2006 News:
Alastair Reynolds Tour Dates
Alastair Reynolds, author of Revelation Space and other hard science fiction novels will be in Canberra and Sydney during January 2007 to coincide with the release of his two new titles Pushing Ice and Galactic North.
Friday 5th January
5pm Gaslight Books Signing
E-mail:gasbooks@gaslightbooks.com.au
Address: Unit 10, 83 Wollongong St, Fyshwick, Canberra, ACT
Details: public signing/meet-and-greet.
Saturday 6th January
2pm Infinitas Books Signing
E-mail: bookshop@infinitas.com.au
Address: Shop 22 Civic Arcade 48-50 George St, Parramatta
Details: public signing/meet-and-greet
Thursday 11th January
5pm Galaxy Books Talk & Signing
E-mail: davidl@galaxybooks.com.au
Address: 143 York St, Sydney, 2000
Details: In-store Talk & Signing
Alastair Reynolds was born in South Wales. He has a Ph.D. in astronomy and since 1991 he has lived in the Netherlands, where he works as an astrophysicist for the European Space Agency. His books have been short listed for the major SF prizes including the Arthur C. Clarke and the British SF Awards. Chasm City won the British Science Fiction Award.
Discounted advance screenings of new dark fantasy film
Unlocked from the imagination of one of the world's most original directors, Guillermo Del Toro (Blade II, Hellboy), "Pan's Labyrinth" is a gothic story that journeys between reality and a magical underground realm both beautiful and dazzling. Harnessing classic folklore and historic themes against the backdrop of the bloody times during 1940's fascist Spain, "Pan's Labyrinth" is a timeless tale of good and evil, bravery and sacrifice, love and loss.
If you love dark fantasy then come along to a discounted advanced screening of Pan's Labrynith on Monday 18 December 6.30pm at Kino Dendy Cinemas, 45 Collins St Melbourne, at $12 per ticket, or call (03)9650 2100.
For further information on Pan's Labryinth or to view the trailer please visit www.panslabyrinth.com
HarperCollins to publish YA fantasy title by 14 year old
Alexandra Adornetto, a MacRobertson Girls High School student has been signed to a two book deal by HarperCollins' Children's publisher Lisa Berryman. Having finished The Shadow Thief and sent to HarperCollins' slush pile, Alexandra had to wait almost a year before she had heard that the publisher had picked up her novel.
The novel tells the story of Millipop and Ernest who live in Drabville, where residents are having their shadows stolen.
New submission guidelines for Aurealis
The editors have implemented new submission guidelines to make it easier for writers to submit to Aurealis magazine.
Visit http://www.aurealis.com.au/submissions.php for more details.
Chimaera Publications announces new editors to Aurealis
The publishers of Aurealis are pleased to announce that Stephen Higgins and Stuart Mayne are the new editors of Aurealis.
Stephen Higgins needs little introduction. Co-founder of Aurealis magazine, with Dirk Strasser in 1990, Stephen has decided to return to the magazine he loves with a passion. Stephen is looking to return Aurealis to the forefront of Australian speculative fiction.
Stuart Mayne has been working with Chimaera Publications for the past three years, marketing the book list and editing aurealisXpress. He has worked as a book and magazine editor since 1991. He is an expert on Australian crime fiction author, Arthur Upfield, editing Upfield's last published novel.
New guidelines for Friday pitch at Arena/Allen & Unwin
The following are a list of ammendments to the earlier news items on the Friday pitch to Louise Thurtell at Arena/Allen & Unwin.
- It is preferred that submissions be sent by email, not snailmail.
- Mailed material for Friday pitch will not be returned, even if accompanied with a SSAE.
- Adult fiction only, please. No children's fiction or adult non-fiction.
- All authors the publisher is interested in will be notified by the Thursday following submission.
Ms Thurtell said; "The concept of the Friday pitch has been a great success. But we just don't have the time to return mailed submissions given the volume of material we're receiving.
" I'm looking for any type of fiction - speculative novels thrillers, crime, chick-lit, espionage, general - that I think has a great story and is well-written."
Send submissions, only on a Friday to: louiset@allenandunwin.com
Victorian success at Friday pitch with Areana/Allen & Unwin
Arena/Allen & Unwin have recently contracted its first Friday pitch originated work - a fantasy trilogy by Victorian writer Karen Nikakis. Karen was highly commended by Aurealis interviewer and speculative fiction expert Van Ikin at the 2000 SCiFi Awards in Western Australia.
Congratulations Karen.
Sales for Ian Irvine
Ian Irvine has sold the last four books of his Runcible Jones fantasy quintet to Penguin Australia, and The Sorcerer's Tower quartet to Scholastic Australia.
New Commissioning Editor for Scholastic Australia
Ana Vivas has recently been appointed commissioning editor for Scholastic Press. She was formerly the children's publisher at Hachette Livre.
Pitch to Louise Thurtell at Arena on Fridays
Louise Thurtell, the fiction publisher at Arena (Allen & Unwin), has made Friday the day you can pitch your novel by sending your FIRST chapter and a synopsis via email to louiset@allenandunwin.com. She will only reply if she wants to take it further, so please don't expect a response. Please only send on a Friday.
Trudi Canavan signs with Orbit UK
Following the announcement of the launch of new imprints in the USA and Australia, Orbit concludes its first major World Rights deal.
Orbit, the science fiction and fantasy imprint of Little, Brown Book Group announced that it has recently concluded a four-book World Rights agreement with Trudi Canavan. The seven-figure deal, negotiated with Canavan's Australian agent, will comprise a sequel trilogy and a stand-alone prequel to The Black Magician Trilogy.
All the team at Aurealis congratulate Trudi for this success. Well done and keep writing those great fantasies, Trudi!
Orbit to launch new genre imprints in Australia and US
Australia is about to have a major new SF/fantasy imprint. Hachette Livre, the third largest publisher in the world, is launching two new SF and Fantasy imprints: Orbit Australia and Orbit USA. Hachette Livre purchased Orbit, the UK SF and fantasy imprint of the Little, Brown Book Group (formerly Time Warner Book Group) earlier this year. The new imprints will make Orbit a major player in the three largest English language markets in the world.
According to Malcolm Edwards, Managing Director of Hachette Livre Australia: "This is a very exciting development, both for Hachette Livre Australia and for the growing pool of very talented Science Fiction and Fantasy authors in both Australia and New Zealand. It is rare for large publishers to combine, in such a single minded way, to nurture talent, with the express intention of giving authors the very real opportunity of being published globally, and we are very much looking forward to being part of this pioneering approach."
News from Kate Forsyth
Kate Forsyth has been writing a series of children's fantasy adventure books set in Cromwell's seventeenth century England. The series has been sold to Australia, the USA, United Kingdom, Germany and Russia for a large six figure advance. Book One, The Gypsy Crown is due out in Australia in September.
William Elliott wins ABC Fiction Award
Brisbane author William Elliott has won the $10000 inaugural ABC Fiction Award for his fantasy manuscript, The Pilo Family Circus, declaring it a win for Australian fantasy writers.
K J Bishop nominated for John W Campbell Award
Aurealis author K J Bishop has been nominated for the John W Campbell Award for Best New Writer.
Margo Lanagan in Hugo and Nebulas
Margo Lanagan's short story, "Singing My Sister Down", from her Black Juice collection has made the 2006 Hugo Awards Nominations and the 2005 Nebula Awards Final Ballot.
D M Cornish in Monster Deal
Australian author, D M (David) Cornish, has signed a large ‘six figures per book' deal across 6 territories for his debut trilogy, Monster Blood Tattoo. The first book in the series is The Foundling, published in Australia by Omnibus. David says he has spent 13 years developing his unique fantasy world, ‘the Half-continent'.
Conflux International Art Show - Call for Entries
Conflux has announced a Call for Entries for the Conflux international art show, which will feature AUD $6000 (approx. US $4500 / UK £2520) in art show prizes for science fiction, fantasy, horror, surreal, astronomical, comics, manga and related art.
Prizes include one AUD $2000 (approx. US $1500 / UK £840) award for Best in Show, two AUD $1000 (approx. US $750 / UK £420) awards for Best International and Best Australian, and four AUD $500 (approx. US $375 / UK £210) awards for Best Student, Best Comic, Best Manga and Best Digital.
To enable the greatest participation by international artists, artwork will primarily be displayed as prints from digital format (printed by a professional art printer) or in a projected slide show. The show will also feature traditional media artwork.
The Conflux art show is attached to one of the largest science fiction conventions ever held in Australia. The show will run from 2-12 June 2006, including one-week prior to the Conflux convention, during which time it will be open to the general public at the National Museum of Australia (www.nma.gov.au), an outstanding venue with extensive experience in presenting major exhibitions. The show is being promoted widely and exhibiting artists will receive excellent exposure and opportunities to sell work.
Visit www.conflux.org.au/2006/artshow.shtml and download the art show rules, submission guidelines, and application form at your earliest opportunity. Please note that applications and images of artwork must be received by March 27 2006.
Email queries to the art show director at artshow@conflux.org.au.
Margo Lanagan's Black Juice honoured
Margo Lanagan's Black Juice was announced as an honour book in the Michael L Prinz Award presented by the American Library Association. This is the first time that an Australian title has made this list for an award which is considered the most prestigious for YA books in the US.
John Harwood's The Ghost Writer Wins Awards
John Harwood's novel The Ghost Writer won the International Horror Guild's First Novel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Horror and Dark Fantasy; and also the Children of the Night Award for Best Gothic Novel from the Dracula Society of Great Britain.
New Random House Appointment
Random House has appointed a new Commissioning Editor of commercial fiction, Larissa Edwards.
Lothian sold to Time Warner
Independent Australian publisher Lothian Books has been sold to the giant US Time Warner conglomerate. The Lothian imprint will be kept.
Allen & Unwin to expand its Australian fiction
Allen & Unwin has announced a new imprint with a strong emphasis on commercial fiction and non-fiction. The publishers of the new imprint will be Louise Thurtell and Jude McGee.