Sean Williams's Blog, page 8

the long write

No, not my latest deadline (that's a very short write, alas).  The Long Write is a new blog created by a bunch of the most excellent Clarion South 2009 survivors.  I think it's going to be fun--and not just because they interviewed me.  Take a look and save the kittens!

And now, back to the writing I go.  (3500 words/day schedules hurt my brain.)

nominating for overseas director of sfwa

In a move that at least one friend has described as "insane", I'm standing for election in SFWA, as Overseas Regional Director on the most excellent Scalzi/Kowal ticket. You can see my platform below the cut and, if you're a member, follow the debate on the various nominees in the forum.

If you're not a member, why not? Join up, vote, and help me institute change for the better!

Dear fellow writers:

I am standing for the position of Overseas Regional Director, which went unfilled in the last ...

signing at pulp fiction

This one’s for those in Brisbane, either permanently or just for the weekend of the Aurealis Awards.

I’ll be at the most excellent Pulp Fiction with Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld from 11.30-12.30, enjoying a very relaxed signing/hang-out session.  Come along and say hi!  This might the last time I'm out of the cave until March.

Scott Westerfeld at the RiAus book club

A heads-up for the Adelaide Crew. Novel Ideas is the Royal Institute Australia's new book club, and the awesome Leviathan is it's first book.   I'm hosting the night .  Hopefully Scott will be able to drop in electronically to answer questions.  It's free, and it'll be fun.  Come along! 

Wednesday 27 January, 6-7.30pm
The Science Exchange

Novel ideas is the RiAus bimonthly book club for those keen to explore, rediscover and get excited about science-themed books, new and old. We start 2010...

five links

I'm juggling two projects at once this weekend, which always hurts my brain.  Here are some recent happenings:Shawn at Suvudu asked if any of my books originally had different titles. There are a few.Paul Cornell wondered what I was doing for Christmas.The ABC's Life Matters program wanted to interview me about my essay on Doctor Who in 50 Voices of Disbelief.Au Contrair, the New Zealand natcon, very kindly asked me to be their 2010 GOH, and I'm excited to be going.The Dragon Book is out and...

armless

Thanks to crankynick :

All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my lad.

Which song was this lyric from?

Get your own lyrics:

top ten albums 2009

Not all of these titles were released this year, but that’s when I discovered them, so that’s where they sit for me. In an ambient world, everything is autobiographical.
Insen - Alva Noto + Ryuichi SakamotoAstral Currents - TelomereVrioon - Alva Noto + Ryuichi SakamotoEarthlight - David ParsonsThe Tudors: Season One - Trevor MorrisYolo - Tetsu InoueAftermath - Aes DanaTranscendence - Alpha Wave MovementDynamic Stillness - Steve RoachGhost Opera - Kamelot (not ambient in the slightest!) I spen...

a for aurealis

It’s that time of year again. Congrats/commiserations to those on/off the shortlists. It doesn’t matter who wins--in some ways it doesn’t even matter if you’re shortlisted, although it is an honour to be there, one I’m very grateful for. The award thing is primarily a celebration of community. I booked my ticket to the party weeks ago and am looking forward to it already.

The Scarecrow - nominated for Best YA Novel
The Grand Conjunction - nominated for Best SF Novel

(Could this be eighth...

my next book (probably)

The official announcement came and went without me noticing (whoops) so I am unintentionally tardy in confirming that I am indeed writing Star Wars: The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance, the first novel tie-in to the LucasArts/Bioware MMORG due next year: Both game and the book are set “more than 3,500 years in the past of the far-away galaxy...when the Jedi and the Galactic Republic clashed with the Sith Empire.” Sound like fun? It was. The book is epic, hardback, and due in July 2010.

I say "...

lost for words?

Amanda is reading again for the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, which means we get to take a quick survey of what blurbs have been offering in the last two years of Australian literature.

Family secrets are perennial, of course, along with small country towns, fractious siblings and romantic blasts from the pasts. Some things will never change.

This year a newcomer to field has leapt out at us.

“loss and survival, friendship, love” (Swimming, Enza Gandolfo)
“loss, death and grief&rdquo...