Pat Wood's LOTTERY Nominated

First-time authors find favour on Orange longlist

Lindesay Irvine
Tuesday March 18, 2008
guardian.co.uk

Debut novelists make a strong showing once more in this year's Orange prize longlist, announced today, squeezing out two much-praised novels by established authors.

Seven of the 20 books which make the list are by first-time authors, with Anita Amirrezvani, Sadie Jones, Lauren Liebenberg, Heather O'Neill, Dalia Sofer, Carol Topolski and Patricia Wood nominated for debut novels.

The broadcaster Kirsty Lang, this year's chair of the judges, suggested that the list struck a good balance between first novels and writers who "haven't perhaps had the recognition they deserved."

Why am I mentioning this? I'm proud to say I interviewed Pat just about the time that "Lottery" was published, maybe a bit before. It really pleases me to find accolades for writers I know, even if only through the Cybernet.

Read my Pat Wood Blog Interview here: Pat Wood - Hot, Hot, Hot!

Help Defend Preditors and Editors

Unfortunately, there are those who do not like P&E or its editor because we give out information that they would prefer remain hidden from writers. Usually, they slink away, but not this time. P&E is being sued and we are asking for donations to mount a legal defense in court. Please click on the link below and give if you can to help protect P&E so it can continue to defend writers as it has for the past eleven years.

This is the link to the P&E page with the donation button. Scroll down past the other news items.

If you don't know Preditors and Editors and you're a writer, then you haven't been doing your homework. P&E lists publishers, agents, editors, etc. and is not shy about posting Not Recommended for those entities which are incompetent, cheaters, stealers, scammers, and whatever else they've done wrong. Note that this is not the subjective opinion of Dave Kuminski, but based on factual information.

P&E has been active in letting writers know that PublishAmerica is the worst possible vanity press. There are other, legitimate, self-publishers who can help a writer to self-pub if that's the way they want to go.

For more information, go to the Absolute Write forum to see the discussions on PA and for much more valuable information about the publishing business.

It's Time To...

March 15th! Write it on your calendars. A Time To... Volume 2 will be out in all its radiant glory.

Read the blurbs about both Volume 1 and Volume 2 here.

That's okay, I'll copy some of it here, so you don't wear out your clickie finger (that's the index finger on your right hand if you aren't sure).

Oh, yeah. Two of my stories are in this volume. Woo hoo! Check it out to read "A Visit to Potter's Field" (you never know what you might dig up) and "The Delegate" (what will racism be in the future?)

*************

A wonderful collection of well-written stories. I found them exciting, poignant and fun to read. Humor, drama and mythical mystery of powerful female characters. Thank you for the opportunity to view a fine collection put forth by your very gifted, thought-provoking writers. Your readers will not be disappointed. Paula Blois, editor of The Deepening, short story author and poet

***
While reading the first poem I knew A Time to....was a keeper. With it's innovative storylines and clever plot twists, the stories were a welcome escape after a frazzled day. It would hard to pick a favorite, but one of the stories that stayed with me long after reading was Tempting the Fates, by J.J. Fellows. Why? I guess you will have to read the story to find out. Barbara M Hodges http://barbarahodges.gobot.com

***

What is a woman? Is she shy or determined? Merciless or nurturing? Unyielding or pliant?

Whatever you may think of the "fairer" sex, within the pages of this anthology, you will find eighteen stories that will challenge the preconceptions you have. You will meet women blinded by enchantments, driven by vengeance, or replete and serene. You will meet women with centuries of experience, and ones with scant decades. You will meet witches and scientists, friends and rivals. But, despite their differences, the women in each tale have one thing in common: they are all females who find ways to master situations out of their control, who pursue their own paths, and create their own destinies. Join us as we briefly peer into the lives and decisions of these women.

"A Time To..." Volume 2 is the second volume of an Eppie-nominated anthology and showcases the very best of The Lorelei Signal for 2007. Come and delve into the pages...and let your imagination soar.

Book Review: Seedlings on the Solar Winds

Seedlings on the Solar Winds

by J Alan Erwine

Paperback: 148 pages
Publisher: Nomadic Delirium Press (December 22, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0980170303
ISBN-13: 978-0980170306

Buy it at Amazon or Nomadic Delirium Press.

J Alan Erwine's "Seedlings on a Solar Wind" is a small book, but loaded with good stories.

I've enjoyed reading all of them. I like short stories. I like the fast setup and the slamming resolution. J's stories fulfill my desire for the quick, fast, slap you in the face plots.

Seedlings has some downsides, but they're not severe. I noticed a few typos here and there. Well, what can I say? I'm a long-time tech writer and typos tend to show on the page in neon to my eye. I've seen them in the high-paid authors books, so I'll not mark J down on that account.

Favorites? "A Chronic Mistake," although J admits he doesn't write much cyberpunk, he might consider doing more. The story kept me going to the end. I didn't think I was much of a cyberpunk fan, but it then occurred to me that Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delaney is one of my favorite books of all time. Is it cyberpunk? I think so, maybe, sort of. Maybe it's pre-cyberpunk. Coming out in 1975, there was hardly any cyber with which to punk anyway. I also really liked Snow Crash by Neal Stephensen, and that's cyberpunk for sure. So maybe I'm more of a cyberpunk fan than I thought.

I think the book is worth the price. I hope everybody will also take a look at J's novels. I'm money-challenged, so I've got to spend wisely, but I sure would include J's books in my "want" list.

Need a Good Book to Read?

Rather than the usual 100 best books, decided by somebody who probably doesn't have your taste in reading, how about a list of books that created the most controversy from 1990-2000? Yup, here's the horrendous books that some benighted soul decided should be tossed on a pile and burned. Well, maybe not quite that bad, but...

From the ACLU Website - 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books. Also, check the site for additional information on the types of challengers, initiators, etc. Omigosh! Maya Angelou, Mark Twain, J.K. Rowling, Judy Blume, and those are just in the Top 10.

1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
16. Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
17. A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
18. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
19. Sex by Madonna
20. Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
21. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
22. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
23. Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
24. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
25. In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
26. The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
27. The Witches by Roald Dahl
28. The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
29. Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
30. The Goats by Brock Cole
31. Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
32. Blubber by Judy Blume
33. Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
34. Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
35. We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
36. Final Exit by Derek Humphry
37. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
38. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
39. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
40. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
41. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
42. Beloved by Toni Morrison
43. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
44. The Pigman by Paul Zindel
45. Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
46. Deenie by Judy Blume
47. Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
48. Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
49. The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
50. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
52. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
53. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
54. Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
55. Cujo by Stephen King
56. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
57. The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
58. Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
59. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
60. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
61. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
62. Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
63. Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
64. Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
65. Fade by Robert Cormier
66. Guess What? by Mem Fox
67. The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
68. The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
69. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
70. Lord of the Flies by William Golding
71. Native Son by Richard Wright
72. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
73. Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
74. Jack by A.M. Homes
75. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
76. Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
77. Carrie by Stephen King
78. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
79. On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
80. Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
81. Family Secrets by Norma Klein
82. Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
83. The Dead Zone by Stephen King
84. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
85. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
86. Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
87. Private Parts by Howard Stern
88. Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
89. Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
90. Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
91. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
92. Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
93. Sex Education by Jenny Davis
94. The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
95. Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
96. How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
97. View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
98. The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
99. The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
100. Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Busy Busy

I've been working my butt off on finishing up the Bad Spelling edit. The end is near. No, that doesn't sound very good, does it? Although I can still read parts of the book and get a giggle or two, fretting over the first few chapters is enough to turn one's hair gray. Hence, my appointment with Lady Clairol last weekend.

Pearls Before Swine is an oddball comic strip you might know. Today's strip definitely describes me at this point in the process. Hard to read here, so here's the link to the daily strip.

Things sure are dull around here

My fault, I know. Mea culpa and all that. I've been busy (that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it). I'm going through the edit phase on a new book. Part of the process is writing a spiffy query letter. For the uninitiated in the arcane rites of trying to get an agent, a query letter has to be short and attention grabbing. The first paragraph is supposed to contain a reason why the particular agent is the best choice for your book. That part is personalized, obviously, every time you send a query. The almost last paragraph contains relevant publishing credits. So, if I had a tome published on using database software (which I have), there's no reason to include it in a query for a middle-grade fantasy.

This particular query has not gone out to any agents (I'm still editing the book, right?), so I'm completely open to anybody's thoughts on changes to it.

Dear Ms. Agent:

(things personalized about agent) I believe you might be interested in BAD SPELLING, a completed 40,000 word MG/YA fantasy novel about a girl witch who can’t spell right.

Katya lives on the polar island of Galdurheim, a haven settled by European witches in the bad old days of the medievel witch hunts. Every spell Katya tries backfires on her. While she would like nothing better than to be a good witch and a credit to her race, her half-human parentage has put a kink in her abilities. Her brother, Rune is only half Warlock, with a vampire father, but he’s a super speller and everybody, especially picky Aunt Thordis, thinks he’s wonderful.

Another village witch discovers that a shaman from Katya’s Siberian family had cast a protective spell around her dead father’s body, unreachable since it is suspended inside a glacier. The protective spell not only puts a damper on Katya’s magic, but is spreading to the village. Katya knows she must do something fast, before the spell dooms the village’s existence. She decides she must find her father’s family and stop the witch-hating, spell-casting Shaman.

She and Rune race across the polar ice seas, fighting off polar bears, giants, trolls, and werewolves, not to mention that nasty shaman. In the end, Katya finds her Siberian family, defeats the shaman with help from an unusual source, gets her first kiss, and finally realizes she just might be a good speller after all.

I have published over thirty-five stories in a variety of print and on-line publications. My short stories have appeared in Weirdly (Wild Child Publishing), Wondrous Web Worlds 7 (Sam’s Dot Publishing Best of anthology), and A Time To... (Eppie finalist Best of anthology from Lorelei Signal). Sam’s Dot Publishing has scheduled two of my novellas for publication this summer: The Seven Adventures of Cadida (middle-grade fantasy) and First Duty (YA science fiction).

Thank you for your consideration and I hope you’ll want to see more.

Cordially,
Marva
(mailing address)

It's Official

I finally decided to join SCBWI (squibbee?), Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I've heard that networking is a good thing. The science fiction group doesn't want anyone who hasn't been published in a very limited set of publications and/or publishers. So, that leaves me out in the cold.

Anyway, SCBWI seemed a good place to start, although I haven't any idea yet how it might benefit me. They do hold two annual conferences (NY and LA) and, if I were well off, I might even attend. They do have a SCBWI @ Bologna conference. Being in Italy, I might have to be more than well off to attend that one.

They also have Regional chapters, although the one for Oregon seems to be in Portland, so that doesn't do me much good. Of course, I'll investigate further.

So, it's official: I'm now a children's book writer. Hmm. I'm not sure how that feels yet.

IAG Newsletter

A reminder to all you independent and small press authors out there. The Independent Authors Guild is growing by the minute. Formed within the Amazon discussion community specifically directed at historical authors, the IAG is growing to include all genres. So, if you write science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, childrens, romance, erotica, or anything else, drop by the IAG's Yahoo forum for a simpatico group of writers with lots of terrific ideas and cross-pollinization.

IAG Writers on Yahoo

Their website is also shaping up nicely. Visit the IAG Website here.

The January newsletter is now available. Check out the Files section of the Yahoo group forum. Easy to join and fun to belong.

Walking for a Living

I met Tyler Burgess at a bookstore reading/signing event. Tyler walks for a living. Since she's very, very good at walking, it's great she can also make enough money to support her odd habit.

Here's how she does it. She arranges walking tours of places all over the world. I just received a note that she just got back from her fourth walking trip to Morocco. Here's a link to her flickr picture site for that trip.

Do you like to walk? Well, Tyler is your go-to gal if you'd like to tour the world. Check out her website Walk With Me. In 2008, she has walking tours scheduled for Italy and England, then she returns to Morocco in 2009.

Not in condition for walking through Europe or the Middle East? That's okay, 'cause Tyler has a few books that will get you in shape for an unusual vacation where you can really see the countryside up close and personal.

If you're inclined to really take this walking thing seriously, Tyler also teaches classes in walking. Okay, you might think, but I already know how to put one foot in front of the other. Yeah, sure. That's like saying you can play pro football because you managed to play a tag game at the local park.

Check out Tyler's website and consider the training regimens she offers (marathon walking, for example). She was an adjunct professor at the University of Oregon, which is track town USA. Now, she's working on her own. Walking her ass off and, if you join her, you can walk your ass off, too.

However, if you can't get to Eugene for a personal class, check out Tyler's inexpensive and informative books to get in shape and WALK! By the way, she illustrates her walking guides with sketches she makes while on the road (or sidewalk if you fear European or Eugene drivers). The drawings are both cute and informative.

Numbers Game

Every author with a book on Amazon avidly watches sales ranks. I was pleased when "Tales of a Texas Boy - Large Print" had a sterling month in December. I won't give the numbers since they're pitiful in comparison to every book published by one of the Big Publishers.

Another thing authors do when whiling away their time is use the Search function to winnow down to the seach lists in which their book might appear. Since the LP edition of Tales did so well, I thought I'd try a keyword or two. My search: 'large print books texas' in the Literature and Fiction list. Sort by Bestsellers and Tales is NUMBER ONE! Wow, a search that's not so narrow as to include my name or the actual title of the book ends up at the top of the Best Sellers? I'll take it.

Funny how one can manipulate the numbers.

So, keep Tales at Numero Uno and go buy a copy from Amazon. Or, drop by my website (http://marvadasef.com/) and I'll give you a great deal on an autographed copy.

Weirdly - Volume 2

The second volume of the Weirdly anthology is in the works. It's scheduled for a June 2008 release with my story "The Vision" included. Thanks much to M.E. Ellis, the intrepid editor, who invited me to join in the second volume.

Don't forget to purchase your 2008 Calendar and Wondrous Web Worlds #7 from Sam's Dot Publishing. Of course, I've got a flash titled "Fluffy" in the first and my scifi story "Fish Story" in the second.

Grand Openings and Other Stuff

My son's gallery (canvas) grand opening was a great success, if you look at number of folks who showed up. I didn't count, but I'd say that easily 200 people came through the gallery. The restaurant providing snacks and selling drinks certainly did very well. I think they made about $25 off my husband and me alone. If you're a Seattlite, then get over to 619 Western and browse the art.

Last year, Weirdly the anthology came out in both ebook and print format. You might recall I had four stories in the book. The editor, M. E. Ellis, thought it was successful enough to give it another go. Thanks to M.E., I've got another story out in the world for Volume 2. My story, "The Vision," will be included in Weirdly 2, due to come out in June, 2008.

Good News - Bad News

Bad first. The Cybils finalists were announced and, alas and alack, Tales of a Texas Boy didn't make the cut. I'm not surprised since there were 75 really good books nominated in the middle-grade category. Go check out the finalists for some great selections of books for kids at the Cybils site.

The good news is that my story "The Cursed Valley" has been accepted for the May-July issue of Sorcerous Signals. The sister zine to Lorelei Signal*, Sorcerous Signals covers all types of fantasy. This story first appeared in Scribal Tales back in 2006. I sent the new and improved version to Sorcerous Signals. Can't help but tinker as you learn more about writing. I hope I keep getting better.

* I've had three stories at Lorelei Signal, including one which appeared in the 2006 A Time To... anthology and two others to appear in the 2007 Volume 2 of the anthology.

New Things

Sam's Dot Publishing's 2008 Calendar is now available at the Genre Mall. One of my flash stories is featured somewhere in there.

My son is opening canvas - an art gallery in Seattle, Washington. The gallery is located in Pioneer Square. The website is canvas an art gallery. The Grand Opening is this Thursday, January 3rd. If you live in the area, drop by for some free drinks and to peruse the art. One of the artists will be producing a canvas during the Grand Opening. Stand back or you'll get paint spatter.

News Flash!

"Dragon Soup" is now for sale at vanZeno Press. Check it out to read excerpts and admire a couple of the interior illustrations by Marge Simon.

Buy Dragon Soup here.

Customized Books

Here's a concept. How about a place where you can sample the first few pages of a story, then add it to a customized book built from just the things you'd like to read?

The folks at Anthology Builder are hoping the idea appeals to you. Mix and match authors and genres as you please. Combine up to 350 pages and get a nice trade paperback, complete with your own selected cover and notes. Pay $14.95 plus shipping. Voila! Custom books.

I thought this an interesting idea, so I shipped off one of my stories for inclusion in their database. Checking back, I see that stories are being added every day, some from a few 'name' authors such as Mary Robinette Kowal or look for zines such as Abyss & Apex, Alienskin, Asimov's or Fantastic Stories. Big publications with heavy-weight authors. Getcher stories right here.

They take only reprints, so you can be pretty sure the story you think sounds interesting is actually well-written and worth inclusion in your personalized anthology. Send in your own reprints and include yourself in a customized anthology. Perfect gift for friends and family.

Take a look at Anthology Builder and find my story, "If You Could See Her," here.

Wondrous Web Worlds #7

Wondrous Web Worlds Vol. 7 edited by J Alan Erwine {Sam's Dot Publishing}

The annual Wondrous Web Worlds series presents the very best science fiction, fantasy, and horror published online at Sam's Dot Publishing, and includes two dozen selections from The Martian Wave, The Fifth Di..., and Aoife's Kiss.

The material in this seventh in the series deals with some of the fundamental questions raised in the genres. What happens when you go mad from loneliness on Mars? If extra-terrestrials eat terrestrials, should you bring one back to Earth? Is it time to move on when you can't even entertain a rag-tag bunch of robots? What are the benefits of DIY terraforming? Come experience the literary potential of zombies, and learn why the Bone Slayer needed help against the skeletile, and discover the true purpose of biwigglies out Alpha Centauri way. You'll find some of the finest names in the genres between these covers: Richard S. Levine, Wendy Leeds, Marva Dasef, Tyree Campbell, David C. Kopaska-Merkel, Keith P. Graham, Karen A. Romanko, and many more!

Home For Supper by Tyree Campbell
Alone on a Lake on Mars by Cathy Buburuz
An Asteroid By Any Other Name by David Lee Summers
Future Fourth by Bruce Boston
To Sit in Judgment by Amanda M. Hayes
Devoted by Julie Shiel
A Comic on Phobos by Richard S. Levine
First Tree on the Moon by s.c. virtes
Just a Kid by Derek J. Goodman
This Old Earth by Karen A. Romanko
Bone Slayer by Wendy Leeds
Zombies on a Roll by David C. Kopaska-Merkel
Fish Story by Marva Dasef
Final Days by Aurelio Rico Lopez III
In the Mind of the Beholder by David Puro
The Raw Princess by David C. Kopaska-Merkel
Unplugged by Keith P. Graham
Martian Vespers by Theodora Fair
Farewell, My Droidy by Karen A. Romanko
Judas Rising by Elizabeth Barrette
Geow-lud-mo-sis-eg by Jane Mitchell
Heart by Jaime Lee Moyer

At the Genre Mall http://www.genremall.com/anthologiesr.htm#www7
U.S. Orders: $10.00 + $3.50 S&H OUR PRICE: $9.60 + $3.50 S&H

Awards Season

My story, "Chilpequin - 22 Miles," was first published on Lorelei Signal in 2006. At the end of the year it was included in the best of anthology "A Time To..."

Carol Hightshoe, the publisher/editor of Lorelei Signal, Sorcerous Signals, and the anthology was recently informed that the anthology is a finalist for the 2008 Eppie. Epic (Electronically Published Internet Connection) is a professional organization for publishers and authors of ebooks and ezines.

The awards will be presented at the EpiCon event held in Portland, Oregon in March. So, the anthology has a shot at winning the top award. In any case, congratulations to Carol and all the authors included in the anthology.

Buy A Time To... at Amazon or Lulu (POD printer for Wolfsinger Publishing)

ADDENDUM: I just heard from the lovely Ms. Hightshoe that two more of my stories will be included in "A Time To..." Volume 2. The anthology will be published in Spring 2008. The stories included in the 2nd volume are "A Visit to Potter's Field" and "The Delegate."

Good News and Good News

It's nice to have good news to report. Of course, I never report the bad news (well, except about my poor kitty).


Good News #1: I received email from the Cybils Awards coordinator that somebody nominated "Tales of a Texas Boy" in the middle-grade fiction category. Yes, an author can nominate herself, but I swear I didn't, so somebody else must have enjoyed Tales and decided to do so on my behalf. I thank them very much.


Good News #2: Sam's Dot Publishing just put out their publishing schedule for 2008 and I found my science fiction novella listed for June release. How cool is that!? I'll provide additional information as it becomes available to me. In the meantime, check out Sam's Dot offerings.