New Clients! Corry L. Lee & K. G. Jewell

April was a very busy month for me. In addition to signing a contemporary middle grade author, I’ve also signed a great writing duo, Corry L. Lee and K. G. Jewell!

JOCASTA AND THE PURPLE GEMFIRE is a zany-yet-grounded sci-fi middle grade about the titular Jocasta and her adventures with aliens on a space station “nexus” that connects all the far-flung galaxies together. Think Stargate meets Percy Jackson, or Alice in Wonderland in space.

I particularly love how all of the characters, from Jocasta the science-minded Earth girl to Sam the rambunctious alien flying squirrel (though don’t let him hear you call him that) to more truly alien creatures, are all extremely relatable despite their extremely different backgrounds and species.

I also really appreciated that Jocasta herself has agency throughout. Sometimes she makes bad decisions (or the best of many bad options), but it’s always clear that she’s making decisions and not letting the plot push her around. And despite some heavier plot elements, JOCASTA has a lighthearted and fun tone throughout. It’s clear that Corry and K. G. had a lot of fun with this project, and it really shines through.

Corry is an SFF writer recently escaped from academia, and the 2011 winner of Writers of the Future. K. G. is a prolific short fiction writer and a 2009 Odyssey Writing Workshop graduate. They’re extremely talented writers, both together and individually, and I’m stoked to be working with them!

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New Client! Heidi Stallman

I’m very happy to announce that I’ve just signed Heidi Stallman, a fantastic middle grade author! She queried me* with OPERATION MAGIC, a contemporary middle grade story about a girl who’s struggling to come to terms with the fact that her relationships with her dad and her BFF are changing as she gets older.

I really love how realistically those changes are portrayed. Her dad isn’t a two-dimensional villain, and her BFF isn’t the stereotypical “mean girl.” They’re just people who are also changing and growing, and not necessarily 100% in-line with the main character. She and BFF don’t tear each other down, but they do fight with and lie to each other the way friends do, especially at an age where they’re trying to determine who they are as individuals. A multi-layered coming-of-age story, Heidi does a fantastic job of making each character the hero of their own story.

Heidi herself has published numerous articles and short stories in such magazines as Missouri Conservationist and Green Prints, as well as placing third in Writers of the Future. She’s also a Pitch Wars alum; I’d just signed another Pitch Wars alum before reading her query, so I was hopeful magic would strike twice — and it did!

Needless to say, I’m thrilled to be working with Heidi and OPERATION MAGIC!

*A slush pile success story! Fun fact: I find the vast majority of my clients from queries.

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Pub Day! A Debutante’s Guide to Rebellion by Kathleen Kimmel

A very happy publication day to Kathleen Kimmel! A Debutante’s Guide to Rebellion is a companion novella to her Birch Hall Regency romance series and set chronologically before A Lady’s Guide to Ruin, the first book in the series.

While it’s populated almost entirely with new characters, fans of A Lady’s Guide to Ruin will appreciate the appearance of a few tertiary characters, including Lady Copeland and her infamous diamonds! For those who haven’t read Lady’s Guide, Debutante’s Guide works perfectly as a standalone read, and there are no spoilers in either the book or the novella.

Ramblings From This Chick called A Debutante’s Guide to Rebellion “adorable” and “too cute.” Rachel McMillan, author of the Herringford and Watts series, says it’s “a gem” and “probably the best novella” she’s read. (I humbly agree; also, I’m totally not biased at all. ;) ).

A bashful botanist and a reluctant debutante are about to discover that there may be a science to seduction after all…

London, 1815: Lady Mildred Weller (Eddie to her friends) has few prospects for marriage. If she can’t attract the available—though considerably older—Lord Averdale, she may be doomed to spinsterhood. She’s even willing to enter into that loveless union, if only to escape her mother’s stifling and increasingly desperate dominance. And she may have found the perfect person to help her achieve that goal.

Ezekiel Blackwood is a botanist as well as Lord Averdale’s nephew and heir. He is also a social disaster. Cross-pollination he understands; the fairer sex not at all. But in Lady Eddie, he discovers a kindred spirit. When she asks for his assistance in assessing Lord Averdale’s interest in her, Ezekiel is crushed. But naturally, he thinks, she could never fall in love with someone like him. Ezekiel’s matchmaking cousin  is only too happy to arrange a discreet rendezvous for their conspiracy—a greenhouse. Of course in such a setting, it’s only natural that feelings might begin to bloom…

This is a sweet* Regency read for those looking for an afternoon treat. Also features two adorably awkward leads, terrible dancing, and botany! And, fun fact, there’s an excerpt for the second Birch Hall novel, A Gentleman’s Guide to Scandal, at the end!

*A Debutante’s Guide to Rebellion is clean, focusing on the courtship (and a wonderful first kiss). Kimmel’s novels are decidedly more explicit.

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KGB Fantastic Fiction Reading Series (and more)

The Theater

A friend of mine was interning with a independent theater group, the New York Neo-Futurists. Since Saturday was her last day as an intern and my life had not yet been consumed by my publishing course, I figured I should go see what they were all about. The Neo-Futurists do 30 plays in 60 minutes at the Kraine Theater, with audience participation similar to Rocky Horror (except unscripted and not as frequent). The vignettes are very short, and run the gamut from quite humorous to moving. If you’re in Manhattan on a Friday or Saturday nigh, I recommend checking them out. (Worth mentioning: The KGB Bar is upstairs, and you’re allowed to bring your beverage into the theater.)

The Reading Series

After hearing on twitter that I was at the KGB, two writer/twitter friends mentioned that I should look into the monthly KGB Fantastic Fiction reading series. Hosted by editor/anthologist Ellen Datlow and author Matthew Kressel, the reading series features authors sharing (I assume) excerpts from their recently-published or soon-to-be-published works.

This month’s readers are E.C. Myers, author of Fair Coin (who I mentioned in my previous post), and Jack O’Connell, author of The Resurrectionist (among others).

The date coincides with the halfway point of my publishing course. My roommate and I are planning to attend as a reward for surviving the first three weeks and the culmination of the magazine section.

Free Fiction

On a different note, have you heard of Goldfish Grimm? It’s an monthly webzine dedicated to speculative fiction, with a partiality for dark fantasy and horror. Issue 4 went live a few days ago. Stop by and take a peek.

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Kickstarter Projects to Look At

The amazing anthologist and editor John Joseph Adams has decided to Kickstart a new online magazine, Nightmare Magazine, featuring stories of horror and dark fantasy. Like Adams’ other publication, Lightspeed Magazine, Nightmare will have both original fiction and reprints every month. The first issue will feature stories from Laird Barron, Sarah Langan, Jonathan Maberry, and Genevieve Valentine. Assistant editors were announced two days ago (I saw via twitter, they may have been announced elsewhere, as well): E.C. Myers, author of Fair Coin, and Erika Holt, an Inkpunks contributor. The magazine has been fully funded, but there are still a few days left to get in on the first issue! (Note for writers: Nightmare is not yet open for submissions. The Kickstarter page says it’ll be open to submissions shortly after it’s funded, so make sure to check its website for further updates.)

Another Kickstarter project to look at is Fireside Magazine, Issue 2 (and beyond). Fireside Magazine is a quarterly magazine that publishes short fiction and comics. If successfully funded, the second issue will feature stories by Stephen Blackmoore, Damien Walters Grintalis, Kat Howard, and Jake Kerr, and a comic by Steven Walker and the magazine’s editor, Brian White. The cover artist for issue 2 is Galen Dara. Contributors for issue 3 will be Daniel Abraham, Elizabeth Bear, and Mary Robinette Kowal, with the comic written by Rachel Deering. Fireside 2 is almost 50% funded, with a litte over a week to go. The line-up for issue 2 (and 3) are all stellar writers; if you enjoy speculative short fiction, you won’t be disappointed.

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Upcoming Writerly Events

I noticed a number of awesome-sounding conventions and workshops happening in my neck of the woods (Northern California-ish) in the near future. I thought I’d share, even though I’ll be out of the state for most of them.

EFA NorCal Chapter Meeting: Editor’s POV book discussion: The Hunger Games, May 21, Sacramento, CA. They’ll be discussing the book from a writer/editor point of view, not a literary point of view. Questions that may be considered: Why is this book so successful? What techniques does the writer use that have created such emotional responses from readers? Does the writer break writing “rules,” and if so how does it work for her?

I’m actually quite interested in this topic, especially since I’m still in Sacramento! Whether I can go depends on if my apartment is 85% packed by 6pm. Let’s just say I have a lot of stuff. ;)

Bay Con 2012, May 25-28, Santa Clara, CA. The San Francisco Bay Area’s Science Fiction & Fantasy Convention since 1982. Guests of honor include Brandon Sanderson, Stephan Martiniere, Scott and Cathy Beckstead, Dani Kollin and Eytan Kollin.

Conventions are a great place to meet authors, editors, and fans of the genre. The panels offer a range of topics, from writing to the business of writing to topics of related interest (like Dr. Who and Joss Whedon). BayCon also offers regency dances and a Magic: The Gathering tournament with Brandon Sanderson! Check out the programming.

Cascade Writers Workshop, July 26-29, Vancouver, WA. This is a Milford-style workshop, meaning you read and critique each person’s story in your workshop group. Workshop leaders include Beth Meacham (Tor Executive Editor), Michael Carr (literary agent), Ken Scholes (author), Tina Connolly (author), Jay Lake (author), and Barb & JC Hendee (authors). Guest speakers include Sheryn Hara (topic: self-publishing), Spencer Ellsworth (topic: pitches), Karen Weatherall Davis (topic: copyright and contracts), Mark Teppo (topic: outlining your novel), Shelly Beber (topic: taxes for writers).

Looks like a great line-up of very knowledgeable and friendly people! Registration is open until June 15th, or the last 8 spots are filled.

Westercon 65, July 5-8, Seattle, WA. Guests of honor include Robin Hobb(!), Art Bozlee, Frank Wu, Chaz Boston Baden, and the filk duo Vixy & Tony.

Not only is Seattle a gorgeous city, but Robin Hobb is one of my favorite fantasy authors. I’m pretty bummed I won’t be able to attend, but I’ll be in the middle of my summer publishing program. There are too many interesting things happening all at once!

Mythcon 43, August 3-6, Berkeley, CA.The conference discusses myths and legends from Europe and Asia. Guests of honor include Professor G. Ronald Murphy, SJ, and YA author Malindo Lo.

If you’re interested in European and Asian mythologies, take a look!

Westercon 66, July 4-7, 2013, Sacramento, CA. It looks like they haven’t yet settled on guests of honor or programming, but given that it’s more than a year away, that’s not surprising.

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Links Round-up

Links to articles that have caught my interest from the past few days. Most of them are about books.

• 8 Things You Might Not Know About the New York Times Best Seller List. Veronica Roth wrote up a quick explanation of what the New York Times Bestseller List is, what is isn’t, and the basics of how it works at YA Highway.
• Decolonizing as an SF Writer (also cross-posted here). Rochita Loenen-Ruiz wrote an article about how the Phillipines’ colonization by first Spain and then America has drastically affected the way Filipinos view their native culture, and how it has shaped her writing.
• Get a Grip on Twitter Handles. Porter Anderson has a great guest post about why Twitter handles matter and why you should use them.
• How the Professor Who Fooled Wikipedia Got Caught by Reddit. A class on historical hoaxes at George Mason University gets “found out” by Reddit users.
• Social Networking and the 10% Rule by Liana Brooks, and Preventing Writer’s Cramp, or, Control Your Social Media So It Doesn’t Control You by Elizabeth S. Craig at Jungle Red Writers. Two posts on managing social media time with respect to writing time.

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