K. Tempest Bradford's Blog, page 36

2011 Clarion West Write-A-Thon Clarion Call

In a little less than two weeks, the Clarion West class of 2011 will begin their 6-week intensive workshop. At the same time, the CW Write-a-Thon will begin. A write-a-thon is a lot like a marathon. Instead of sponsoring someone per mile, you sponsor them per week. If they reach their writing goals for the week, you pledge to send Clarion West a certain amount of money. There are six weeks of write-a-thoning to mirror the six weeks of workshopping at Clarion West.

The deadline to sign up for this event is June 18th. There are a couple dozen people signed up already, but Clarion West needs more folks to sign up and get sponsored to reach their fundraising goals. I think that you (yes, you. No, not that other person, You) should sign up to participate.

Last year I didn't do the write-a-thon because I had far too much to do work-wise to commit to anything and didn't have much time to find sponsors. Thus, I completely understand if other people have the same doubts. But, in thinking about this the past couple of days, I realized that there are ways to do this that don't require an huge time commitment. Setting micro goals instead of big huge ones; allowing myself to be a little bit silly, experimental, or completely off the wall; taking challenges from others.

I have some ideas on how to pull this off (and will share them with you in time), so I'm ready to commit to participating in the write-a-thon. Thing is, I'd really like to see at least 20 more people join me in this effort. I know many of you are busy, have stuff going on, and have stress in your lives, just like me. So think about it in these terms: do you have 30 minutes a week to commit to writing? Do you know three people off the top of your head who will sponsor you and pledge a little to Clarion West because they love you/are awesome? If the answer to both is yes, then you're set. Yep, 30 minutes, 3 people — that's all it takes.

Now we come to the portion of the post where I sweeten the pot a little. Usually with fundraising things such as this it's customary to offer prizes to people for pledging money. I'm going to do something different, because my goal is to get people to sign up. So, anyone who participates in the Clarion West Write-A-Thon, has at least 3 sponsors OR has at least $100/week in pledges, and meets at least 4 out of their 6 weekly goals, will be entered in a drawing for a free eReader.

The eReader in question is the new Kobo eReader Touch Edition, out this month. If you want a taste of it, there's a hands-on post here. On Monday or Tuesday there's likely to be a full review.

I have some other new or like new gadgets in my possession that I may be able to offer up as well, but the Kobo eReader is for sure.

Some disclaimers: I don't work for Clarion West or represent them. This drawing is being run solely by myself with products I own personally, not offered by any corporate entities. I plan to choose the winner based on random number generation — a digital version of pulling a number out of a hat.

Excited yet? Good. The first step is to head over to the Write-A-Thon sign up page to join. The next step is to find at least three sponsors. Ask them to pledge a certain amount each week if you meet your goals or to pledge a flat amount if you meet all of your goals over 6 weeks. The last step is to decide what your goals will be. I'll tell you mine next week.

Holla back, people. Raise your virtual hand if you're in this with me.

2011 Clarion West Write-A-Thon Clarion Call is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford

[WisCon 35] Oh Crap, I Haven't Figured Out What I'm Reading This Weekend

I was supposed to do that. Um.

Maybe I'll read The Birth of Pegasus. Or Until Forgiveness Comes.

*looks at newish stuff* Fie.

[WisCon 35] Oh Crap, I Haven't Figured Out What I'm Reading This Weekend is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford

[WisCon 35] POC Safer Space Breakout Sessions and Discussions

The Safer Space for POC at WisCon 35 is a room set aside for con attendees of color to have in-group discussions about issues surrounding speculative fiction, feminism, fandom, and convention-going. By issues I do not mean "problems" (just to be clear). There are some conversations that need to happen within a group that only concern the group, and for the second year in a row WisCon is officially acknowledging this need and providing official space for it.

The Safer Space for POC is located in the Solitaire Room — just off the lobby behind the restaurant. The location is marked in the Program Book.

Con attendees of color are free to use this room as a lounge/chill space, just as with last year. Come hang out when you're not attending a panel, between panels, during lunch, whenever. This year the hotel is providing coffee and tea service throughout the day.

In addition to the lounge aspect, I'm also encouraging people to use the Safer Space as a place for breakout sessions, standalone discussions for small groups, and post-panel de-pressurization. Is there a conversation you'd like to have with other POC about an issue relating to SF, feminism, fandom, media, or literature? Would you like to continue a panel with a smaller, POC-only group? Then I encourage you to use the Safer Space, because this is exactly the reason it exists.

If you already know that you'd like to use the space, great! Please leave a comment with details (what your discussion/breakout session is about, time) and be sure to let people at the con know. Flyers are useful. Even if you don't have an idea now, you may get one at the con. If so, just invite folks to the room. Even if there are already folks inside, there will probably be enough room.

This isn't a super structured effort, just a way to ensure that people know that they can use the room for these purposes. There are no hard and fast rules. Just that the space is reserved for POC.

I'll update this post with activities posted in the comments and there will be a list in the room at the con.

[WisCon 35] POC Safer Space Breakout Sessions and Discussions is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford

[WisCon 35] POC Dinner

May 27, 20115:30 pmto7:30 pm

It's that time of year again. You know, when a young girl's thoughts turn to wild unicorns and orcs frolicking together and eating things? That's right, the WisCon POC dinner is on, baby.

Here are the deets:

When: Friday, May 27th, 5:30 – 7:30PM
Where: Private Dining Room of the Dayton Street Grille (the restaurant inside the Madison Concourse Hotel). If you haven't been there before, just ask the helpful folks at the front desk or the host station.
Who: If you are a person of color attending WisCon, you're welcome to join.
Important Things:

If you're on Facebook, please click here to RSVP. We want to get a mostly accurate count of how many people are coming so the restaurant can plan accordingly. If you're not on Facebook, RSVP in the comments.
Tell other POC and ask them to RSVP as well.
Please come as close to 5:30 as you can. We want to be done by 7:10 so that Nisi and anyone else can get to the Opening Ceremonies.
Bring cash! This is important (see update below).

Update: We've now set the menu for the dinner. This year we're doing a buffet instead of a traditional sit-down to facilitate mingling and to accommodate those who might be late. Buffet items include:

Fresh seasonal fruit
Mixed greens with shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers with our housemade balsamic vinaigrette and ranch dressings
Asparagus, shrimp and orzo salad [might end up being vegetarian - i.e. no shrimp]
Grilled breast of chicken with Portobello mushrooms and caramelized shallots
Sliced sirloin of beef with brandy green peppercorn sauce
Rosemary-roasted red bliss potatoes [vegan]
Sautéed zucchini and tomatoes [vegan]
Fresh breads from our bakery
Assorted petit fours and finger tarts

Since this is now a catered event/buffet, there's a set price for dinner. The minimum required to eat is $20. However, if you can pay up to $30 we'd appreciate it. We're doing a bit of funky math here to keep costs down for everyone and because I don't know exactly how many people are coming.

If you absolutely cannot afford this, drop me a note, please.

[WisCon 35] POC Dinner is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford

WisCon 35 POC Dinner

May 27, 20115:30 pmto7:30 pm

It's that time of year again. You know, when a young girl's thoughts turn to wild unicorns and orcs frolicking together and eating things? That's right, the WisCon POC dinner is on, baby.

Here are the deets:

When: Friday, May 27th, 5:30 – 7:30PM
Where: Private Dining Room of the Dayton Street Grille (the restaurant inside the Madison Concourse Hotel). If you haven't been there before, just ask the helpful folks at the front desk or the host station.
Who: If you are a person of color attending WisCon, you're welcome to join.
Important Things:

If you're on Facebook, please click here to RSVP. We want to get a mostly accurate count of how many people are coming so the restaurant can plan accordingly. If you're not on Facebook, RSVP in the comments.
Tell other POC and ask them to RSVP as well.
Please come as close to 5:30 as you can. We want to be done by 7:10 so that Nisi and anyone else can get to the Opening Ceremonies.
Bring cash! This is important as we're getting just one bill at the end of the evening, and there will be no way to split the check.

I'll send out an email with the menu soon. It will be like last year – choices for meat eaters and vegetarians alike. If you're a vegan, please speak up!

WisCon 35 POC Dinner is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford

Technology Meetup at WisCon

I'm almost completely sure I did not see a netbook panel for WisCon this year (had to go though aaaaalllll the items the other week). Would anyone have interest in an informal technology meetup at WisCon where folks can talk about their netbooks, tablets, phones and other cool tech, others can ask questions and play with said cool tech, and we can pow wow about the tech we care about and why? There's got to be some sort of feminist theme in there, right?

Technology Meetup at WisCon is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford

Your Favorite Descriptions

In preparation for the WisCon panel on "How To Describe Nonwhite Characters Sans Fail", I'm looking up descriptions of characters in my favorite books to analyze what I like about them and why they work. I'm hoping to bring some concrete examples of literary awesomeness so we can keep the panel balanced between "this is why describing people this way is a problem" and "here are non-faily descriptions, learn from the best."

I have a few already, but I'd love to hear about your favorite character descriptions as well. Not just of characters of color  — though good examples of such are very much welcome — but phrases or passages that stuck out for you, that created clear or powerful pictures in your mind. No need to limit yourself to SF; show me your romance, your mystery, even your poetry! (Be sure to include the author and origin.)

Your Favorite Descriptions is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford

And Now For Something Completely Awesome

Hugo Award nominations were announced yesterday and this shiny book got a nod in the Best Related Work Category:

That's right! Chicks Dig Time Lords is a Hugo nominated work! I am so incredibly happy, yay!

And, if I am allowed to say: well deserved! Lynne and Tara put together a really solid lineup and the fan response has been overwhelmingly positive. I hope that remains the case as Hugo voting commences :)

On equally happy notes, I see a lot of friends scattered throughout the nominations, but I wanted to give a special shout out to fellow Altered Fluidians N. K. Jemisin and Saladin Ahmed. Ms. Jemisin's first book, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, is on the best novel list and Mr. Ahmed is up for the Not A Hugo Campbell award for best new writer.

I posted the whole list over on the ABW and noted that there are quite a few women on the list, more POC than I'm used to seeing, and many "new" or young writers, which is an achievement for the Hugos. Can't wait to see how the winners balance out on these fronts.

And Now For Something Completely Awesome is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford

My WisCon 35 Schedule

How To Describe Nonwhite Characters Sans Fail

Sat, 4:00–5:15 pm | Wisconsin

M: Mary Doria Russell, K. Tempest Bradford, Moondancer Drake, Amal El-Mohtar, Rachel Virginia Swirsky

How do we get beyond "Her skin was the color of a delicious Coca-Cola?" What metaphors, similes, techniques, and descriptors are less problematic when describing nonwhite characters' physical bodies? We're starting from this post by Jed.

How to Respond Appropriately to Concerns About Cultural Appropriation

Sun, 1:00–2:15 pm | Wisconsin

M: Victor Raymond, K. Tempest Bradford, Mary Doria Russell, Geoff Ryman, Rachel Virginia Swirsky

At WisCon 33, the Carl Brandon Society taught a course which reviewed the basic concepts around race, colonial history, and cultural appropriation, along with a discussion of ways to build a vocabulary to discuss these topics. Let's use that background to discuss what would be appropriate, considered, thoughtful responses by authors to concerns that their work contains cultural appropriation.

SIBLING OF REVENGE OF NOT ANOTHER F*CKING RACE PANEL[1]

Sun, 2:30–3:45 pm | Wisconsin

M: K. Tempest Bradford, Amal El-Mohtar, Michelle Kendall, Victor Raymond, LaShawn M. Wanak[2]

Back for a third go-round, by popular demand! Writers of color working in F/SF face unique challenges, it's true. But, at the end of the day, being a "person of color" is only one aspect of what makes up our identities as writers. While it's very flattering to asked to be on panels, most of these panels never crack the ceiling of Race 101. With that in mind, wouldn't it be nice for multiple writers of color to sit on a panel that isn't about race at all? Here's our chance to do just that. So, what are we gonna talk about, instead? Practically anything! Presented in game show format, SIBLING OF REVENGE OF NOT ANOTHER F*CKING RACE PANEL brings together writers of color to get their geek on about any number of pop culture topics—none of them race related.

Reading: For Colored Girls Who've Considered Shapeshifting, Teleporting, & Conjuring….[3]

Sun, 4:00–5:15 pm | Conference 2

K. Tempest Bradford, Neesha Meminger, Nnedi Okorafor, LaShawn M. Wanak, Ibi Aanu Zoboi

Is Science Fiction the New Reality?[4]

Mon, 10:00–11:15 am | Caucus

M: K. Tempest Bradford, Richard Chwedyk, James Frenkel, Naomi Kritzer, Shira Lipkin

Star Trek offers a vision of the future that includes personal, networked communicators, talking, intelligent computers, and the tricorder, a portable, hand-held networked computing device. Today we have cellphones, IBM's Watson,and the iPad. Are we already living in the science-fiction future? What does this mean for writers of speculative fiction?

I'm also going to do my best to coordinate the POC dinner for Friday.

Footnotes

YOU GUYS. I am super excited about this panel. I'm collecting ideas on topics from my wonderful co-panelists right now, but excited suggestions are indeed welcome. Also welcome: ideas on how to do the game show aspect of things this year. I'm considering water guns…
Did I mention how much I heart my panelists?
I are intimidated.
So, check out the list of panelists there. Yeah. And I get to moderate. Bring popcorn.

My WisCon 35 Schedule is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford

Best Birthday Present EVAR: Happily Ever After TOC

Many moons ago the awesome John Klima emailed and asked if I had any fairy tale retellings since he was putting together an anthology of such things. I sent him Black Feather (my Interfictions story), he accepted, I made a happy face. Life is good. Yesterday, for the first time, I saw who else is also in this anthology from a post on SFSignal. People, I had No Idea. I sporfled so hard on the subway train New Yorkers gave me the side eye.

Just look here and sporfle with me, won't you?

"The Seven Stage a Comeback" by Gregory Maguire
"And In Their Glad Rags" by Genevieve Valentine
"The Sawing Boys" by Howard Waldrop
"Bear It Away" by Michael Cadnum
"Mr. Simonelli or the Fairy Widower" by Susanna Clarke
"The Black Fairy's Curse" by Karen Joy Fowler
"My Life As A Bird" by Charles de Lint
"The Night Market" by Holly Black
"The Rose in Twelve Petals" by Theodora Goss
"The Red Path" by Jim C. Hines
"Blood and Water" by Alethea Kontis
"Hansel's Eyes" by Garth Nix
"He Died That Day, In Thirty Years" by Wil McCarthy
"Snow In Summer" by Jane Yolen
"The Rose Garden" by Michelle West
"The Little Magic Shop" by Bruce Sterling
"Black Feather" by K. Tempest Bradford
"Fifi's Tail" by Alan Rodgers
"The Faery Handbag" by Kelly Link
"Ashputtle" by Peter Straub
"The Emperor's New (And Improved) Clothes" by Leslie What
"Pinocchio's Diary" by Robert J. Howe
"Little Red" by Wendy Wheeler
"The Troll Bridge" by Neil Gaiman
"The Price" by Patricia Briggs
"Ailoura" by Paul Di Filippo
"The Farmer's Cat" by Jeff VanderMeer
"The Root of The Matter" by Gregory Frost
"Like a Red, Red Rose" by Susan Wade
"Chasing America" by Josh Rountree
"Stalking Beans" by Nancy Kress
"Big Hair" by Esther Friesner
"The Return of the Dark Children" by Robert Coover

Susanna Clarke, Kelly Link, Jeff Vandermeer, Genevieve Valentine, Holly Black, Neil Gaiman, the list of awesome just keeps getting longer and longer! Nancy Kress was my first Clarion West instructor and now I am in an anthology with her. What.

But the most exciting bit is this. No anthology of this kind would be complete without Theodora Goss, that goes without saying. But the story in here, "The Rose in Twelve Petals," is one of my favorite stories of All Time[1]. One of the first that ever moved me to track down an author's website and email her[2]. That one of my stories gets to be in the same book as that is a most excellent way to begin my next year of life.

The book is out in June, and you can pre-order it from Nightshade or Amazon or Barnes & Noble or likely your local bookshop.

P.S. I would also like to point out that, once again, I'm in a book with a gorgeous cover.

Footnotes

I just came across this blog post where Dora talks about how the story came to be. She mentions that it was her first story ever published — a surprise to myself — and that it's been 10 years now. That… makes me feel old.
the other was "The Run of the Fiery Horse," which I talked about in the PodCastle introduction.

Best Birthday Present EVAR: Happily Ever After TOC is a post from: K. Tempest Bradford