come with a good health plan.
I am so sorry to hear this. I sincerely hope the fundraising and procedure works out well for Eugie. I reviewed one of her brilliant short stories recently, and certainly encourage folks to buy her works, gift them to friends, and encourage everyone you know on your social networks (virtual or real) to do the same. Here’s my review, by the way, and I know her other stories are every bit as good as this one. http://www.adventuresinscifipublishing.com/2013/08/short-story-review-the-storytellers-wife-by-eugie-foster/