Ross E. Lockhart's Blog, page 7
June 1, 2013
My tweets
May 31, 2013
To SFWA or not to SFWA? That is the question.
E. Catherine Tobler is an extremely talented author. Her story “(To See the Other) Whole Against the Sky” is a 2013 Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award Finalist. This fall, I’ll be publishing her ghostly tale “Once November” in my Word Horde anthology Tales of Jack the Ripper.
SFWA, also known as the Science Fiction Writers of America, “is a professional organization for authors of science fiction, fantasy and related genres.” Over the last few years, I’ve had many authors exclaim their excitement over qualifying to join SFWA because I bought a story or novel from them. I, however, am not a member of SFWA. Regardless, the organization (and its former vice president, Mary Robinette Kowal) has been a great deal of help–a lifeline, if you will–to myself and a large number of other refugee authors over the last couple of months as we’ve navigated the uncertain waters of Night Shade Books’ collapse and sale to Skyhorse/Start.
Because of this lifeline, I’ve very seriously been considering joining SFWA once the dust is settled and I’ve finally been paid for my work.
Problem is, SFWA has a little bit of an image problem right now. Okay, maybe not so little. Recently, when it comes to respecting female authors and editors, SFWA has chosen a counterproductive path, giving a platform in the official SFWA Bulletin to a handful of male authors who have decided to wear their sexism outrageously, modeling their antiquated sexism on the runway of our collective unconscious as if they were wearing chainmail bikinis.
While most authors and readers involved in the fantastic genres want to see their favored genres grow up and adapt to the pluralistic, multicultural world we live in, these curmudgeonly dinosaurs have frustrated many by their slavering musings on how “lady writers” and “lady editors” would look in swimsuits, by their patronizing admonitions that female authors should emulate Barbie and “maintain her quiet dignity the way a woman should.” Now, in the most recent SFWA Bulletin, a pair of authors who I imagine as Statler and Waldorf are apparently at it again, calling those offended by this seeming trend of sexism “SFWA liberal fascists” and dismissing these authors’ frustration as thought control and censorship. For a professional organization, giving this sort of poisonous, vitriolic rhetoric a platform seems anything but professional. And to be dismissive of more than half the population is ridiculous at best.
And because of this E. Catherine Tobler is leaving SFWA. You can (and should) read her reasons here.
Look, I really want to show SFWA some love for all they’ve done for me and the other NSB refugees over the last couple of months, even though I’m not (yet) a member. I’d really like to recommend the organization to other authors. I’d love to join the club and be an active part of SFWA’s larger community of writers and editors. But when I see writers I respect and admire leaving the flock in frustration, it not only gives me pause, it damages the reputation of the organization as a whole.
To SFWA or not to SFWA? That is the question.
E. Catherine Tobler is an extremely talented author. Her story "(To See the Other) Whole Against the Sky" is a 2013 Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award Finalist. This fall, I'll be publishing her ghostly tale "Once November" in my Word Horde anthology Tales of Jack the Ripper.
SFWA, also known as the Science Fiction Writers of America, "is a professional organization for authors of science fiction, fantasy and related genres." Over the last few years, I’ve had many authors exclaim their excitement over qualifying to join SFWA because I bought a story or novel from them. I, however, am not a member of SFWA. Regardless, the organization (and its former vice president, Mary Robinette Kowal) has been a great deal of help--a lifeline, if you will--to myself and a large number of other refugee authors over the last couple of months as we've navigated the uncertain waters of Night Shade Books' collapse and sale to Skyhorse/Start.
Because of this lifeline, I've very seriously been considering joining SFWA once the dust is settled and I've finally been paid for my work.
Problem is, SFWA has a little bit of an image problem right now. Okay, maybe not so little. Recently, when it comes to respecting female authors and editors, SFWA has chosen a counterproductive path, giving a platform in the official SFWA Bulletin to a handful of male authors who have decided to wear their sexism outrageously, modeling their antiquated sexism on the runway of our collective unconscious as if they were wearing chainmail bikinis.
While most authors and readers involved in the fantastic genres want to see their favored genres grow up and adapt to the pluralistic, multicultural world we live in, these curmudgeonly dinosaurs have frustrated many by their slavering musings on how "lady writers" and "lady editors" would look in swimsuits, by their patronizing admonitions that female authors should emulate Barbie and "maintain her quiet dignity the way a woman should." Now, in the most recent SFWA Bulletin, a pair of authors who I imagine as Statler and Waldorf are apparently at it again, calling those offended by this seeming trend of sexism "SFWA liberal fascists" and dismissing these authors' frustration as thought control and censorship. For a professional organization, giving this sort of poisonous, vitriolic rhetoric a platform seems anything but professional. And to be dismissive of more than half the population is ridiculous at best.
And because of this E. Catherine Tobler is leaving SFWA. You can (and should) read her reasons here.
Look, I really want to show SFWA some love for all they've done for me and the other NSB refugees over the last couple of months, even though I'm not (yet) a member. I'd really like to recommend the organization to other authors. I'd love to join the club and be an active part of SFWA's larger community of writers and editors. But when I see writers I respect and admire leaving the flock in frustration, it not only gives me pause, it damages the reputation of the organization as a whole.
My tweets
May 30, 2013
Chick Bassist: The Official Trailer and a New Review
I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed putting it together. And if you did, tell a friend!
And check out this brand spanking new review of Chick Bassist, which appeared in today's edition of The Portland Mercury:
CHICK BASSIST follows the stories of three musicians and the disparate paths they take after their band breaks up. A short novel, it packs a lot into its slim frame. The novel is uncomfortably well observed. While it trades in a few clichés about the rock 'n' roll life, it doesn't pull any punches, either. Author Ross E. Lockhart gets narcissistic loser musicians. Like, he really understands them. The three protagonists embody different archetypes perfectly. There's Christian: pathetic, passive, heading for a nervous breakdown. Then Robbie: stupid and reckless, an absolute disaster, but still remorseful. Finally there's Erin: "the queen of rock," a detached, egotistical songwriter, out for herself. They blame each other for problems they all share.
Lockhart's characters are frustrating, but they find moments of goodness. Their complicated psychologies come to life with very simple observations and details. One of the most problematic aspects of writing about musicians is creating fake lyrics and songs, but Lockhart invents vivid and interesting ones. Most impressive is how much thoughtful material shows up without being forced on the reader. The simplicity of the story is deceptive, leaving the reader with a lot to chew on.
Chow down on the rest of the reviews here, and if you like what you read, let The Portland Mercury know that you want to see more reviews like this.
Chick Bassist: The Official Trailer and a New Review
Because we’re living in the Video Age, here’s the official book trailer for Chick Bassist, twenty-one seconds of punk rock magick featuring music by my old band ADRenochrome (RIP, Dr. Dan). Best played LOUD!
I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed putting it together.
And check out this brand spanking new review of Chick Bassist, which appeared in today’s edition of The Portland Mercury:
CHICK BASSIST follows the stories of three musicians and the disparate paths they take after their band breaks up. A short novel, it packs a lot into its slim frame. The novel is uncomfortably well observed. While it trades in a few clichés about the rock ‘n’ roll life, it doesn’t pull any punches, either. Author Ross E. Lockhart gets narcissistic loser musicians. Like, he really understands them. The three protagonists embody different archetypes perfectly. There’s Christian: pathetic, passive, heading for a nervous breakdown. Then Robbie: stupid and reckless, an absolute disaster, but still remorseful. Finally there’s Erin: “the queen of rock,” a detached, egotistical songwriter, out for herself. They blame each other for problems they all share.
Lockhart’s characters are frustrating, but they find moments of goodness. Their complicated psychologies come to life with very simple observations and details. One of the most problematic aspects of writing about musicians is creating fake lyrics and songs, but Lockhart invents vivid and interesting ones. Most impressive is how much thoughtful material shows up without being forced on the reader. The simplicity of the story is deceptive, leaving the reader with a lot to chew on.
Chow down on the rest of the reviews here, and if you like what you read, let The Portland Mercury know that you want to see more reviews like this.
