Helen Lowe's Blog, page 147
June 21, 2015
I-i-i-t’s Copyedit Time!
Two PC power — it is indeed copyedit time!*
Yup, the copyedit for Daughter of Blood has arrived in my intray with an almighty ker-thump!
And yes, them’s the actual facts, folks, even if it is my electronic intray. I was awa’ when it arrived and still heard the e-kerthump from a considerable distance.
I was quite optimistic that this copyedit would be straightforward since I sneaked in an extry read-through/edit in the first quarter of the year — when no one was looking, of course!
But alas, I...
June 20, 2015
Just Arrived: “Havoc” by Jane Higgins
This is a book I have been looking forward to for quite some time — the sequel to Jane Higgins’ award-winning debut, The Bridge.
In fact it was way awa’ back in 2012 when I reported that:
“…I have still managed to read and thoroughly enjoy Jane Higgins’ The Bridge , which is future dystopian SFF for YA readers—although I feel it will appeal to discerning readers of all ages.
And I’m not the only person who thinks it’s a great read: The Bridge won the Text Prize in 2011 and is currently shortli...
June 19, 2015
Fun With Friends — More Pics From Last Saturday’s Event
Sir Julius Vogel Awards on display; Photo, Wei Li
Last Saturday, the Christchurch writing and reading community came together to celebrate our Sir Julius Vogel Award finalists and winners.
I posted my keynote speech on Sunday, and an initial write up, with photos, on Monday.
I also posted the two Award winners’ speeches, Rebecca Fisher for Best Fan Writer, and A.J. Fitzwater for Best New Talent, during the course of the week.
Keynote speech, with Sir Julius Vogel Award-ers; Photo Wei Li
And b...
June 18, 2015
It’s All Happening In Christchurch: “Flash In The Pan” — A National Flash Fiction Day Event
The events are rolling in Christchurch right now — and next off the blocks is Flash In The Pan, a celebration of National Flash Fiction Day on Monday 22nd June.
As you can see from the poster, there’s a whole heap of happenings scheduled during the course of the evening.
One of the much anticipated highlights is the announcement of the winner and place-getters in this year’s National Flash Fiction competition. The announcement will be made by one of this year’s two judges, celebrated short fi...
June 17, 2015
Celebrating Christchurch’s Sir Julius Vogel Award Success: A.J. Fitzwater, Best New Talent
Amanda on the podium; photo Wei Li
Yesterday, I posted Rebecca Fisher’s speech from Saturday’s event to celebrate Christchurch’s Sir Julius Vogel Award finalists and winners.
Today I’d like to share A.J. (Amanda) Fitzwater’s speech, speaking to her award for Best New Talent.
Amanda may also be cross-posting on her blog today, so I hope you’ll head on over and check out “her place” and her work.
—
A. J. (Amanda) Fitzwater: Best New Talent (2014)“Best NEW talent is a very odd thing to wrap my...
June 16, 2015
Celebrating Christchurch’s Sir Julius Vogel Award Success: Rebecca Fisher, Best Fan Writer
Rebecca delivering her speech; Photo, P Fitzpatrick
Rebecca is taking a short midwinter recess from Big Worlds On Small Screens, but —
Of course, she was one of our “gallery of stars” at the event on Saturday to celebrate Christchurch’s Sir Julius Vogel Award finalists and winners.
So today seemed the perfect opportunity to feature her speech from the Saturday event, a witty and entertaining insight into her experience of fandom and fan writing.
I hope you may enjoy it as much as we did on Sa...
June 15, 2015
The Tuesday Poem: Refeaturing Frankie McMillan — “Out of the blue”
Out of the blue
On a morning when I stare
at small things
like the curve of a spoon
or light on a white rimmed plate
you ring, breathless
with talk of wild pigs,
how they swept down
from the Aorere Hills
on a moonlit night
to ravage your garden –
the winter cabbages
pale roots upended
like ghostly masts.
Once our mother buried
broken china in the ground
blue willow blue willow
now you pick shards from the mud
the lovers, you say, still wave
from the arching bridge.
.
Frankie McMillan
from Dr...
June 14, 2015
Event Fun: We Celebrate Our Christchurch Sir Julius Vogel Award Finalists & Winners
Beaulah Pragg greets a full audience
On Saturday afternoon, the Christchurch writing and reading community turned out in numbers for an event, jointly hosted by SpecFicNZ and Fendalton Library, to celebrate our Sir Julius Vogel Award finalists and winners.
The event was very ably compered by Beaulah Pragg of SpecFicNZ, who also works at Fendalton library.
A SpecFic thumbs-up from Beaulah
And also included a wonderful display focusing on the finalists and winners that was curated by graphic de...
June 13, 2015
Celebrating Christchurch’s Sir Julius Vogel Award Winners: My Keynote Address
Yesterday, I was honoured to deliver the keynote address at an event celebrating Christchurch’s Sir Julius Vogel Award Winners.
I’ll be reporting more fully on the event tomorrow, but for now, I’ll share the address:
.
“I am delighted and honoured to be part of today’s event – for several reasons. The first is that I believe taking time to appreciate what we do, in this case writing and books, and achievement in what we do, is really important. It is about affirming, not only that creativity...
June 12, 2015
Fantasy Heroines That Rock My World” On SF Signal: # 5, Pania Of The Reef
My guest series on “Fantasy Heroines That Rock My World” on SF Signal posted again this week—and this time the featured heroine is Pania of the Reef from Tina Makereti’s short story, Shapeshifter.
It’s a hat-trick really: a genuine Kiwi heroine from one fair dunkum Kiwi author, featured by another. 
Anyway, I love Pania and Shapeshifter, so I hope you’ll take a little time to read the post and find out why:
Helen Lowe On Fantasy Heroines That Rock Her World: Pania Of The Reef from Tina Makere...
