Category: News

… is that people read your books and then write to you. Occasionally they might have a gripe but for the most part they are encouraging and uplifting, or straight out entertaining. Many thanks to Lyndsay who has been reading the The Sentients of Orion and came across a picture of a tardigrade soft toy, which he sent to me. Anyone who’s read the books will understand the significance. I had to laugh when I saw this little cuddly fellow though, who is a lot nicer than the ones in my books.

Some author friends have just had great novels out. Just have to share with you!

First of all there is Kat Richardson’s, Downpour. I love the Greywalker series, which makes me SO keen to go to Seattle.

Then there’s the very talented Kim Westwood’s new novel, The Courier’s New Bicycle. How cool does this sound? ‘Join Salisbury Forth on twenty adrenaline-fuelled days as a courier of contraband in the alleyways of inner Melbourne, a city of rolling power outages, fuel rationing and curfews.’

And one of my favourtite authors Lucy Sussex, who I desperately want to  write another novel (can some publisher please recognise genius and commission her!), has just had her splendid collection Matilda Told Such Dreadful Lies released by indie press, Ticonderoga.

Then of course there is RC Daniells’ paranormal crime thriller, The Price of Fame, which I read in an earlier incarnation. So pleased to see it’s found a perfect home with new boutique publisher, Clan Destine Press.

Notably, Clan Destine are also releasing Arrabella Candelabra from AK Wrox (the author is two of my staffies, Mandy Wrangles and Kylie Fox). And Jane Routley’s, Mage Heart, which is being re-released by Clan Destine as an e-book.

Been really tied up with getting Angel Arias finished because the release date was brought forward a month. Now that it’s all done I’m up for air. Time to say hi and see how you’re all going.

News-wise, the Burn Bright campaign (Publish Burn Bright Worldwide) is gaining momentum with bloggers across the world generously spreading word. Notably, About Happy Books, Strangemore and The Yetzel Library have joined in. Then there are the Facebook communities and the individual tweeters. Thank you all, especially my own team, who tirelessly help share news – including the announcement that Yunyu will release a new song for the Angel Arias which will be available for FREE download via a QR tag in the book.

I’ve finished the rough version of Peacemaker issue 2 but need to go through it and make it ready to send to Brigitte Sutherland. I hope to get to it this week. Issue 2 is twice as long as issue 1 and introduces detective Indira Chance and Caro Jenae, investigative journalist and Virgin’s best friend. I find the comic calls to me constantly (when I’m working on other things), which is always a good sign.

The next two months though, will essentially be Tara Sharp 3 with my October deadline just around the corner. Tara is always a pleasure to spend time with and will make a nice break from Ixion and Grave (Night Creatures trilogy).

The Event Horizon (skiffy joke there!) is dotted with some upcoming good stuff: Logan Library SF Finale day panel, Gold Coast Literary Luncheon, Brisbane Writers Festival, SheKilda convention and Supanova Brisbane.

Also was fortunate to have a double page profile in the Sunday edition of the Sydney Morning Herald recently. Many thanks to Steve Meacham. Not often a SF writer gets that kind of spread in a major newspaper.

A bunch of my peeps have had some wins lately. I was thrilled to see Angie Slatter and Charles Tan nominated for a World Fantasy Award but am in absolute squee mode now that I know that Alisa Krasnostein at Twelfth Planet Press also has a nom. Alisa and I worked together on on my boutique collection, Glitter Rose and I’m so proud of her, and to be associated with her publishing endeavours (which also includes feminist spec fic podcast Galactic Suburbia).

Whew! Well that was a fair bunch of news. Hope you’re all well. Sending you my shiniest thoughts.