Ellen suggested the reason the other day: waiting for other people to get around to things. Right now, I’m somewhat depressed, partly due to another short story rejection (but I submitted two others, one to the same mag, one to Analog). And I just finished complete edits on my two completed next novels. But… I’m… Continue reading Why do authors drink

While I was at Chicon 8, I went to the Hopepunk panel. Among the things mentioned was Noble/Bright, as opposed to grim/dark, but the panel said that it tended to be a hero who saves everyone. In contrast, in hopepunk, hackers/punks get together, and maybe make things better for a least some few people. But… Continue reading A Manifesto for a New Movement

If you haven’t heard, the Ring of Fire Press is going to be liquidated. I don’t know what the story on the Grantville Gazette is, but his widow’s got a lot of debts with the company. Not many copies of my book left – I have some for sale, as does Sally, of Larry Smith,… Continue reading Bad news – RoF Press going down

This year, there have already been a couple of high-profile issues – and that’s not mentioning what happened to be (see a previous post). In all the cases, it appears to have been overreactions to off-handed comments. I’m going to ignore the possibility in one case that someone on the religious right could have weaponized… Continue reading What’s gone wrong with the codes of conduct?

Hi, folks. Just changed the website – now, instead of me having to approve every comment, you just need to register (once), then log in when you want to comment.

I have been informed by programming at the Chicon/Worldcon that they don’t want me. I have no problem if they didn’t find a place to put me, that they have lot more people. However, when I asked politely to be on the waitlist, when people cancel (COVID, etc), I got this: “While there is a… Continue reading Well, I won’t be on the program at Worldcon

First SFWA and Mercedes Lackey, then Balticon and Stephanie Burke. Both suddenly ripped out of the program. In both cases, I feel that the punishment was not only significantly worse than what was alleged in the complaint, but they were given no chance before the punishment was in place. This is punishment before and without… Continue reading Codes of conduct issues

I queried one agent in Feb, and haven’t heard back. Tried to email him last week, no response. I’ll talk to his boss at Balticon – I just want to know if my query is anywhere near the top of the to-be-read list. In the meantime, I queried another agent (it’s permissible, and expected, to… Continue reading Agents, why did it have to be agents?

In 11,000 Years, there’s a number of mentions of resources. I’m using that in place of “credits” or “money” in general. Now, everyone (except those who refuse it) gets BMI (Basic Minimum Income). It’s apportions: x for housing, y for food, z for clothing, etc, and zz – whatever you want, and that is *not*… Continue reading Resources in the Terran Confederation

A friend posted in fb a link to some site called “Screen Rant”, where someone is immensely enthusiastic over artwork for LotR: https://screenrant.com/lord-of-the-rings-breathtaking-beautiful-interesting-concept-art-pieces/Some are ok. Some are good. But #7, Eowyn vs. the Witch King… I think the “artist” needs to consider taking a few art classes, and I don’t mean online. Before I start,… Continue reading Artists and artwork