Special Deals

I ran a few specials during Wiscon that I didn't push perhaps as hard as I could have. So, I've decided to offer those specials on the website. If you go to the sales page on the newly designed website, you'll see a few specials I'm running right now.

The first special is the new issue plus any back issue or chapbook that's in print for $10 ($12.50 in Canada and $15 everywhere else). That's a savings of $2.

The second special is the new issue plus any four back issues or chapbooks that's in print for $20 ($25 in Canada and $30 everywhere else). That's a savings of $7; that's like getting the new issue for free!

When you place the order, just write in the comments box which issue/chapbook(s) you're interested in.

Back from Wiscon and the New Issue

Back from Wiscon and at the day job. Suffering from the typical post-con funk and hoping it's not the stirrings of the actual funk that went around the convention over the weekend. It's always tough getting into the regular world after the fantasy world that is a convention. Today isn't helped by the curdled cream that ruined my morning cup of coffee*.

Some people work in genre/publishing for a living and get to take the events of the convention on high and drive it into their work the next week. Even these people do not live the lifestyle that represents the activities of a convention. I do not think most of us could survive the convention lifestyle 24/7/365. And even these people have a funk. Often conventions are the only place during the year to see people. Sometimes you leave a convention knowing you won't see someone for another whole year.

Other people work a full-time job that is radically different from the convention life. Any high coming off the convention is tempered through a radical shift in though process. You might be stuck going a whole week before you can really sink your teeth into your new thoughts/insights/inspirations/whatevs that came up during the convention.

You might even be someone who essentially has a full-time publishing job and a full-time non-publishing job** and now you have to decide which gets your attention first post-convention. And on top of that you get to have all the highs and lows of both types of people previously outlined.

It was a real up and down convention for me. There were times when I was having a great time, having intelligent/funny conversations with people, and then there were times when I just wished I hadn't come and I had stayed home. I think, unfortunately, it was more down than up. I had one great panel performance and one poor panel performance***. Sales at the table weren't quite what I hoped they would be. I did get to see a TON of people that I rarely get a chance to see and have some great meals. Friday night I experienced a flight of Scribe Agency home-brewed beers and ciders and then on Saturday we had a flight of Absinthe****.

For the most part, I need to focus on my full-time job this week. I've got some things I need to do by the weekend***** that have little to do with the new issue that just came out. This weekend I have family plans. I want/need to get the website redesign done this week.

What does that mean for you?

The big one is that I won't be getting copies of the new issue in the mail until Saturday June 7. And even that's going to be tough as I may need to work that day. I'm also not going to be the most reachable person for the next few weeks (months?) while I work on things. I also notice that I need to be working on the next issue already...and that's a frightening time and money concept right now.
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* when your coffee looks like egg drop soup, it's probably not something you should drink....

** yes, I'm rather transparently talking about me here. Don't forget there's also a family that I'm supporting.

*** unfortunately for me they were back to back, and I felt the first one went really well and then I just didn't do as well for the second one. It was probably fine, but compared...

**** I mistakenly told everyone that Lucid is North American brewed when it is clearly from France.

***** That is, there are things that have May 30 and June 1 deadlines that I need to get done beyond other pressing needs.

Wiscon, Wiscon! A Heck of a Town....

You can see from the photo, that I have received copies of EV #14 in the mail today (technically via UPS, but who's counting?). There's also a smattering of post cards I had made in the photo, too.

On top of that, I've been working on some other stuff. You can click here to see some of it.

Daniel Abraham, "The Cambist," and Issuu

I have heard that some people are unable to access Daniel Abraham's Hugo-nominated story "The Cambist and Lord Iron: A Fairy Tale of Economics". I have been provided with a PDF of the story from the publisher. If you are unable to access the story, please e-mail at editor[at]electricvelocipede[dot]com, tell me your plight, and I will provide you with a URL for the PDF.

It's a largish PDF (5MB or so) so don't be alarmed.

I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused anyone.

Wiscon Lead Up (re-Updated, again)

re-UPDATED, again

Wiscon, the world's largest feminist science fiction convention, is two weeks away. Yikes. There's a lot to do. As I've done with previous conventions, here is a list of things I want to accomplish before May 22 when I get in my car and drive up to Madison:

Get Robert Freeman Wexler chapbook from printer
Design EV 14 post cards
Print EV 14 post cards
Design subscription flyers
Print subscription flyers
Design Wexler chapbook flyers
Print Wexler chapbook flyers
Make round stickers for giveaways
Print updated price lists
Post new website design
Contact panel members for "The Magic Book Machine" (I'm moderating)
Attach posters to foam board
Get EV 14 from printers
Make Scribe party giveaways and displays
Get party supplies (what the party supplies are also needs to be determined)
Get sekrit stuff
Pick out clothes
Get a haircut? (don't have time)
Pack car

And there are two panels (back to back on Sunday) for me to prepare for:

"Inside the Magic Book Machine" Sun 1:00 - 2:15
Having leaped the hurdle of selling a book to a publisher, few authors grasp the rest of the process. A managing editor takes you through the mechanics of the black box that is publishing. Learn how to prepare a manuscript so that the book that comes out is the one you envisioned; keep the process on schedule so sales and marketing have the time and tools they need to promote your book most effectively. A guide to becoming the author people at the publisher like--and will go the extra mile for."

Moderator: Me
Sean Wallace, Shana Cohen, Kandi Schaefferkoetter

"Does Written SF Have a Future?" Sun 2:30 -3:45
Is the print SF/F book or magazine as outmoded as the dodo? Is online writing the wave of the future, or will that, too, fall by the wayside in favor of other media? Is the sky falling, or has it always been falling, or is it not falling so fast after all?

Moderator: Susan Groppi
Me, Stephen Eley, Ellen Datlow

Steampunk Y'All

I'd just like to point out that Electric Velocipede, founded in 2001, was named out of my interest in things steampunk. When I tried to get steampunk subs in 2001 everyone was like, "Ewww!" After trying for four or five issues to get stories I just stopped.

NO ONE WAS INTERESTED.

And now? Even the New York Fucking Times is writing about it! (yes, as a fashion article rather than the fiction)

Man, sometimes it REALLY sucks to have been ahead of the curve. I've only published a handful of steampunk things over the years, but I still really like the aesthetic of the movement.

In semi-related news, if anyone can put me in touch with K. W. Jeter, please drop me a note at editor[at]electricvelocipede[dot]com.

Shirley Jackson Award

I just found out today that Logorrhea is a finalist for the Shirley Jackson award! Click on the link to see the whole list, but here's the anthology category:

ANTHOLOGY
* At Ease with the Dead, edited by Barbara and Christopher Roden (Ash-Tree Press)
* Dark Delicacies 2, edited by Del Howison and Jeff Gelb (Running Press)
* Inferno, edited by Ellen Datlow (Tor)
* Logorrhea, edited by John Klima (Bantam Spectra)
* Wizards, edited by Jack Dann and Gardner Dozois (Berkley)

There's a lot of good stuff in this list, and considering that the aware is for "outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror, and the dark fantastic," I'm sure what sort of chance I have. All the same, I'm very excited to be nominated! Congrats to everyone who made the final ballot!

The award is being given out at this year's Readercon, on Sunday July 20 in Boston, MA. I've always loved going to Readercon, should I make the trip?