If I Were a Piggy I'd Sing Piggy Wiggy Wiggy Wiggy Woo!

So here's a nice surprise.  The Once Upon a Christmas anthology from Christmas Press Picture Books, which features yours truly, is counted among the best 25 Christmas childrens' books over at Childrens' Books Daily.

A magical Christmas mix of stories, poems, memoirs and illustrations from some of Australia’s favourite children’s authors and illustrators. From the funny to the ghostly, fantasy to adventure, from peace and love to action and the unexpected, from recipes to carols, whether you dip in or devour, read aloud or read under the covers, there’s something in this beautiful lavish book for everyone to enjoy. 

Which is a lovely thing to say, and I of course agree completely.  ;) Michael

'The Boar's Head' Gets All Pictoral

I had a wonderful surprise yesterday. It turns out my story in the upcoming 'Once Upon a Christmas' anthology from Christmas Press Picture Books rated its own illustration from the overly talented Ingrid Kallick.It's like magic. I wrote the words and its like someone saw what was in my head (which may or may not mean that The Voices were right all along, but that's for another time).If you're wondering what the illustration for The Boar's Head looks like, here 'tis.And if you're in the market for a little persons' collection of Christmas stories for this season, here you go. 

An Unexpected Surprise

The Drabblecast (you know, the Drabblecast) has a weekly contest where they set a theme and you have to write a one hundred word story.  Exactly 100, no more, not less.  I've taken part a few times, and I was pleasantly surprised the other day to find an email in my inbox telling me someone enjoyed one enough to record it for the DribblecastSo, thank you Tibbi, you did a great job, and I'm very happy you liked it enough to take the time. 

Ghostwoods Books on Kickstarter - A Good Cause for Good People and Good Fiction

Love fiction? 'Course you do! Love helping out the little guy? Of course, because you're a classy gal/guy (delete as appropriate). Love me? ....debatable. But so long as the answer to the first two was yes you might be interested in the kickstarter by Ghostwoods Books.Ghostwoods, or GWB to its friends, is a smalltime publisher with a good heart and some great books. They're running a kickstarter as a funding drive to set itself up to expand. They're aiming to be able to publish more books, and pay their authors fairly, which is always a good thing (see WWE for what happens when a writer is angry at their pay).

Anyhoo, for a few dollars you could help these guys along, and pick up an ebook or two. Might I suggest Cthulhu Lives!, featuring the hottest person writing this post right now, or Red Phone Box, a circular story exploration featuring Warren Ellis?

A Cthulhu Lives! review... and a digital high five

So here was, minding my own business, just aimlessly surfing the inter... OK, I've been googling pretty much none stop since the Cthulhu Lives! ARCs went out, so sue me.Anyway, I found this wonderful review of the collection here on the aptly named Library Thing from a lovely lady called Diana.  From now on every person I meet with that name shall receive a hug.  Maybe I'll get the right one eventually.Thank you for your kind words, Diana.  In lieu of said hug I offer you a digital high five (thi offer includes, but is not limited to, everyone reading) 

Real Writer, Checking in

*Forces open the blog door against rusty hinges and blows dust from keyboard*Been a bit quiet here, eh?  I do apologise.  I've been rather busy, you see.  Mostly with stuff I'm afraid I can't share just yet, but soon, hopefully.  One thing I can share however is that Cthulhu Lives!, the anthology featuring yours truly from Ghostwoods Books, is now up for preorder on Amazon, and includes a blurb from Warren Ellis.Warren Ellis.Warren Ellis has read my work.Warren Ellis has read my work and didn't want to vomit.  I don't care where you're from, in my book that's a f***ing win!And to top that off Amazon emailed me recommending the books I'm published in.  I'm pretty certain Hemingway said something about this making a writer all official like.I'll leave you today with the song of the sphere.... cause it's awesome.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MmWeZHsQzs  

Aurealis #71 Review at Tangent Online

So guess who got his first professional review?  (OK, OK, we've played this game before where I pretend you say random people I make witty come back (They are too witty!), so let's just cut to it this time, deal?  Cool).  That's right, me!Linky.It's a good one, too.  Hands on the table, it comes with a 'but, but I'm taking it in the way I should:  Challenge.  Accepted.And congrats to my publishing buddy, Emma Osborne.  She got the praise she deserves for "Clean Hands, Dirty Hands".

Aurealis Issue 71

Ding, ding, ding!  Publication day!  Woohoo!  High five!  Anyone?  Anyone..... don't leave me hanging.Aurealis Magazine issue 71 hits the e-street today and features the stellar talents of Emma Osborne  and yours truly.

This is great news for me.  For anyone writing SF in Australia, Aurealis is the goal.  It's about as good as it gets, and it's truly an honour to be deemed to have written something worthy of its pages.

That's enough gushing me from.  For a few of your shiny dollars an e-copy could be yours.  For a few more I'll even sign your Kindle....

Michael

A Promise to Myself

I was listening to the Writing Excuses podcast last week (you know what the WE 'cast is.... and if you don't you really should), and Howard Taylor made a very good point when asked 'How do you get your spouse to take your writing seriously?"He theorised that, as in writing, showing is better than telling.  Give up something you really enjoy doing in order to make time for your writing.  Show your other half you care enough about this to make sacrifices, or why should they?What stuck was not that my wife doesn't take my writing seriously.  She does.  I could not be more lucky (other than the usual) in having a spouse who supports and encourages me....  And I have made sacrifices.  I've given up a lot in order to make more writing time.... but as most of you find, as you secure your time to write, you do what you can to witter away that time.  It's part of the creative process, unhinging your brain to think in the background while you do mundane shit.But I realised that that's not being fair.  My wife fields the kids a lot for me.  She's supportive enough that when I finally become a published author that I should be able to do it full time.  So then I should be making more time.  She is giving me a gift, and I will not waste it.This is a round about way of saying get up that extra hour in the morning.  Do what you have to do to get those words down.  Do it.  Do it for yourself, but mostly, do it for your family.

Containment Protocol is a go....

Woohoo, publication day is here!  The lovely people at Mantic Games released Containment Protocol over the weekend, a collection of short stories around their tabletop game Deadzone, which was Kickstarted (and to a ridiculously successful degree) last year.  I back it, and on a side note the game is awesome, and this weekend got to be a part of of the growing Deadzone story as my short piece The Hunt was published in the collection.I had a lot of fun writing The Hunt.  The world Mantic have designed in Deadzone very much represents the zeitgesit of today, just as Games Workshop did in the 80s with Warhammer 40,000.  In it, we are presented with a galaxy run on a corporacracy, where the final word of law is what the largest corporation says it is.  It's serfdom in everything but name, which is basically the logical end result if capitalism is allowed to run unchecked.

Sound familiar?  Yup, scratch one down for why I find it so enticing.

Anyway, if you check it out I hope you like it... now I'm off to write another for their Dreadball anthology...

Michael

The Hugos and the Turning of the Shrew... Into Shits

I know, two posts in one month.  It must be Christmas.  Or perhaps I'm goaded into writing by the events in SFdom over the past week.I won't waste preamble, if you're here you're here through the usual SFF channels and I'm sure you've heard about the hoohaa around Jonathan Ross and the Hugos.  I don't need to explain, nor do I have to outline Neil Gaiman's (among a few others) who have spoken out in Ross's defence and pointed out the Emperor's Clothes in the twitterstorm which drew momentum from, in many cases, people who until that point had never even heard of Ross.The short version; I'm very much in Gaiman's camp on this.  The long version:  I'm not only disappointed in much of the SFF community over this issue, but disgusted.Among the comments on the Guardian's piece about the affair, one reader said:

Judging by the Twitter/Tumblr mob most calm and rational readers would be best to stay at home quietly reading their books and staying well away from getting involved with the 'fans'.

I wish it were just the fans who acted this way, but some instigators were well known authors, who up until this moment held themselves as part of the moral elite tackling the inherent issues currently within SF.One writer in particular has lost all my respect and future custom.What particularly got my ire up was the open letter by Farah Mendlesohn, who was committee member, who wrote:

[Ross] is a man who has made a fortune (6 million a year at one point) from abusing others—particularly women—live on air.

I've only seen such 'come, let us judge this man on his monetary success' type wording in Chinese communist propaganda, and that's before the flat out lying claim he's made all his success on making fun of people.The irony that some of the same people who have crusaded against what's wrong in SFF at the moment have turned into what they hunted has not been lost.Michael

Here Be Dragons...

...and here, and here, and here too.There's an immutable law which says whenever you read a fantasy novel (of a thick nature is a bonus, but not necessary) you will at one point or another flick to the front few pages looking for a map.  Blame Tolkien if you like, but I'd rather thank Tolkien.  By their nature, fantasy novels take place in other worlds, or at least realities so removed from our own explanation is needed to guide us through it as well as the narrative.But to me, the maps provide another purpose; they're a visual accompaniment to further draw us into the world.There's a piece on the Guardian at the moment talking about the art of Ian Miller (not the 'Dry Tost' kind in my Big Fat Greek Wedding).  Ian has a long history in the SFF genre, and was at least in part responsible for my love of the genre.  His illustrations in Games Workshop's early Warhammer Fantasy books held me enraptured for hours as I at first drunk in every detail, and then wondered what lay just of the horizon of the drawings.

Erfberg, 2011: Ian Miller

And this isn't an aspect of the genre which is lost to bygone times.  The Goliath series by Scott Westerfeld include a number of just beautiful illustrations throughout each book which delight even the 30 something me.

I don't think it's coincidence of the presence of illustrations in both children's literature and fantasy.  I've always held that adults who love fantasy and sci fi are just children who refused to grow up.  We hold onto the delightful, and will use any sense open to us to enjoy what we love.

This has been another disconnected rant from yours truly.

Michael

Lazarus and the Tank, on The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine

Let's get this out of the way early: I really don't sound like that.If you're wondering what I'm talking about you'll have to listen to the recent edition of the Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine, where Big and Rish run a story of mine called Lazarus and the Tank.... and then do a Dick Van Dyke level impression.Don't ask.But do listen! (there's a link there, by the way) In all seriousness, I am truly honoured that they ran the story.  I've been listening to the podcast for years (and if you haven't, there's a 153 episodes for you to catch up on, you lucky person), long enough now when I hear their voices it's like listening to two old friends.Also kudos must go out to Tom Tancredi who did an excellent job with producing the cast, Craig Weinberg for the retro sci fi music (It made me want to play Mass Effect again) and Alyssa Quinn for the cover art, which suits the subject and sound effects perfectly.I hope you enjoy,Michael

Here Be Dagons

I just received an emailed from Salome Jones, the ever so helpful editor at Ghostwoods Books, which includes the cover for the Cthulhu Lives! anthology which shall include a story from yours truly.Behold! 

Not too shabby if I do say so myself, and I do.

An initial release date was pencilled in for mid February, but that's been pushed back a little, but you better believe I'll be pushing the book here when it does hit.

Michael

Breach... and That's a Wrap

Part six of my story Breach appeared in the mantic magazine Ironwatch this week, and I'm breathing a sigh of relief.  Breach was a learning experiance for me.  It's the first time I've written a series and had an enforced deadline to write to.  Seeing the date looming closer and closer really ramps up the pressure to get the words down, but most of all it makes you realise when you're 'that'd good enough' level is.

I don't think the story is as good as it could have been.  Partly because of that point I mentioned where I had to choose timeliness over quality, but also because I really, really, reallyreally, should have plotted it properly before.

Seriously, I had one chapter where my notes were 'Shit hits the fan, yo'.  I'm not exactly sure what the 'yo' was for, but you get the drift.

Tighter plotting would have lead to a tighter story.  The last two parts were nearly 12,000 words all up, and I think I could have gotten away with half of that had I known what I wanted to say.

But as I said, it was a learning experiance, and I've had a lot of nice things said about the story, and hey, i had a tonne of fun writing it.  Let's see what happens next...

Michael

Aw, Shucks....

I've had some truly nice things said about my writing this past week, but people I have never met, nor had any contact through except via my stories.  It really is the best way to wake up and found such things on the internet.  But my inherent bashfulness and un-wanky (check out Mister Writer here) nature means I'm reluctant to come straight out and say 'aw, thanks, that's really appreciated', lest ti sounds, well, wanky.So, this is me taking a moment to thank these people... even if it's here where they may never read it, rather than where they are so they will... Michael

What Was That Mad Cackling and Thunder Sound?

It was just me selling a story to Aurealis, no need to be frightened.Seriously though, I'm so stoked about this!  Aurealis is the biggest SF market in Australia, and they only run two stories a month, so for them to think my story is good enough means a) it is, and b) a lot to me.  I'm gushing here.The story is called Ascension, and is set deep within a forest.  That's about all you need to know right now.  You better believe I'll be shouting from the rooftops when it's published, until then, toodle-oo.Michael

What Kind of Magic Spells to Use...?

If you're not already singing, "Slime and snails, or puppy dog's tails" you're dead to me.  Or perhaps you just have been unlucky enough never to have seen The Labyrinth.  In which case I pity you, you poor, poor soul.  Here's what's your missing:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1xAAGh-3sw0No, not David Bowie's package (although I'm pretty certain it receives its own entry in the end credits), but the film as a whole.  The film turns 27 this year and still holds up bloody well.  I can't wait until my boys are old enough to sit and watch it with me.But do you know the first thing my mind turns to when I think of Labyrinth?  It's not the synth pop, or scary, scary monsters who can remove their own heads.  It's a cat.  Just a normal, everyday cat in the Goblin City towards the film's end.To jog your memory, it's when Sarah, Hoggle et al enter the city to find it deserted.  The set does a great job of looking real, but it's that one cat running across a street which makes it.  It cements the city as a place where people (goblins are people too), wake up go to goblin work, eat goblin lunches and play goblin ball in the streets.  Never mind we know it's a set, the cat makes it real.The devil, as they say, is in the details.Would the film have been any worse had the cat not been included?  Well, no.  The cat was just an example of the attention to the little things which permeate an already solid story and believe characters.  But it helps.  Oh, does it help.It's something I try to remember when I'm writing.  'Don't forget the cat'. Michael

Parsec Awards 2013

Remember how I said a Journey Into... podcast featuring a story of mine had been nominated, than reached the shortlist for this year's Parsec Awards?  Well they were drawn yesterday and.... it didn't win.  Which is both a shame for Marshall Latham and Christopher Munroe, because they did do a marvevlous job, but also not, because every single cast on the shortlist was stellar.  They really are, you should go listen to them.It's a bit of a disappointment, but it may sound cliched, but it really was an honour just to be able to contribute toward such a list.  Plus Rick Kennet who wrote the winner lives in Melbourne, so who knows, I may one day be able to shake him by the thr- hand.  Hand, I said hand.So, here's the list in all it's glory, and here's my resultant first mention (briefly) in Locus magazine.  Fingers crossed for more soon.Michael

Best Speculative Fiction Story: Small Cast (Short Form)

Short stories containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror where the storytelling uses narration as its primary means to convey scene and action and uses fewer than three people for the story presentation.

Winner:

Now Cydonia by Rick Kennett

(from Cast of Wonders)

Finalists:Fiends: Mimes by Paul Elard Cooley (from Shadow Publications)Final Girl Theory by A.C. Wise (from Pseudopod)*Fires in the Snow by Starla Huchton (from The Gearhart)Royal Offworld Navy by Alexa Chipman (from Imagination Lane)Silence: A Fable by Edgar Allan Poe, directed by Jeffrey Gardner (from Our Fair City)

* The Committee Apologizes for erroneously announcing Kill Screen by Chris Lewis Carter as a finalist in Small Cast (Short Form) category due to a transcription error.  Final Girl Theory by A.C. Wise is correctly listed as a finalist in the Small Cast (Short Form) category.

—

Best Speculative Fiction Story: Small Cast (Novella Form)

Novel-length containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror where the storytelling uses narration as its primary means to convey scene and action and uses fewer than three people for the story presentation.

Winner:

The Shadow Over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft,

produced by Mike Bennett

Finalists:The Beauty of Our Weapons by M. Darusha WehmGaraaga’s Children: Scrolls by Paul Elard CooleyStolen Hearts: The Invitation (A Gallifreyan Love Story) by Edward WinterRoseTainted Roses by Mark Kilfoil (from Every Photo Tells…)

—

Best Speculative Fiction Story: Small Cast (Long Form)

Novel-length containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror where the storytelling uses narration as its primary means to convey scene and action and uses fewer than three people for the story presentation.

Winner:

Underwood and Flinch by Mike Bennett

Finalists:The Diary of Jill Woodbine by Jay Smith and Veronica Giguere (from HG World)Interference by Eric LukeSecret World Chronicles, Season 6: Revolutions by Mercedes Lackey, Dennis Lee, Cody Martin, and Veronica GiguereStrigoaie The Romanian Witch by Mark Vale

—

Best Speculative Fiction Story: Large Cast

Stories of any length containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror in which storytelling uses narration as its primary means to convey scene and action and uses more than two people for the story presentation. (Note: Both short and long form were combined due to the small number of competing podcasts this year.)

Winner:

“The Road To Utopia Plain” by Rick Kennett

(The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine)

Finalists:“Alek and Elizabeth and the End of the World” by Michael Grey (Journey Into…)“Boat in Shadows, Crossing” by Tori Truslow (Beneath Ceaseless Skies)“Harlan’s Wake” written by John Mierau, produced by Bryan Lincoln (The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine)“A Janitor’s Territory” by Birke Duncan

—

Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Short Form)

Short audio presentations containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror in which storytelling is effected through the dialogue of its characters and sound effects/scenery presenting action and scene as it’s primary mechanism.

Winner:

The Minister of Chance by Radio Static

Finalists:Keeg’s Quest: A Skyrim Adventure by Rich MathesonAaron’s World by Mike Meraz and AaronAncient Evil by Aural Stage Studios (Dialed In)The Pendant Shakespeare by Pendant Productions

—

Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Long Form)

Long audio presentations containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror in which storytelling is effected through the dialogue of its characters and sound effects/scenery presenting action and scene as it’s primary mechanism.

Winner:

Star Trek: Outpost by Tony Raymond and Daniel McIntosh

Finalists:We’re Alive by KC WaylandHothouse Bruiser by Joel MetzgerThe Leviathan Chronicles by Christof LaputkaThe Guild of The Cowry Catchers: Book 4 Out of the Ashes by Abigail Hilton

—

Best Speculative Fiction Video Story

Video podcasts that tell a speculative fiction story.

Winner:

 I Have Your Heart by Molly Crabapple,

Kim Boekbinder & Jim Batt

Finalists:Dr. Talon’s “Letter to the Editor” by David D. LevineThe Silent City by Rubidium Wu

—

Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast

Podcasts that regularly present short stories from different authors containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror.

Winner:

Tales from the Archives, Volume 2

by Tee Morris and Pip Ballantine

Finalists: Toasted Cake by Tina ConnollyThe Drabblecast by Norm ShermanThe NoSleep Podcast by David CummingsEvery Photo Tells… by Katharina and Mick Bordet

—

Best New Speculative Fiction Podcaster/Team

This person or team is new to podcasting in the past Parsec eligibility year, becoming a significant voice that has contributed to the community as a whole.

Winner:

The NoSleep Podcast by David Cummings

Finalists:Doctor Who: Verity! by Deborah Stanish, Erika Ensign, Katrina Griffiths, L.M. Myles, Lynne M. Thomas, and Tansy Rayner RobertsNights at the Round Table by Ash FarbrotherReader/Writer Podcast by Ben Delano/Mary Ellen WarrenBlurry Photos by David Flora

—

Best Speculative Fiction Fan or News Podcast (Specific)

News and commentary podcasts created by and for the fans of a given type of literary or entertainment work or series of works that have elements of speculative fiction (e.g. podcasts focused on H. P. Lovecraft, Buffy The Vampire Slayer or the World of Time).

Winner:

RebelForce Radio by Jimmy Mac and Jason Swank

Finalists:Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro by Warren Frey, Steven Schapansky, Chris BurgessTwo-Minute Time Lord by Chip Sudderth Commentary: Trek Stars by Mike Schindler, Max HegelDoctor Who: Verity! by Deborah Stanish, Erika Ensign, Katrina Griffiths, L.M. Myles, Lynne M. Thomas, and Tansy Rayner Roberts

—

Best Speculative Fiction Fan or News Podcast (General)

News and commentary podcasts created by and for the fans of speculative fiction. (e.g. Anime, Gaming, General Spec Fic)

Winner:

Nights at the Round Table by Ash Farbrother

Finalists:Geek Radio Daily by Geek Radio Daily The Incomparable by Jason SnellThe Ratchet RetroCast by John Strangeway, CD Ske, Patrick Freeman, and QPodCulture: Equal Opportunity Geekness by Brad, Glenn, Christina, and Adam

—

Best Podcast about Speculative Fiction Content Creation

Podcasts about the creative process and/or the technical aspects of speculative fiction podcast creation.

Winner:

StoryForward by J.C. Hutchins & Steve Peters

Finalists:StoryWonk Sunday by Lani Diane Rich and Alistair StephensWriting Excuses by Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Howard Tayler, Mary Robinette KowalGet Published by Michell Plested Adventures in SciFi Publishing by Shaun Farrell

—

Best Fact Behind the Fiction Podcast

Podcasts that explore the facts that influence the fictions – the science, history, culture, and mythology that inspire these stories.

Winner:

Hubblecast by Oli Usher & Joe Liske

Finalists:Blurry Photos by David FloraThe Titanium Physicists Podcast by Ben Tippett Bacteriofiles by Jesse NoarToken Skeptic by K. Sturgess

—

Best Speculative Fiction Comedy/Parody Podcast

Whether they make fun of bad movies or or poke fun at our own geekdom, these podcasts keep us laughing.

Winner:

Blastropodcast by Mark Soloff

Finalists:My Script is MUD by Birke DuncanThe Chapter Titles Were So Good by The Peter, Regular Tom, and Mr. TomDragon*ConTV by Brian RichardsonComedy4Cast by Clinton

—

Best Speculative Fiction Music Podcast

Podcasts discussing and sampling music about, set in, inspired by or spoofing speculative fiction. (e.g. Filk, Rock, RenFair, Rap, Techno)

Winner:

The Funny Music Project by Devo Spice

Finalists:Radio Free Hipster by ZPros and Cons by Jonah Knight and Mikey Mason

Just Keep Plugging, Just Keep Plugging

It's been quiet on here lately, hasn't it?Shhh!Oops, sorry.  But it has though, eh?  Perhaps you're wondering why.  Perhaps you're not.  Either way, I'm going to tell you.  I haven't been particularly well these past two months.  A combination of a twisted neck  achieved at kickboxing (not nearly as heroic as it sounds), and a lung infection bordering on pneumonia.These have not helped.  Especially when you consider I had an honest-to-god Sekret Projekt to work on.  This is something that could very well lead to A Thing, and you know it's important when capitals are involved.But this whole being poorly thing has meant I've been writing through a wall of exhaustion, and the end result is a story I'm really not very happy with.  But it's too late now to turn back, and it down to polishing the figurative turd.  I keep telling myself 'there are no boring subjects only boring writers' but rather than bolster my self confidence I realise I'm not as good as I think I am, and add self-doubt to my already too long list of maladies.But that doesn't matter (well it does, but bear with me). because nothing does.  You write.  And you keep on writing, and when you're done, you write some more.  And then perhaps edit.Because it's what you do, it's what you are, and the only other option is to not write.  And then what?  Then what are you?Keep that in mind.Michael