Saturday, September 24, 2011

Literature and Latte - Scrivener

I know I amlate to this boat, but I have fallen deeply and irrevocably in love with Scrivener. I have just done ten minutes of work on the novel I will be working on for Nanowrimo this year... and I have a fully fledged plan already. *SWOON!*

Literature and Latte - Scrivener

Friday, September 23, 2011

A Challenge for Everyone!

Good morning everyone,

The City of  Rockingham's National Novel Writing Month programme gets bigger each year, and the City is proud to announce award winning authors Bevan McGuiness and Anna Jacobs as guest authors for "The Night of Writing Dangerously", to take place at the Gary Holland Community Centre on Saturday 12 November from 5-10pm.

“The Night of Writing Dangerously” is a five hour writing marathon, with access to advice and consultation from professional guest authors who act as ‘bounties’ in a series of encouragement exercises with spot prizes throughout the night. All attendees will receive a 'show bag' of promotional materiel and there will also be a door prize comprising a basket of writing & reading related goodies, thanks to event sponsors Adventure World; Andromeda Spaceways In-flight Magazine; Asgard Games; Cosmic Comics; Coeur De Lion Publishing; Fablecroft Publishing; Fremantle Press; Fun Station; Harper Collins Publishers Australia; Island Magazine; Meanjin Magazine; Overland Magazine; Peter Cowan Writers Centre; Rockingham Shopping Centre; Serendipity MediSpa Baldivis; Sterling's Office National; Twelfth Planet Publishing and White Dwarf Books

Anna Jacobs writes historical and modern novels. She’s had 55 novels traditionally published so far, with others are contracted and in the pipeline. Her latest historical novel is ‘The Trader’s Wife’ set in Western Australia and Singapore in the mid 1860s. Her latest modern novel is ‘Moving On’, set in the UK and Western Australia, and she’s also had a book of short romantic stories published ‘Short and Sweet’. Anna is currently the 11th Most Borrowed Author of Adult Fiction in the UK and is doing equally well in Australian libraries, too.

Bevan McGuiness is the author of two fantasy trilogies as well as short stories, book reviews, a novel based on his experiences as a teacher, and pieces for texts on science education. He lives near Perth with his wife and daughter. Although he has worked as a factory hand, geophysicist and laboratory assistant, he is now a teacher of chemistry at a boys’ school in Perth, and is currently working on another fantasy trilogy and two children’s fantasy series.

Registration is free, but places are limited. To register, contact Lee Battersby, Community Development Officer (Arts & Culture), on (08) 9528 0386 or lee.battersby@rockingham.wa.gov.au



Lee Battersby - Community Development Officer

PO Box 2142 Rockingham DC WA 6967
Civic Boulevard, Rockingham Western Australia
telephone +61 8 9528 0386 facsimile +61 8 9592 1705
email lee.battersby@rockingham.wa.gov.au

Linkage

Donna Maree Hanson interviews Ellen Datlow on editing. We all know the work of an editor is essential to the success of an anthology or magazine but just what that involves is often somewhat of a mystery. Here Ellen talks about the complexities of an editor's work and the different kinds of editing. The comments are worth reading as well.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

WSFA Small Press Awards Finalists

The short list for the WSFA Small Press Awards 2011 is up on the WSFA website. These awards are for short fiction published by small presses. Among the finalists this year is Enid and the Prince by R J Astruc, published in Worlds Next Door edited by Tehani Wessely, Fablecroft Publishing (June 2010). The winner will be announced at Capclave in October.

Last year's winner was Siren Best by Tansy Rayner Roberts, editor Alisa Krasnostein, Twelfth Planet Press (October 2009).

It's good to see Western Australian small presses is getting some recognition internationally.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Katharine Susannah Prichard Speculative Fiction Awards 2011

The results for the awards are up on the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre website (they've accidentally been put in the Short Fiction Awards section). First prize went to Jack Nicholls of Victoria with Western Australian writers, Karen Dixon and Lee Battersby taking out second and third places.
Among the commended writers were two more West Australians, Lyn Battersby and Nicolette van Schie-de-Roos along with Victorian Glenda Janes and Elaine Kennedy and Kaylia Payne from NSW.

The Mundaring National Young Writers Awards winners were first prize Raeden Richardson (Vic), second Laura Potter (WA) with an encouragement award to Alice Johnson (NSW). All the commended writers came from WA - Eloise Caitlin, Will Donaldson, William John Nelson, Joshua Penkin and Alexandra Utley.

There's also a comprehensive Judge's Report that is well worth reading.

Congratulations to all.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

US Tropes in Storytelling

I was reading Champagne and Socks, Alisa Krasnostein's blog. Alisa is the editor and publisher of Twelfth Planet Press among many other things and periodically she puts up a list of links connected to the writing world. This is where I found this link to Aliette de Bodard's blog. The comments are as interesting as the blog entry itself.