Writers Guild of Alberta Conference


Well, I’m off to Edmonton for the WGA Conference. Will moderate a genre session tomorrow afternoon, and there is an opportunity to sell my collection. Should be great. Also, I decided to take the bus–weather’s bad for driving and I can relax rather than worry about the roads. AND, I can get some work done during the 3 hours’s trip each way.

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

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!