David Anthony Durham's Blog, page 16
August 5, 2012
Liternational Contest
Hey, so a weird thing happened. This online magazine, Liternational, asked me if I would be a judge for their fiction contest. I looked them over, corresponded for a bit, and said yes. It's a very new mag, but they look serious and ambitious. I like that.
Weird thing is that once I was on board they asked if they could name the contest after me. That gave me pause. Like... really? You know I'm not dead, right?
I was worried that it would presumptuous of me to accept such an honor, but they talked me into it. There's another judge on the nonfiction side of things, Kristen Iverson, so I'm not alone.
Anyway, if you've got some fiction you'd like to toss into the mix please do. Deadline is soon. I think they're quite open in terms of genre, from literary to work that's in other genres. In fact, I know that they began thinking they'd be mainly literary, but then found that some of the best stuff people were submitting was sff! Go figure. ;)
Sounds like they have a lot of submissions, too, so it's the real deal. No submission fees or any crap like that. So... what's the worst that could happen?
Well, you could win, I guess, and then have my name attached to yours forever! (Picture me cackling.) Details are HERE.
Weird thing is that once I was on board they asked if they could name the contest after me. That gave me pause. Like... really? You know I'm not dead, right?
I was worried that it would presumptuous of me to accept such an honor, but they talked me into it. There's another judge on the nonfiction side of things, Kristen Iverson, so I'm not alone.
Anyway, if you've got some fiction you'd like to toss into the mix please do. Deadline is soon. I think they're quite open in terms of genre, from literary to work that's in other genres. In fact, I know that they began thinking they'd be mainly literary, but then found that some of the best stuff people were submitting was sff! Go figure. ;)
Sounds like they have a lot of submissions, too, so it's the real deal. No submission fees or any crap like that. So... what's the worst that could happen?
Well, you could win, I guess, and then have my name attached to yours forever! (Picture me cackling.) Details are HERE.
July 31, 2012
Wolkenvolk-Trilogie
So here's my daughter, Maya's, latest visual offering, inspired by Kai Meyer's Wolkenvolk-Trilogie:
Pretty cool, huh? I'd love to read these books! We can't, though, as they're not in English - and that's a limitation for us, sadly. Kai sent us the comics, though, so the kids enjoyed taking a visual journey through the story.
Really wish these novels were published in the US...
Pretty cool, huh? I'd love to read these books! We can't, though, as they're not in English - and that's a limitation for us, sadly. Kai sent us the comics, though, so the kids enjoyed taking a visual journey through the story.Really wish these novels were published in the US...
July 30, 2012
Readercon: The Bad and the Ugly
That title comes from a post by Genevieve Valentine. Have you heard about this? It's one of those stories that's ripping around sff fandom at the moment.
I love Readercon. Every time I miss one (which I've had to do several times the last few years) I'm bummed. But they're not perfect...
The issue Genevieve is writing about is sexual harassment. I know Genevieve. She's very cool, and I've no doubt about taking her word on this. If she says this guy was crossing the line, again and again, then I'm sure he was. I don't know what the appropriate actions are in response. (I mean, I don't know the Con's actions necessarily should be. My own actions, had I been there... those I can well imagine. Anyway...)
It does seem to me to be a problem when the conference has a stated policy of zero tolerance for harassment, when they've banned people for life in the past, but then... in the case of an influential member of the community they veer from their own policy to give a much lighter response.
I'm no expert on any of this. I wasn't there. If you're interested, google the topic. There are plenty of people writing intelligently about this. Or go to Genevieve herself. She has three post about it:
The initial one.
A follow up.
And a final one after the conference committee took action. (Kind of.)
I love Readercon. Every time I miss one (which I've had to do several times the last few years) I'm bummed. But they're not perfect...
The issue Genevieve is writing about is sexual harassment. I know Genevieve. She's very cool, and I've no doubt about taking her word on this. If she says this guy was crossing the line, again and again, then I'm sure he was. I don't know what the appropriate actions are in response. (I mean, I don't know the Con's actions necessarily should be. My own actions, had I been there... those I can well imagine. Anyway...)It does seem to me to be a problem when the conference has a stated policy of zero tolerance for harassment, when they've banned people for life in the past, but then... in the case of an influential member of the community they veer from their own policy to give a much lighter response.
I'm no expert on any of this. I wasn't there. If you're interested, google the topic. There are plenty of people writing intelligently about this. Or go to Genevieve herself. She has three post about it:
The initial one.
A follow up.
And a final one after the conference committee took action. (Kind of.)
July 25, 2012
Clarion West 2013
The line up of instructors at Clarion West for 2013 just got announced. It's a doozy:
Elizabeth Hand, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Justina Robson, Ellen Datlow, Samuel Delany.
Wow. That's a line up. Neil would skew things all by himself, but the entire list is super human.
Apply in December!
Also, please note that Clarion's Write-a-Thon is in it's final weeks. Take a look HERE and please support this stellar program!
Elizabeth Hand, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Justina Robson, Ellen Datlow, Samuel Delany.
Wow. That's a line up. Neil would skew things all by himself, but the entire list is super human. Apply in December!
Also, please note that Clarion's Write-a-Thon is in it's final weeks. Take a look HERE and please support this stellar program!
July 19, 2012
Update
Hiya. I've been quiet for a while. That's mostly because I've been intensely busy. Just got back from the Stonecoast MFA's summer residency. It was great fun, as always. Jeff VanderMeer was one of our visitors, which was very cool. Very pleased with the quality of the new round of students. And sad to see the graduating students go...
I think I'm recovered now, and counting down the days until August 1st - when we'll get back into our actual house! The red shack has been great, but there's no place like home.
I'm sitting on a couple of pieces of news, things I can't quite announce yet but hopefully will be able to soon. I'll post here as soon as I can.
Glimpse of the cover, by Todd Lockwood.One thing I can mention is that Shawn Speakman has enthusiastically accepted my short story contribution to his anthology, Unfettered. It's a story called, "All the Girls Love Michael Stein". If you ever read it, you'll find it something of a departure for me. It's about a newly deceased cat that sets out to help the grieving girl he loves. Go figure. In addition to writing it for Shawn's anthology, I gave it to my daughter on her thirteenth birthday. So, it's very much for her as well.
That's it for now. More soon!
I think I'm recovered now, and counting down the days until August 1st - when we'll get back into our actual house! The red shack has been great, but there's no place like home.
I'm sitting on a couple of pieces of news, things I can't quite announce yet but hopefully will be able to soon. I'll post here as soon as I can.
Glimpse of the cover, by Todd Lockwood.One thing I can mention is that Shawn Speakman has enthusiastically accepted my short story contribution to his anthology, Unfettered. It's a story called, "All the Girls Love Michael Stein". If you ever read it, you'll find it something of a departure for me. It's about a newly deceased cat that sets out to help the grieving girl he loves. Go figure. In addition to writing it for Shawn's anthology, I gave it to my daughter on her thirteenth birthday. So, it's very much for her as well.That's it for now. More soon!
June 27, 2012
Dick Hill Interview
The Guilded Earlobe has a nice interview up with Dick Hill, the wonderful audiobook narrator. He's put his talents to good use four times for me - with the Acacia Trilogy and with Pride of Carthage.
You can check out the interview HERE.
You can check out the interview HERE.
June 19, 2012
Clarion Write-a-Thon
Aspiring science fiction and fantasy writers? Any of you out there?
If so, you might want to check out The Clarion Foundation's annual Write-a-thon, a way to get some writing done, get connected to other writers and to do a bit of good. A quick description:
What is a write-a-thon, anyway? It’s just like a walk-a-thon. But instead of walking, we’re writing, and instead of making pledges per mile, we’re making pledges per word, chapter, or story. Writers get support, encouragement and motivation, and the option of joining a team with a writing mentor! Those who care about the writers in their life get a way to show their support. And money is raised for a literally fantastic cause — the Clarion Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers’ Workshop. All donations are made through The Clarion Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN #20-3114945.
The sign up page is HERE.
If so, you might want to check out The Clarion Foundation's annual Write-a-thon, a way to get some writing done, get connected to other writers and to do a bit of good. A quick description:
What is a write-a-thon, anyway? It’s just like a walk-a-thon. But instead of walking, we’re writing, and instead of making pledges per mile, we’re making pledges per word, chapter, or story. Writers get support, encouragement and motivation, and the option of joining a team with a writing mentor! Those who care about the writers in their life get a way to show their support. And money is raised for a literally fantastic cause — the Clarion Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers’ Workshop. All donations are made through The Clarion Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, EIN #20-3114945.
The sign up page is HERE.
June 18, 2012
Cool... I just noticed that Nancy Pearl - the queen ...
Cool...
I just noticed that Nancy Pearl - the queen of America's librarians (and a bestselling author) - has blogged a short list of books that she hopes librarians recommend this summer. In particular, she's offer a list of titles that AREN'T new, so that readers can discover some books they might've missed.
Nice idea. It got even nicer when I looked at the list!
You can check it out HERE.
I just noticed that Nancy Pearl - the queen of America's librarians (and a bestselling author) - has blogged a short list of books that she hopes librarians recommend this summer. In particular, she's offer a list of titles that AREN'T new, so that readers can discover some books they might've missed.
Nice idea. It got even nicer when I looked at the list!
You can check it out HERE.
June 16, 2012
Summer in the Red Shack
Can I just mention that today looks to be a perfect summer day here in Western Massachusetts?Low 80's. Low humidity. Sun all day. We've got friends coming over, and it's to be a day of swimming, kayaking, lounging about, snacking on early summer veg and maybe a little something on the grill.
G&T's will probably get in there somewhere.
Should be a very good day.
This photo is the view from the one room shack/cottage we're staying in at the moment. If you're at all interested, you could visit my wife's site - The Shetland Trader - where she's just put up a few more photos of our current abode.
June 12, 2012
Staffer's Book Review
I love series reviews. Great to have an entire sequence of books discussed as a whole. I'm very pleased with a new review of the Acacia Trilogy, just up at Staffer's Book Review.
Among other things, the reviewer - Justin - writes that the series:
"...rekindled in me a love of fantasy and for that it will always hold a place in my pantheon. More importantly though, it's a series I'll pass it on to my children for the honesty that David Anthony Durham brings to the Known World."
Wonderful to hear that. You can read the whole thing HERE.
Among other things, the reviewer - Justin - writes that the series:
"...rekindled in me a love of fantasy and for that it will always hold a place in my pantheon. More importantly though, it's a series I'll pass it on to my children for the honesty that David Anthony Durham brings to the Known World."
Wonderful to hear that. You can read the whole thing HERE.
