Out of Sorts

January 1st- “The Things” by Peter Watts breaks both visitor and audio download records for Clarkesworld. I continue to be humbled when I take a glance at the numbers.

Some lovely comments on the site included:

Janbo sez: My first visit to Clarkesworld, and I get to hear an excellent audio rendition of a story by one of my favorite writers. Containing my joy will be difficult. Thanks to Kate Baker for the subtle, deliciously inflected reading. I will return — with any luck, accompanied by monetary support for this fine website.

and

Zontar sez: Wow! I’ve heard some good audio fiction before. I’ve heard audio fiction that expanded on favorite, even beloved works of art or literature. But this is the first time that I’ve heard (or read) a story that actually improved–*fixed*, even–the work from which it stems!

January 15th- Clarkesworld Magazine releases the second audio fiction of the month, “All the King’s Monsters” by Megan Arkenberg.

January 25th - The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine released “Excision” for which I did a character for the story.

February 1st – My gig as Podcast Director for Clarkesworld Magazine keeps getting better and better. We released the audio podcast, Torquing Vacuum by Jay Lake! I have a ribbon I received at the Anticipation WorldCon workshop that says, “I Ain’t Jay Lake”. Tis true! I am not Jay Lake, but I got to narrate his work and that is pretty fantastic!

February 15th – The second podcast of this short month is “The Language of the Whirlwind” by Lavie Tidhar.

This whole podcasting thing continues to be surreal. It never gets old and I love having the ability to put my dramatic interpretation on these fantastic stories. As always, while the numbers are showing substantial growth on Clarkesworld with downloads, I always appreciate comments. What did you like about the story? What didn’t you like about the narration? Constructive criticism is always welcome along with flowers and chocolates.

Don’t forget to tell a friend if you like the podcast. You can download the podcasts directly from the site, via the RSS feed, and subscribing via Itunes. I am sure we’re available through other means as well. Speaking of the Itunes subscriptions, if you like what you’ve heard, rating the podcast and leaving comments there too would be awesome. It takes less than a minute to rate the ‘cast and a little more to give a small review.

Some big news to report on multiple fronts!

I’ve been invited to be “Podcast Director” (get a load of the official title) for Clarkesworld Magazine! That’s right, I’ve joined the staff of the Hugo Nominated Magazine! What will I be doing, exactly? I’ll be coordinating podcasts for the monthly releases, and introducing some new and exciting content as the magazine continues to grow.

Do me a favor? Mention the magazine to your friends, have them mention us to their friends! (I can actually say “us” now! *Squee*)

In other news, I’ve been interviewed by the wonderful Charles Tan over at Bibliophile Stalker. I am quite humbled as this was my first interview ever, but Charles made me feel welcome. Thanks, Charles. You’re the best!

I also have a narration up at Escape Pod as well this week. You should go over there and take a listen! “The Kindness of Strangers” by Nancy Kress opens discussion about our true selves. When disaster of epic proportion, propagated by aliens strikes, who do we become? Do we change or do we show our true colors?  Two more narrations are  in the pipeline for Jeremy Tolbert and the good folks at EP.

I will also have another narration up on Clarkesworld as we hit October 1st. I can’t say much about this one and will update the blog when it comes around. As a narrator, I am still digesting and it’s been a few days since I read it.

Tony C. Smith with StarShipSofa has given me another story to add to the two I’m still working on as well. Again, I’ll update when those are done and published.

I’ve updated the podcasts/narration page with the stuff that is just recently out. Enjoy!

It’s been a whirlwind and I have only to thank those of you who have cheered me on, listened and recommended my readings to others. You guys get all the credit here. Not me.

My body is still recovering from four lovely days in Montreal at this year’s Worldcon. My mind will need years of repair.

If you are interested, Tony C. Smith has let me take the reigns of The Sofanauts for two days while he is away on vacation.  You can find my first worldcon report here, and the Hugo round-up, here. While you’re on the site, you can also listen to Gord Sellar, the lovely Amy H. Sturgis, and John Joseph Adams.

All in all, it’s a weekend I will never forget.

Some more thoughts:

1. Rockband is a lot more fun when you have groupies and an audience and alcohol.
2. While I appreciate and love the plethora of programming available, my feet are filing a restraining order. I wish I had brought my pedometer with me to this con, I am convinced I walked over 10 miles.
3. I am pretty sure that while in training – the convention center “guards” are taught to use the “evil eye”.
4. Rooms dedicated for use to the Guest of Honor are always too small, no matter how large the room.
5. There is an under-appreciated art of badge glancing. Style points for making it look like you are doing something other than desperately looking for a name hanging from someones neck. Negative points for those who walk up, tilt their head, stare at your chest and then walk off.
6. Contrary to popular belief at cons, eye contact is not a deadly disease.
7. Not sure if it’s the case, but it seems as if the better the hotel, the worse the internet connection. Although, I was hearing that even the cheaper hotels were having connectivity problems. Maybe bandwidth stealing moose are involved.*
8. Most audience members are fantastic. There is always that one, though, or in some cases, two who believe they should have been on the panel.
9. There will always be someone who starts eating an apple or fiddling with a candy in a noisy wrapper right as author starts to read from his/her highly anticipated and upcoming novel.
10. Escalators are not dress friendly.
11. Klingon costumes still make me smile.
12. Most people will go out of their way to offer a grin, a wave or a nod of the head in your direction. Some will not. Some give dirty looks!
13. By my estimation, it probably took Neil Gaiman thrice as long to make it from one panel to the next based on the mob mentality vs. the five foot rule. **
14. I was briefly a part of the mob mentality vs. the five foot rule. *fangirlfail*
15. Neil Clarke is and will continue to be made from the purest awesomesauce even though he made sure to taunt me about *fangirlfail*.
16. Mary Robinette Kowal does not only look totally gorgeous in dressy Hugo attire, but she’s a kick ass presenter, panelist and friend.
17. Aside from being beautiful, the hugo is really heavy.***
18. John and Krissy Scalzi are the nicest (and funniest) people on Earth.
19. Jay Lake is warm, fuzzy and a really great writing coach.
20. Jeremy Lassen of Nightshade Books knows how to wear a suit.
21. Cory Doctorow knows how to wear a tuxedo.
22. Ellen Kushner is one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.
23. Peter Watts is totally cool, sexy and engaging in a dark, intelligent, existential sort of way. I mean that in the nicest way possible.
24. Patrick Rothfuss epitomizes the words, ‘gentleman and scholar’.
25. Stu Segal was welcoming and reassuring to a girl who felt distinctly out of place.
26. Cheryl Morgan was beautiful and gracious in a red dress during the best fan writer acceptance speech.
27. Irishmen (especially those who run semi-prozines), are a riot. I don’t think I’ve had that much fun in a conversation, ever.
28. Hallways of party floors are super sadistic fun to navigate.
29. Lines for crowded elevators are super sadistic fun to wait in.
30. Proper attention to special con rules involving mobbed guests of honor regarding tickets for signings are always good to find out — you know, before they sell out and you’re left with a book you dragged all the way from home in the hopes you could get it signed, only to lament and watch the line go by in the dealer’s room that was full of lucky bastards who were prepared.
31. Even if you happen to leave your dress shoes in NJ, your tennis shoes will be the envy of all, not only for their comfort but for completing an eclectic stylish ensemble.****
32. Despite initial mental imagery, the Campbell tiara does look fabulous on men.
33. Flying the  Hugo Award around like rocket ship toy complete with sound effects during an acceptance speech was totally funny and endearing.*****
34. I’m wondering why the powers that be decided ‘cloud nine’ was the highest concentrated water vapor level allowed. There really should be ‘cloud 54′ complete with disco music.

Thank you to everyone who made this worldcon something special and ultimately something I will never, ever forget.

*as suggested by Shawn Powers.

**A celebrity with as much rock star status as Neil Gaiman could not move more than five feet in any given situation without a constant crush of people being replaced by a…constant crush of people.

***I got to hold John Scalzi’s hugo. This is a first hand account!

****See Neil Clarkes’ (@clarkesworld) twitter before the Hugo ceremonies.

*****See Frank Wu’s speech.

I returned from my recent weekend in Texas to find a lovely little package patiently waiting for me.

Since I love getting absolutely random loot for no particular reason than the person sending it is made of pure win, I tore open the yellow mailer and inside was this:

I immediately ripped open the cd — (It just affirmed why I don’t use CD’s anymore, they are too damn hard to open) and listened!

A big hug and thanks to Janiece who is made of awesomesauce.

If you’re looking to listen to what this group performs, here is a taste of them singing “Africa” by Toto with one of the most brilliant openings I’ve ever seen.

I suspect this is what it would be like if I had twins. Instead, I’ll have to settle for two little Allysons via the mirror filter in photobooth for the Mac.

Enjoy.

So I bought this steampunkish ensemble. I had eye surgery back in 2007, so these glasses came with a Santa suit my father owned (don’t ask). I pulled up my hair and suddenly I’m ready to fight crime in a neo-victorian saga.

Oh, not to mention, I show you what a big SciFi Geek I am, and am standing in front of my “nerd” wall. To stage left is Jewel Staite (Kaylee on Firefly), Nathan Filion (obstructed by my fat head), my “I own the universe Bitches” wormhole certificated signed by Michio Kaku and underneath that is Jaime Bamber (Lee Adama on BSG). To stage right is a bunch of fake flowers and James Callis (Baltar — BSG). I have Boomer on my desk as well. 

The James Callis one says,  ”Kiss me, Kate.” 

Oh, I wish I could. I wish I could. 

Yes. I am a geek. I get it. 

It only happens once a year.

(Dramatic drum roll)

You think you can control it.

(More dramatic drum roll)

Yet as you look upon the wonderment of all, you feel your mouth salivate. In that one captivating moment, all your hopes and dreams come alive.

(Yet more dramatic drum roll ala 2001)

Okay, maybe I went a little far on that last one. I’m selling Girl Scout Cookies. I have two days to meet a goal of 100 boxes and I’m calling for help.

Yes. They are made from real girl scouts, and yes, they even taste better when left in a warm car. The same can not be said for milk or little old ladies.

I will even be accepting forms of payment through pay pal. They are four dollars a box, and go to help funding one of the fun and established groups in this country. My daughter joined them this year and is having a blast.

If you agree to purchase cookies and aren’t in my zip code, I will happily ship them. However, we need to act fast. This FRIDAY — 23rd, is the last day to order.

As always, thanks so much for your help and interest. I can’t wait to break open a box of Samoas in good time.

In our last podcast for the month of November, we are treated to an excerpt from Hero, the soon-to-be published third novel in Lee Stephen’s EPIC series.

For all of you fans, start salivating. If this excerpt gives you any hint of what the book will be like, you are in for quite a ride. 

For those of you who haven’t picked up the books, what are you waiting for? Now through tomorrow, 60 percent of profits will go right to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund. 

Podcast

——-

All throughout the month of November, in an effort to raise Diabetes awareness, Lee Stephen and I have collaborated in some very special podcasts. Excerpts of chapters taking from the EPIC series of novels are for your enjoyment and to ultimately engage you in this wonderful story. If you are interested in purchasing the two books (the third will be published soon), now through the end of this month, Lee will donate 60 percent of all profits from the book purchases to the JDRF. (The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

If you would rather make a donation yourself, we highly encourage you to do so as well.

As always, thanks for listening and let us know what you think.

—–

Every year, over 180,000 Americans die due to complications with diabetes. It affects over 16 million people in our country and over 100 million people worldwide. It is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral nerve and autonomic dysfunction, amputations, and many other health problems. Every year, more people die from diabetes than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

Like many Americans, I was unaware of the intricacies of this disease until I saw how it affected the person I love most. As the husband of a type-1 diabetic, I witness the challenges my wife faces on a daily basis. Terms like “having a high” and “suffering a low” have become part of my permanent lexicon. I have been introduced to a world of needles, insulin pumps, and blood glucose meters. Experiencing her struggles and her triumphs has shown me just how much I take for granted.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. The purpose of this podcast is to bring attention to diabetes through literature, and to implore those who find this to consider donating to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) during this very important month. Because of the JDRF, diabetics have a network of international support and an organization dedicated to confronting and conquering this disease. There are two ways you can help.

First, you can go to www.jdrf.org and donate to the JDRF’s fight for a cure personally. Just click on the “donate now” tab located at the top-right of the menu. You can give any amount you wish as either a one-time donation or a monthly commitment. No amount is too large or too small—every bit goes toward finding a cure.

For those science-fiction fans in the crowd, we’re giving you another option. In honor of this important month, 60% of Epic’s November sales will go directly to the JDRF. Every book purchased, whether for personal enjoyment or as a gift, will assist in the cause. It’s an opportunity to contribute to something good and discover a new science fiction series at the same time.

The goal is awareness, whether through literature or personal charity. What’s important is that people take action. Diabetes is a devastating disease, but one we are on the brink of curing. Please join us in this effort to raise awareness and make a difference!

If you donated because of this message, whether by contributing on your own or by purchasing a book, please let us know! We would love to know how much we were able to raise through this effort. I would also love to thank you personally for joining the fight. I can be reached at lee(AT)epicuniverse(DOT)com.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read!

Sincerely,

Lee Stephen
Author, Epic Series
www.epicuniverse.com

Books – A Meme

Stolen from various members of the UCF. 

What was the last book you bought?
Backup by Jim Butcher (Haha! I got a LE 1st Print HC – Neeneer)

Name a book you have read MORE than once
I don’t read books more than once. It’s a pet peeve actually. I can usually remember the gist of the story if it’s a book I like and there are just so many out there that I need to read, that I can’t go giving books special treatment!

Has a book ever fundamentally changed the way you see life? If yes, what was it?

Changed the way I see life? I wouldn’t go that far. Given me another perspective on the way things are, could be, were? Sure. Forever War by Joe Haldeman and Citizen of the Galaxy by Heinlein are right up there in making me hope for a better future than the one they provide in their stories.

How do you choose a book?
(E.g. by cover design and summary, recommendations or reviews?)
If I don’t have reader recommendations from friends, and I’m just browsing in the book store, then cover actually plays a rather large part in my selection. I hate to say it, but had I never heard the rave reviews concerning Patrick Rothfuss‘, The Name of the Wind, I would never have picked up the first version of the HC. It looked pretty cheesy. I ended up picking it up though and it’s now a collectable. Go figure. 

Do you prefer Fiction or Non-Fiction?
I think I may own like four non-fiction books. I suck like that. My fiction collection is outrageous. 

What’s more important in a novel, beautiful writing or a gripping plot?

Both. A gripping plot will not forgive crappy craft but beautiful writing doesn’t matter if I don’t give a shit about the characters. (I’m gonna steal Janiece’s answer)

Most loved/memorable character (character/book)
Auri (Name of the Wind), Kvothe (Name of the Wind), Aragorn (The Lord of the Rings), Harry Dresden (The Dresden Files), Lasciel (The Dresden Files), John Perry (Old Man’s War Trilogy), Tobias Cressen (The Alchemist), Ned Stark (A Game of Thrones)… Ahhh. I can’t possibly name them all. 

Which book or books can be found on your nightstand at the moment?
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch, Agent to the Stars by John “No Comment” Scalzi, Sly Mongoose by Tobias Buckell

What was the last book you’ve read, and when was it?
A Decade of Whatever (Honestly, I skipped all the entries that were done since I started reading the blog back in early 2007), but it was nice to go back and see the stuff I had missed. Good mix of humor, politics and catassery on the part of John Scalzi.

Have you ever given up on a book half way in?
I really try not to, but I had to throw out my first book just about a year ago. The Story of O was just awful. I was hoping for a nice erotic fantasy read, but got rather sick to my stomach.

This excerpt is taken from book two of Lee Stephen’s EPIC Series entitled “Outlaw Trigger”. We follow a stressful battle in progress through various perspectives, against the Ceratopians on the streets of Khatanga.

Podcast

All throughout the month of November, in an effort to raise Diabetes awareness, Lee Stephen and I have collaborated in some very special podcasts. Excerpts of chapters taking from the EPIC series of novels are for your enjoyment and to ultimately engage you in this wonderful story. If you are interested in purchasing the two books (the third will be published soon), now through the end of this month, Lee will donate 60 percent of all profits from the book purchases to the JDRF. (The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

If you would rather make a donation yourself, we highly encourage you to do so as well.

As always, thanks for listening and let us know what you think.

—–

Every year, over 180,000 Americans die due to complications with diabetes. It affects over 16 million people in our country and over 100 million people worldwide. It is the leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral nerve and autonomic dysfunction, amputations, and many other health problems. Every year, more people die from diabetes than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

Like many Americans, I was unaware of the intricacies of this disease until I saw how it affected the person I love most. As the husband of a type-1 diabetic, I witness the challenges my wife faces on a daily basis. Terms like “having a high” and “suffering a low” have become part of my permanent lexicon. I have been introduced to a world of needles, insulin pumps, and blood glucose meters. Experiencing her struggles and her triumphs has shown me just how much I take for granted.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month. The purpose of this podcast is to bring attention to diabetes through literature, and to implore those who find this to consider donating to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) during this very important month. Because of the JDRF, diabetics have a network of international support and an organization dedicated to confronting and conquering this disease. There are two ways you can help.

First, you can go to www.jdrf.org and donate to the JDRF’s fight for a cure personally. Just click on the “donate now” tab located at the top-right of the menu. You can give any amount you wish as either a one-time donation or a monthly commitment. No amount is too large or too small—every bit goes toward finding a cure.

For those science-fiction fans in the crowd, we’re giving you another option. In honor of this important month, 60% of Epic’s November sales will go directly to the JDRF. Every book purchased, whether for personal enjoyment or as a gift, will assist in the cause. It’s an opportunity to contribute to something good and discover a new science fiction series at the same time.

The goal is awareness, whether through literature or personal charity. What’s important is that people take action. Diabetes is a devastating disease, but one we are on the brink of curing. Please join us in this effort to raise awareness and make a difference!

If you donated because of this message, whether by contributing on your own or by purchasing a book, please let us know! We would love to know how much we were able to raise through this effort. I would also love to thank you personally for joining the fight. I can be reached at lee(AT)epicuniverse(DOT)com.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read!

Sincerely,

Lee Stephen
Author, Epic Series
www.epicuniverse.com