Matthew Ledrew's Blog, page 61
February 21, 2016
Finally back in print! Jennifer Combden writes for Sci-Fi from the Rock!
In our series of authors announced for the April 2016 Sci-Fi from the Rock anthology collection, Engen Books is proud to announce two stories by Jennifer Combden, Immune and Sunny Days.
Jennifer is a meteorologist living in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She is a sponge for knowledge, and her love of learning is second only to her love of sharing that knowledge. She prefers to write science fiction, with a strong emphasis on the science, as a medium by which to explain complex ideas. When not explaining quantum physics to 12 year olds she can be found living on the (PG) Nerdcrafteria minecraft server where she volunteers, writing forecasts at work, and getting lost on Wikipedia.
Both stories had been published in the anthology collection that preceded Sci-Fi from the Rock through Engen Books, which has since gone out of print. Some stories from the collection have survived in other forms, such as Ellen Curtis’s The Tourniquet Revival and Falling into Fire (in her collection Compendium) and Matthew LeDrew’s Shoe, which has also been out of print since 2010.
We’re very excited to have Jennifer’s amazing two stories back in print!
February 15, 2016
Cover Revealed: Sci-Fi from the Rock
Sci-Fi from the Rock 2016After keeping it under wraps for far, far too long, Engen Books is proud to reveal the cover to Sci-Fi from the Rock, the anthology collection we’ve been working on for well over a year with the helps of editors, generous contributions from other authors in the field, and artists.
This beautiful piece combining multiple mediums was crafted by Kyle Callahan of Kyle Callahan Photography. It incorporates stunning photography with stylized computer-generated art to bring the themes of classic sci-fi into the iconic landscape of St. John’s, Newfoundland.
“Kyle came to me with this amazing concept of one of the classic, long-limbed robots from 60s science-fiction coming down into the Narrows, and I know he understood instantly what we were going for,” said Matthew LeDrew, founder of Engen Books. “We’re exceptionally please with this.”
The cover itself wraps around, showing the iconic Cabot Tower on the spine and historic Downtown St. Johns on the back… unfortunately the back cannot be released yet, as there are several big-name authors mentioned there are being a part of the collection that haven’t been revealed yet!
The collection is a massive 280 pages long (a far cry from the average of 77 pages from the last three volumes) and features a whopping 19 contributions from authors from around the country looking to help celebrate the 10th year of Sci-Fi on the Rock. So far these include Sam Bauer, Matthew Daniels, Peter J Foote, Scott Bartlett, Christopher Walsh, and Jay Paulin! More announcements to come in the weeks leading up to our April 1 2016 release!
Edited by Erin Vance and Ellen Curtis, the collection promises to delight fans of science-fiction from anywhere!
Thanks again to Kyle Callahan for this amazing cover! Anyone needing any sort of photography work done should check out his website, and stay tuned to EngenBooks dot com as we bring more and more insights into the cover creation process and author news in the coming weeks!
kyle callahan photograpy
February 14, 2016
Sam Bauer to write for Sci-Fi From!
Engen Books is proud to introduce yet another new author for our 2016 collection, Samuel Bauer!
Sam Bauer is a young writer from St. John’s Newfoundland. He gets his ideas from eating too much sugar-laden food, reading the works of H. P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allen Poe until 4 am, and transcribing the ensuing nightmares. Most, however, are unusable as they are frightening only to those who share his phobia of squirrels, spoons and the number 73. In his spare time, Sam enjoys Dungeons and Dragons, playing in the Music Collection Drumline and pillaging small villages with his band of fellow gentle, but misunderstood, Visigoths.
Sam brings with him his short story, The Locket.
February 13, 2016
Top 5 Valentine’s Day Read Picks: Distractions
Hey, could you all use a distraction? Well I sure could. It’s snowing like crazy here in Newfoundland and not only can I not go anywhere (for fear of never seeing my car again) but I’ve been worked to the bone this whole week prepping for Sci-Fi from the Rock 2016 and Exodus of Angels (the third Infinity book) both of which release April 1, 2016. Who thought two releases on the same day was a good idea? Me, for some reason.
Anyway, I could use a good distraction from all that. And in the spirit of the season, let’s run down my top 5 picks for the best books to stay inside with on Valentine’s Day… you know, in case the snow doesn’t stop and we all have to. ;)
5. Autobiography of Red by Anne Carson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There are few things in this world — or any other — more lovely than Anne Carson’s Autobiography of Red. It tells the story of Geryon, a fragile young boy who is also a winged red monster, and his struggles to find love, cope with heartbreak, and deal with his own complex emotions and sexuality. This book is not written in standard prose, it’s a short novella in poem form. If you’re stuck inside with somehow, try reading it aloud and share in the experience together.
4. Archie, Vol. 1 by Mark Waid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
There’s something about Mark Waid’s return to Riverdale that just makes you fall in love, or rather, remember those feelings of what it’s like to fall in love again. Waid understands why we look back fondly on youth and the nostalgia in it and captures it perfectly here while still managing to keep the title current, funny, and interesting. This title will have you hash-tagging #lipstickincident by the mid-way point. This book is not strictly romantic in the adult sense, but in the less conventional sense of the romance we all feel rewards our pasts and the people we left there. Highly recommend this.
3. Wizard and Glass by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Utterly and completely heartbreaking, this is another novel that takes us back to the first love of the main character, this time to that of the Gunslinger Roland and his failed first love. This book left me floored. It’s the only book on this list that’s a part of a series without being the first book in said series, so it may not be the perfect choice for all of you, but if you’ve read the Dark Tower series up to this point and have been holding off because you’ve had a little too much King, dive right in: he’s in rare form this time.
2. Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
F. Scott Fitzgerald didn’t really write romances so much as he wrote tragic romances. Keep that in mind as you read this one, because it certainly doesn’t present the same rose-colored look at love and relationships as some of the other titles on this list. Its theme, after all, is how one person can use another to make themselves better. Still, there’s plenty of passion and Fitzgerald’s accustomed use of flowery dialog, so if you’re stuck alone you’re in for a treat… just don’t read this one prior to a big date. It may lead to awkward dinner conversation.
1. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Without a doubt the most flawless, hopelessly romantic book on my shelf right now. Pick it up and be taken on a romantic journey through first meetings, progressing relationships, and… well that would be spoiling. Pick it up and read it yourself.
Well those are my 5. What are yours? Let me know and I’ll add them to my to-read list for next Valentine’s Day. Until then, stay warm.
February 10, 2016
Sci-Fi from the Rock welcomes Matthew Daniels!
Also joining the Sci-Fi from the Rock 2016 team is newcomer (and incredible author) Matthew Daniels!
If you attended the open-source book launch for Scott Bartlett’s Finished with Life But Unable to Die, you’re sure to remember Matthew Daniels’s short story about a woman buried alive that brought down the whole house! Writing events are great places to meet other writers and network, and we asked if he’d pen a story for our April 2016 collection right then and there!
Matthew Daniels was hatched in St. John’s, and spent many years stretching his wings between there and Labrador. Once old enough to hunt on his own, he ventured into the realm of the nerd, where he encountered such delights as Sci Fi on the Rock, Magic: The Gathering, and cake pops shaped like piranha plants set in cupcakes coloured like warp pipes. Though he cannot yet breathe fire, he did join the illustrious Sandbox Gaming. Check them out at http://www.sandboxgaming.org.
Matthew brings with him his new short story, Healer’s Hoards.
February 2, 2016
Sci-Fi from the Rock welcomes Peter Foote
In addition to established all-stars like Jay Paulin (Super Galactic Space Explorers) and Scott Bartlett (Taking Stock), April’s Sci-Fi from the Rock will feature the initial publication of several soon-to-be well-known Atlantic Canadian authors!
Bringing his short story “The Silence Between Moons,” Engen Books is proud to announce Peter Foote!
Born and raised in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, the son of an apple farmer, Peter Foote studied archaeology in university, is employed as a boiler and refrigeration operator, and runs a used bookstore out of his basement in his spare time.
Believing that an author should write what he knows, many of Peter’s stories are a reflection of his personal life.
“The Silence Between Moons” is Peter’s first published story.
Check out Sci-Fi from the Rock in print and digital formats April 1, 2016 and stay tuned for more announcements!
January 26, 2016
Award-Winning author Scott Bartlett in ‘Sci-Fi From the Rock’!
Thought Super Galactic Space Explorers was going to be the only big surprise? Think again! The 2016 10th Anniversary edition of Sci-Fi from the Rock will also feature the work of multiple award-winning Newfoundland author Scoot Bartlett of Mirth Publishing!
Scott brings with him a preview lead-in to Flight or Fight, the first book in his new series, Out of Dodge.
What’s it about?
Carl Intoever works for SafeTalk, a firm that destroys anyone who embarrasses its corporate customers. He does this because he hates his life, and like almost everyone else living in Dodge, he wants desperately to escape it. People in Dodge don’t save for retirement—they save for a one-way plane ticket to the western continent called the New World.
When SafeTalk targets the person Carl respects most, he must choose: will he risk his dreams of escape to save his friend?
We can’t wait to read it! Hope you guys feel the same!
Scott Bartlett was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where he lives. He is a fiction author who mostly writes science fiction nowadays, though he’s dabbled in humor and literary fiction.
The author’s medieval comedy novel, Royal Flush, won the H. R. (Bill) Percy Prize, and his contemporary novel Taking Stock, about a young writer struggling with depression, won the Percy Janes First Novel Award, as well as the Lawrence Jackson Writers Award. Taking Stock was also a semi-finalist in the 2014 Best Kindle Book Awards.
Scott recently caught the sci-fi bug, and he’s writing new novels at light speed. He especially enjoys writing dystopian sci-fi. Expect releases from him soon in two brand new series. To get an email whenever the author releases a new title, sign up for the VIP newsletter by clicking this link (opens a secure signup form in a new window).
Books by Scott Bartlett:
The Pitch: The Kingdom is careening toward catastrophe. Meanwhile, the King is cruising seedy taverns looking for likely maidens. “The King” is his only name. He avoids responsibility at all costs. He executes anyone who annoys him. He keeps his mother locked in a dungeon. But deep down, what the King really wants is to be loved. During this misguided search for romance, he is portrayed as a cross dresser by the Kingdom Crier (the Kingdom’s most popular tabloid). Shortly after, he must defend his castle against a siege, with only his royal fiddler – while attempting to steal his royal fiddler’s girlfriend.
Accolades: Royal Flush is a recipient of the H. R. (Bill) Percy Prize.
Taking Stock by Scott Bartlett
The Pitch: Just as Sheldon Mason is about to end it all, he meets his upstairs neighbour, a drug dealer named Sam. Sam gets him professional help, as well as a job at a local grocery store. As he struggles to make sense of his life, Sheldon starts to notice something odd about one of his new co-workers, Gilbert Ryan. Gilbert seems to know about Sheldon’s mental health issues – in fact, he seems to know secrets about everyone. And Gilbert sees value in Sheldon…
Accolades: Winner of the Percy Janes First Novel Award. Winner of the Lawrence Jackson Writers’ Award.
Finished with Life But Unable to Die Omnibus by Scott Bartlett
The Pitch: At ninety-one, Michael Haynes finds his terminal cancer diagnosis a relief. He’s ready to move on from this world. In fact, he’s convinced his death will make things better for his children, providing both financial ease and closure for a long-ago event that still haunts them all. But just when he thinks he is finally shuffling off, Michael wakes from a coma to find he has undergone a miraculous new procedure and his time here is far from over. As his condition piques the government’s interest, Michael begins to discover a shocking secret about how the universe works. Instead of solving everything with his death, he must contend not only with continuing to live indefinitely but also with stopping his family from tearing itself apart.
The Proletarian by Scott Bartlett
The Pitch: This is a transcript of Anthony Jones’ acceptance speech for a $10,000 novel-writing award.
There’s just one problem: Anthony has no memory of writing a novel.
Accolades: “The Proletarian” placed 2nd in Grain Magazine’s Canada-wide short story competition in 2013.
January 21, 2016
Spider Notes: Books For Sale
GOOD NEWS EVERYBODY!!
I am proud to announce that my two books – the award winning NEVER BEEN TO MARS and its sequel TO MONEY AND A TV – is now available for purchase at Monster Comic Lounge.
Monster Comic Lounge is located at 2089 Gottingen St, Halifax.
So if you missed the last book signing or you’ve been unable to pick up a copy of my new book, you can purchase a signed copy of either book at Monster Comic Lounge.
Monster Comics Lounge contains new and used board games, card games and role playing! It has all the latest comics, over 125000 back issues and a huge selection of action figures and collectibles!
You can find more about Monster Comics Lounge and their events, like Free Comic Book Day and Magic The Gathering pre-releases activities and events and even sales by dropping into their store or…
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Christpher Walsh writes for Sci-Fi from the Rock!
Our second author to be featured in April 2016’s Sci-Fi from the Rock has been announced: Christopher Walsh, with his short story, “Stealing Back Freedom”!
Christopher Walsh is an author from Brigus South, Newfoundland. Stealing Back Freedom is a prequel story from his fantasy series Gold & Steel, the first, full-length entry of which is titled As Fierce as Steel and is to be released in early 2016.
Over the past four years, Chris has been crafting the massive world of Gold & Steel and putting together what will be his first entries into the even bigger world of publishing: As Fierce as Steel and Stealing Back Freedom.
When not writing, Chris works as an apprentice carpenter and enjoys reading a variety of material with particular interest in other fantasy works. He’s also an avid video gamer and hiker.
January 6, 2016
Super Galactic Space Explorers comes to Engen
Submissions for the 2016 anthology edition of Sci-Fi from the Rock are now closed! Those authors who were accepted by editors Erin Vance and Ellen Curtis have been contacted and will be announced as their contracts come in. The first announcement though, is that Sci-Fi fan favorite Super Galactic Space Explorers author Jay Paulin has brought his space-faring furious felines to the collection in a new prose story titled “Spooky’s Gambit”… with bumper art by series co-creator Ariel Marsh!
The contents of the story are closely under wraps, but fans left wanting more in the wait for Super Galactic Space Explorers vol.3 will not be disappointed.
If this is just the first announcement… what else could be in store? Stay tuned in the coming weeks to find out, and pick up a copy of Sci-Fi from the Rock this April!
Jay Paulin is best known for co-creating the annual charity anthology What the Wild Things Read that shines a spotlight on up-and-coming creators, many from the Maritimes, and is the founder of Ink’d Well Comics.
Ariel Marsh is a Canadian artist best known for creating the Super Galactic Space Explorers series and co-creating Emma Awesome, a web comic which can be viewed in its entirety here.
