David Anthony Durham's Blog, page 20
March 6, 2012
Zombie Academy
My daughter, Maya, recently had a school project that involved coming up with a story board for a short film. It was supposed to be something that all the students in her class could be in.
After a little back and forth, we came up with a zombie story. Maya put her artistic skills to work, and before long she had what I think is a tight little film sketched out.
Now, the idea was that all the students would show their story boards, and then they'd vote on the one they wanted to actually film. Problem is that Maya finished hers on time. Others took a few extra weeks. And then today, when it was time to show the story boards, Maya couldn't find hers.
Typical.
She had to describe it instead. Needless to say, that put her project at a disadvantage. A different one got chosen for filming.
Frustrated and yet proud parent that I am, I'd like to offer her story here, for your consideration. It's called Zomberfeldy Academy.
Take a look, and let me know what you think!
First Day At School
Strangely Empty Hallways
Mr. Grave's Classroom
Her first view of her Classmates
When they turn around...
Fear!
She bolts out of there.
Heads for the loo.
Contemplates her options.
Gets light bulb.
Film and music montage.
Her triumphant return to the classroom.
After a little back and forth, we came up with a zombie story. Maya put her artistic skills to work, and before long she had what I think is a tight little film sketched out.
Now, the idea was that all the students would show their story boards, and then they'd vote on the one they wanted to actually film. Problem is that Maya finished hers on time. Others took a few extra weeks. And then today, when it was time to show the story boards, Maya couldn't find hers.
Typical.
She had to describe it instead. Needless to say, that put her project at a disadvantage. A different one got chosen for filming.
Frustrated and yet proud parent that I am, I'd like to offer her story here, for your consideration. It's called Zomberfeldy Academy.
Take a look, and let me know what you think!
First Day At SchoolStrangely Empty HallwaysMr. Grave's Classroom
Her first view of her Classmates
When they turn around...Fear!
She bolts out of there.Heads for the loo.Contemplates her options.Gets light bulb.Film and music montage.Her triumphant return to the classroom.
March 5, 2012
Imaginales 2012
Bienvenue aux Imaginales, avec l'affiche de Christophe Vacher!I've known this for a few months now, but I can finally say it publicly: I'm going to France again for the Imaginales fantasy conference! This is major awesomeness. It's a great event that takes place in the lovely city of Epinal in northeastern France. In a way, the conference takes over the town, with attendees walking out along the lovely lanes, going to great restaurants, just generally enjoying things French. And books! And writers! And readers!
And lovely people wearing full body paint... It is France, after all.
HERE's a list of this year's invitees.
Other than my humble self, the US will represented by Mercedes Lackey, Naomi Novik, Brent Weeks, Jaye Wells and MaryJanice Davidson.
I know a lot of French writers from my last trip there, and I very much look forward to reconnecting with them. And I'm thrilled to finally get to me the German writer Kai Meyer. My whole family are fans of his. We read his Wave Walkers
and Dark Reflections books for younger readers, but Kai has written many books for adults too. He's sold like a million and a half copies just in Germany, with lots more in translation all over the world. The best part about all this is that we've been internet friends for some time now! It'll be great to finally meet him in person.Considering that - and that I'll be hanging out with Naomi Novik - my kids are seriously jealous!
I'm so grateful to my publisher, Le Pre aux Clercs, and the festival and the town of Epinal for bringing me back. It will be fabulous. I've no doubt about that whatsoever.
March 4, 2012
A Trio of Reviews
Last week Jessica Nani of ScienceFiction.com wrote a very nice review of Acacia: The War with the Mein. She promised to continue with the other two books of the trilogy. And she has!
Her review of The Other Lands is HERE.
And her conclusion with The Sacred Band is HERE.
It's quite a treat to see all three books reviewed in short order - as a package!
Her review of The Other Lands is HERE.
And her conclusion with The Sacred Band is HERE.
It's quite a treat to see all three books reviewed in short order - as a package!
March 3, 2012
Artic Rising!
How about this for an awesome thing? Alan Cheuse reviewing the hell out Tobias Buckell's new thriller, Arctic Rising. Love this.Toby's not only a terrific writer, he's a friend. It pleases me greatly to have him get this sort of recognition.
Alan has reviewed me a couple of times before, but that was for my literary/historical novels. Toby is breaking into new territory for sf work. Congrats to him!
Have a listen:
How about this for an awesome thing? Alan Cheuse reviewin...
How about this for an awesome thing? Alan Cheuse reviewing the hell out Tobias Buckell's new thriller, Arctic Rising. Love this.Toby's not only a terrific writer, he's a friend. It pleases me greatly to have him get this sort of recognition.
Alan has reviewed me a couple of times before, but that was for my literary/historical novels. Toby is breaking into new territory for sf work. Congrats to him!
Have a listen:
March 2, 2012
Give Us A Look
A few weeks ago, a former student of mine wrote asking me about a particular low-residency MFA program. It was a different one than the one I teach at. She was particularly interested in the genre fiction possibilities, as she writes in the paranormal arena.
In responding to her, I mostly ended up talking about my program. I didn't mean to make it a hard sell, but I honestly believed the stuff I wrote. Makes me feel like saying it publicly, to. So that's what I'm doing.
Here's what I wrote:
Hi S,
Let me begin by saying I've nothing against the program you're interested in. I don't know that much about it, except that it exists and does popular fiction. I do know a bit about low-residency programs, though, and I think they can be really great for professional writers. I'm a bit advocate for them.
That said, I have a vested interest in another low-residency program. Do you know of the Stonecoast MFA Program? It's a based in Maine. I teach there. Have for the last seven years or so. I was more part-time with them when I was at Fresno State, but I'm back full time now and loving it. The program has a VERY strong popular fiction concentration. It's grown like crazy over the last few years.
Our faculty is terrific. Award winning, actively publishing authors. Since it's SFF that you're interested in, I'll mention that we have James Patrick Kelly (multiple Hugo and Nebula winner) and Elizabeth Hand (multiple award winner and this year's main guest of honor at the World Fantasy Convention and Nancy Holder (who writes horror, YA romance and lots of things in the Buffy universe). Catherynne Valente currently mentors some students too. We've also got other faculty working in other genres!
We're having the paranormal romance writer XX (X's added because I'm not sure if I can ID her yet) visit this summer, and we've had the likes of Nalo Hopkinson and Jeffrey Ford visit recently. Our students are terrific, many of them actively publishing in their genres - or preparing to.
Last year, we ranked eight in Poet&Writers rankings of Low-Residency MFA programs. Most of those programs don't even accept genre fiction. I've no doubt at all that Stonecoast is number #1 for popular fiction.
What else? Um... Our residencies happen on the rocky coast of Maine. Everyday we're in a historic building, the Stonehouse, with views of the ocean. Our winter accommodation is in an awesome, rambling historic inn - the Harraseeket Inn. In the summer we stay at Bowdoin college's campus. Not quite as nice, but we may soon move the summer residencies to an inn as well.
Yeah, I'm very enthusiastic about the program. It's the most honest, useful, supportive and welcoming graduate program I've ever been a part of. (Fresno is high on my list of welcoming programs too, but Stonecoast, for me, exercises both my literary and my popfic inclinations - and that's hard to beat.)
So, if you're looking at low-residency MFA's... do give us a look!
In responding to her, I mostly ended up talking about my program. I didn't mean to make it a hard sell, but I honestly believed the stuff I wrote. Makes me feel like saying it publicly, to. So that's what I'm doing.
Here's what I wrote:
Hi S,
Let me begin by saying I've nothing against the program you're interested in. I don't know that much about it, except that it exists and does popular fiction. I do know a bit about low-residency programs, though, and I think they can be really great for professional writers. I'm a bit advocate for them.
That said, I have a vested interest in another low-residency program. Do you know of the Stonecoast MFA Program? It's a based in Maine. I teach there. Have for the last seven years or so. I was more part-time with them when I was at Fresno State, but I'm back full time now and loving it. The program has a VERY strong popular fiction concentration. It's grown like crazy over the last few years.Our faculty is terrific. Award winning, actively publishing authors. Since it's SFF that you're interested in, I'll mention that we have James Patrick Kelly (multiple Hugo and Nebula winner) and Elizabeth Hand (multiple award winner and this year's main guest of honor at the World Fantasy Convention and Nancy Holder (who writes horror, YA romance and lots of things in the Buffy universe). Catherynne Valente currently mentors some students too. We've also got other faculty working in other genres!
We're having the paranormal romance writer XX (X's added because I'm not sure if I can ID her yet) visit this summer, and we've had the likes of Nalo Hopkinson and Jeffrey Ford visit recently. Our students are terrific, many of them actively publishing in their genres - or preparing to.
Last year, we ranked eight in Poet&Writers rankings of Low-Residency MFA programs. Most of those programs don't even accept genre fiction. I've no doubt at all that Stonecoast is number #1 for popular fiction.
What else? Um... Our residencies happen on the rocky coast of Maine. Everyday we're in a historic building, the Stonehouse, with views of the ocean. Our winter accommodation is in an awesome, rambling historic inn - the Harraseeket Inn. In the summer we stay at Bowdoin college's campus. Not quite as nice, but we may soon move the summer residencies to an inn as well.
Yeah, I'm very enthusiastic about the program. It's the most honest, useful, supportive and welcoming graduate program I've ever been a part of. (Fresno is high on my list of welcoming programs too, but Stonecoast, for me, exercises both my literary and my popfic inclinations - and that's hard to beat.)
So, if you're looking at low-residency MFA's... do give us a look!
February 29, 2012
Innovation Starvation?
I came across an interesting article by the novelist Neal Stephenson today. It's on the World Policy Institute's Website.
In arguing that modern culture is failing to innovate big scientific ideas for the future, Stephenson considers the role that science fiction writers might play in encouraging scientific advancement.
For example, he mentions two ways the SF writers may have influence:
"1. The Inspiration Theory. SF inspires people to choose science and engineering as careers. This much is undoubtedly true, and somewhat obvious.
2. The Hieroglyph Theory. Good SF supplies a plausible, fully thought-out picture of an alternate reality in which some sort of compelling innovation has taken place. A good SF universe has a coherence and internal logic that makes sense to scientists and engineers."
He makes some interesting points. Leaves me hankering for a big, hopeful, bold novel of a future that we can aspired to. I like dystopian fiction as much as anyone, but... it might be nice to find a way to feel positive about a possible future - and challenged to achieve it.
You can read Stepheson's piece HERE.
In arguing that modern culture is failing to innovate big scientific ideas for the future, Stephenson considers the role that science fiction writers might play in encouraging scientific advancement.For example, he mentions two ways the SF writers may have influence:
"1. The Inspiration Theory. SF inspires people to choose science and engineering as careers. This much is undoubtedly true, and somewhat obvious.
2. The Hieroglyph Theory. Good SF supplies a plausible, fully thought-out picture of an alternate reality in which some sort of compelling innovation has taken place. A good SF universe has a coherence and internal logic that makes sense to scientists and engineers."
He makes some interesting points. Leaves me hankering for a big, hopeful, bold novel of a future that we can aspired to. I like dystopian fiction as much as anyone, but... it might be nice to find a way to feel positive about a possible future - and challenged to achieve it.
You can read Stepheson's piece HERE.
February 28, 2012
ScienceFiction.com
There's a nice review by Jessica Nani up at ScienceFiction.com. It's her take on Acacia: The War with the Mein, and it's a positive one!
Even better, it looks like they'll be reviewing the next two books in the series soon. Here's hoping they continue to like it!
You can read the review HERE.
Oh, and another thing that's cool is there's an ad up for The Sacred Band on the site. Looks like Anchor is shelling out a little cash for promotion. Lovely.
Even better, it looks like they'll be reviewing the next two books in the series soon. Here's hoping they continue to like it!
You can read the review HERE.
Oh, and another thing that's cool is there's an ad up for The Sacred Band on the site. Looks like Anchor is shelling out a little cash for promotion. Lovely.
February 24, 2012
On Meeting George
Hiya. My offering for today is from a short piece I wrote at my paperback publisher's request. They want a little essay from me to include in promotion material for The Sacred Band, preferably something light and humorous - if I had that in me.
Since I was riding high on getting that great blurb from George RR Martin at the time, I decided to write about my recollection of the first time I met him. That's what I did.
I just noticed that it's up on the Random House Website now. If you're interested, you can read it HERE.
Since I was riding high on getting that great blurb from George RR Martin at the time, I decided to write about my recollection of the first time I met him. That's what I did.
I just noticed that it's up on the Random House Website now. If you're interested, you can read it HERE.
February 23, 2012
Acácia - The T-Shirt!
I don't usually feel inclined to inflict photos of myself on the general public, but I'll have to this time.
My Portuguese publisher, Saida de Emergencia, has come through as promised. I recently received this:
Consider me pleased enough to pose for a photo and grin goofily...
My Portuguese publisher, Saida de Emergencia, has come through as promised. I recently received this:
Consider me pleased enough to pose for a photo and grin goofily...
