(1) FOR LONG DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SHORT STORIES. Standback and Levana Taylor have launched the Short Story Squee & Snark website. It began as a Facebook group and all of the 50+ discussions from the existing group have been imported to the … Continue reading
(1) TRUTH IS STRANGER. Norman Spinrad has posted on Facebook the original English version of the afterward commissioned by the French publisher for the special 40th anniversary edition of the first French edition of Bug Jack Barron. That anniversary is now … Continue reading
By R. A. MacAvoy: I had thought to begin this trip report with the idea it was something lost in the mail. Lost for many, many years. That seemed clever at first, but I realized that my memories aren’t close … Continue reading
The Speculative Literature Foundation announced on Facebook that Madhvi Ramani is the winner of the inaugural Diverse Writers Grant and Diverse Worlds Grant. Her successful application included her short story “Zafir, the Saudi Superhero.” Evidently, both grants were made to the same person. … Continue reading
Don’t you find having something else you’re supposed to be doing a great source of energy for irrelevant projects? I ought to be working on our family Christmas newsletter but, you know… When Trufen.net went away a bunch of my … Continue reading
The BBC reports an 800-word mini-prequel to the Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling was sold today at auction for $49,323/ £ 25,000. “That’s $59/ £ 30 per word,” explains David Klaus, who sent me this story. “Jack Williamson, who got … Continue reading
By Steve Vertlieb: It may not come as much of a surprise to anyone that I was a sheltered, lonely, sensitive kid. I was born in the closing weeks of 1945, and grasped at my tentative surroundings with uncertain hands. … Continue reading
(1) DAVID WEBER UPDATES. His fans are keeping each other abreast of the progress of David Weber’s COVID treatment. Ralston Stahler quoted Weber’s update about the first day in the hospital: From David Weber Well, they just admitted me to … Continue reading
(1) CAREER PATH. At Lit Reactor, Nick Mamatas hits close to home — “Ask Nick: Publishing 201 — Do I Need to Attend Conventions or Conferences?” …A relative handful of science fiction/fantasy/horror conventions are considered “professional” and it is expected … Continue reading
(1) THREE AI’S AND A BABY. Carolyn Giardina’s story in The Hollywood Reporter, “Why Jon Favreau Chose Baby Yoda: ‘”We Don’t Know a Lot of Details About His Species’”, is a lengthy interview with Favreau, where he talks about all … Continue reading