Helen's Super Cool News

I'm delighted to announce...

My collection of short stories tentatively titled HAIR SIDE, FLESH SIDE has been contracted by ChiZine Publications  for 2013 with world-wide distribution -- assuming we still have bookstores in 2013, you'll be able to pick it up at your local one! I'm absolutely over the moon about this, and since Brett Savory sneakily put the contract in my hand, I've been writing like a fiend.

HAIR SIDE, FLESH SIDE is a book about books. The collection has been inspired in part by my work in medieval studies on fourteenth century manuscripts. The usual material for writing on in medieval books or documents was parchment made from the skin of sheep, goats or calves. When the treatment was complete, the hair side of the animal skin (the part originally on the outside of the animal) could be distinguished from the flesh side (the part on the inside). The short stories of the collection pick up on the themes of history, permanence and what it means to make art -- with some funny, sexy bits in between.

2013 seems like a long way off, and so I'm also really chuffed to announce that I'll be releasing a poetry chapbook entitled SKELETON LEAVES from Kelp Queen Press later in the summer. The chapbook, featuring art by the crazy talented Chris Roberts of Dead Clown Art, offers a dark retelling of J. M. Barrie's PETER PAN, and will be available from myself and from Kelp Queen directly.

That's about all from me -- it's been zero to one fifty in the last month or so. I just wanted to end by saying thanks to all of you for your support, for your commitment to great fiction, and for just being awesome folks.

PS: Since I'm here, I should probably mention that my poem "Waiting for the Harrowing" has been nominated for a 2011 Aurora Award in the POETRY category. You can read it here. Voting begins in early June at the Aurora Award website so I highly recommend you check out the nominated works -- there have been some absolutely stellar productions this year, and the poetry category, newly introduced this year, has drawn attention to some amazing work by Sandra Kasturi, Carolyn Clink, Colleen Anderson, and Robert J. Sawyer.

PPS: I know, an annoying plethora of good fortune, but Sandra Kasturi and I have also been nominated for BEST FAN ORGANIZATIONAL for our work on the Toronto SpecFic Colloquium. Last year was a great event, and we've got even more scheduled for 2011 with Guest of Honour Mike Carey!

Living in the Genre Ghetto

Gentle reader,

I work on any number of projects for ChiZine Publications, but here is a big one that I've spent lots of time and energy on: The Toronto SpecFic Colloquium.  I know, you're asking: "What do we need another Toronto-based convention for?"  The thing is at most conventions it's very difficult to engage in any kind of sustained dialogue about the state of speculative fiction. In many ways, this is a very exciting time.  E-readers are opening up the potential for new avenues for publications, and, no doubt, will radically alter the way the books are created, distributed, and purchased. Canadian authors are receiving international recognition for their work in their own right -- not simply as adjuncts to the American market. At the same time, the recession has meant there's less money for new authors and for publishers, both small and mainstream.  The successes of The Da Vinci Code, Twilight and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo have encouraged publishers to seek out and promote bestsellers rather than nurturing new talent. As Leisure Publications suffers major setbacks and funding issues threaten the Sunburst Awards, there's also a growing sense of the challenges to be faced over the next few years.  Feelings of energy and enthusiasm, of new possibilities are mingling with fears for the future and what kind of publishing landscape might emerge...

Sandra Kasturi and I wanted to capitalize on the sense that we are living, industry-wise, in "interesting times" by bringing together a number of local authors -- new and experienced -- to share their thoughts on where Canadian speculative has been and where we are going.

The colloquium, a one-day event to launch the Chiaroscuro Reading Series, will deliver lectures by major names in the field on topics such as urban fantasy, cognitive science, queering the genre, and how Canadian science fiction is taking over the world, nicely.  The lectures will be followed by readings that showcase emergent and experienced Canadian speculative fiction writers.

Guests include Kelley Armstrong, Julie Czerneda, Guy Gavriel Kay, Tony Burgess, Gemma Files, Karl Schroeder, Peter Watts, David Nickle, Michael Rowe and Claude Lalumière. 

The Toronto SpecFic Colloquium will take place on Saturday October 23, 2010 in the Debates Room and Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle.   We've only got limited space so I encourage you to register at http://www.specfic-colloquium.com/registration.htm.

For further information about the Toronto SpecFic Colloquium, visit http://specfic-colloquium.com.