2010 News:
Aurealis looking for new editor/editorial team
With Stuart Mayne deciding to concentrate on other projects, the publishers of Aurealis are looking for an editor or editorial team to take over. If you wish to express interest, please send your CV and an outline of what plans or future directions you may have for Aurealis to Dirk Strasser at the email address: publisher <at> aurealis <dot> com <dot> au.
Summer Submissions News
To reiterate the news item of 6 December: office hours will be severely reduced over the summer school holidays. The editor will be on prolonged child minding duties. From 17 December 2010 to 6 February 2011 the office will be open only intermittently, affecting email response times and order shipment.
It will be impossible to read submissions during this time, so the editor is closing the office to ALL submissions over this time. Any submissions delivered during this period will be deleted unread. Submissions open again from 7 February 2011.
Happy summer!
Aurealis editor resigns
After five years at Aurealis, editor Stuart Mayne has decided to resign his position. Issue 45, due out in May 2011, will be the last issue edited by Mayne.
He wrote in aurealisXpress, "When I started out my aim was to give the magazine a new lease of life and to ensure that it continued in a position of strength and security. I have done all those things and more while editing nine issues of the magazine.
I will be continuing my work in the SF community, convening the science fiction novel category of the Aurealis Awards and looking at some future projects for my TMP imprint. But I have some other projects that can’t be delayed any longer. Thank you for your support over the past five years."
If you are a suitably qualified editor (have a Grad Dip/Degree in Editing and Publishing, or have worked as a magazine or book editor in a commercial setting) and would like some information about editing Aurealis, contact the publisher after January 2011 via the following email address: publisher <at> aurealis <dot> com <dot> au.
HarperVoyager to sponsor the 2010 Aurealis Awards
SpecFaction NSW Inc, the new organiser of the Aurealis Awards, is delighted to announce that HarperVoyager will be the exclusive sponsor of the 2010 awards presented in May next year.
Awards Co-convenor Nathan Burrage said, “The Aurealis Awards are Australia’s premier awards for Speculative Fiction and we’re delighted to be working with one of Australia’s top publishers, HarperVoyager, to present them for the first time in Sydney.”
“SpecFaction is a not for profit organisation and all our members are volunteers. Without the support of a sponsor like HarperVoyager, we could not hope to host the awards.”
HarperVoyager publish some of Australia’s biggest names in Speculative Fiction.
Stephanie Smith, Associate Publisher of HarperVoyager, said “HarperVoyager is delighted to be the sponsor of the Aurealis Awards in 2011. The awards have been instrumental in the development of the speculative fiction genre in Australia and are a source of pride for the genre community. Many Voyager authors have won, or been shortlisted for, the Aurealis Awards over the past 15 years, including such bestselling authors as Sara Douglass, Glenda Larke, Jennifer Fallon and Kylie Chan. Voyager’s enthusiasm for the genre and our commitment to seeing it grow and expand is as strong as ever.”
The Aurealis Awards, Australia's premier awards for genre fiction, are for works of speculative fiction written by an Australian citizen, or permanent resident, and published for the first time between 1 November 2009 and 31 December 2010.
Entries close on Friday 31 December 2010. Finalists will be announced in late March 2011 and winners will receive their awards at a gala evening ceremony held in Sydney on Saturday the 21st of May 2011.
All entries are read by an independent panel of judges. As with past awards, sponsorship arrangements do not influence the judging process.
For more information on the Aurealis Awards, or how to enter, please visit www.aurealisawards.com
Aurealis office hours over the Australian school holidays
Office hours will be severely reduced over the summer school holidays. The editor will be on prolonged child minding duties. From 17 December 2010 to 6 February 2011 the office will be open only intermittently, affecting email response times and order shipment.
It will be impossible to read submissions during this time, so the editor is closing the office to ALL submissions over this time. Submissions open again from 7 February 2011.
Happy summer!
Ford Street author signings
Ten authors including Paul Collins, Sean McMullen, Foz Meadows and Doug MacLeod will be signing their books on Dec 4 at Fairfield Bookshop, Fairfield, Melbourne at 11am, and Collins Booksellers, Northland, Melbourne at 1pm.
Russell Blackford reviews Classic Australian SF series
Australian writer, philosopher and literary critic, Russell Blackford, has reviewed each of of the 6 books in the Classic Australian SF series:
http://metamagician3000.blogspot.com/2010/09/reading-crowned-skull-by-fergus-hume.html
http://metamagician3000.blogspot.com/2010/09/reading-shrieking-pit-by-arthur-j-rees.html
http://metamagician3000.blogspot.com/2010/09/reading-vandals-of-void-by-james-morgan.html
http://metamagician3000.blogspot.com/2010/09/reading-bid-for-fortune-or-dr-nikolas.html
http://metamagician3000.blogspot.com/2010/09/reading-week-in-future-by-catherine.html
http://metamagician3000.blogspot.com/2010/09/currently-reading-out-of-silence-by.html
Competition: 10 tickets to Iain M Banks in conversation
Aurealis in conjunction with Gleebooks is giving away 10 tickets to a very special event; Iain M Banks in conversation via Skype.
If you are a Sydney resident, and preferably an Aurealis subscriber, and would like the opportunity to hear the very excellent speaker that is Iain M Banks talk about his latest Culture novel, Surface Detail email the editor (editor@aurealis.com.au) and answer this simple question:
Where will Iain M Banks be speaking via Skype
The first 10 correct entries will win tickets.
Date: Wed 6 October
Time: 6pm for 6:30pm
Venue: Gleebooks, 29 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
Iain M Banks in conversation
Known for his literary novels, science fiction and personal politics, Iain M. Banks will be in conversation LIVE in Sydney via Skype on 6 October for the release of his new novel SURFACE DETAIL published by Orbit.
Iain M. Banks’ highly publicised political actions have included tearing up his passport and posting it to 10 Downing Street, in protest of England's invasion of Iraq. As a stand for the environment he sold off his extensive car collection (including a Porsche Boxster, Jaguar Mark II and BMW M5) and doesn’t travel by plane.
Fortunately technology enables this special live Iain M. Banks event to occur in Sydney via Skype, so be sure not to miss this one-off event!
Date: Wed 6 October
Time: 6pm for 6:30pm
Cost: $10/$7 conc
Venue: Gleebooks, 29 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
Bookings: (02) 9660 2333
Aurealis at WorldCon
Join us for the following Aurealis events at WorldCon on Sunday 5 September:Launch of the Classic Australian SF series
11.00 in Room 203 with Jack Dann master of ceremonies
Classic Australian SF Panel
12.00 in Room 217 with Lucy Sussex, Ian Irvine and Sean McMullen
20 Years of Aurealis Panel
3.00 in Room 217 with Dirk Strasser, Stephen Higgins, Michael Pryor, Keith Stephenson, Stuart Mayne
And come to visit us at the Aurealis table in the Dealer’s Room at any time during the WorldCon (Thursday 2 September to Monday 6 September).
Songs for Stories - The Indigenous Literacy Project Benefit Concert 2010
Dan Sultan, Ursula Yovich, Maggie Noonan, Shane Howard and Megan Washington will play the second Songs for Stories benefit concert on Sunday 22 August at 7:30pm at the Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston Street.
Hosted by bestselling children’s author Andy Griffiths, Songs for Stories is a celebration of words and music to raise urgently needed funds for books and literacy resources in remote Indigenous communities.
Songs for Stories is an initiative of The Indigenous Literacy Project (ILP) in association with the Melbourne Writers Festival. Tickets are $65 and available now through the MWF Federation Square Box Office on 03 9999 1199 or online.
Chimaera launches trailer for Classic Australian SF series
Have a look at the book trailer for Classic Australian SF http://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelJPryor
Big Changes on the Aurealis Website
As you will see there are big changes on the front page of the Aurealis website. Chimaera Publications are soon to publish a six book series of Classic Australian SF, which can be pre-ordered via the website. The most notable change will be found within the shopping cart, once you have ordered from the Aurealis website. We now accept online payment of orders only via PayPal. You can still make cheque payments (made out to Chimaera Publications) via mail.
PayPal is a safe, easy way to pay and get paid online in any way they prefer: via credit cards, bank accounts, buyer credit or account balances.
If you don't already have a free PayPal account you can join here.
Sci fi and Spin offs lecture at ACMI
As if inter and intra-galactic politics weren't enough, then there was Star Wars vs Star Trek, and now we find ourselves in an era of sci-fi spin-offs, remakes, revivals and reincarnations, from small screen to silver screen, live action to 3D.
Join the voyage through the Stargates, Star Treks, Battlestars and Dr Whos with Oscar Hillerström (Empire, Rotten Tomatoes, Popcorn Taxi and 'Captain' of SCI FI Channel Australia's website), Adam Richard (comedian, TV and radio personality) and Jane Badler (famed for her role as 'Diana' in the original series of V) as they answer the questions we don't dare ask.
ACMI, Studio 1 Federation Square Melbourne, Thursday 29 July, 7pm, tickets from ACMI Full $14 Concession $11.
Sturgeon Award Winners 2010 announced
The Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the best short science fiction of the year was established in 1987 by James Gunn, Director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas.
The Sturgeon Award Winners for 2010 are:
1st "Shambling Towards Hiroshima," by James Morrow
2nd (tie) "Things Undone," by John Barnes
2nd (tie) "This Wind Blowing, and This Tide," by Damien Broderick
2nd (tie) "As Women Fight," by Sara Genge
Australia's Damien Broderick's story can be found in Jonathan Strahan's The Best SF and Fantasy of the Year Vol. 4 (Night Shade Books).
Carissa's Weblog for July
ABC RN's Artworks on Nawlz, a near future sci-fi interactive online comic by Stu Campbell http://bit.ly/a6G7Xj
"Out among the Red Men" ABC RN's Hindsight on 19th C literary trend of lost civilisations in the centre of Australia http://bit.ly/bMo96k
TwelfthPlanetCast Ep 5 features Tansy Rayner Robert's upcoming story in Sprawl http://bit.ly/bAsPLf
Writer on the Verge interview with NZ author Mary Victoria by Blake Charleton http://bit.ly/bRZsoM Also @VoyagerBooks http://bit.ly/dhpQgI
"A different view" - MCV - Melbourne Community Voice for Gay and Lesbian Readers http://bit.ly/bN79vH
All welcome at Worlds Next Door book launch, Aug 19 in Rockingham - details here: http://bit.ly/9K5XgA
In July's Good Reading Magazine (@GoodReading) "Steampunk. What is it?" by Michael Pryor. And it looks like the digital edition is now iPad friendly.
Says Trent Jamieson (@trentonomicon): "Think I missed the point with my book trailer" http://yfrog.com/mrx7dzj
From Solaris Books: Rowena Cory Daniells now has a twitter account! Go follow her, make her feel welcome! @rcdaniells (via @readinasitting)
Here's Tansy Rayner Robert's Creature Court Trilogy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-h18RVylmXw (via Kaaron Warren)
Melina Marchetta interviewed by her mentoree Jessica Flood for NSW Writers' Centre http://bit.ly/aCUrTT Also link to her class on July 24th.
Writing Graphic Novels with Chewie Chan at NSW Writers Centre, 15 August http://bit.ly/bUeC4Q
Weblog items appear first at our Twitter page: http://twitter.com/aurealisXpress
2010 Aurealis Award nominations are now open
SpecFaction NSW co-convenor Nathan Burrage has announced that nominations are now open for the 2010 Aurealis Awards. Entry forms are available from the Aurealis Awards website.
NSW Writers Centre workshop with Kate Forsyth
NSW Writers Centre workshop "Writing the Fantastical" with Kate Forsyth. In the course, Kate will take participants through the many sub-genres of fantasy fiction along with practical techniques for creating fantasy fiction. The one-day course runs from 10am-4pm Sunday 8 August here at the NSW Writers Centre at Balmain Rd, Rozelle and costs $140 (full price), $100 (members) and $85 (concession members).
Office hours during the Victorian school holidays
The Aurealis offices with be closed from 27 June - 4 July and will be open again from 5 July.
Carissa's Weblog for June
Weblog items appear first at our Twitter page: http://twitter.com/aurealisXpress
This is just a small selection of the items posted.
Check it out: Aurealis Magazine has a Facebook Page http://bit.ly/ax0oDx
Read Gary Kemble's Bug Hunt and other "One Book Many Brisbanes 5" winning stories http://bit.ly/bzMNU0
Big 4 Interviews at Burn Bright: Richard Harland, Isobelle Carmody, Alison Goodman, Kate Forsyth, Kim Wilkins http://bit.ly/9owy6c and Margo Lanagan http://bit.ly/bLFWcB
Voyager Online reports that Maria Quinn, author of The Gene Thieves, has passed away http://bit.ly/dimGCC
Free wallpaper from Professional Artist Hugo nominee Shaun Tan at Tor.com http://bit.ly/abVpIt
Read Alert has details/links/video about the adaptation for film of Shaun Tan's The Lost Thing http://bit.ly/cAphs0
Email or tweet us details of your Oz SF-related events for our aurealisXpress Blog Calendar http://bit.ly/a0htl3
Garth Nix - "Adapt or perish: why authors need to prepare for the e-book era" http://bit.ly/aYQhoO
New Aussiecon information
The following updates and details are now available at the Aussiecon 4 website.
* A Customs Broker has been appointed.
* The program participant and program ideas forms are now online.
* Art Show bookings are open.
* Dealers Room bookings are open.
* Fan table bookings are open.
* Short Story Competition closing 31 May.
* Site Selection voting open.
* Hotel Bookings.
* Disability Services: register your needs.
* See who else is attending other than the Guests of Honour.
Aurealis Awards 2010 to Sydney
After 15 years the Aurealis Awards, Australia's premier awards for Speculative Fiction, finally make it to Sydney. Chimaera Publications, the publishers of Aurealis magazine and owner of the Aurealis Awards and book imprint, have reached agreement for SpecFaction NSW Inc to administer the Awards for 2010.
The Awards’ founder, Dirk Strasser says, “Fantastic Queensland took the Aurealis Awards to a new level during its six years, and all the signs indicate that SpecFaction NSW Inc will maintain this standard of excellence. With Sydney now joining past hosts Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, we can truly claim the Aurealis Awards as fully national.”
To allow sufficient time for entries this year, the nomination period will extend to 31 December 2010 and the Awards ceremony will be late April/early May 2011.
The Awards website will continue to be at www.aurealisawards.com. The Co-convenors are Nathan Burrage and Susan Wardle, and general queries should go to nscrypt@gmail.com until the website has been updated. If you wish to register an expression of interest in being on one of the judging panels for this year, please email the Judging Coordinator, Keith Stevenson, at aajudges@optusnet.com.au.
Finalists for the 2010 Sir Julius Vogel Awards Announced
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Association of New Zealand is please to announce this year's finalists for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards.
Something Better Than Death by Lucy Sussex, published in Aurealis #42, and Paul Haines' Spot of Liver from TMP's Slice of Life are amongst the finalists in the Short Story category.
The voting will occur at Au Contraire - the national science fiction convention being held in Wellington, New Zealand over the weekend of the 27 - 29 August 2010. All Au Contraire attendees and SFFANZ members are entitled to vote. For more information about Au Contraire — including how to obtain tickets to attend — please visit their website.
Carissa's Weblog for April
Weblog items appear first at our Twitter page: http://twitter.com/aurealisXpress
Teen Writers Get Serious with Melina Marchetta. NSW Writers Centre workshop April 24th http://bit.ly/b9oBIV
Aussiecon 4's Hugo Ballot is now online. Deadline 31st July 2010 http://bit.ly/9ySAua
Larbalestier, Harland & Murray shortlisted for Ethel Turner Prize, NSW Premier's Literary Award http://bit.ly/dp6Txj
Deborah Biancotti, Kaaron Warren, Amanda Pillar & Jennifer Brozek took out the Australian Shadows Awards http://bit.ly/9edoIm
Jonathan Strahan: New book cover for Legends of Australian Fantasy!! http://brizzly.com/pic/1WKH
The Book Show asks "how are local writers coping with the Harry Potter and Twilight phenomena?" http://bit.ly/cT7U29
Kate Eltham shares 3 books that have had an impact in her life for ABC RN's Off the Shelf segment http://bit.ly/cfpdqa mp3 or stream
New Galactic Suburbia podcast up! http://bit.ly/cb5SUn Episode 2 & 3
Karen Healey (@kehealey) - Writing From A Strange Land: The Imaginative Displacement of Margaret Mahy http://bit.ly/cnNRHJ @strangehorizons
Recommend "strongly Australian" stories for @editormum75's reprint anthology Australis Imaginarium http://bit.ly/boSzjG
Read Alert has Shaun Tan's Adelaide Festival Award acceptance speech http://bit.ly/9GKeG7
Melina Marchetta on The Conversation Hour http://bit.ly/a6SoRh mp3 download
Up now TISF 17: Ben Peek reads 'Under The Red Sun', Keith reviews Mirror Space. Free at www.tisf.com.au or iTunes.
Australian Spec Fic blog carnival, March 2010 http://bit.ly/9HRWbZ
Office hours during the Victorian school holidays
The Aurealis office will be closed during school holidays, 27 March - 11 April.
Aurealis 42 shortlisted for Shadows award
The Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) has selected thirteen of the best and scariest works of horror fiction from 2009 as the finalists in the annual Australian Shadows Award, the highest honour for horror, dark fantasy, and paranormal fiction in Australia and New Zealand. And one of those is Aurealis issue 42 in the edited publication category.
More information can be found at the Australian Horror Writers Association website.
Competitions, Interviews and more from Twitter
Recent links of interest @AurealisXpress:
The latest issue of aurealisXpress is out for Aurealis subscribers. Includes an interview with Garth Nix and, thanks to Madman Entertainment, a competition to win the 1960s classic cartoon Gigantor, Collection 1 and the Korean disaster movie, Haeundae on DVD
Cartoon Network will air “Deltora Quest” animated series in April http://bit.ly/b6dM5i
@KathLangrish interviews Kate Forsyth for "An Australian Perspective...about writing fantasy" http://bit.ly/dijoVB
LA Times announces 2009 Book Prize finalists | Sean Tan nominated in Young Adult Lit for Tales from Outer Suburbia http://bit.ly/aEhTHO
Meet Melina Marchetta at SLV March 14th http://bit.ly/bCy83l also a the short video interview with Melina.
Syd Mead, concept artist for Blade Runner, Tron, Aliens, Star Trek, will appear at the Orpheum in March http://bit.ly/cfBef
Foz Meadows on Solace and Grief @ Fancy Goods http://bit.ly/cQpQiT
Paul Collins interview @ KidsLife | The stuff of legends: writing for the world of fantasy adventure http://bit.ly/c3N42M
Maria V Snyder interviews Glenda Larke http://bit.ly/bGHJyT plus a contest to win The Last Stormlord
Trespass Magazine (@trespassmag) interview with Foz Meadows http://bit.ly/dlg0IC
February has been Aussie Month at The Clock Monkey: Interviews & Reviews of Australian authors http://bit.ly/a9xdlH ~ thx to @EllaPress
"Keeping the magic alive: Australia and eBooks" by @renailemay http://bit.ly/d2d3p0 ~ thanks to @KimFalconer
Garth Nix joins Mary Pope Osborne, Cory Doctorow & Mindy Klasky on The Author Hour http://bit.ly/bfITr0 audio & transcript
Margo Lanagan’s (@MargoLanagan) workshop Blood, Boggarts and Battlestars: An Introduction to Speculative Fiction, 6th March @ NSWWC http://bit.ly/c4wc4r
Tor.com interview with Garth Nix from late last year. I missed this one at the time.http://bit.ly/ckUYSI
Paul Haines has (Aurealis Award winning) Wives & A Spot of Liver avail. at his website for your consideration http://bit.ly/cbJfkE
You can pick up free e-copies of Horn, A Book of Endings and Siren Beat from Twelfth Planet Press till March http://bit.ly/cl67TH
90 interviews for the 2010 Australian Specfic Snapshot! Here's the roundup by @kathrynlinge: http://bit.ly/9phNvH
Here's Stuart Mayne’s (@AurealisEd) 2010 Australian Specfic Snapshot interviewhttp://bit.ly/bQcdkf
2009 Nebula Awards Nominations: http://tinyurl.com/ycfxheq
Writers Read: Narrelle Harris http://bit.ly/d9YDke
ABC RN's Lingua Franca talks to the creator of the Na'vi language
(Avatar).http://bit.ly/dcdQX9 Stream or download, also transcript available.
The Small Picture Podcast interviews KJ Taylor (The Griffin's Flight) http://bit.ly/aCD0Av
Sean Williams Interview @ The Long Write Blog http://bit.ly/9pLtGM
Joel Shepherd interview @nethspace http://bit.ly/cWnv9y
Patrick Ness Oz/NZ Tour details http://bit.ly/cub0uX
February's Australian Speculative Fiction Carnival is up at Ripping Ozzie Reads http://bit.ly/aq4YRw
NSW Writers' Centre has an interview with Margo Lanagan (@margolanagan) in their February Newsletter http://bit.ly/bY5bar
Garth Nix is February's Writer in Residence at insideadog.com.au. His first post is here:http://bit.ly/9ZB9KN
Up now TISF 16: Matthew Chrulew reads 'Beast Machine Fableaux', Keith reviews The Terminator Gene. Free at www.tisf.com.au or iTunes.
Launch of @fozmeadows Solace & Grief by @ScottWesterfeld at Books Kinokuniya, Sydney, March 7 at 12.30pm http://bit.ly/aXp1025
Entries open for the 2010 Katharine Susannah Prichard SF Awards
Entries are now being accepted for the 2010 Katharine Susannah Prichard Speculative Fiction Awards.
Writers of all ages are invited to submit their work. A fee per manuscript of $7.00 applies, however young writers under 20 years are particularly encouraged to enter and may submit their work for FREE!
Cash prizes are awarded, and winners will be invited to read at the Awards Ceremony on Sunday 15 August 2010 at KSP Writers Centre.
Stories must be between 1500 and 3500 words, with all forms of Speculative Fiction welcomed.
Syd Mead, concept artist tours Australia
In conjunction with the premiere viewing of the award winning film Visual Futurist - the life and work of Syd Mead at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace in Cremorne, on 18 March, 2010; celebrated concept artist, Syd Mead worked on such films as Blade Runner, Tron, Aliens and Star Trek will be interviewed live on stage.
Book tickets at the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace.
Stargate convention. Meet the cast!
The first weekend of March is looking to be very exciting for Sci/fi fans of Australia. The Hub productions are hosting a Stargate convention and have managed to secure one of the most impressive Stargate lineups ever seen, not only just in Australia, but worldwide.
The event will be held on March 6th in Sydney and March 7th in Melbourne and people can visit www.thehubproductions.com for more information or to purchase tickets. Alternatively they can call on 02 9874 7171.
Recent links of interest posted to our Twitter page
ABC RN's The Book Show on Cormac McCarthy's The Road and the movie adaptation. http://bit.ly/bErwyU stream or download
Vote in the David Gemmell Legend Awards - Aussies on the list include Miller, Canavan & Marillier http://tinyurl.com/y9
Deborah Biancotti's story collection A Book of Endings shortlisted in the Crawford Award http://bit.ly/a7tHJs Congrats!
The Small Picture Podcast interviews Duncan Lay http://bit.ly/dqMe1T mp3 or stream
Kylie Chan interview "Blending East with West" at The Straits Times Blogs http://bit.ly/bnGHcY
Two interviews with Foz Meadows: http://tinyurl.com/y868gec & http://fozmeadows.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/it-has-begun/
Sean Williams is "standing for election in SFWA, as Overseas Regional Director on the most excellent Scalzi/Kowal ticket" http://bit.ly/96SCti
Marianne de Pierres http://bit.ly/cc2FfH and Tracey O'hara http://bit.ly/d2DjrQ "show you theirs" at Tara Moss's blog. (Their desks, that is)
Link from last year I missed: Authors from the Apex Book of World SF Discuss the Global Reach of Speculative Fiction http://bit.ly/dxEVAQ
The Small Picture Podcast interviews Kylie Chan http://bit.ly/cClcXg
Kate Forsyth interviewed by Robert Salisbury at the Manly Writers Group. Part 1 of 5 at YouTube http://bit.ly/8lTvbi
Preliminary Bram Stoker Ballot shortlist
Congratulations to Shane Jiraya Cummings and Andrew McKiernan for their shortlisting in the Bram Stoker awards for horror fiction. Cummings (author) and McKiernan (illustration) have picked up their shortlist for superior achievement in a collection. The Bram Stoker awards will be announced later this year.
New Ford St supernatural title
Everyone welcome to Ford Street's launch of Foz Meadows's Solace & Grief at the Carlton Library, 667 Rathdowne Street, Carlton on 20 February at 2pm for 2:30pm. Kirstyn McDermott will be launching it!
Bookseller + Publisher says " a clever and funny supernatural romp, with a chilling underside" and "Solace & Grief is solid and a welcome addition to the burgeoning vampire book market". There's more, but come along and read it for yourself!
If you're living in Sydney, you'll be pleased to know that Scott Westerfeld is launching the book at Books Kinokuniya, Sydney,
Level 2, Galeries Victoria
500 George Street
Sydney on Sunday, March 7 at 12:30pm
RSVP info@fordstreetpublishing.com.
Aurealis Award winners
The Aurealis Award winners were presented at a glittering ceremony in Brisbane on Saturday 24th January. Chimaera Publications and Aurealis magazine would like to congratulate all winners in all categories, but especially Trudi Canavan, Paul Haines, Pamela Freeman and Cat Sparks for their continued success and friendship.
Thanks to Fantastic Queensland
As editor of Aurealis and on behalf of Chimaera Publications I'd like to publically thank all the people associated with Fantastic Queensland over the last six years for the hard work and effort they have put into organising and developing the Aurealis Awards.
All these volunteers associated with Fantastic Queensland have helped bring the wealth of Australian SF talent to the eyes of more and more local readers.
I've been representing Aurealis and Chimaera Publications at the Awards ceremony for the past four years. Over that time I've come to know how hard the organisers work. I'd like to especially like to thank the following: Lea Greenaway for being the first and friendliest face I met in 2007; Ron Serduik for being such an open, responsive and friendly co-ordinator, his unfailing work has been inclusive and supportive to all those eligible for the awards; Kate Eltham who in her quiet and efficient way has been instrumental in turning the Aurealis Awards into a professional event; and finally Damon Cavalchini is a quiet administrator whose dedication to the Awards whose skills are shown at the event, as the entertainment and delivery of the awards has always proceeded seemlessly.
Chimaera Publications is in detailed negotiations with a party to take over running the Aurealis Awards and hope to make public an announcement soon on the new hosting arrangements.
Stuart Mayne, Editor
Time to gain eligibility to nominate for Hugos ends soon
The nominating period for the Hugo Awards commenced 1 January 2010, and nominations must be received by 13 March 2010. However, in order to be eligible to nominate, you must have purchased a membership of the 2010 World Science Fiction Convention (Aussiecon 4) by 31 January 2010 or have been a member of the 2009 World Science Fiction Convention, Anticipation. For more information visit the aussiecon website.Nominations for the Hugo awards open
Nominations for the annual Hugo Awards – considered the ‘Oscars’ of the science fiction and fantasy community – are now open. The winners of these prestigious awards will be announced at a special ceremony at Aussiecon 4, the next World Science Fiction Convention, which will be held in Melbourne 2 - 6 September 2010.Aurealis reviews on the sf site
Jenny Blackford, World Fantasy Awards judge and Aurealis published author kindly sent through the following links to rare reviews of Aurealis:
NZ SF awards open for nominations
The Sir Julius Vogel sub-committee of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Association of New Zealand is currently accepting nominations for science fiction, fantasy or horror works first published or released in the 2009 calendar year.Nominations open on 1 January 2010 and close on 31 March 2010 at 8pm.
New SF writers resource
Aurealis slush reader Mark Turner has started up a new website that aims to act as a conduit for all interested in writing and publishing. Writrade Showcase! is a social network for writers, editors, agents, artists, marketers and promoters, reviewers, and of course all readers and fans of writers and the writing industry.
The site has only been up for a week and has already gained a solid membership.
Links of Interest @AurealisXpress from our December Edition
Recently posted to our Twitter page:
Blasting Through Writer's Block with Kate Forsyth (7 February 2010) NSW Writers Centre http://bit.ly/7zQuEB
From aXp contributor Crisetta: "My story "Numbers" is on twittertales.wordpress.com. An early story, but I'm fond of it!
Latest Terra Incognita SF podcast has Deborah Biancotti reading "Hush" & Keith Stevenson reviews Kaaron Warren's Slights http://bit.ly/LAnUA
ABC's Life Matters Talkback asks listeners "what is it with vampires?" http://bit.ly/8sMXmY Audio available to stream or download.
Joel Shepherd interview at Tor.com | Sasha: Her Sword is Her Power http://bit.ly/4BkYFA
Exclusive Keri Arthur story in the new Spectra Pulse http://bit.ly/5OTqM
Iain Banks talks to The Book Show's Romona Koval about Transition http://bit.ly/4oP1Jp
The Book Show's Off the Shelf segment with China Mieville. Streaming audio or download. http://bit.ly/6YKPws