Jason Fischer's Blog, page 11
June 13, 2013
Appearance: Writers’ Forum, Salisbury Writers Festival
Coming up soon is the Salisbury Writers Festival. They always put on a great show with lots of contests, seminars, and workshops. Some years back I won their 3 Day Novel Race, which was great fun to enter. This year it’s my great pleasure to be appearing on the following panel during their Writers Forum day:
12:50pm PANEL OF WRITERS: Speculative Fiction Unleashed
John Harvey Gallery
Three award winning speculative fiction writers will share stories about how their careers developed, the successes and the difficulties, dealing with publishers, finding markets, the opportunities, the advantages and the challenges of writing speculative fiction in South Australia.
Sean Williams
Tony Shillitoe
Jason Fischer
More details on the following link. There’s a tonne of great stuff happening on the day, so why not come along? They’ve done a great job with this program lineup, so you’ll definitely get value from the day.
http://www.salisbury.sa.gov.au/Our_City/Arts_and_Culture/Salisbury_Writers_Festival/Writers_Forum
June 9, 2013
New story goes live: “Art, Ink” by Jason Fischer and Martin Livings
Hey folks!
Way back in 2004, I was lucky enough to have my first short story published by Antipodean SF. I’ve always been grateful to Ion Newcombe and AntiSF for that opportunity, and for the crazy ride that has followed since. So it’s an absolute pleasure to see one of my new collaborations grace its electronic pages. I’ve teamed up with the talented Martin Livings (also an AntiSF alumni) and the result was “Art, Ink.”
Editor Ion Newcombe says “One of the best things about having edited AntiSF for such a long time is seeing authors travel on to bigger and better things. This month, two regular contributors (especially in times past) have collaborated to create a special story exclusively for publication at AntiSF — and they have done this just “for the love” of AntiSF.
Thanks Jason and Martin. Each of you has amassed an impressive list of publication credits, and I really appreciate you coming back home to make such a fine contribution to this ongoing project that is AntipodeanSF.”
You can read the story via this website: http://www.antisf.com.au/
June 3, 2013
Upcoming Book Signings
Hey folks, hope you are all well. Life has been a bit crazy at Fisch Enterprises, so apologies for the paucity of updates on this site! Work, life, all that fun stuff 
The writing is coming along in steady amounts – things are about to kick off on several fronts so easing into what will be a hectic workload for the rest of the year.
During the July school holidays, I’ll be doing some booksignings of “Quiver” during the school holidays (details below). Collins Booksellers have also added me to their roster for National Bookshop Day, with a bunch of local authors including Hannah Kent, Melanie Casey, Kathryn White, Janeen Brian, Katrina Germein, Peter Cooper, Ben Chandler and Jackie Barreau. Promises to be a good day so why not check it out?
School Holidays:
Collins Booksellers Edwardstown – Friday July 12, 1pm
Dymocks Adelaide – Saturday July 13, 11am
National Bookshop Day:
Collins Booksellers Edwardstown – Saturday August 10th, 11am
May 9, 2013
Viral Returns!
You might remember some time ago, I did a spot of co-writing with prolific author Steven Savile. The project was VIRAL, a series of military thriller novellas. Others working on this project included Keith R DeCandido, Jordan Ellinger and Alex Black.
Well, the whole project has been given a facelift. We’ve got new cover-art (above) and Steve has massaged the text into a true novel, with a new beginning and conclusion for those who might have read the individual volumes.
VIRAL tells the story of a new kind of war, where public health meets the war on terror. From the refugee camps of Kenya to the streets of New York, shadowy forces push the world to the brink of doom. Told from the point of view of a journalist, an epidemiologist, a CIA operative and a local doctor, VIRAL is the story of a war fought with vaccination needles…
Right now, you can pick up the deluxe new version of VIRAL for a song:
Our stable of authors included two established tie-in writers, an ex-Ministry of Defence staffer, and an Army Scout. These were great fun for us to write, and I hope you enjoy them too!
May 1, 2013
Conflux Was Awesome
Okay, so here’s my official con report for Conflux 9: AWESOME.
Perhaps I should elaborate with some highlights. In a bulleted list.
20,000 brilliant conversations
1 or 2 awkward ones (don’t ask) but these become future anecdotes, so WIN.
the chance to hang out with my many brilliant writer/publisher/editor peeps. Usually they are mere electrons on the interwebz, but for one four day stretch they were molecular and great.
Several pitches to agents and publishers. Terrifying but a great feeling of accomplishment for getting through what turned out to be fine.
Getting on panels with people I admire, and chatting to folks about all sorts of stuff. I was on the “Zombies are Hungry” panel, the “Geeks are Cool” panel, and the “Australian Landscapes” panel.
Being in the audience at the Star Wars panel, and hijacking it to set up an elaborate pun. For what it’s worth, “ENDOR’S GAME” will happen, and it must happen.
Random bar and cafe of doom.
Ditmar Awards. Many worthy recipients, but I took special pleasure this year in seeing my mentee David McDonald pick up the Best New Talent award. Kudos dude, for your star is ascendant!
Book Launches GALORE. As Cat Sparks said “there is a launch approximately ever 4.5 minutes”. Many of these launched books then proceeded to sell out of all copies, which is all things good.
Speaking of book launches – I officially launched my zombie novel “Quiver”. Was great to meet a bunch of new readers, sign copies for my mates, and blushed in the background while Cat Sparks said a bunch of nice things about me into a microphone. The posters were a hit (thanks to Baden Kirgan at Black House) and by Sunday all copies of the book had been sold.
So here, have some photos of the “Quiver” launch (nicked from Cat’s Flickr feed). To summarise, it was a great convention. When it was all over I shuffled into the airport, tired, suitcase full of books, and very, very happy.
(images copyright Cat Sparks and purloined from http://www.flickr.com/photos/42956650@N00/)
April 21, 2013
Year’s Best Contents Announcement
Hey folks!
Tis with great pleasure that I announce my zombie-tastic “Pigroot Flat” (oh ye of the reverse Wolf-Creek infamy) has been selected for inclusion in the next volume of the Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror 2012.
Here’s the official spiel, including the drool-worthy list of contributors. Seriously, I’m chuffed to elbow my way into this lot. The editors have done a great job on this since the first volume, and with the brilliant opening essays, great story selection etc, I can see this series becoming an institution in genre circles.
THE YEAR’S BEST AUSTRALIAN FANTASY & HORROR 2012
EMBARGOED UNTIL 22/04/2013
Ticonderoga Publications are delighted to announce the final line-up of the third volume of The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror.
Liz Grzyb and Talie Helene have compiled 34 fantastic stories and poems first published in 2012, from New Zealand’s and Australia’s finest writers.
The contents are
Joanne Anderton, “Tied To The Waste”, Tales Of Talisman
R.J.Astruc, “The Cook of Pearl House, A Malay Sailor by the Name of Maurice”, Dark Edifice 2
Lee Battersby, “Comfort Ghost”, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine 56
Alan Baxter, “Tiny Lives”, Daily Science Fiction
Jenny Blackford, “A Moveable Feast”, Bloodstones
Eddy Burger, “The Witch’s Wardrobe”, Dark Edifice 3
Isobelle Carmody, “The Stone Witch”, Under My Hat
Jay Caselberg, “Beautiful”, The Washington Pastime
Stephen Dedman, “The Fall”, Exotic Gothic 4, Postscripts
Felicity Dowker, “To Wish On A Clockwork Heart”, Bread And Circuses
Terry Dowling, “Nightside Eye”, Cemetary Dance
Tom Dullemond, “Population Management”, Danse Macabre
Thoraiya Dyer, “Sleeping Beauty”, Epilogue
Will Elliot, “Hungry Man”, The Apex Book Of World SF
Jason Fischer, “Pigroot Flat”, Midnight Echo 8
Dirk Flinthart, “The Bull In Winter”, Bloodstones
Lisa L. Hannett, “Sweet Subtleties”, Clarkesworld
Lisa L. Hannett & Angela Slatter, “Bella Beaufort Goes To War”, Midnight And Moonshine
Narrelle Harris, “Stalemate”, Showtime
Kathleen Jennings, “Kindling”, Light Touch Paper, Stand Clear
Gary Kemble, “Saturday Night at the Milkbar”, Midnight Echo 7
Margo Lanagan, “Crow And Caper, Caper And Crow”, Under My Hat
Martin Livings, “You Ain’t Heard Nothing Yet”, Living With The Dead
Penelope Love, “A Small Bad Thing”, Bloodstones
Andrew J. McKiernan, “Torch Song”, From Stage Door Shadows
Karen Maric, “Anvil Of The Sun”, Aurealis
Faith Mudge, “Oracle’s Tower”, To Spin A Darker Stair
Nicole Murphy, “The Black Star Killer”, Damnation And Dames
Jason Nahrung, “The Last Boat To Eden”, Surviving The End
Tansy Rayner Roberts, “What Books Survive”, Epilogue
Angela Slatter, “Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean”, This Is Horror Webzine
Anna Tambour, “The Dog Who Wished He’d Never Heard Of Lovecraft”, Lovecraft Zine
Kyla Ward, “The Loquacious Cadaver”, The Lion And The Aardvark: Aesop’s Modern Fables
Kaaron Warren, “River Of Memory”, Zombies Vs. Robots
In addition to the above incredible tales, the volume will include a review of 2012 and a list of highly recommended stories.
The editors will shortly begin reading for the fourth volume of The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror.
The Year’s Best Australian Fantasy and Horror 2012 is scheduled for publication in July 2013 and can be pre-ordered at indiebooksonline.com. The anthology will be available in hardcover, ebook and trade editions.
For further information please contact Russell B. Farr, Ticonderoga Publications, editor@ticonderogapublications.com
Melbourne Supanova
Life has been a bit flat out here at Fisch Industries, hence the lack of updates. The weekend before last I was fortunate enough to get an author spot in the Dymock’s stand at the Melbourne Supanova. I was there signing copies of my new book “Quiver”, meeting new readers and rubbing shoulders with the other authors. Had an absolute ball, met some great folks and saw just about every configuration of cosplay it’s possible to see. Amazing how much effort con-goers went to with their outfits – it’s all I can do to roll out of bed and get dressed.
Anyway, a picture speaks a thousand words. So have several
In the thick of it – selling books left, right and centre.
Unwittingly, con-goers run the gauntlet of desperate authors….
One happy author, posing with a GIANT poster of his book.
The Black House Comics crew – top bunch of folks!
April 15, 2013
Another Quiver Review
Hey folks! I’m hoping to do a quick write-up of my Supanova experience soon, but in the meantime, here’s a new review of Quiver. Reviewer OzNoir writes:
“…QUIVER encapsulates many of the tried and true formulas common to survival horror; the building of fortifications, scavenging, zombie (or coffin-dodger) hoards and their migration, the fall of Government and the rise of independent parties, but the most important component of this zombie post apocalyptic concoction is the humans themselves who are commonly more inhumane than the walking dead. Fischer goes to great lengths to portray a dead world whose living souls are rotten and more menacing than those who threaten to end mans existence.”
The rest of the review can be read here:
http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/review-quiver-by-jason-fischer.html
April 4, 2013
Dymocks Ad in Supanova Booklet
Well colour me excited – look what’s on the inside back cover of the Supanova booklet! That’s pretty flipping cool! If you find yourself at the Melbourne Supanova, be sure to pop by and say hello
