Sally Ember's Blog, page 96
November 7, 2014
BILL MCGOLDRICK of the SyFy Channel Previews 5 new shows for EW
BILL MCGOLDRICK of the SyFy Channel Previews 5 new shows for EW
Link to full article, trailers and interview, below. 5 shows summarized here:
Ascension “Mini-series; possible series. Six hours. Stars Brian Van Holt, Tricia Helfer. The show sets up an alternate version of reality in which, in 1963, President Kennedy and the U.S. government, fearing the Cold War will become hot and lead to the destruction of the Earth, decided to launch a covert space mission. They sent 600 men, women and children into space on a century-long voyage aboard the Ascension, a massive, self-sustaining generation ship. Their mission is to populate a new world, known as Proxima, assuring the survival of the human race. Nearly 50 years into the journey (i.e. in the present), as they approach the point of no return, the mysterious murder of a young woman—the first homicide since their departure—causes the ship’s crew to question the true nature of their mission. Premieres Dec. 15, 2014.”
12 Monkeys “Series, 13 episodes. Stars Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull and Kirk Acevedo. A complete re-imagning of the Terry Gilliam film. A time-traveler from a decimated future journeys back to present day in a bid to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will pretty much annihilate the human race. Premieres Jan. 16, 2015.”
Childhood’s End “Mini-series, 6 hours. Stars Charles Dance. Based on Arthur C. Clarke’s sci-fi classic, follows a breed of aliens called the ‘Overlords,’ who manage to peacefully invade and rule Earth, and create a pseudo-utopia that comes at the price of human identity and culture. Premieres 2015.”
The Expanse “Series, 10 episodes. Stars Thomas Jane, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Steven Strait. Based on the series of books by James S.A. Corey, a thriller set two hundred years in the future, The Expanse follows the case of a missing young woman who brings a hardened detective and a rogue ship’s captain together in a race across the solar system to expose the greatest conspiracy in human history. No date.”
Hunters “Series, 13 episodes. Based on Whitley Strieber’s novel Alien Hunter, a Philadelphia cop searches for his missing wife leads and discovers a secret government unit that assembled to hunt a group of ruthless terrorists who may not be from this world. Premieres 2016.”
http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/10/28/syfy/
Filed under: Blogging and others' content, Science Fiction and Fantasy Tagged: new TV shows, science fiction, SyFy
November 6, 2014
NOVEMBER: No Fee #Sci-Fi Short Story #Contest and Virtual #Film Festival
The following is all from AUTHONOMY, a site of Harper Collins, which includes HarperVoyager. I just didn’t bother with quotation marks.
Enter Short Story Virtual Sci-Fi Festival by 5pm on Friday 21st November: http://goo.gl/CpY1GF enter by EM: BFIVoyager@harpercollins.co.uk
HarperCollins teamed up with the BFI (British Film Institute) to launch a Virtual Sci-Fi Festival on the 15th and 16th of November.
The festival will explore the intersection of film and literature.
It doesn’t cost a thing, you simply need to register to get the programme of events.
Sign up here: http://goo.gl/CpY1GF = http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bfivoyager-virtual-sci-fi-festival-tickets-13672690385
Enter your Sci-Fi short story
As part of the festival, HC have launched a Sci-Fi short story writing competition. They are looking for stories of up to 5,000 words, that reflect one or several of the themes:
Tomorrow’s World – from post-apocalyptic wastelands to megacities to far-flung dystopia – best described by Ray Bradbury as ‘sociological studies of the future’.
Altered States – the science fiction of ‘inner space’ mad scientists, mutants, man-machines and mind-bending trips – what points us towards the fragile and untrustworthy thing that is consciousness.
Contact! – time to explore life from all corners of the universe and across multiple dimensions.
You do not need a literary agent to enter.
Terms & Conditions do apply and you can find them here: http://goo.gl/8Pzcp2
Your short story will be judged by HarperVoyager’s editorial director, Natasha Bardon.
The winner will be announced at an event at the beginning of December at the BFI Southbank and the prize will be your short story being published by HarperVoyager as a free ebook and widely available through HarperVoyager and BFI’s marketing channels.
You will also receive 2 pairs of tickets to the BFI film season (subject to availability) and a special goody bag of HarperVoyager books.
Don’t forget to sign up for the virtual festival here http://goo.gl/CpY1GF = http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bfivoyager-virtual-sci-fi-festival-tickets-13672690385
and
Follow along on Twitter #BFIVoyager
Best of luck to everyone who enters!
Filed under: Blogging and others' content, Indie or Self-Publishing, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Writing Tagged: Film Festival, science fiction, Short Story, Writing Contest
November 5, 2014
I am LIVE on the #radio TODAY! 3 – 4:20 PM CHANGE IN TIME CST USA
Share! Mark your calendar! I am LIVE on the #radio TODAY, 11/5, Wed., 3 – 4:20 PM CST CHANGE IN TIME!
Listen! 1380 AM in St. Louis, MO, or go online from anywhere (link below)
with Charlotte and Jim, #Gayborhood
Listen LIVE! http://1380thex.com/thegayborhood
Filed under: Interviews with Sally as Author, Marketing, Themes from The Spanners, Writing Tagged: Gayborhood, GLBT, Radio Interview, Sally Ember, The Spanners Series
Top Tips to Market your Ebook Online
Any #author who has direct experience using any of these sites and has stats to share, please do? Thanks for gathering and posting here!
Originally posted on The Author Who Supports:
Keep going…keep pushing yourself
Your book may be published but there is much (ridiculously much more) work to be done! Books don’t sell themselves, it’s becoming more common (and essential?) for the author to market their work. Here’s the rubbish reality, if people don’t know your book exists, you’ll be lucky to sell 20 books. Yeah, even if your book is pretty darn brilliant!
Below is a list of sites that specialize in sponsoring your book, usually for a small fee. Why bother? Trust me, this is a clever way to market your work to people who are already ‘looking’ for interesting new books to download. Consider it target marketing – you’re targeting your readers thanks to these websites book loving subscribers. Give it a try. I’d suggest focusing on 2 or 3 at a time to gain the most impact on your book sales. You may be…
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Filed under: Writing
Want to Make A Difference? RUN!
North Bay, CA Peeps: inspired by today’s elections (frustrated or elated)? DO SOMETHING!
Women’s Global Leadership Initiative (WGLI) and local partners have come together to support and inspire the development of new leaders in the North Bay, CA, area (Sonoma County)!
The Rise Up Now (RUN) Forum is about becoming informed, knowing what you have to offer and taking the next steps!
Come and enjoy a day of inspiring speakers, lunch and being in the company of those who have passion to make things happen.
The RUN Forum provides attendees with the opportunity to learn what it takes to make a difference in their communities by joining committees, commissions, and boards.
Open to all in the North Bay, CA, area and close by who want to make a difference!
ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER
Please share this important info.
Go to http://www.wgli.org to register today!
Cost: $25.00, Student $15.00 lunch included.
For more info or to request for scholarship, call or email Wanda Tapia at 707-935-8532, wtapia@latinoserviceproviders.org
Filed under: Blogging and others' content, Life lessons, Support for Good Causes Tagged: Boards, CA, Commissions, elections, North Bay, RUN Forum, Running for election, WGLI, women, Women's Global Leadership Initiative, Women's Leadership
5 Ways to Deal with Writer’s Block Guest Post by Samantha LaFantasie
Whether you’re deep into NaNoWriMo or your regular writing schedule, this post promises to help you KEEP GOING! Thanks, Samantha, for visiting my blog and offering these great tips! Best to you all with your writing!
5 Ways to Deal with Writer’s Block
Guest Post by Samantha LaFantasie
Yes, I’m a sufferer. I know there are some writers out there who claim they don’t experience this phenomenon, calling it something different or saying they never had it, but I’m here to bet they have. They’ve just come up with some killer ways to overcome it. So, in their mind, writer’s block isn’t an issue.
I suffer from it on an occasion (typically at about the 30K mark during NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month] and at least once for each WIP [Work-in-Progress]) and never could find that magic wand method that some writers seem to have.
I do have some pretty interesting and sometimes fun ways to combat writer’s block, though. Here are 5 ways to deal with writer’s block.
1. Prompts.
Seems like a no-brainer now, but wait until you are wading through sludge-thick block up to your belly button. Remembering this gem will be difficult. But an easy way to combat this is to keep a stack of notecards handy with your favorite Prompts on them. Having them in view helps to call on them when you need.
Sites like: http://writingexercises.co.uk/firstlinegenerator.php,
and even http://www.writersdigest.com/prompts
could help get through the block.
And don’t worry if it doesn’t fit the story at the time. The idea is to work past that block and get the creativity going again.
I’ve heard of some authors who write these on Popsicle sticks, color coding for theme, concept, action, etc. The possibilities are endless and completely up to you.
2. Books.
I don’t just mean reading, though that has helped me out of the funk at times. I mean books that are written specifically for writer’s block.
Some good ones are: http://www.amazon.com/The-Writers-Block-Jump-Start-Imagination/dp/0762409487
The Writer’s Block, by Jason Rekulak
and http://www.writersdigest.com/writing-prompts
Writing Prompt Boot Camp, which is a free download from Writers Digest magazine.
There are many good books like these.
3. Apps.
If you use the Android market, hit up the Google Play Store (for Apple, use iTunes) and do a quick search on Prompts or writers block. You’ll be surprised at how many Apps there are to help you through this wicked time. But be warned! Some of these Apps are cheap [shoddy, not just inexpensive] and not worth the time.
If you can, go for free first, research the App, play around with it, then decide if it’s something that will help you out. Reading through some of the reviews couldn’t hurt, either.
4. Story Cubes.
I discovered these by chance during a shopping trip to Target. You can search there or go here: https://www.storycubes.com/. I use these specifically for the purpose of getting out of writer’s block. I have made easily accessible notecards with Prompts based on some of my rolls with these die.
They are fun and creative and really do help!
5. Writing Sprints.
I belong to a group on Facebook called Word Sprinters. It’s a private group I was invited to by an author friend and use it as often as I can. Does this work? You bet! How? By forcing you to write as much as you can, as fast as you can, in stints of 20-30 minutes each. It’s not a competition so much as it is the practice of just getting the words to paper (or screen).
Much like any other method of getting out of the block, it doesn’t matter if what you are writing actually fits into the story. You can edit that out later. The idea is to get the writing going. Eventually, you’ll discover where you need to go and the block will be cured.
You don’t have to belong to a group to do this. You can invite a friend or challenge yourself.
I’m sure there are a dozen other ways to get through writer’s block. These are the 5 methods that I have tried and work best for me.
The important thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong way to get out of writer’s block. Find a method that works for you and use it.
Good luck and may the dreaded writer’s block never bring you down again!
ABOUT SAMANTHA
Kansas native Samantha LaFantasie spends her free time with her spouse and three kids. Writing has always been a passion of hers, forgoing all other desires to devote to this one obsession even though she often finds herself arguing with her characters through much of the process. She’s primarily a fantasy writer but often feels pulled to genres such as sci-fi, romance, and others.
Samantha became a bestselling author with the Pandora Boxed Set (which includes Made to Forget: Nepherium Novella series–Part One) on both Amazon and USA Today.
Samantha loves to take time to enjoy other activities such as photography and playing her favorite game of all time, Guild Wars 2.
Want more from Samantha? Keep up with her at any of her digital hangouts:
Site: http://samanthalafantasie.com
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1a3Rer3
FaceBook: http://on.fb.me/1bC27MJ
Filed under: Blogging and others' content, Indie or Self-Publishing, Writing Tagged: guest blogger, Prompts, Writers' Block
November 4, 2014
Syfy Announces 3001 Adaptation with Ridley Scott
More about the Arthur C. Clarke adaptations for TV.
Originally posted on SciFi4Me.com:
Follow @SciFi4Me
Syfy has announced that Scott Free Productions and Warner Horizon Television will be working on an adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s 3001: The Final Odyssey as a Syfy original miniseries.
Ridley Scott and David W. Zucker will executive produce along with Stuart Beattie, who is also writing the screenplay. Clayton Krueger is on board as a co-executive producer. “I have always been a fan of Clarke’s extraordinary Odyssey series, and certainly Kubrick’s adaptation of 2001. I am thrilled to be part of bringing that legacy to audiences and continuing the great cinematic tradition that this story and its creators deserve,” said Scott.
The story begins with the discovery of astronaut Frank Poole’s body, floating in space after his death at the hands of HAL9000 in 2001. First published in 1997, thirty years after Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Clarke’s first Odyssey novel, 3001: The Final Odyssey details the “final…
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#Readers Please #Support #Indie #Authors at #Christmas and all year round.
And at #Chanukah and at #Solstice and at #Kwaanza and…. keep going. Support #Indieauthors by writing #Reviews and buying our books and talking them up! Please!
Originally posted on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog..... An Author Promotions Enterprise!:
My thanks to Author Loretta Livingstone for posting this image on her Facebook Page
PLEASE REMEMBER TO EXTEND IT TO INCLUDE INDIE AUTHORS
ESPECIALLY IF THEY’RE LOCAL TO YOU!
Filed under: Writing
November 3, 2014
I Won’t Back Down
“I Won’t Back Down” is an NRA ad campaign that contains an unspeakably disrespectful, horrifying mash-up that attempts to link its pathetic attempts to continue to arm Americans, so more people can kill more people with guns, with the selfish work of firefighters, police, medical workers and good Samaritans. PLEASE uncover this travesty and stop following those who support the NRA.
I UNFOLLOWED the blog that posted this: DO IT! The NRA must be dismantled. We are ALL imperiled by their lobbying.
FIGHT the NRA with and #VOTE. #GETGUNSOFFTHESTREETS
Originally posted on Unbounded Domesticity :
Will You?
Filed under: Writing
Novel Writing Competitions 2015
Many #contests require entry fees, but some do not. Good luck!
Originally posted on Jessica Davidson:
Updated Novel Writing Competition listing for 2015. The competitions featured here are for unpublished or self-published novels. Most of them are international, but some have specific entry requirements so be sure to check the websites for more information. I haven’t entered them all so can’t vouch for them personally, but if you have experience of any of these comps I’d love to hear from you. Good luck!
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