Archive for the ‘Events’ Category
Okay everyone, I’m gonna be at Boskone 52 this weekend, and I don’t care how much snow there’s gonna be! I’m on some panels, and I’m doing both a reading and an autograph session. Stop by! Say hi!
Here’s where I’ll be:
The Dark Side of Doctor Who
Friday 16:00 – 16:50, Harbor I (Westin)
We’ve all seen the bright and charming Doctor saving the universe. But traveling through time and space in a blue police box isn’t all sunshine and puppies. Threaded through the rollicking adventures, the Doctor deals with some serious, dark topics that navigate the border of horror. “The Empty Child,” “Blink,” and “Silence in the Library” are just a few of the episodes that slide into dark fiction territory. What makes these episodes so special to the audience, to the series, and to the Doctor himself? What would the Doctor be without this edge of darkness? What other episodes have made us pause and cast a glance over our shoulder to peer through shaded eyes at what might be hiding in the shadows?
Jim Mann (M), me, Ginjer Buchanan, LJ Cohen, Laurie Mann
The Continuing Adventures of the QUILTBAG
Friday 18:00 – 18:50, Harbor II (Westin)
Our media may be starting to feature more characters and situations from the queer/questioning, undecided, intersex, lesbian, transgender/transsexual, bisexual, allied/asexual, gay/genderqueer (QUILTBAG) perspective, but there’s still a long way to go. How do we move from tokenism to full inclusion? We’ll discuss favorite characters, new challenges, and available resources for writers and readers.
John Chu (M), me, Justine Graykin, Julia Rios, Jill Shultz
Off the Air
Friday 19:00 – 19:50, Marina 2 (Westin)
Why does good television fail? Panelists talk about SF/F/H TV shows that died too soon, including Firefly, Alphas, The Tomorrow People, Millennium, Jericho, Almost Human, and more. Were they as good as we think? What are we missing?
Stephen P. Kelner (M), D. Lynn Smith, Don Pizarro, Ken Altabef, me
Autographing: Elizabeth Bear. Susan Jane Bigelow, James Cambias, Andrea Hairston
Saturday 11:00 – 11:50, Galleria-Autographing (Westin)
Finding Diverse Fiction
Saturday 12:00 – 12:50, Marina 2 (Westin)
There is a clear desire for increased diversity within SF/F fiction and fandom. There are also a lot of emerging writers who are bringing diversity to the genre, but many of them are still flying below the publicity radar. Authors and publishers come together to share their “must read” lists and tips on where to find some of the new up-and-coming authors.
Charles Stross (M), me, Don Pizarro, Jarvis Sheffield, Lauren Roy
Reading: Susan Jane Bigelow
Saturday 17:00 – 17:25, Independence (Westin)
A post about endings, and updates
Posted on: July 9, 2014
Recently I wrote about finishing the first draft of the final book of the Grayline Sisters trilogy, and how that felt. I had no idea I’d be making another post like it so soon after.
I finished the second draft of WAKING GIFTS (Extrahumans #4) last week. It was an excruciating effort–I basically rebuilt the story from the ground up because what I’d originally put down simply wasn’t working. I changed just about everything about the book, including the title (it was originally THE GIFT OF GREAT YIA, then THE BELLS OF VALEN, and now WAKING GIFTS). I think it’s pretty decent. I know I can turn it into something good. So at some point, this book will exist, and you’ll get to read all about what happens when Jill gets everything she thinks she wants (hint: nothing good).
And then that will be the end of the Extrahumans series.
There are several reasons for this, some about business, some personal. Mainly, though, this is a decision that grew out of the story.
I’d originally planned on five books, but at some point I realized that the plans I’d had for the fifth book were not particularly workable, and not actually about the characters we’ve been following.
Worse, it had nothing to do with Penny. Basically, even though she is the main character in only one of the books, Extrahumans is at it’s very heart the story of Penny Silverwing, her friends, her family, her lovers, and her transformation from who she is at the beginning of BROKEN to who she becomes by the end of WAKING GIFTS. Penny drives the stories and ties them all together, and she’s at the center of the extended “family” of characters. Her arc, after this story, is done.
This story also completes the arcs of many of the other characters, such as Jill (obviously), Emily, Sky Ranger, and Felipe. It also does provide some answers to some of the big questions that the series has been asking, and wraps up some of the larger, overarching storylines.
So this is a good place to end it. I thought about ending it with THE SPARK, but there were simply too many unanswered questions. I don’t feel that way about this book. This is a good end point.
Now, that doesn’t mean that this will be the last story in this universe, and that this is the last we’ll ever hear of these particular characters. There is so much left to tell! But this particular series will end with book 4, and I’m happy with that.
I am so grateful to all of you who’ve been sticking with this series. I know WAKING GIFTS has been a long time in coming compared to the first three. I hope I can make it worth your while!
So, on to the updates!
THE SEEKER STAR (Grayline Sisters #2) – Hoping to have a cover reveal for you real soon. Plans are that it’ll be out late this year, but I don’t have a date yet.
WAKING GIFTS (Extrahumans #4) – Second draft finished. I’d like to send this to the publisher by the end of the year.
THE FALLEN STAR (Grayline Sisters #3) – First draft done, doing a few edits here and there.
Short stories: WAR STORIES has been sent out to Kickstarter backers! My story “The Radio” is in the first section. It is a very, very cool anthology from Apex which you should check out when it goes on general sale in the fall. I should also have another short story out either late this year or early next year, we’ll see.
Lastly, I’m going to be at Readercon this Friday–if you’re there, say hi!
That’s all for now!
Hey everyone!
Gonna be doing two readings with the Topside Press summer tour this coming weekend. One’s in Providence, RI on Saturday, June 7 at 7pm at the Carpenter Street Gallery, 186 Carpenter St. This is the reading I had to miss out on in February because of a MASSIVE SNOWSTORM, which sucked for sure.
The second reading is me coming home! The tour swings into Hartford’s Real Art Ways on Sunday, June 8th, at 3pm, so definitely come hang out.
Hey Rhode Island and SE Massachusetts! I’ll be appearing with a bunch of other amazing writers at an event in Providence on February 15! Here’s the details:
Trans Authors Read! Special event in Providence, RI
Saturday, February 15
7:00 PM
186 Carpenter Gallery and Performance Space
186 Carpenter Street
Providence, RI
I’ll be there with other amazing writers like Imogen Binnie, Red Durkin, Elliot DeLine, as well as Topside Press editors Riley MacLeod, and Tom Léger! If you’re in the area, stop by!
Here’s the FB event page. Hope to see you there!
Belated List of Updates
Posted on: February 28, 2013
Yes. I am awful. I do not blog much.
But in a previous life I blogged A LOT, so I think that counts for something?
Okay. Here’s what’s going on:
Appearances
I did a reading of “Ramona’s Demons” with the awesome Topside Press crew at the Kelly Writer’s House at Penn in Philadelphia last week. It was incredible! I had a blast with everyone, and was so amazed by the outpouring of love for THE COLLECTION and for my story. Philly, you are the best.
I keep thinking we’ll do some sort of reading/appearance thing for my other books at some point. I’ll keep you posted.
Announcements
Hey! Do you like “Doctor Who” more than pretty much anything? Me, too! Which is why I’m super excited to have an essay appearing in “Queers Dig Time Lords,” which will be coming out from Mad Norwegian Press this June. Did I mention John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) will be doing the intro? Yeah!
Books in Production
The cover for THE DAUGHTER STAR is done and ready for a reveal next month. It is AMAZING, and I’m thrilled about it. The book itself is due out in May, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
Works in Progress
THE BELLS OF VALEN: I finished up the rough draft of the fourth Extrahumans book yesterday, and now I’m completely exhausted. Revisions loom, but I’m not touching the book until at least May. I need to let it settle, plus there’s way more to do.
THE SEEKER STAR: I’m about halfway through revisions for this book, which is the second in the Grayline Sisters trilogy. It is slow going. This book has been interrupted by so, so many other things.
SIPHANE AND THE WHALE: This rough draft of a grumpy robot and her weirdo human pal figuring out life, love and unusual food products during a terrifying interstellar war is collecting dust, waiting for me to have time to revise it. Maybe by April?
THE DEMON GIRL’S SONG: Look what’s back in rotation! I’m trying to fix this poor, unloved book about a young woman being possessed by a demon emperor up some. There were so many issues with it, and I’d love for it to see the light of day at some point… but I only have time to work on it when I’m not busy with other things. I also have no idea how to fix a lot of it. Argh!
THE FALLEN STAR: Grayline Sisters #3. I have a few pages written and have outlined some of the rest.
THE LAST EXTRAHUMAN: Outlined. Haven’t started. Really want to start. Wanted to start months ago. Holding self back.
FURY’S STAND: Byzantine gender fantasy, with goddesses. 18k or so written. It’s stalled out while I work on other things.
Reviews
There’s a bunch of reviews of BROKEN out there which I need to post. I will get to it. Promise.
And that’s it!
Appearance: Brattleboro 12/2
Posted on: November 21, 2012
Quick post to say I’ll be joining other authors from the Topside Press anthology THE COLLECTION on Sunday, December 2nd in Brattleboro, VT! Here’s the event details. I promise to try and bring some Extrahumans swag and books, too!
The Extrahuman Union 