RustyCon

I just received prelimiary confirmation that I will be a panelist at RustyCon in Seattle in January. So, if anyone is in the area, make plans to stop by...

I've finished the first draft

I've just finished the rough draft of my new novel. This has been a work in progress for a long time. It started out as a novel, but after the first chapter, it stalled out.

I then turned that first chapter into a short story which appeared in Alternate Realities and then was later released as an illustrated chapbook by Sam's Dot. The cover of that chapbook is pictured here. You can order copies from The Genre Mall by clicking on the link above.

Eventually, I wrote the second chapter, but it died again after that. So, I went back and re-wroked the second chapter into a short story which eventually sold to Hadrosaur Tales. It's in issue 20, which is also available from The Genre Mall in the zines section.

Nothing happened for years after that. Once I left Grubway, I started working on the book that doesn't want to get written...and it still doesn't, so I pulled this one out, and it all came together. I added another 40,000 words, and we now have a rough draft.

It will take quite a bit of re-working because some things did change mid-stream, but that's ok...the first draft is always the hardest for me...

Ecotastrophe has arrived

Ecotastrophe is now available from Sam's Dot Publishing. This is a trade paperback collection of short stories and poems that look at some of the most dire futures brought about by global warming. As you can tell by the cover (designed by scott virtes, with cover art by scott virtes), I'm the editor on this project.

Curious to know what's in this collection? Here's the back cover blurb:

ECOTASTROPHE is a collection of short stories and poetry that examines futures we could face if we continue to damage Earth’s ecology. The oceans are dying and only desperate measures could save them in Jan Mortimer’s The Empty Ocean. Michelle Mellon’s Undiscovered Horizons questions whether we can truly find the answers out among the stars, or can we only hope to change the future by changing the past as Rebecca S.W. Bates postulates in Walking the River. Also featuring the works of JE Gurley, Bruce Boston, E. Catherine Tobler, Kristine Ong Muslim, and Adam Banks, among others, ECOTASTROPHE is a grim but illuminating view of several possible ecological futures for humanity.

This book will be on sale for $10 through the end of September...and that's not a bad price for a trade paperback.

Religion in SF

I've been reading quite a bit lately, mostly SF, and one thing I've found that really disturbs me is the fact that a lot of SF, even the stuff set tens of thousands of years in the future has the human race still worshipping gods.

As many of you are probably aware, I'm an atheist. I don't really have much use for religion, although I am fascinated by it. It distresses me to think that we might not outgrow our superstitions even when we go to the stars (assuming we don't kill ourselves off.) I'm sure some people might be offended by that statement, but oh well, this is my blog.

21st century Americans look back at the Greeks, Romans, and other ancient peoples and often laugh at their polytheistic religions, as if Judeo-Christian beliefs are somehow better. The simple fact is that they're not. If you really cut the fat away, they're just silly superstitions as well. Much of the Old Testament is stolen from those earlier religions that people now look down their noses at.

It frightens me to think that we can't outgrow this. Here in America, there's been a definite increase in religious beliefs as a result of recent events. Yes, most Americans really do laugh at the Muslim faith...thinking it's somehow less than their own beliefs. Take some time to look it over...it makes just as much sense as what the Christian right is trying to cram down our throats.

Evolution has come under attack quite a bit since dubya came to power, especially with the argument that "Intelligent Design" should be taught in science classes, even though there's limited science to it. It's simply faith wrapped up in science...but completly untestable, which is the primary requirement for any scientific theory.

But, back to where I started...I find it completely unfathomable that ten thousand years down the road we'll still be worshipping gods. The worship of gods has caused more death on this planet than any other man-made artifice. If we as a species don't chose to grow up, there will be no future for the human race.

Entropy

My short story, Entropy has just been published in the premiere issue of Allegory e-zine, which used to be Peridot Books. There's something about this market that I've always liked, and I'm glad to have finally cracked it.

The story is about one man's obsession, and what that obsession does to him...

The Lives of Billions

My short story "The Lives of Billions" has just been published in a anthology called Esperance. This anthology is a tribute to James Baker who started ProMart publishing, and who basically started my career as a writer and an editor. The collection contains stories, poems, and essays from Jim's early contributors.

My story looks at the question of whether or not we should colonize Mars should we find life there...even if it's microbial. This was the second story that I ever sold all those many years ago. It's been published in a few different locations, and now it's making yet another appearance.

The collection is available from The Genre Mall, so buy yourself a Labor Day present...you deserve it, don't you???

WorldCon 2008

The 2008 World Science Fiction Convention is coming to Denver. That's right folks, geekdom will be taking over downtown Denver for five days, and I for one, plan on being there. Now I just have to get chummy with the Colorado Springs SF people so that I can go as a guest instead of a fan...although I will go no matter what!

Pictures from my signing

As many of you know, I did a signing at Who Else Books in Denver back in June. I promised pictures, and I finally got them developed. They didn't turn out all that great, but they're now posted in the "Photo Gallery" section of my website. I think I will try to get a digital camera before MileHiCon...

And just for Keith, there are a couple of new pictures of my cat.

Laura Givens has a new site

Laura Givens, who is by far the most talented "small press" artist has a new site. Follow the link above and admire some of her work.

There's a book cover for Friends in Dark Places. This is a new book that will be released by Sam's Dot very soon, and I just happened to be the editor on the book. Also, there's a piece called "Come to Jesus." If I can ever find a new publisher for my novel, this is the cover I want. It fits so well with the book...

I feel dirty

Writers have to do a lot of different things to try to sell books...sometimes those things aren't always pleasant. In that vain, I now have a MySpace site. I've always hated MySpace...I still think it's a plague upon the Internet, but if I can sell books, then by god, I'm going to do it!!!

If I actually have any success with this, I'll let you know becuase I know there are a few of you out there with books to sell.

For now, I think I'll go take a shower...

The Shatner Roast

Last night, Comedy Central aired the William Shatner roast. I've really been looking forward to this, becuase there is just so much you can roast this guy on.

Boy, was I disappointed. This was one of the worst shows I've ever seen on TV, and that's really saying something. All totaled, I'm sure you could have pulled about five minutes out it that were good...Takei's comment about Takei rhyming with toupe certainly comes to mind.

First of all, I didn't even know who most of the comedians were, and it was obvious why...they were horrible.

Most of the roasters spent their time insulting the other roasters, rather than focusing on Shat....and the jokes were insults, not jokes. Modern comedians seem to think that the only way they can be funny is to be vulgar. I don't mind a little vulgarity in humor...Robin Williams is my favorite comedian, but he knows when to use it. With some of the comedians on this show, you really couldn't even tell what they were saying because of the amount of bleeping over their language.

Also, George Takei is gay...does every single person have to comment on it? And let's face it, the jokes were all the same, just re-told in a different way.

Overall, Comedy Central should be ashamed to have put something like this on the air. It wasn't funny, and it made South Park look like Leave it to Beaver. This could have been great, but it wasn't...

Entropy

Allegory Magazine, which used to be Peridot Books, just bought my story "Entropy" for their premier issue, which will be on-line on September 1st.

The story is an odd little thing I wrote about one man's obsession with the concept of Entropy. It's probably the most "literary" story I've ever sold...whatever that means.

Well, check it out when it comes out...

Editing

Just as a reminder to everyone...in addition to being a freelance writer, I'm also a freelance editor, and you can hire my services by clicking on the title to this entry.

So, if you have something that you need a little spit and polish put to, send it my way. The goal is to make sure that I don't have to go back into the "real" work world. I'm enjoying working for myself far too much to have to ever do that again...

For Trek fans only

If you're a Trekkie or a Trekker, you'll love this site. Follow the link above. The true test of your Trekkiness will be whether or not you die laughing at the "Expendability" poster!

I originally found this link on Mike Brotherton's blog...http://www.mikebrotherton.com

Just an update

It's been a little over a month since I escaped the banishment to a place worse than hell, so I thought I'd post a little update as to what I've been up to. So far, I've completed six short stories, and I've worked on a couple of others, I've written roughly 5000 words in a novel, which is now 15-20% done, and I know where the rest of it is supposed to be going...now if the book will just cooperate.

I've also finished editing a novel for Sam's Dot that was written by John Bushore. It will be a great book, and should be out in about a month...and wait til you see the Laura Givens cover. This should be a big seller at MileHiCon.

I'm about half way through putting Just Because together. This will be an anthology dedicated to the late James Baker, who was responsible for starting many an aspiring writer's career, including my own. This is a work of love, and probably won't make me rich...

The William Swarthout novel that has made all of this possible has been a bit of a struggle, but we're starting to make some progress, albeit slower than I'd like...but I find I want to get a lot done...now that I actually have time.

Ecotastrophe will soon be out, so I've been doing some promotional stuff for that.

I got to sit and talk with Connie Willis one night...

For those of you in the Seattle region, I may be doing RustyCon this January, so keep an eye on this page for future updates.

I used to hear authors talk about how they had to write at least 1000 words a day, and I never understood how they did it, but now that I don't work 10-12 hours a day without a break, I now find that I'm quite disappointed if I only write 1000 words...speaking of, I'm getting a bit wordy here, so I'll end it now.

Sudden realization

I was exchanging e-mails with a friend of mine who has never seen Star Wars...yeah, I know, why would I associate with someone like that?

Anyway, it suddenly dawned on me that next year will be the 30th anniversary of the first movie. That's almost impossible to believe! But there it is. In a way, I hope Lucas isn't planning anything, unless it's a public lynching of JarJar Biggs! The last three movies were disappointing to say the least, and in a way, I hope he lets it fade out.

On another note, there are a lot of great fan based ideas out there that I've been running into that are really good. I'll have to try and get a picture at one of the Cons with a storm trooper hawking my books. Now that would be an endorsement!!!

MTV is 25

Wow...that makes me feel old. I remember when MTV first started. A neighbor of mine had cable, and I can remember going over to her house and watching this new thing. I don't think any of us really knew what we were seeing...we were just kids after all. But we did know that it was quite addictive. Some of the younger readers may find it strange that we didn't have cable, but 25 years ago cable was nothing like it was today. You only got a few extra channels, and the programming was pretty bad...not that it's improved that much...just look at the crap the SciFi channel runs. Cable was a luxury in those days, and for a family that really didn't watch much TV, it wasn't worth it...although it wasn't long before we did get it.

Anyway, today VH1 Classic is running the entire first day of MTV's first day, and boy does it take me back. I remember a lot of these songs and videos, and I wish I could forget most of them...still it's nice to have a little walk down nostalgia lane.

But, damn, I feel old...

Great Star Wars Films

Darth Vader's Psychic Hotline?

Bantha Milk?

Check out some great Star Wars films...must be a major geek to enjoy...

Ecotastrophe

Ecotastrophe is an anthology that looks at the worst case scenarios of what could happen to our world if we continue the ecological destruction we are currently inflicting on the planet.

This is an anthology from Sam's Dot Publishing, which I edited. The book is set to be released on September 10th, but The Genre Mall is currently holding a pre-sale for the book...so you can order a copy early. Just go to http://www.genremall.com/anthologies.htm and order a copy today...

I also have to say that I think Scott Virtes did a great job with the cover. His artwork and his design...very nicely done...

Writing

Obviously not having to do the day to day grind has been very good for my writing. I've just finished the final draft on the third story I've written since leaving Grubway. That almost matches my productivity for all of last year. Granted, I did spend a lot of my writing time last year (what there was of it) working on the novel that doesn't want to get written.

Perhaps some time soon, I will get back to that, or maybe I'll work on another idea I have. Only time will tell, but the important thing is that I'm now writing every day, whereas when I was at the hellhole job, I was happy if I wrote once a week.

Funny thing is, it's kind of like a drug. I'm sure the other writers who visit this blog understand, but when you go without writing, it's like a part of you, usually the best part of you is dead...and that's not a good feeling...but the "fix" of printing up a new story...now that's powerful!!!