Thanks to everyone who took a moment to nominate me for the Aurora Award — I have been short listed in the Short Fiction category for my short story in Analog last June, entitled “Back.” Doubly good news, I am in competition with my good friend, Randy, who wrote a humorous novella, “Ringing the Changes in Okotoks, Alberta,” which appeared in Tesseracts 12 by Edge Press last November. Randy was also nominated in the category, Fan Achievement – Organizational for running the World Fantasy Convention in Calgary last fall, which was a great convention.
More on Aurora Eligibility
Thanks to Ron Friedman of my Imaginative Fiction Writers’ Association for compiling this partial list of eligible works for the Auroras — with the slant that all these writers are from Calgary (or were from Calgary or are good friends of Calgarians). Some to consider, at least:
Long-Form Works ================ Sawyer, Robert J. IDENTITY THEFT AND OTHER STORIES (collection). Red Deer Press, May 2008 Trenholm, Hayden. DEFINING DIANA. Bundoran Press
Novelettes ======== McCharles, Randy. “Ringing the Changes in Okotoks, Alberta.” Tesseracts Twelve, edited by Claude Lalumiere
Short Stories ========== Forest, Susan J. “Back.” Analog Science Fiction and Fact, June 2008
Sawyer, Robert J. “Apple Will Own Margaret Atwood,” The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine, January 2008 (reprinted as “E-Mails from the Future” in Sawyer’s collection Identity Theft and Other Stories).
Trenholm, Hayden. “Love In its Season” On Spec #73, Summer 2008
===================== Other Non-CanadaSF eligible:
McCharles, Randy (fan achievement) for chairing World fantasy convention. Jeff Campbell – for editing Gaslight Grimoire: Fantastic Tales of Sherlock Holmes
GG Nominee Shenaaz Nanji
Did I mention that my good friend and writing-group member, Shenaaz Nanji was nominated for the Governor-General’s Award for her children’s novel? Her book, Child of Dandelions was wonderful. Not only was it well written and a gripping story, but I learned a lot about a period in history that I lived through but was pretty unaware of, as the events happened half way around the world. Very cool. Shenaaz was interviewed multiple times over the past couple of weeks and flown to Toronto for a few days as well. Hot stuff! She, along with the rest of my Kensington Writers’ Group, is coming over for a Christmas party on Monday, so I’m hoping we will hear more of her stories then.
Very cool!
Susan
Yes it WAS fantastic!
So much to post about – I should have kept my promise and posted about World Fantasy every day. David Morrell was a wonderful guest to host – his workshop was great (he has lots of good stories to illustrate his points) and he was very easy to talk to. I sat on a panel with Tad Williams and Lee Moddisett which was informative and hilarious, and I got to make a point or two as well (Thanks for moderating, Barb). Great experience. My reading went very smoothly, and signing books at the Edge table was lots of fun – I even got to do a podcast with Randy McCharles and Holly Phillips.
As for the rest of the convention, I sat in on some very informative panels, enjoyed the art show immensely (I think it was one of the better ones I’ve seen) and had fun at Edge Press’s kickoff party with the Plaid Tongued Devils. In between, I was able to catch dinner with the likes of Barbara Hambly, Tom Doherty and George R R Martin at various venues, including Kim Greyson’s home (thanks, Kim!).
Probably the most awesome part was that Rob Sawyer introduced me to an agent in the firm that handles him, and although the meeting was only supposed to be 5-10 minutes, we wound up all going for lunch together, which as a real thrill. And, yes, I do have an invitation to send my manuscript in (I sent it last Wednesday), so now my writing has to sell itself. Wish me luck!
The convention ended with the World Fantasy Awards, and David Morrell graciously invited me, as his host, to sit with him at the head table. It doesn’t get much better!
All in all, World Fantasy was a first class convention. The hotel was upscale and well-situated, the book bags have a million pockets and will be used for years (not to mention that they were bulging with free books), the entire affair was well-organized (not a glitch in the entire weekend, that I could see), the parties were fun, the people were in good spirits — a very classy affair, all around. Kudos especially to Randy McCharles who is AWESOME and to Kim Greyson, who set out to treat the guests like princes, and succeeded.
Susan
Anticipating Denvention
June’s publication of “Back” in Analog Science Fiction and Fact was my third and qualifying publication for SFWA membership, so I am now a SFWAn. I was thrilled to see that “Back” received two recommendations for a 2008 Nebula Award. Ten recommendations puts a work on the nomination ballot, so I am hopeful that others will read “Back” and recommend it as well (you must be a member of SFWA to do so). It is available to read here.
This spring I attended the Keycon Silver Anniversary in Winnipeg which was fun and informative. Luke Ski performed, and he was very funny, and the masquerade was one of the best I have ever seen. I attended Robert J. Sawyer’s book launch of “Identity Theft,” and was pleased to see “Phantom of the Space Opera” in the video room. I sat on three panels with Rob Sawyer, Jean-Loius Trudel, Virginia O’Dyne and Ed Willett, and had lunch with Eric Flint and dinner with Dave Duncan. In addition I attended the Aurora Awards Banquet and was thrilled to see my friend, Hayden Trenholm win the Aurora for Best Work, Short Form, for “Like Water in the Desert,” which by the way, was an awesome read.
Looking forward to reconnecting with lots of people in a couple of weeks at Devention!