JoSelle Vanderhooft's Blog, page 3
June 5, 2012
Updates. Again. On Everythin.
Becoming a full-time freelancer is way, way harder than it looks. If you already think it's hard and haven't tried to do it, let me assure you that it's at least three times as difficult as you probably think it is. I've honestly been pulling far more 16-18 hour days since December than I've done at any other time in my life--yes, even when I worked in the theatre on huge projects such as the 2005 Humana Festival and the Sundance Play Lab. Add to this health issues that kept coming one after another (broken teeth, stomach flu, adrenal exhaustion, and plain old days when I was too exhausted from overwork to do anything but sleep), and I'm very behind on several anthology projects. But as you'll see that's changing!
I am truly sorry about this, to the point that I'm honestly dreading making this post. I don't want to make excuses, but I really have had almost no time off since getting fired in November, and I'm still the sole earner of our household. My partner's Tarot and life coaching business has not brought in any money yet, and the part-time job that hired her in May decided to un-hire her for reasons that were so flimsy and convoluted they basically came down to "because we can, peasant." I really, truly did try my best not to let my employment situation and my household's finances interfere with my anthology work. Unfortunately, neither my partner nor I expected that she would be out of work entirely for what will be a year in less than one month, or that I would have to make a freelance business appear out of thin air to keep us treading water--all while managing my health which weeks of little sleep and stress kicked down from "middling as usual" to "abysmal."
The good news, though, is that I've done well enough for the past few months that I can pretty much devote June and July to un-fucking everything.
Which means it's time for another update.
Steam-Powered III
I don't know if Steam-Powered III will be released in December of this year or in January of 2013. I was honestly expecting more submissions to come in than have already, and my workload up to the end of May was so heavy that I simply didn't have the spoons to start shaking the trees for more people when things didn't pick up around mid-April. So, after speaking to my publisher, we've decided to extend the submissions deadline from June 15 to September 1, giving you all two and a half more months. So far, I have only accepted five stories (with a sixth looking likely), which means I'm looking for 7-8 more. I'm reposting the submission guidelines here for your convenience.
Steam-Powered 3: Further Lesbian Steampunk Stories is an anthology of steampunk stories that feature lesbian-identified protagonist and which strives to be inclusive of underrepresented (and often misrepresented!) identities in steampunk and lesbian fiction.
Although “steampunk” is a fairly broad genre, we are interested in the following:
* Stories set in the past and present as we know them, or in an alternate past or present, as well as a future in which 19th Century technology dominates.
* Stories that involve 19th Century steam technology or retro-future technology that does not involve steam. For example, if your story is set in the Gobi Desert, the lack of water may make this technology look different than it would in a society that has enough water for steam technology to be feasible. For a good idea of what I mean here, please read this essay by Steam-Powered 1 contributor Amal El-Mohtar: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/10/towards-a-steampunk-without-steam.
* Stories that explore and critique 19th and early 20th Century notions of colonialism, empire, race, sex and sexuality.
* The editor also has a strong preference for stories set outside Victorian England and the United States, stories that feature women of color protagonists, stories that feature protagonists from the lower or working class, stories with disabled protagonists (including those with cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses), and stories whose protagonists are not Christian. This is not to say that more ‘typical’ steampunk stories are unwelcome, just that they will be a harder sell.
* While Torquere Press publishes several romance and erotica titles, stories need not have romantic or erotic elements.
We are not interested in the following:
* Stories that exoticize, misrepresent or demonize lesbians, people of color, people with disabilities, or any culture or religion. (look up “cultural appropriation” for an idea of what we mean here).
* Stories with anti-lesbian clichés (such as the lesbian who would really enjoy heterosexual sex, if she met the right man)
* Stories with villains whose sole motivation for being bad is a mental illness or “being crazy.”
* Poetry
* Fan fiction (stories featuring characters that are not copyrighted to the author)
As Steam-Powered is entering its third incarnation, we've seen a lot of stories set in a lot of places. However, some countries and regions have never appeared at all. Thus, I am particularly keen on seeing stories set in the following countries/regions/cultures.
1) Eastern and Central Europe. Seriously. We've had all of one submission ever set here.
2) Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, or Scandinavia. (I will seriously love you forever if you send me a story set in Italy--though by saying this I'm aware I may have just opened the floodgates lol)
3) Southern and Central Africa. Though I always want more stories about this continent!
4) Australia
5) Russia
6) Mexico
7) Canada
8) Anywhere in South America. I have one acceptance for SP3 set here, but I'd love more.
Of course, all regions are fine--specifically if they're not England--so please don't think I'm going to bounce your story if it isn't set in any of these places. I'm simply, again, offering up a few that I've seen little or nothing from and would like to see represented.
Submission Period: March 15 – June 15 September 1.
Word Count: 3,000 – 10,000 words (though shorter stories may be considered). **PLEASE query with your story idea first to save both you and the editor time.
Payment: $35 per story.
If your query is accepted, submit stories in .rtf or .doc format to JoSelle Vanderhooft at upstart.crow@gmail.com. Please title your submissions as [Author's Last Name]: Steam-Powered III Submission, and use standard manuscript format that includes your full name (and pen name if applicable), address, phone number and email.
Femmes Fatales
Finally, I'm getting through these edits, and I'm emailing everyone involved in this anthology this week. I'm sorry this has taken so long. I have honestly never experienced so many major illnesses and major upheavals while putting together a single project.
Wiscon Chronicles 7
Knowing that June and July would be financially stable and a time for me to devote myself almost completely to anthology work, I said yes to editing Volume 7 of the Wiscon Chronicles. This is something I've been talking to Aqueduct Press about for over a year now, and I'm super excited to have this opportunity! I'll post a link to guidelines as soon as they go up, which should be today or tomorrow.
Here's to the rest of 2012 not exploding. :) And as always, feel free to email me at upstart.crow @ gmail with any questions (and hopefully queries!). If you've been waiting on a reply for a while now, please nudge me. I think I've caught up with everyone I was not caught up with, but I'm probably missing a few people. That's always the way these things work.
I am truly sorry about this, to the point that I'm honestly dreading making this post. I don't want to make excuses, but I really have had almost no time off since getting fired in November, and I'm still the sole earner of our household. My partner's Tarot and life coaching business has not brought in any money yet, and the part-time job that hired her in May decided to un-hire her for reasons that were so flimsy and convoluted they basically came down to "because we can, peasant." I really, truly did try my best not to let my employment situation and my household's finances interfere with my anthology work. Unfortunately, neither my partner nor I expected that she would be out of work entirely for what will be a year in less than one month, or that I would have to make a freelance business appear out of thin air to keep us treading water--all while managing my health which weeks of little sleep and stress kicked down from "middling as usual" to "abysmal."
The good news, though, is that I've done well enough for the past few months that I can pretty much devote June and July to un-fucking everything.
Which means it's time for another update.
Steam-Powered III
I don't know if Steam-Powered III will be released in December of this year or in January of 2013. I was honestly expecting more submissions to come in than have already, and my workload up to the end of May was so heavy that I simply didn't have the spoons to start shaking the trees for more people when things didn't pick up around mid-April. So, after speaking to my publisher, we've decided to extend the submissions deadline from June 15 to September 1, giving you all two and a half more months. So far, I have only accepted five stories (with a sixth looking likely), which means I'm looking for 7-8 more. I'm reposting the submission guidelines here for your convenience.
Steam-Powered 3: Further Lesbian Steampunk Stories is an anthology of steampunk stories that feature lesbian-identified protagonist and which strives to be inclusive of underrepresented (and often misrepresented!) identities in steampunk and lesbian fiction.
Although “steampunk” is a fairly broad genre, we are interested in the following:
* Stories set in the past and present as we know them, or in an alternate past or present, as well as a future in which 19th Century technology dominates.
* Stories that involve 19th Century steam technology or retro-future technology that does not involve steam. For example, if your story is set in the Gobi Desert, the lack of water may make this technology look different than it would in a society that has enough water for steam technology to be feasible. For a good idea of what I mean here, please read this essay by Steam-Powered 1 contributor Amal El-Mohtar: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/10/towards-a-steampunk-without-steam.
* Stories that explore and critique 19th and early 20th Century notions of colonialism, empire, race, sex and sexuality.
* The editor also has a strong preference for stories set outside Victorian England and the United States, stories that feature women of color protagonists, stories that feature protagonists from the lower or working class, stories with disabled protagonists (including those with cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses), and stories whose protagonists are not Christian. This is not to say that more ‘typical’ steampunk stories are unwelcome, just that they will be a harder sell.
* While Torquere Press publishes several romance and erotica titles, stories need not have romantic or erotic elements.
We are not interested in the following:
* Stories that exoticize, misrepresent or demonize lesbians, people of color, people with disabilities, or any culture or religion. (look up “cultural appropriation” for an idea of what we mean here).
* Stories with anti-lesbian clichés (such as the lesbian who would really enjoy heterosexual sex, if she met the right man)
* Stories with villains whose sole motivation for being bad is a mental illness or “being crazy.”
* Poetry
* Fan fiction (stories featuring characters that are not copyrighted to the author)
As Steam-Powered is entering its third incarnation, we've seen a lot of stories set in a lot of places. However, some countries and regions have never appeared at all. Thus, I am particularly keen on seeing stories set in the following countries/regions/cultures.
1) Eastern and Central Europe. Seriously. We've had all of one submission ever set here.
2) Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, or Scandinavia. (I will seriously love you forever if you send me a story set in Italy--though by saying this I'm aware I may have just opened the floodgates lol)
3) Southern and Central Africa. Though I always want more stories about this continent!
4) Australia
5) Russia
6) Mexico
7) Canada
8) Anywhere in South America. I have one acceptance for SP3 set here, but I'd love more.
Of course, all regions are fine--specifically if they're not England--so please don't think I'm going to bounce your story if it isn't set in any of these places. I'm simply, again, offering up a few that I've seen little or nothing from and would like to see represented.
Submission Period: March 15 – June 15 September 1.
Word Count: 3,000 – 10,000 words (though shorter stories may be considered). **PLEASE query with your story idea first to save both you and the editor time.
Payment: $35 per story.
If your query is accepted, submit stories in .rtf or .doc format to JoSelle Vanderhooft at upstart.crow@gmail.com. Please title your submissions as [Author's Last Name]: Steam-Powered III Submission, and use standard manuscript format that includes your full name (and pen name if applicable), address, phone number and email.
Femmes Fatales
Finally, I'm getting through these edits, and I'm emailing everyone involved in this anthology this week. I'm sorry this has taken so long. I have honestly never experienced so many major illnesses and major upheavals while putting together a single project.
Wiscon Chronicles 7
Knowing that June and July would be financially stable and a time for me to devote myself almost completely to anthology work, I said yes to editing Volume 7 of the Wiscon Chronicles. This is something I've been talking to Aqueduct Press about for over a year now, and I'm super excited to have this opportunity! I'll post a link to guidelines as soon as they go up, which should be today or tomorrow.
Here's to the rest of 2012 not exploding. :) And as always, feel free to email me at upstart.crow @ gmail with any questions (and hopefully queries!). If you've been waiting on a reply for a while now, please nudge me. I think I've caught up with everyone I was not caught up with, but I'm probably missing a few people. That's always the way these things work.
April 3, 2012
Steam-Powered III Submissions and ...stuff
Well, AnomalyCon was awesome. One of the best cons I've ever attended, flat-out. I gave something like 8 presentations (solo or with a partner or two), made a ton of new friends, and sold out of nearly every book I brought. If you can get to Denver you should go to AnomalyCon 2013.
I'll blog more about it when I'm a bit better. See, after the con, I came to Utah for World Horror and...came down with the worst stomach flu of my life. I was so dehydrated and sick that I ended up being hospitalized for part of Saturday. While that was due to a very overreactive doctor who I think was having mommy issues, being treated actually made me feel a lot better.
Anyway. I missed World Horror on account of being too ill and weak from hunger to do much of anything but sit around and get behind on everything after just getting caught up. *sigh* Two of the things I got behind on was both answering Steam-Powered III queries and working on Femmes Fatales stuff. Which means, I didn't post to say that I'm working on Femmes as fast as I can, and that I've only received a few SP3 queries so far. so send your queries in!
And now back to the inbox. Whatever you all do, please don't get this stomach flu. It's really hideous.
I'll blog more about it when I'm a bit better. See, after the con, I came to Utah for World Horror and...came down with the worst stomach flu of my life. I was so dehydrated and sick that I ended up being hospitalized for part of Saturday. While that was due to a very overreactive doctor who I think was having mommy issues, being treated actually made me feel a lot better.
Anyway. I missed World Horror on account of being too ill and weak from hunger to do much of anything but sit around and get behind on everything after just getting caught up. *sigh* Two of the things I got behind on was both answering Steam-Powered III queries and working on Femmes Fatales stuff. Which means, I didn't post to say that I'm working on Femmes as fast as I can, and that I've only received a few SP3 queries so far. so send your queries in!
And now back to the inbox. Whatever you all do, please don't get this stomach flu. It's really hideous.
March 14, 2012
Convention schedule and tick tock on the (steam-powered) clock
Just two days until Steam-Powered III opens for submissions. Want some guidelines? We got your guidelines right here!
Now go, go and write me things! And remember, you have from March 15-June 15 to submit this time. I don't anticipate the submission period ever being this long again, so take advantage of it this year.
I don't yet have a specific release date (ah, yay for life nonsense messing with my carefully planned schedule) for volume III, but it should be out in November. Typically the book comes out in September or October.
I've been quiet because I've been both editing and planning. And recovering from painful tooth surgery last week. But it looks like I'm going to be getting out of the house soon for reasons other than having peridontists hurt me and take my money. From March 23-25 I will be a guest at Anomaly Con, a really awesome Denver steampunk convention! I was invited in November of last year, and while it's not the first time I've been a guest at a convention, this is the first time I've been in quite as prominent of a place. If you're in the Denver area, do come down and say hello. I'll have copies of my anthologies to sign, and will probably be the only person there not 'punked out. I've sadly just not been well enough to put together a suitable outfit. But I'd love to hang out with folks for drinks, dinner, and just being glamorous together.
After this, I'll be returning to Salt Lake City to attend the World Horror Convention. Yes! We did such a kick-ass job back in '08 that they let us do it again! I'll be volunteering here and hopefully be on some panels. Again, if you want to meet up, let me know. I'll be in my former city of Salt, Sand, and Bone until April 9 to visit family. Why? Because I'm self-employed now, d00d, and I can go wherever the hell I want, whenever the hell I want so long as it has a hot spot!
Speaking of self-employment, I'm really lucky to be able to do both of these cons with everything going on right now, financially, emotionally, physically and, well, yeah. I'm also really lucky that I've found an inexpensive way to attend Aether Fest in San Antonio where I'll again be a guest, and WisCon where I should have an exciting announcement about something I'm doing soon, if all goes well.
A few people have asked me why I haven't cancelled all con plans this year given my work situation. I can understand the question, and it's a good one, so I want to clear that up now. It is an honor to be invited to a convention as a guest, particularly when you are a small press editor, author, and poet (!) who works primarily with LGBTQ material--which, as you know, Bob, does not get a lot of exposure or attention. I was deeply moved and hugely excited when I was asked to attend AetherFest and Anomaly Con, and said yes right away--long before I knew that I was going to be laid off and that my entire life would change in hours.
While having been able to pay for things in advance helped me out a lot and was a huge part of what save my 2012 con season, I also decided not to call all cons off because of one simple truth: SF/F/H and, more broadly, writing and editing are my profession. They are not a game for me, not a hobby, and certainly not a joke. And while I am enormously privileged to be able to attend cons, for me and for this stage in my career, they are part of that work--albeit a very fun part where I can also spend time with friends and colleagues and not have to worry about washing dishes. And there are several cons I can't attend this year that I would love to and had planned on. ArmadilloCon, for example, which I truly adore, and World Fantasy, as I just can't afford to travel out of the US right now. Readercon is looking highly unlikely, too. In fact, I'm only able to even go to World Horror because of a volunteer membership, my mother's house, and an early birthday gift. Basically, if I'm not a guest at it, can't stay with friends or family, or it's not within driving distance (as some Florida cons are), I'm not going to be there.
I hope that clears things up for when I talk about attending conventions.
I also hope that I'll see some of you in Denver, Salt Lake, San Antonio, and Madison before summer!
Now go, go and write me things! And remember, you have from March 15-June 15 to submit this time. I don't anticipate the submission period ever being this long again, so take advantage of it this year.
I don't yet have a specific release date (ah, yay for life nonsense messing with my carefully planned schedule) for volume III, but it should be out in November. Typically the book comes out in September or October.
I've been quiet because I've been both editing and planning. And recovering from painful tooth surgery last week. But it looks like I'm going to be getting out of the house soon for reasons other than having peridontists hurt me and take my money. From March 23-25 I will be a guest at Anomaly Con, a really awesome Denver steampunk convention! I was invited in November of last year, and while it's not the first time I've been a guest at a convention, this is the first time I've been in quite as prominent of a place. If you're in the Denver area, do come down and say hello. I'll have copies of my anthologies to sign, and will probably be the only person there not 'punked out. I've sadly just not been well enough to put together a suitable outfit. But I'd love to hang out with folks for drinks, dinner, and just being glamorous together.
After this, I'll be returning to Salt Lake City to attend the World Horror Convention. Yes! We did such a kick-ass job back in '08 that they let us do it again! I'll be volunteering here and hopefully be on some panels. Again, if you want to meet up, let me know. I'll be in my former city of Salt, Sand, and Bone until April 9 to visit family. Why? Because I'm self-employed now, d00d, and I can go wherever the hell I want, whenever the hell I want so long as it has a hot spot!
Speaking of self-employment, I'm really lucky to be able to do both of these cons with everything going on right now, financially, emotionally, physically and, well, yeah. I'm also really lucky that I've found an inexpensive way to attend Aether Fest in San Antonio where I'll again be a guest, and WisCon where I should have an exciting announcement about something I'm doing soon, if all goes well.
A few people have asked me why I haven't cancelled all con plans this year given my work situation. I can understand the question, and it's a good one, so I want to clear that up now. It is an honor to be invited to a convention as a guest, particularly when you are a small press editor, author, and poet (!) who works primarily with LGBTQ material--which, as you know, Bob, does not get a lot of exposure or attention. I was deeply moved and hugely excited when I was asked to attend AetherFest and Anomaly Con, and said yes right away--long before I knew that I was going to be laid off and that my entire life would change in hours.
While having been able to pay for things in advance helped me out a lot and was a huge part of what save my 2012 con season, I also decided not to call all cons off because of one simple truth: SF/F/H and, more broadly, writing and editing are my profession. They are not a game for me, not a hobby, and certainly not a joke. And while I am enormously privileged to be able to attend cons, for me and for this stage in my career, they are part of that work--albeit a very fun part where I can also spend time with friends and colleagues and not have to worry about washing dishes. And there are several cons I can't attend this year that I would love to and had planned on. ArmadilloCon, for example, which I truly adore, and World Fantasy, as I just can't afford to travel out of the US right now. Readercon is looking highly unlikely, too. In fact, I'm only able to even go to World Horror because of a volunteer membership, my mother's house, and an early birthday gift. Basically, if I'm not a guest at it, can't stay with friends or family, or it's not within driving distance (as some Florida cons are), I'm not going to be there.
I hope that clears things up for when I talk about attending conventions.
I also hope that I'll see some of you in Denver, Salt Lake, San Antonio, and Madison before summer!
upstart_crow @ 2012-03-13T22:34:00
I get rudeness and cruelty. Most people do on some level, as they're part of being human. What I don't get is pettiness. And some people? Are so fucking petty, I swear to God.
And now that that's out of my system, let's have a real post!
And now that that's out of my system, let's have a real post!
February 24, 2012
At long last: updates!!!
A long overdue and very apologetic update on several projects. I'm really sorry for not doing this sooner. I've honestly been too overwhelmed with health concerns (including my first spell of severe, life-menacing depression in two years) and the vicissitudes of becoming a full-time freelancer to think straight for awhile, and unfortunately a lot of things suffered for it, including my anthologies. I feel absolutely terrible and embarrassed about this, and truth be told have probably avoided posting a bit sooner than today out of that embarrassment and anxiety. I promise, though, if my life hadn't been completely upended since...God, September when this all began, and several health problems not peppered me all at the same time (including a very expensive, very horrible broken tooth!), I would have been more on the ball.
Let's get going, then.
First! Femmes Fatales!
I'm working on edits for these and will have them to everyone who has been waiting in the next few weeks. Thank you all for being so patient through all of these disgusting delays. And again, if you've emailed and haven't heard from me, please nudge me. I think I've talked to everyone, but I may be wrong. I have been before.
I had intended to open submissions for this in January, but with so much going on this simply was not possible. I'll be open instead on March 15 and will remain open until June 15. Given how off this submission cycle has been, I'm leaving things open for three months this time instead of two to give you all more time, as well as to accommodate the still bumpy process of essentially being both self-employed and the breadwinner in my household at this time.
Here are the guidelines. Updated a little from last year, so please read over them even if you know them by heart :).
Steam-Powered 3: Further Lesbian Steampunk Stories is an anthology of steampunk stories that feature lesbian-identified protagonist and which strives to be inclusive of underrepresented (and often misrepresented!) identities in steampunk and lesbian fiction.
Although "steampunk" is a fairly broad genre, we are interested in the following:
* Stories set in the past and present as we know them, or in an alternate past or present, as well as a future in which 19th Century technology dominates.
* Stories that involve 19th Century steam technology or retro-future technology that does not involve steam. For example, if your story is set in the Gobi Desert, the lack of water may make this technology look different than it would in a society that has enough water for steam technology to be feasible. For a good idea of what I mean here, please read this essay by Steam-Powered 1 contributor Amal El-Mohtar: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/10/towards-a-steampunk-without-steam.
* Stories that explore and critique 19th and early 20th Century notions of colonialism, empire, race, sex and sexuality.
* The editor also has a strong preference for stories set outside Victorian England and the United States, stories that feature women of color protagonists, stories that feature protagonists from the lower or working class, stories with disabled protagonists (including those with cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses), and stories whose protagonists are not Christian. This is not to say that more 'typical' steampunk stories are unwelcome, just that they will be a harder sell.
* While Torquere Press publishes several romance and erotica titles, stories need not have romantic or erotic elements.
We are not interested in the following:
* Stories that exoticize, misrepresent or demonize lesbians, people of color, people with disabilities, or any culture or religion. (look up "cultural appropriation" for an idea of what we mean here).
* Stories with anti-lesbian clichés (such as the lesbian who would really enjoy heterosexual sex, if she met the right man)
* Stories with villains whose sole motivation for being bad is a mental illness or "being crazy."
* Poetry
* Fan fiction (stories featuring characters that are not copyrighted to the author)
As Steam-Powered is entering its third incarnation, we've seen a lot of stories set in a lot of places. However, some countries and regions have never appeared at all. Thus, I am particularly keen on seeing stories set in the following countries/regions/cultures.
1) Eastern and Central Europe. Seriously. We've had all of one submission ever set here.
2) Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, or Scandinavia. (I will seriously love you forever if you send me a story set in Italy--though by saying this I'm aware I may have just opened the floodgates lol)
3) Southern and Central Africa. Though I always want more stories about this continent!
4) Australia
5) Russia
6) Mexico
7) Canada
8) Anywhere in South America. I have one acceptance for SP3 set here, but I'd love more.
Of course, all regions are fine--specifically if they're not England--so please don't think I'm going to bounce your story if it isn't set in any of these places. I'm simply, again, offering up a few that I've seen little or nothing from and would like to see represented.
Submission Period: March 15 – June 15.
Word Count: 3,000 – 10,000 words (though shorter stories may be considered). **PLEASE query with your story idea first to save both you and the editor time.
Payment: $35 per story.
If your query is accepted, submit stories in .rtf or .doc format to JoSelle Vanderhooft at upstart.crow@gmail.com. Please title your submissions as [Author's Last Name]: Steam-Powered III Submission, and use standard manuscript format that includes your full name (and pen name if applicable), address, phone number and email.
Gay Ghosts!
If you haven't heard back from me about your query, you will by week's end. As I've only gotten a few stories so far, I may be looking for more in the very near future. Watch this space.
As for the anthology's name, I hope to hold the contest for it next month.
Let's get going, then.
First! Femmes Fatales!
I'm working on edits for these and will have them to everyone who has been waiting in the next few weeks. Thank you all for being so patient through all of these disgusting delays. And again, if you've emailed and haven't heard from me, please nudge me. I think I've talked to everyone, but I may be wrong. I have been before.
I had intended to open submissions for this in January, but with so much going on this simply was not possible. I'll be open instead on March 15 and will remain open until June 15. Given how off this submission cycle has been, I'm leaving things open for three months this time instead of two to give you all more time, as well as to accommodate the still bumpy process of essentially being both self-employed and the breadwinner in my household at this time.
Here are the guidelines. Updated a little from last year, so please read over them even if you know them by heart :).
Steam-Powered 3: Further Lesbian Steampunk Stories is an anthology of steampunk stories that feature lesbian-identified protagonist and which strives to be inclusive of underrepresented (and often misrepresented!) identities in steampunk and lesbian fiction.
Although "steampunk" is a fairly broad genre, we are interested in the following:
* Stories set in the past and present as we know them, or in an alternate past or present, as well as a future in which 19th Century technology dominates.
* Stories that involve 19th Century steam technology or retro-future technology that does not involve steam. For example, if your story is set in the Gobi Desert, the lack of water may make this technology look different than it would in a society that has enough water for steam technology to be feasible. For a good idea of what I mean here, please read this essay by Steam-Powered 1 contributor Amal El-Mohtar: http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/10/towards-a-steampunk-without-steam.
* Stories that explore and critique 19th and early 20th Century notions of colonialism, empire, race, sex and sexuality.
* The editor also has a strong preference for stories set outside Victorian England and the United States, stories that feature women of color protagonists, stories that feature protagonists from the lower or working class, stories with disabled protagonists (including those with cognitive disabilities and mental illnesses), and stories whose protagonists are not Christian. This is not to say that more 'typical' steampunk stories are unwelcome, just that they will be a harder sell.
* While Torquere Press publishes several romance and erotica titles, stories need not have romantic or erotic elements.
We are not interested in the following:
* Stories that exoticize, misrepresent or demonize lesbians, people of color, people with disabilities, or any culture or religion. (look up "cultural appropriation" for an idea of what we mean here).
* Stories with anti-lesbian clichés (such as the lesbian who would really enjoy heterosexual sex, if she met the right man)
* Stories with villains whose sole motivation for being bad is a mental illness or "being crazy."
* Poetry
* Fan fiction (stories featuring characters that are not copyrighted to the author)
As Steam-Powered is entering its third incarnation, we've seen a lot of stories set in a lot of places. However, some countries and regions have never appeared at all. Thus, I am particularly keen on seeing stories set in the following countries/regions/cultures.
1) Eastern and Central Europe. Seriously. We've had all of one submission ever set here.
2) Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, or Scandinavia. (I will seriously love you forever if you send me a story set in Italy--though by saying this I'm aware I may have just opened the floodgates lol)
3) Southern and Central Africa. Though I always want more stories about this continent!
4) Australia
5) Russia
6) Mexico
7) Canada
8) Anywhere in South America. I have one acceptance for SP3 set here, but I'd love more.
Of course, all regions are fine--specifically if they're not England--so please don't think I'm going to bounce your story if it isn't set in any of these places. I'm simply, again, offering up a few that I've seen little or nothing from and would like to see represented.
Submission Period: March 15 – June 15.
Word Count: 3,000 – 10,000 words (though shorter stories may be considered). **PLEASE query with your story idea first to save both you and the editor time.
Payment: $35 per story.
If your query is accepted, submit stories in .rtf or .doc format to JoSelle Vanderhooft at upstart.crow@gmail.com. Please title your submissions as [Author's Last Name]: Steam-Powered III Submission, and use standard manuscript format that includes your full name (and pen name if applicable), address, phone number and email.
Gay Ghosts!
If you haven't heard back from me about your query, you will by week's end. As I've only gotten a few stories so far, I may be looking for more in the very near future. Watch this space.
As for the anthology's name, I hope to hold the contest for it next month.
February 8, 2012
Still going.
Still fighting an uphill battle against finances, tooth pain, COBRA nonsense, depression, etc.
I'm sorry I'm still behind on my email. If you're expecting to hear from me and haven't and it's been more than a few days (or even, ulp, a few weeks :(), please email me again. I promise I'm not trying to ignore anyone. I'm just literally so drained and sick in every way imaginable that I'm missing things because I'm only able to function at half capacity right now. I promise you, you aren't bothering me or making things harder for me if you do. You're actually making things easier because then I know I've caught up with one more thing and have left one fewer person frustrated/wondering/worried/confused.
Again, I really apologize. This isn't my standard practice.
I'm sorry I'm still behind on my email. If you're expecting to hear from me and haven't and it's been more than a few days (or even, ulp, a few weeks :(), please email me again. I promise I'm not trying to ignore anyone. I'm just literally so drained and sick in every way imaginable that I'm missing things because I'm only able to function at half capacity right now. I promise you, you aren't bothering me or making things harder for me if you do. You're actually making things easier because then I know I've caught up with one more thing and have left one fewer person frustrated/wondering/worried/confused.
Again, I really apologize. This isn't my standard practice.
January 20, 2012
Technical difficulties
I know that I owe people emails and have for a few days up to a few weeks. I'm really sorry to be so behind. I've literally been pulling 18 hour days practically *every day* since Christmas Eve in order to get this freelance business up and running. And it's still not enough time. *sigh*
If you need me for anything or if I haven't replied to you yet, please try emailing me again. I'm really sorry to be so out of touch. I've literally never been so overwhelmed with work in my entire life.
If you need me for anything or if I haven't replied to you yet, please try emailing me again. I'm really sorry to be so out of touch. I've literally never been so overwhelmed with work in my entire life.
December 14, 2011
Writer's Block: B.Y.O.B. Holidays
What is on your holiday wish list this year?
One random answer will win a $50 Amazon gift card. [Details here]
Time off from constant work. I don't ask much. Just a few hours...
November 25, 2011
Nanowrimo Editing Deal
(LJ friends, please excuse the lack of preamble. I'm putting up this post for the sole purpose of having it linked around.)
I'm an editor and author with eight years of experience in publishing, who is offering a low-cost editing package to winners of Nanowrimo 2011 who want to take their novels towards a second draft, self-publication, or submission to a publisher or agent.
So, you've just won Nanowrimo. Congratulations! Now that your first draft is finished, you may be wondering what to do with your manuscript next. If you're serious about taking it further—whether this means to a second draft or, eventually, to an agent or publisher—you're going to need the help of an experienced editor to polish your ideas, straighten your plot, and snap your syntax into shape.
I've worked for eight years as an editor and writer in nearly all aspects of the publishing industry. While my work has included authors at all stages in their careers, new and first-time authors make up the biggest percentage of these. This is not entirely by accident. I love working with authors who are still new to the field, still finding their voice, and still figuring out what stories they want to tell. I love Nanowrimo because it encourages the experimentation, playfulness, and hard work that it takes to discover who you are as a writer and what you want to say.
Because I love Nanowrimo and support its goals and the communities and ambitions it fosters, I'm offering the following package to 2011 winners until February 15, 2012.
$2,500 for a full editorial consultation on your first draft*. This includes:
• Developmental edits. In-depth analysis of your first draft as it stands with an eye to creating a more polished second or third draft (depending on how fast you work and how complete your first manuscript is). This includes helping you iron out kinks in your plot or fill in holes that you just couldn't plug during November, fixing awkward sentence structure, finding where to place chapter breaks, and helping you apply any outline you've made to your book's next incarnation.
• Line edits. Less thorough editing for any parts of your book that feel more solid to you.
• Consultation. Five hours of consultation via telephone and email about your manuscript in which we can discuss any matter related to your novel that you like (not all at one go, however, though I am fine with hour-long phone sessions if you need them).
• Proofreading, if you want it at this stage. I am familiar with both Chicago and MLA style, and will use whichever you prefer.
* This is payable in installments of $250 over four months with a $250 downpayment. How you make the other 9 payments is up to you. You may choose, for example, to make one payment in the first month, two in the second month, and three payments each in months three and four. You can also pay the entire sum at once.
Although $2,500 may seem like a lot of money, this is really one of the best prices you'll get for the number and type of services I'm offering, the experience I have, and for the liberal payment plan I'm offering. Because this process is very time-consuming, and because I want to give every author who applies my full attention, I am only offering two slots at a time. When I am finished with one client, their slot will open up.
I am most familiar with the following genres: science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance (paranormal and contemporary in particular), and general fiction. However, I am well-read and enjoy a wide range of genres and subjects, and this is not a complete list. If you have any specific questions about whether your novel would be a good fit for me, please don't hesitate to email!
If you're serious about taking your novel to the next step and learning more about your creative strengths and weaknesses, shoot me an email at jo.vanderhooft@gmail.com.
Check out my LinkedIn profile for some recommendations writers have left me.
I'm an editor and author with eight years of experience in publishing, who is offering a low-cost editing package to winners of Nanowrimo 2011 who want to take their novels towards a second draft, self-publication, or submission to a publisher or agent.
So, you've just won Nanowrimo. Congratulations! Now that your first draft is finished, you may be wondering what to do with your manuscript next. If you're serious about taking it further—whether this means to a second draft or, eventually, to an agent or publisher—you're going to need the help of an experienced editor to polish your ideas, straighten your plot, and snap your syntax into shape.
I've worked for eight years as an editor and writer in nearly all aspects of the publishing industry. While my work has included authors at all stages in their careers, new and first-time authors make up the biggest percentage of these. This is not entirely by accident. I love working with authors who are still new to the field, still finding their voice, and still figuring out what stories they want to tell. I love Nanowrimo because it encourages the experimentation, playfulness, and hard work that it takes to discover who you are as a writer and what you want to say.
Because I love Nanowrimo and support its goals and the communities and ambitions it fosters, I'm offering the following package to 2011 winners until February 15, 2012.
$2,500 for a full editorial consultation on your first draft*. This includes:
• Developmental edits. In-depth analysis of your first draft as it stands with an eye to creating a more polished second or third draft (depending on how fast you work and how complete your first manuscript is). This includes helping you iron out kinks in your plot or fill in holes that you just couldn't plug during November, fixing awkward sentence structure, finding where to place chapter breaks, and helping you apply any outline you've made to your book's next incarnation.
• Line edits. Less thorough editing for any parts of your book that feel more solid to you.
• Consultation. Five hours of consultation via telephone and email about your manuscript in which we can discuss any matter related to your novel that you like (not all at one go, however, though I am fine with hour-long phone sessions if you need them).
• Proofreading, if you want it at this stage. I am familiar with both Chicago and MLA style, and will use whichever you prefer.
* This is payable in installments of $250 over four months with a $250 downpayment. How you make the other 9 payments is up to you. You may choose, for example, to make one payment in the first month, two in the second month, and three payments each in months three and four. You can also pay the entire sum at once.
Although $2,500 may seem like a lot of money, this is really one of the best prices you'll get for the number and type of services I'm offering, the experience I have, and for the liberal payment plan I'm offering. Because this process is very time-consuming, and because I want to give every author who applies my full attention, I am only offering two slots at a time. When I am finished with one client, their slot will open up.
I am most familiar with the following genres: science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance (paranormal and contemporary in particular), and general fiction. However, I am well-read and enjoy a wide range of genres and subjects, and this is not a complete list. If you have any specific questions about whether your novel would be a good fit for me, please don't hesitate to email!
If you're serious about taking your novel to the next step and learning more about your creative strengths and weaknesses, shoot me an email at jo.vanderhooft@gmail.com.
Check out my LinkedIn profile for some recommendations writers have left me.
November 23, 2011
Want a great Tarot reading for $10-$20? Read on!
My partner is working towards being a full-time Tarot reader and has just signed up with an online Tarot group. They approved her profile today, so she's ready for business and eager for emails. I promise you that she's excellent (she reads for me and for our friends regularly), intuitive, compassionate, and really good at listening. Also, the service she is using is not a scam. We have both investigated it thoroughly, and a few professional readers in South Florida have advised her to set up a profile here.
If you'd like to help her out, please read on. As we both are facing under- and unemployment right now, we can use the money and, if you don't want a reading now or can't afford one now, we could use the linking, reblogging, and retweeting.
Here's what my partner, Kim, says about her service:
I've been accepted into a Tarot e-mail reading program, where I can hone my skills for some pay. I can answer 1-3 questions, with my prices ranging from $9.95 to $19.95 depending on how much, and I promise to give you guys a clear, concise write-up of your reading (including what cards you get and exactly what they mean) of 500 words or more. It would be amazing if any of you put in for a reading (I believe you do have to be 18) and then left me some feedback on my page.
I'm a very good intuitive reader who gives honest, down-to-earth advice based on what I'm seeing, will explain it clearly, and won't make stuff up just to get people to leave happy. The best Tarot readers are counselors as well, and that's what I'm trying for, so I'll give advice to go along with what I'm seeing if it's needed.
I'm working through a program called Keen, so I know signing up for a for-pay site might make you nervous, but I signed up as a member before I applied as a reader and they really don't spam you or force you to buy anything. They're a reliable company and they've been around over a decade. In fact, they credit you with 3 free minutes for any of the pay-per-minute phone psychics (although I've never done a per-minute reading so I'm not sure how much that gets you), and even if you do nothing but sign up, if you put Lady Indigo as your referral I get money as well.
Here's the link again if you need it!
Thank you from both of us!
If you'd like to help her out, please read on. As we both are facing under- and unemployment right now, we can use the money and, if you don't want a reading now or can't afford one now, we could use the linking, reblogging, and retweeting.
Here's what my partner, Kim, says about her service:
I've been accepted into a Tarot e-mail reading program, where I can hone my skills for some pay. I can answer 1-3 questions, with my prices ranging from $9.95 to $19.95 depending on how much, and I promise to give you guys a clear, concise write-up of your reading (including what cards you get and exactly what they mean) of 500 words or more. It would be amazing if any of you put in for a reading (I believe you do have to be 18) and then left me some feedback on my page.
I'm a very good intuitive reader who gives honest, down-to-earth advice based on what I'm seeing, will explain it clearly, and won't make stuff up just to get people to leave happy. The best Tarot readers are counselors as well, and that's what I'm trying for, so I'll give advice to go along with what I'm seeing if it's needed.
I'm working through a program called Keen, so I know signing up for a for-pay site might make you nervous, but I signed up as a member before I applied as a reader and they really don't spam you or force you to buy anything. They're a reliable company and they've been around over a decade. In fact, they credit you with 3 free minutes for any of the pay-per-minute phone psychics (although I've never done a per-minute reading so I'm not sure how much that gets you), and even if you do nothing but sign up, if you put Lady Indigo as your referral I get money as well.
Here's the link again if you need it!
Thank you from both of us!
