Stephanie Rose Bird is promoting her book, The Big Book of Soul: The Ultimate Guide to the African American Spirit, with a blog tour. Read the rest of this entry »

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• News: Rose and Bay Award Winners

Holly Lisle’s two classes “How to Think Sideways” and “How to Revise Your Novel” are currently open for new students who seek to improve their novel-writing skills.  There will be another round of classes planned in June, with added material.  (Previous students will also get the new material for free.)  Click on the Holly Lisle boxes at the bottom of the left sidebar, or you can visit Holly’s site and tell her I sent you.

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My new book of 48 flash stories; half of them are published here for the first time.

At least follow the link & see the cool cover! You can read an excerpt, too.

David C. Kopaska-Merkel

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Joanne Merriam shares this news about an upcoming convention:

David Kopaska-Merkel and I and a few other writers including Lou Anders and Jack McDevitt are doing the U of Alabama mini-convention that David mentioned below. It’s Saturday, March 6 in Shelby Hall on the University of Alabama campus, and there’s no fee for attendance. There’ll be a Q&A on submission etiquette, a panel on character and story development, a bunch of readings, and science panels on engineering and the future, black holes, microscopic black holes and the LHC, neutrino detection at the South Pole, and robotic programming with demonstrations. Details at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/2010-A-Space-Oddity/182194367285

I’ll also be selling my new chapbook Edgewise there. In the interim I’m taking pre-orders. Details at:

http://www.joannemerriam.com/2010/01/31/edgewise/

I hope some of you can make it!

Joanne Merriam

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Another of my stories has been published on Torn World.  This one features my character Fala, all grown up now.  It was inspired by the events in Deirdre M. Murphy’s story, “Beads and Memories.”  I got to wondering what Fala’s role in those events would be, so I wrote “The Song of the Wind, the Sigh of the Willows.”  It shows a ranger’s duties in caring for the dead.

One of the cool things about a shared world is that you quickly wind up with a web of stories that leads you from one to another, and you can follow it in any direction you wish.  (If you haven’t already read “Fala the Leader,” my first story about this character, you might backtrack to that.)  There is time to explore favorite people, or places, or tidbits of cultural lore.  Stories can be about different things with different tones.  You can pick up a loose end that someone else left for you to follow, and answer the questions it raises, if they lead to interesting places.  This is very satisfying if you enjoy milieu fiction, because you can wander around to your heart’s content.  Want plot?  We have plot-heavy stories in the works too.

Do you like this story and want to see more such?  If you’re a registered Torn World member (which is free) then you can leave comments and/orKarma.  If you’re a supporter then you can leave Credits.  Any of this stuff can be directed at the author and/or patron of a story using Torn World’s crowdfunding features.  If you’re not a Torn World member but still want to pitch in, I have a PayPal button on my profile page.

Thanks to the folks who have been leaving Karma, Credits, and comments for “Pickled” and some of my other work!  I have noted that humor is popular, and will watch for more such ideas.

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I write for a science fantasy shared world called Torn World.  My story “Pickled,” which came out of the Torn World Muse Fusion earlier this month, has passed the canon board and is now visible.  It was inspired by prompts from Haunted Blood, Jolantru, Wyld Dandelyon, and Padparadscha; it was sponsored by Ellen Million.  In this story, “Sromaffo introduces a new recipe to spice up his eatery.”

Do you like this story and want to see more such?  If you’re a registered Torn World member (which is free) then you can leave comments and/or Karma.  If you’re a supporter then you can leave Credits.  Any of this stuff can be directed at the author and/or patron of a story using Torn World’s crowdfunding features.  If you’re not a Torn World member but still want to pitch in, I have a PayPal button on my LiveJournal profile page.  Or you can just browse around the Torn World site and enjoy the free public fiction, poetry, and art.

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This week I’d like to introduce you to the crowdfunded project “Fireborn.”  It is funded by donations.

Fireborn by Wyld Dandelyon

Welcome to a world where humans have a variety of different shapes.  Some can fly, some can breathe water, some can hang from trees by their tails alone.  All are related, all are human.  And some, born to each shape, can work magic, and are called fireborn. Read the rest of this entry »

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Holly Lisle’s latest newsletter post included a whole bunch of information about a new project of hers (yes, another one!), a free writing workshop.  She graciously gave me permission to post the whole thing here, with all the links, so that you can pursue this if you’re interested.  Oh, and she’s not kidding about that one-week revision — I’ve known writer friends to get that kind of offer too. Read the rest of this entry »

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Holly Lisle is designing a new TalysMana contest.  This will be a competition rather than a random drawing.  Holly explains,

The winner will:

*  Be a character in the novel TalysMana.

*  Have a TalysMana artifact created around his or her character.

*  And receive a numbered, limited-edition copy of that artifact

signed by both of us.

Next Tuesday (February 16th) we’ll be sending out the rules to all

TalysMana list members.

If you’re not already following this story, you can sign up here.  Installments and news will be delivered to your email.

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This week’s excerpt features a tale of psychic powers, intrigue, and parenthood.  Good thing that’s happening to someone else, eh?  It’s wildly amusing from the safe distance of another universe.

Strange Little Band by Nancy Brauer and Vanessa Brooks

Strange Little Band is the ongoing story of Addison and Shane, two self-centered, amoral psychics who work for the cut-throat Triptych Corporation. Their insular, comfortable lives are disrupted when, due to Triptych’s machinations, they become unlikely parents. How can they raise a child when they can’t trust each other?

New installments are posted on Tuesday and Friday.  Bonus stories air every other Monday or so. There’s a podcast and forums, too!

Excerpt: from chapter 1

After her week 21 appointment with Dr. Frasier, Addison headed toward the commissary. With morning sickness behind her, Addison’s appetite had returned with a vengeance. Once again her body had skipped hunger and went straight to ravenous. Little could stand between her and whatever she was craving.

Addison’s route through the sprawling complex took her past Genetics — Myers’ department. The doors to the various labs and offices were closed, as usual. Myers ran a tight ship.

The door ahead and to Addison’s left opened, and a balding, middle-aged white man in a lab coat strode through. The printout in the man’s hand had his complete attention. His unshielded thoughts washed over Addison.  …don’t know how the hell he thinks we’ll resequence…

Addison’s eyes found the nameplate beside the slowly closing door: Dr. Shane Myers. On impulse she ducked inside.

Even if the freak hadn’t been sitting at his glass-topped desk, Addison would have guessed this was Myers’ office. The decor was cold, modern, and minimal. The only exception was a black leather sofa against one wall. Rumor had it that Myers was a workaholic. He may have slept on the sofa more often than a bed.

Myers himself was oblivious to her presence. Like his underling, he was too busy frowning at papers to notice a buxom woman a few feet away.

Addison fought to keep her amusement from her voice. “Dr. Myers.” Her tones were cool and polite.

Myers’ head snapped up. Surprise flitted across his clean-shaven face, then was replaced with a scowl. “What are you doing here, Harris?” he demanded.

Addison perched on the sofa arm closest to Myers, careful to stay out of reach. She leaned forward to hide her bump and display her generous cleavage. “Can’t I visit a colleague?”

Myers’ scowl didn’t waver. “No.” Nevertheless, his brown eyes briefly darted to her breasts.

Addison allowed herself a smug smile. “Shane.” She propped her elbow on one knee, resting her chin on her upturned palm. “You don’t mind if I call you Shane, do you? ‘Dr. Myers’ sounds so formal, considering that we’re practically family now.”

Silence stretched as Myers studied her. Addison studied him back. He wasn’t bad looking. Lanky, and possibly fit under his dress shirt and slacks. The fact that Addison couldn’t sense his emotions — her mental fingers slid off of his eerily slick mental shields — reminded her that the average-looking man was part alien.

Myers hadn’t ordered her out, so Addison continued. “I suppose I should start with congratulations.” She stood and drifted toward him, unbuttoning her jacket. “Or didn’t Daniel tell you that your donation worked out? One of those sperm is the little engine that could.”

For an instant confusion, curiosity, and a hint of lust radiated from Myers. Addison laughed as her jacket fell open. “Don’t flatter yourself, Myers. I don’t want to shag you.” She ran her hand over her rounded belly. “Congratulations. Twenty-one weeks and still growing strong.”

Myers gaped as his shields slipped again. Taking advantage of his distraction, Addison grabbed his hand, lifted the hem of her shirt, and pressed his palm to her bared abdomen. “For confirmation.” The man’s mute shock made the precariousness of the situation worthwhile.

Chuckling, Addison backed off, heading for the door while buttoning her jacket. She tossed over her shoulder, “If you’re going to buy those chocolate cigars, you want the ones with the blue wrappers. It’s a boy, Dad.”

Addison felt Myers’ eyes on her back she strode out of his office into the hall. Daniel will be pissed, Addison mused. She dismissed the thought with a shrug. She really didn’t care.

Her stomach, on the other hand, wondered if there was any chocolate cake in the commissary. She had a craving for it.

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Kelly Harmon has a novella available:  Blood Soup is up at the Eternal Press website.

Summary

A tale of murder, betrayal and comeuppance.

King Theodicar of Borgund needed an heir. When his wife, Queen Piacenza, became
pregnant, he’d hoped for a boy. His wife, along with her nurse, Salvagia, had
other plans. With each cast of the runes, Salvagia’s trusted divination tools
yielded the same message: “A girl child must rule or the kingdom will fall to
ruin.” As such, the women were convinced that the child would be a girl.

When the queen finally gives birth, the nurse and the king are equally
surprised. The king is faced with a terrible choice, and his decision will
determine the fate of his kingdom. Will he choose wisely, or will he doom
Borgund to ruin?

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David C. Kopaska-Merkel has a new piece of flash fiction up.  ”The Cabbage Patch God” is the first in a series about gods, humans, and others.

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Here for your delectation is this week’s excerpt, an excursion into dark literature…

314 Crescent Manor by M. Jones

Where the rent is cheap and your neighbours are dead to the world. Read the rest of this entry »

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This week’s featured cyberfunded creativity is a piece of urban fantasy.  You never know what could be around the next street corner …

Addergoole by Lyn Thorne-Alder

Addergoole is a contemporary fantasy story with erotic and dark-fantasy elements, a modern-day fairy tale of sorts, without the soft-glow filters to soften the harsh edges, without the safety of ”happily ever after” or even the security of knowing that the Prince on his white horse is the good guy. Read the rest of this entry »

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Lyn Gardner shares the following news about her recent publications and other stuff you might enjoy reading:

The new issue of MindFlights just went live with ”Calendar of Cats” by Lyn C. A. Gardner.

Also, Cabinet des Fees: A Journal of Fairy Tales has just released Issue 9, January 2010, Scheherezade’s Bequest, with ”Waking Beauty” by Lyn C. A. Gardner.

There’s also a lot more fabulous work in these issues, for anyone who cares to stop by.

Thanks for reading,

Lyn G.

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Stephanie Rose Bird shares some news about her new book:

I just wanted to share the fact that my newest book, The Big Book of Soul: The Ultimate Guide to the African American Spirit, has been released by Hampton Roads Publishers distributed by Red Wheel Weiser Press. This is a unique book built around the concept of feeding the soul and tapping into soul through the arts, herbalism, crafts, rituals and
ceremonies.

The book is featured here.

I will be interviewed on ABC 7 11 a.m. News on February 3rd about the book and its recommendations to pursuit drumming as a method of tapping into soul. A drumming circle TBA will also be featured during this interview. Tune if in you are in the area. It might also be online. I’ll keep you posted.

Stephanie Rose Bird

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Bruce Boston shared this piece of news recently:

Reviewer J. L. Comeau has selected my collaborative poetry collection
DOUBLE VISIONS for her 2009 Tomb Top Ten.

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The generally sponsored poetry poll is now open in The Wordsmith’s Forge.  Click here to read the poll and vote on what kind of poetry you would like to see posted.

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Due to a mishap, registration for Holly Lisle’s How to Revise Your Novel course was closed earlier than advertised.  Registration has now been reopened and will remain open until Monday, probably around noon EST.  If you were planning to enroll and missed it, you have another chance.  I’d appreciate it if you’d tell the nice lady where you came from.

Holly is shifting to an open/close method of registration for her courses so that people will go through in batches and have classmates to talk with.  This also lets Holly manage her own workload by offsetting or alternating different classes.  (If you and some friends are dying to take a course that isn’t currently open, let me know — Holly is willing to arrange special sessions for groups, schedule permitting.)  How to Revise Your Novel probably won’t be offered for open enrollment again soon; there are other projects in development.

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Here is the latest stop in our tour of cyberfunded creativity. The author describes the challenges of life above ground…

“Above Ground” by A. M. Harte

Life above ground is something Lilith Gray has never experienced. When she gets the chance to visit the outside world, she’s understandably ecstatic. But the infected have a reputation for being dangerous for a reason, and Lilith is about to find out why.

“Above Ground” is a dark fantasy serial, exploring explores a world where fighting the odds – and surviving – is no mean feat. Read the rest of this entry »

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