I wanted to give a brief update on some recent work I’ve had accepted.
My poem “That Witch We Dread” will be part of the New England Horror Writers Upcoming Anthology, Wicked Witches. The anthology release date is (when else?) on October 31, 2016.
I’ve just signed the contact for my horror short story, Traitorous, Lying, Little Star, to be reprinted by Digital Fiction Publishing. I don’t have the ETA on that yet.
In writing news… I’m STILL revising my horror/scifi novelette, Vegetables, and I have a cat-themed short story in progress for an anthology by Pole to Pole Publishing.
It’s taken over a week, but here is the list of works mentioned at the “Scifi/Fantasy Works as Religion” panel I was on at Ro-Con. We spent the bulk of the time discussing why SF/F works take the “place” of religion for some people. Then we spent several minutes discussing some works that have religious themes–either by incorporating existing religions, creating new ones, or having religion-like aspects.
The ones with asterisks (*) are among my personal favorites.
The ones indicated with ^^ symbols before them denote authors who have religious/political views that are offensive to many people, or the author has otherwise behaved abhorrently (in the case of Marion Zimmer Bradley.) So, if you’re interested in these works but don’t want to support the authors/their estates, try to borrow a copy or get these works from your public library rather than purchasing them.
Books:
*American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Terry Pratchett’s “Small Gods” series
Almost anything by Ursula LeGuin
*Earthseed books by Octavia Butler (Parable of the Sower, Parable of the Talents. And for the record, Parable of the Sower is my FAVE BOOK EVA.)
*A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller
*The Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons
Dune saga by Frank Herbert
^^ Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
*The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell (and the follow-up, Children of God)
^^ Many works by C.S. Lewis
^^ Some works by Orson Scott Card
The Left Behind Series
Waiting for the Galactic Bus by Parke Goodwin
Various works by Robert Anton Wilson (especially those co-authored with by Robert Shea)
The Future of an Illusion by Sigmund Freud
TV:
Babylon 5
*Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Supernatural
Lucifer
*The Leftovers (it was mentioned that there is a movie by the same name, but I couldn’t find a reference to it online)
As you can see, this is a small list, since this was not the crux of the panel. But let’s keep the discussion going! Have any comments on what’s listed, or want to add your own suggestions? Comment below.
Those of you who follow me on Facebook know it’s been a dicey week… but I’m happy to say that after fearing I might not be able to go to Ro-Con after all, all lights are green!
I’m now cramming a week’s worth of preparation into a 24-hour period, so this post will be brief!
Ro-Con, “Celebrating All Things Geek and Wonderful,” is taking place this weekend, July 22-24, in Mystic, CT. (Register here if you’re interested in attending, onsite registrations accepted as well.)
Here’s my panel schedule:
9pm Friday
Feminism: What’s It All About
Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, Dee Carter, Kate Kaynak
10am, Saturday
How to Be a Good Panelist
Chion Wolf, Justine Graykin, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert, roberta Rogow
11am Sunday
Scifi/Fantasy as Religion
Kate Kaynak, Jeff Mach, Suzanne Reynolds-Alpert
Normally, I’d be participating in the Broad Universe Rapid Fire Reading (happening Saturday at noon) but I am headed out of the con for a few hours for a mini family reunion also happening on Saturday. If you’re at the con, definitely go check out the reading 🙂
My husband Ari is a panelist as well, and he’ll be on “How Can They Believe That?” and “SF/F/H TV in the 70s and 80s.”
There will also be a variety of workshops on topics such as self-defensive, submitting your writing and other writing workshops, costuming, and science-related roundtables. And there will be some gaming throughout.
I hope to see you there! I can be shy at cons, but if you see me don’t hesitate to reach out and say “hi.” Oh, and I’ll have some of my books with me for sale 🙂
It’s the beginning of the summer (which also means it’s the end of the school year) and that means it’s a time of transitions. It’s the season for graduations, promotions, weddings. It’s a time for festivals and conferences and (if you’re lucky) some R & R.
It’s also been a bizarre year. And we’re only half-way through it.
Events in the world and in my own life have gotten me thinking about “culture” and “norms.” For example:
The culture (and cult of personality) surrounding Trump
Different groups that define themselves by how they respond (or don’t respond) to the gun control debate
The continuing friction between different factions in the scifi writing community (1)
It’s not just these larger manifestations of “culture” that have me thinking and scratching my head. I’ve also been seeing the ways in which micro-cultures manifest in our individual lives. At these transitional times in particular, when so many people are so invested in maintaining the norms of their micro-cultures, clashes between those who maintain power in groups and define the norms rub against those who defy them (either intentionally or by ignorance.)
Perhaps it’s the sociologist in me. I can’t help but step back to watch and analyze as I see so many people scurrying around to protect their culture, their domains of influence, and the norms of their communities.
This isn’t a bad thing, in and of itself. We are social animals, with a built-in need to be parts of a greater whole. We want to belong. And those who hold the strings to power structures are inevitably at risk of abusing them if they choose to manipulate, control, and narrowly define rather than provide a means for members in a group to co-exist, and deal with inevitable group pressures in a healthy way. These bearers of the power-structure-strings wield what the Sociologist Michael Mann has defined as Ideological Power. “(It) derives from the human need to find ultimate meaning in life, to share norms and values, and to participate in aesthetic and ritual practices with others.” (2)
And many people are so desperate to “fit in,” that they will go along with choices and ideas that are objectively harmful to others. The need to “belong” is strong. Inside many of us, that awkward preteen still resides.
I’ve been amused (at best), dismayed, and at times appalled when I see how power-wielders behave. Especially those in positions of power over children. We teach our children how to treat others–share, don’t say anything or do something to anyone you wouldn’t want said or done to you–yet as adults, so many ignore those rules. So many adults revert to childish behavior. So many adults in power over children reward popularity or parents’ checkbooks over the more important qualities that individual children possess.
Unfortunately, none of us can really change the “status quo” of an established group or power structure. And honestly, not all of us have the fortitude to do so, or the energy to fight an uphill battle. Some will never “see” that a power-holder is abusing their power, either because they don’t care (or are benefiting), or because they are too enmeshed in the dysfunctional norms of the group to see through them.
Luckily, there will always be a few who see things as they really are. They will speak truth to power, and there will be repercussions. But there is always another group, another set of ideologies to seek. There are other power-wielders who will do things the “correct” ways.
It’s all about finding your own tribe, and not rewarding or throwing your hat in with those who don’t share your values.
I’d be happy to hear YOUR stories and insights on this topic…
(1) The article is a year old, but gives a good overview of this debate within the scifi community.
Writer Brain* is really very different from Normal Person Brain. I was reminded of this recently when i received a text from my good friend T.
The text was a “pin drop” indicating her location. I had just dropped my son off at school (he missed the bus that morning, for time # 87 or so this year) when I heard the text alert.
I stared at the pin for a moment, and thought, why would she send me a pin? And immediately I’m thinking things like She’s in the hospital and can’t text but wants me to know where she is. And One of her kids is in the hospital and she can’t text and she wants me to know where she is. And She got mixed up with a crazy Colombian Drug Lord because she needed extra cash for dance shoes for her daughter and she was just going to do this one-time drop but maybe she changed her mind and the Drug Lord sent minions to teach her a lesson.
Whoever the captor, I settle on She’s being held against her will but managed to furtively send me her location before they stuffed a rag in her mouth and placed a cloth bag over her head. And then I hope that they didn’t bind her hands too tightly, because that can really cut off your circulation. And do I call the police right now? Or do I just drive to the police station and show them the pin?
So all of those thoughts took about a second. Then I look at the pin more carefully and see that it was sent from her house.
Okay! So she’s being held captive in her house. So maybe it’s a burglary and not a ransom situation.
I’m about to put my car into gear and head off and bring in the Calvary, when I receive another text.
T: Not sure why my location sent.
Me (texting back): You can’t do that location-sending crap to a writer. I had this whole scenario worked out in my head where you were kidnapped or held against your will and you managed to text me your location, and I had to come save you…
T: Ha! That is funny!
T: If I ever do it again, you’ll know it’s not a drill.
Me: LOL, yes… That will be your SOS.
Me: I’d like to tell you that my brain doesn’t work that way but it would be a damn lie.
T: Love your brain.
So there are several morals to this story:
It’s pretty easy to accidentally send your location when you have an iPhone. **
If someone does send you their location out of the blue, chances are probably against their having been abducted by a Colombian drug lord. Or being held at knife-point.
Surround yourself with people who love and appreciate you for the freak of nature that you are. 🙂
* Disclaimer: You do not actually have to be a writer to have Writer Brain. You may be suffering from an over-active imagination, or have a natural tendency toward imagining the worst case scenario. In any case, if you also suffer from Writer Brain, welcome to the madhouse.
** So be very careful if you have an iPhone and are having an illicit affair. Or are playing hooky from work or school.
About a week and a half ago I wrote a blog post in which I pretty much laid myself bare. I was brutally honest about several things–some pertaining to me and some that speak more to the experience of being a middle-aged woman.
The response to that post was amazing. I linked to it on Facebook, and the comments were affirming and heartwarming. At least a half-dozen people privately messaged me to share their own thoughts and experiences. One person messaged me to ask if he could share the post with his wife, who teaches a Women’s Studies course (I said yes.) Although some of my family members did not react completely positively to the post, and it was scary as hell for me to be that honest, all in all it was a positive experience. It really caused me to turn a corner I’d been needing to turn.
I’d certainly peeked around the corner several times, but had never fully stepped out. That post was my stepping out. That post was the moment I really embraced the label writer and decided I was going to stop being so afraid to fail at the writing thing.* Although the post was about other things as well (finding myself without paid work, being middle-aged and overweight and knowing how society views that), at a deep, personal level I shifted. I shifted from hoping I could be a writer to deciding I would be one.
It feels good.
As a result of that post, another amazing thing happened. I was offered an editing gig. It’s part-time for now, and I’m technically a contractor (which is how I’ve been employed for my last several jobs anyway, minus the Barnes & Noble stint.) But I’ve been wanting to do real editing work for many years, and I love the idea of helping other authors achieve their dreams. I’m really excited about this! It will also inform my own writing, and show me more of the publishing cycle.
I’ll be editing for Tulip Romance, currently a small start up. The owner previously owned another press, however, so she knows her stuff!
I hope you’ll visit occasionally to see where this road takes me 🙂
* I will also be blogging more frequently. Some of it will be the keeping-it-real type stuff like last time, and some will be humorous. I’ll post periodic updates on my own writing as well.
