science fiction

Children’s Book Week Winners & Another Giveaway Squeaks in

May 21, 2014 by Danika 15 Comments

Last week was Children’s Book Week, and authors toured, story-told (that’s a word!), gave books away, and otherwise celebrated children’s literature in bookstores, schools, homes, and libraries.

I only managed to visit about 8 blogs on the Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop, but still managed to win a copy of An Unstill Life by Kate Larkindale, which looks like a great read.

I had a giveaway for the Hop and I’d like to thank everyone who entered and tweeted and posted and face booked. There were far more entries than I expected! Congratulations to the winners:

Sherrie Peterson

Cheryl Booth Rogers

I gave them both a choice of prizes and they both selected to receive the first 3 books in the WF series, which means that I still have a copy of Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror and Futuredaze: Anthology of YA Science Fiction.

I loved the Futuredaze anthology. I loved it so much I wanted to gift a copy to someone else. And I have to admit I’ve only glanced through the Now Write! book b/c I’ve been so dang busy. But there are an overwhelming about of respected writers inside contributing advice and writing exercises, so I know it’s going to be extremely useful and I can’t wait to get to it.

MORE GIVEAWAY!

So… I am going to split them up and give them away separately. One person will win the Now Write book and one person will win the Futuredaze anthology (North America only, sorry folks)

All you have to do is tell me why you want the book (or books)
OR
why you enjoy science fiction and/or fantasy
and I’ll have my elves pick a winner.

CONTEST CLOSES Sunday, May 25

Futuredaze Launches Tomorrow (or MGMless in MGM Land)

February 11, 2013 by openchannel 1 Comment

The print edition of FUTUREDAZE: an Anthology of YA Science Fiction launches tomorrow (Feb 12) and I am over the moon to be included in this book. Seriously, the whole experience has been a treat.

The ebooks have already been internationally launched and may be purchased HERE.

You can read the reviewer praise for the creative work HERE, but I would like to “big up” the editors themselves.

Erin Underwood was my main contact, but I’m sure co-editor Hannah Strom-Martin is just as professional and personable as Erin. Futuredaze is the first of an annual anthology series of YA Science Fiction (I will keep you posted on future deadlines), and I think this series will garner respect from the sci fi community.

The Underwords Press folks were timely, communicative, professional, and enthusiastic to deal with. I appreciated how they kept all the authors informed along the way, from sending advance reviews to sharing the cover with us before it went public. They are also distribution savvy, something a lot of small presses struggle with. They sent out copies of the books and checks when they said they would, and then emailed to confirm.

Really, every small press should be as pleasant to deal with. I’m hoping to post an interview with Erin Underwood this week, but she’s a bit busy.

I have no Middle Grade Monday post of my own today, but please do visit the folks below who do:

(MGM list from author Shannon Messenger’s blog)

– Mark Baker joins the MMGM fun with two features: THE BRONZE BOW, click HERE. And to see his review on THE DEAD MAN’S MINE, click HERE.

– Andrea Mack has chills for MAKING BOMBS FOR HITLER. Click HERE .

– Flash, the Feline Extraordinaire, (and Professional Mews to Cindy Strandvold) recommends THE ELLIE MCDOODLE series. Click HERE to see what that’s all about.

– Brennan and Meyrick Murphy are cheering for BUNNICULA. Click HERE to see what these two middle grade readers thought of it.

– Janet Smart is spotlighting THe WHIPPING BOY. Click HERE to see why.

– Katie Fitzgerald sings praises for A SONG FOR BIJOU. Click HERE.

– Dorine White is raves about THE MAGICIAN’S TOWER. Click HERE.

– Michael Gettel-Gilmarten reminds us of FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER. Click HERE to see why he thinks this classic still holds up.

– Laurisa White Reyes is taking her turn at WONDER. Click HERE for her review.

– Barbara Watson highlights SUMMER AT FORSAKEN LAKE. Click HERE.

– Rosi Hollinbeck is featuring DESTINY, REWRITTEN–plus an ARC GIVEAWAY. Click HERE for details.

– Pam Torres: Click HERE.

– Michelle Isenhoff: Click HERE.

– Joanne Fritz: Click HERE.

– Karen Yingling: Click HERE to which ones she picked this week .

– The Mundie Moms are always part of the MMGM fun (YAY!). Click HERE to see their newest recommendations.

~ ~ ~

Futuredaze Anthology Cover Reveal!

August 13, 2012 by openchannel 6 Comments

I’ve been really wanting to share the news, but had to wait a few weeks before I could make this announcement (the editors didn’t want authors to say anything until they had the T.O.C. down) – but now I can and there’s even a cover to go with it.

Ta Da!

Introducing Futuredaze: An Anthology of YA Science Fiction, edited by Hannah Strom-Martin and Erin Underwood. The book (print and ebook) will be available from Underwords in February 2013. The authors are all listed below.

The fabulous cover is by Deena Warner of Deena Warner Designs

Underwords is a popular fiction literary blog that focuses on books, writing, publishers, authors, and readers. They say all genres are potential food for thought, but that Underwords has a preference for science fiction, fantasy, horror, young adult, and interstitial literature.

I am thrilled and honoured that my short story String Theory will be among the chosen works in this anthology!

I haven’t had many short stories published (might have something to do with not submitting many short stories for publication). Weird Year published another quirky sci fi (of sorts) story of mine called Al’s Hat a few years back.

I’m drawn more and more to the short story format — first because of the discipline of it, but also because I can write, edit, germinate, and review on a smaller scale. It’s refreshing.

FUTUREDAZE
An Anthology of YA Science Fiction
edited by Hannah Strom-Martin & Erin Underwood

List of Contributing Authors
in alphabetical order

POETRY:

E. Kristin Anderson
Jenny Blackford
Cathy Bryant
Sandi Cayless
Alicia Cole
John Grey
Evelyn Lumish
Irving
Brittany Warman
Neil Weston
Anna Della Zazzera

FICTION:

Steve Alguire
Camille Alexa
Stephen D. Covey
Danika Dinsmore (yay!)
Gregory Frost
Nancy Holder
Alex J. Kane
Rahul Kanakia
Miri Kim
Rich Larson
Dale Lucas
Alex Dally MacFarlane
Jack McDevitt
Sandra McDonald
Jennifer Moore
Katrina Nicholson
Chuck Rothman
Mark Smith-Briggs
Leah Thomas
Llinos Cathryn Thomas
Lavie Tidhar
William John Watkins

For those of you interested in publishing short fiction, I highly recommend signing up for Duotrope’s enewsletter and cruising their website. Duotrope is how I found out about the call for this anthology.

The site offers an extensive, searchable database of current fiction, poetry, and non-fiction markets (genre and mainstream). There’s also a calendar of upcoming deadlines, submissions trackers (for registered users), and other nifty stuff.

And while it’s a FREE service, if you like it and use it, there is a way to donate to keep them running.

Congrats to all the authors in this anthology! I’m very excited to see the final product.