Jennifer Brozek's Blog, page 81

Two new reviews

Two new reviews of the Grants Pass anthology.

The first is an indepth review that I really appreciated.

The second is from a poor lass who had nightmares after reading the book but considered this a good thing.

Happy Birthday Bart

I wanted to give a big Happy Birthday to Bart Leib, one of the owners of the spec fic magazine, Crossed Genres. Bart has been a friend of mine for a couple of years now. I sold one of my stories to Crossed Genres for January 2010's magazine and I've bought a joint story from him and his lovely wife. Bart is one of those people who makes the world brighter.

Happy Birthday, Bart!

And as a fellow publisher, I know what he wants for his birthday... Crossed Genres 2 , an anthology of the best of the 2010 year of the Crossed Genres magazine, is now for sale. Please consider purchasing a copy for yourself or for someone on your holiday gift list.

But What If I Suck?

I have to admit it, I have stuck my toe into a much bigger pond and I am daunted. I have two pro-sale stories due in the coming months. These are the two big things I will be working on along with my next RPG supplement.

One pro-sale story is "on spec" which means I'm not part of the original group of invitees but I pitched something to the editor anyway and she liked it enough to say, "Write it. If I like it and it fits and I have room, I'll buy it." The other is pro-sale story invite that is "you are invited, you make it in, and it better be damn good." In both cases, these stories will be going to people I very much admire and respect. It is what kept me up last night asking my husband, "But what if I suck?"

As an aside, my husband is awesome.

"But what if I suck?"

"You don't suck."

"You're not just saying that because you're my husband?"

"No, I'm saying that as a reader of your stuff who didn't want to pay attention to you because I was so engrossed in what I was reading…your stuff."

I digress.

I pride myself on the challenges that I have already taken on and succeeded at. I have worked hard to get to where I am. I have worked hard to get the opportunities I have before me. But, now that they are before me, I admit to being scared. I have the "imposter's syndrome" going on. I have the sweaty palms of a teenager in love. The racing heart, too. What if they don't like it? What if they think I'm a hack? What if…?

All I can do right now is suck it up, look at those fears, acknowledge they are here and then put them aside. I have work to do. And I will do the best that I can. Then I will turn the story loose on my 1st Round Readers and hope I have hit the mark. Then I will polish each within an inch of its life and turn it in. That is all I can do.

And after the email is sent, after the work is done, then I can go back to my fears and let them wash over me again.

New Universe Authors for the Edge of Propinquity 2011

For the sixth year of publication for the Edge of Propinquity, there are going to be a couple of major changes around here. First, we will be saying good-bye to Universe authors Rick Silva, Nick Bergeron and Seanan McGuire. All three of them have some major stuff coming up in 2011 and I wish them the best in everything they do.

Remaining with the Edge of Propinquity is Ivan Ewert who has been with the magazine since its inception. He will debut a new Universe called Idolwood . Idolwood , set in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, is a tale of magic and horror, centered around its damaged residents and their passions. When obsession and fetishism drive the chariots of power, those who seek the driver's seat must work within the darkest corners of their dreams and their most dangerous desires.

Joining the Edge of Propinquity for 2011 is a stellar crew of authors: award winning author Peter M. Ball from Brisbane, Australia; Alina Pete from Edmonton, Canada; and Kaolin Fire from Berkeley, California. All three of these authors have wonderful stories to tell. I am also retaining Jay Faulkner of Armagh, Northern Ireland for his Universe story for 2012. Amber Clark of Stopped Motion Photography will continue as the official Edge of Propinquity photographer.

Flotsam by Peter M. Ball is set on the Gold Coast of Australia and will tell the story of Keith Murphy who left the Gold Coast ten years ago, but now he's coming home with orders to lie low. He's got an occult hit man for a boss, the last magic bullet from the 9mm that killed an immortal down in Adelaide, and just enough knowledge of the world behind the world to realise how much trouble he's in.

The Ones Who Call by Alina Pete is set in the Qu'Apelle valley in south eastern Saskatchewan. It was once called kab-tep-was, The River That Calls, after the fairy spirits who would call to the Native travelers along its banks. The Sīpisis family, once of several spirit families on the Cowesess reserve, own a gas station. The tanks are half rusted and can't compete with the big corporate gas station further down the valley, but they make enough to get by. However, Jenny, their oldest daughter, is now old enough to dream of leaving the reserve and making her way in the big city. Her parents, who have kept her heritage a secret, now will have to tell her the stories that explain why she can never leave her home.

Credencium by Kaolin Fire is set in Berkeley and San Francisco, CA. This is where those who can't or don't want to fit into the common conception of society make their own way in the world. Joshua didn't so much run away from home as walk away and never look back. He had his GED, he had some skill as an artist, and he wanted to learn about the world from the ground up. He left the harsh climate of Long Island for the welcoming arms of the Bay Area, not looking for anything in particular but everything altogether. He quickly falls into the street-punk scene, and while he's not impressed by many aspects of it, he's turned on by the open minds and endless possibilities.

Visit the Edge of Propinquity at http://www.edgeofpropinquity.net/ - Monthly stories, free archives, and no ads.

How to Make Me Happy on My Birthday

In about two weeks, December 9th, I turn 40. I warned my husband that I wanted a big fuss made over me for my 40th birthday (it's a heck of a milestone for me) and he took that to heart. He's got all kinds of things planned for me and that makes me happy.

Several times in the past week, people have asked me what they could get me for my birthday and the best thing I can think of today, on my 4th anniversary of becoming a fulltime author (go me!), is this: Nothing would make me happier than for you to buy one of my books and ask me to sign it for you. For those of you who are far away, nothing would make me happier for you to buy one of my books and send me a picture of you with it. (Email to my gaaneden at gmail account.)

Heck, better yet, you know what I want for my birthday, December 9th? I want you to post a picture of you, your cat or your fabric friend with one of my books and link me to it. That would be the best present ever. Even if I don't know you. Post it is if it comes late. Just let me know sometime in December. (Yes, this is a great Christmas gift, too.)

What are my books? Well, here's a link to my Amazon page.

And here is a link to my DriveThruRPG page.

And one for Apex.

Another one and two for Dark Quest Books.

Yes. I'm serious. Buy yourself a gift of one of my books and that is gift enough for me.

I Read What You Write on the Internet

As an author, an editor and a reviewer, I spend a lot of my life online. Everything I do is remote. Therefore, I have a lot of Google alerts set up. Every single time my name is mentioned, I eventually know about it. Ditto with a number of my projects.

The problem with this is that I often read things I'm probably not meant to see. The bigger problem with this is that I do, in fact, often read what you write on the internet. "You" means people I have reviewed or rejected. "What" is in regards to what "you" have said about me, personally, or the projects I am working on and/or may have just rejected you from. (Ditto goes for those I have just accepted but that is not what this post is about.)

I understand that less than stellar reviews hurt and rejections suck. I have been through both. But, I promise you that I have never sat back in my chair and thought, "Ok, whose life can I destroy today? I think I will set up Author X for a fall. This should be fun." I have never planned that. I dislike giving out less than 5 star reviews and rejections are the bane of my existence. However, these things…they do happen.

You, as an author, don't have control over this. What you do have control over is how you respond publicly to it. If I have two people who respond a rejection and one says, "Dammit. Rejected again. All right. Time for a polish and to send the story out again." While the other says, "Oh, God… I was rejected. My life is worthless. I don't think I'm going to leave my house for a week." Which one of these authors do you think I'm going to be comfortable working with again in the future? Which one of these authors do I think will be easier to work with if I do accept them for a project and then need to edit them?

Obviously, the first one. And if it comes down to me having only one invitation left, the first one is going to get it based on how they (much more professionally) reacted to bad news in public.

The same thing happens when it comes to reviews. It's OK to not like the review I gave you. However, it is not OK to only focus on the bad parts of the review, ignoring the good parts of the review and publicly accuse me tricking you or setting you up to fail or any of that. Because, whether you know it or not, I will probably read what you have said about me. Maybe because Google alert has told me you've written about me. Sometimes because a friend will IM me and say, "Uh, you might want to read what Author X is saying about you."

Editors are human. What you say about them and how you react to them doing their job will color how they look at you in the future. I have removed authors from my "top tier" list for future projects based on how they have dealt with rejections and what they have said about me online. I read what you write on the internet and if what I read tells me that you will be more trouble than you are worth, then I will head that problem off at the pass.

This is why authors should remember to be professional online when dealing with something upsetting. It is better to walk away from the computer than to damage your reputation. This is the part of things that authors have control over. I bitch about my bad reviews but I don't bitch about them online. I cry in private and keep my suit on in public. This is the best piece of advice I can give any writer.

Acceptance!

I just sold my weird west story "The Priest, the Man, the Gun" to Tales of the Talisman magazine to be published in 2011. I'm happy to have this weird west tale out there.

Jefferson Oregon Library

I just received this email from Linda Baker, a friend and fellow author. Please consider helping out.

Dear Jennifer,

The sky isn't falling, but the library in Jefferson Oregon just might. We need your help! The 150-year old-Conser House which serves as our library has recently been determined to be severely structurally deficient and must be replaced.

"How can I help?" you ask.

"Easy as can be!" we reply. You can:

1. Send an autographed copy of one of your book(s).

2. Make a cash donation – no gift is too small or too large.

3. Submit a favorite recipe and a narrative of your choosing for inclusion in a cookbook with the working title of Authors and Appetites.

For your convenience we have attached a project brochure and form to submit your gift. Question or comments please reply to this email or if voice contact is preferable we can be reached at 541.327.2423.

Thanks and in anticipation,
Linda

Wanted: Two Apex Publishing Interns

In the summer, I advertised for an editorial intern and ended up taking on three as a pool to switch out through my many anthology projects. Now that I've been promoted to assistant editor over at Apex Publications, one of my many duties is to work with the marketing director to assist in marketing and PR. To that end, I need to take on two new publishing interns.

I will be accepting one intern from the US and one from abroad. I must stress, despite the fun of working with me and other people within Apex Publications, this is a WORKING internship. You will have weekly tasks and I will expect better answers than, "I don't know" or "It's not done, yet."

Tasks for these internships will include:

• Calling and emailing libraries and indie bookstores to talk about the newest releases.
• Monthly or bi-monthly blog posts.
• Working with the Apex-Buzz team leader.
• Participating in and/or running monthly #apexchats
• Keeping on top of awards and award submission periods
• Learning how to and writing press releases to submit to newspapers and magazines.
• Assisting Apex authors and editors with readings, book releases and conventions—as time and location permit.
• Coming up with new and effective marketing campaigns, contests and other fun things to bring traffic and sales to Apex Publication.
• Monthly Skype calls (mic required, webcam not).
• Regular and timely responses to email/IM/etc…
• Anything else Jason, Sarah or I can think of.

If you are interested in one of these two positions, please email the following to gaaneden at gmail dot com by 21 Dec 2010. I would be your direct boss.

Subject header should read: Apex Intern App: [Name]

Name:
Location:
What social networks you are on:
Skype name (requirement):
Short Explanation of why you should get this internship:
Attach your CV if relevant.

As this is an internship, this is not a paid position. However, you will have full access to me and my thoughts on writing, editing, publishing, RPGs, etc. I am happy to mentor as much as I can. Also, Apex Publishing is happy to ply working interns with hardcopy and e-versions of their books and e-versions of their magazine.

The Edge of Propinquity - Issue 59

Issue 59: November 2010

Welcome to the Edge of Propinquity. Issue 59 is now published. As November winds chill the air, our yearly stories make the heart shudder. This month, we have the parting of brothers, the siege of a town hall, a monster chase through unreality, a lost love found and a ghost who has the last word. Welcome to the penultimate issue of 2010.

Four Visitors - Tesseract, Part Two - by Rick Silva AKA shaharazad
Solstice - Autumn, Part Five - by Ivan Ewert AKA ivan23
Mnemosyne - The Car Chase From Bullitt - by Nick Bergeron
Sparrow Hill Road - Faithfully - by Seanan McGuire AKA seanan_mcguire
Guest Author - The Gad Dam Ghost by Harvey Roberts


Have you ever looked over the edge and seen something looking back at you?

Sincerely,
Jennifer Brozek
Editor, The Edge of Propinquity
http://www.edgeofpropinquity.net/default.asp