Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

Archive for July, 2011

Quick Updates for 2011-07-05

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Member News

• ChiZine Publications will publish SFWA member Matthew Johnson‘s first short story collection, “Irregular Verbs and Other Stories,” in 2013.
• SFWA member Yasmine Galenorn has a book releasing today, NIGHT VEIL, the second Indigo Court Book.

Tags: Matthew Johnson, twitter, yasmine galenorn
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Happy 4th of July

Monday, July 4th, 2011

 

SFWA wishes you a fabulous Fourth filled with “squibs, crackers, backarappers, sparklers, torches, dwarf-candles, elf-fountains, goblin-barkers and thunder-claps.”

* * *

 

There were rockets like a flight of scintillating birds singing with sweet voices. There were green trees with trunks of dark smoke: their leaves opened like a whole spring unfolding in a moment, and their shining branches dropped glowing flowers down upon the astonished hobbits, disappearing with a sweet scent just before they touched their upturned faces. There were fountains of butterflies that flew glittering into the trees; there were pillars of coloured fires that rose and turned into eagles, or sailing ships, or a phalanx of flying swans; there was a red thunderstorm and a shower of yellow rain; there was a forest of silver spears that sprang suddenly into the air with a yell like an embattled army, and came down again into the Water with a hiss like a hundred hot snakes. And there was also one last surprise, in honour of Bilbo, and it startled the hobbits exceedingly, as Gandalf intended. The lights went out. A great smoke went up. It shaped itself like a mountain seen in the distance, and began to glow at the summit. It spouted green and scarlet flames. Out flew a red-golden dragon — not life-size, but terribly life-like: fire came from his jaws, his eyes glared down; there was a roar, and he whizzed three times over the heads of the crowd. They all ducked, and many fell flat on their faces. The dragon passed like an express train, turned a somersault, and burst over Bywater with a deafening explosion.

~ J.R.R. Tolkien, Fellowship of the Ring

 

Happy Birthday, USA.

Posted in SFWA Blog | 1 Comment »

Video Pick of the Week: VLT and the Milky Way

Saturday, July 2nd, 2011

There are an estimated 100-300 billion stars in the Milky Way. Of these, in ideal conditions at any given time or place on Earth, only 2,500 are visible to the unaided eye.

Our Video Pick of the Week features time lapse views from the VLT (Very Large Telescope) in Cerro Paranal, Chile. Watch in High Definition for the ultimate experience.

Tags: video pick of the week
Posted in SFWA Blog | 1 Comment »

Quick Updates for 2011-07-02

Saturday, July 2nd, 2011

• Why volunteer to be on the SFWA board of directors SFWA? Being required to have dinner with Ursula K. Le Guin. Such hardship… #

Tags: twitter
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Why You Want to Hire a Competent PR Service

Friday, July 1st, 2011

Posted by Victoria Strauss for Writer Beware

As some of you may know, I was at one time a SF/fantasy book reviewer--mostly for SF Site, but also for other publications. (Most of my reviews are posted at my website.) However, I got burned out on reviewing after doing it for many years, and took a temporary hiatus that turned into a permanent one. I haven't written any book reviews since 2007.

(more...)

Tags: Writer Beware
Posted in SFWA Blog, Writer Beware | Comments Off

A note to SFWA members: Request for information for Night Shade Book’s probation review

Friday, July 1st, 2011

Edited to add: Thank you all for the information you sent in. Please see SFWA’s report regarding Night Shade Books probationary review.

 

Dear SFWA members,

Last year, the SFWA board of directors voted to put Night Shade Books on probation for a period of one year. That probationary period is scheduled to end on July 8th and we are completing our evaluation of their progress in meeting the benchmarks that SFWA set for them.

Those benchmarks are:

1. That it fulfills its contractual and financial obligations to the authors it has already published, including full and accurate accounting of royalties per contract, with payment of any royalties outstanding;

2. That it examine its catalogue to ensure it is no longer offering fiction in formats for which it has no rights, and makes whole those authors whose rights it has violated;

3. That it institutes procedures and hires sufficient staff to ensure accurate record keeping for contracts and payments, both for previously published and future authors;

4. That there are no instances of contractual violations on the part of Night Shade Books against authors signed to publishing deals after the start of the probationary period.

Please contact me with any information that you feel the Board should consider during this discussion. My email is vp@sfwa.org. Any conversations will remain confidential.

Yours,
Mary

—
Mary Robinette Kowal
Vice President, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
http://sfwa.org

 

Posted in News, SFWA Blog | 1 Comment »

The Gray Wolf Throne

Friday, July 1st, 2011

A non-stop thrill-ride from beginning to end, Gray Wolf Throne is a must-read for 2011.–Diary of a Book Addict

Tags: Chima, Cinda Williams Chima
Posted in Featured Book | Comments Off

My Favorite Band Does Not Exist

Friday, July 1st, 2011

A bleeding edge young adult slipstream fantasy of alternate realities, time travel, metafiction, and rock ‘n’ roll.

Tags: Jeschonek, Robert T. Jeschonek
Posted in Featured Book | Comments Off

Quick Updates for 2011-07-01

Friday, July 1st, 2011

• @jaygarmon An associate can nominate for the Nebulas, but only Active members may vote. Associates also can't vote in elections. #
• CZP will publish SFWA member @MFJ72's first short story collection, "Irregular Verbs and Other Stories," in 2013 #

Tags: twitter
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