Science Fiction Matters

I tried this idea out on folk at Science Fiction and Other ODDysseys, but the response was ummm, not wholehearted. But I still think it's a worthwhile idea, so I'm trying again.

OVERHEARD, HALF-HEARD and MISHEARD ABSURDITIES

We've all walked in on a conversation at an inopportune moment, catching a bizarre phrase or sentence out of context. Or maybe we've misheard something that made us laugh.

For instance, at the writing conference I attended in October, I was walking in a group of people all headed for the door to go to the next session and I heard, "She's a cow," said in the most matter of fact tone. I figured out that what she really said was, "She's at Cal." My version was funnier.

A friend has been adopted by a homeless rooster that wandered into his yard one day and never left. I knew this, yet I didn't know he'd named it. I walked into the room to hear him talking to someone about Chicken Butt.

And kudos to a fellow staff writer, who had just been advised to trick his computer into doing what he wanted. Without skipping a beat, he said, "Computer, look, your shoe's untied." That wasn't half-heard, but it made me chuckle.

I'm seriously considering running a column for people to post their half-heard and misheard snatches of conversation. Go ahead and place your affirmative vote for such a column by adding a misheard or half-heard funny snippet to this post.

And I need to name said column. Suggestions welcome.

Visit SFOO for an interview with Jay Lake. And MostlyFiction Book reviews has my review of Brian D'Amato's In the Courts of the Sun.

I've also revamped my website and offered a no shipping deal on Awesome Lavratt. Check it out at annwilkes.com.

I've been absent from LJ for awhile. It's not that there's been nothing to say. I just don't have time to say it in both places. Please check out my Science Fiction and Other ODDysseys blog for all the current haps, including my World Fantasy report. I went to 3 cons last month! I have lined up so many interviewees for my blog that I'm now into July, and that's doing three per month instead of the more usual 2.


Here's the author interviews I have at SFOO so far:
* Ackley-McPhail, Danielle
* Alexander, Alma
* Anderson, Kevin J.
* Bova, Ben
* Brin, David
* Brozek, Jennifer
* Fabian, Karina
* Fforde, Jasper
* Frost, Gregory
* Hamilton, Peter
* Henderson, Alice
* Kollin, Dani & Eytan
* Powell, Gareth L.
* Sawyer, Robert J.
* Steele, Allen M.
* Stiles, Paula
* Wade, Juliette
* Wiehe, Fred

I have some great ones, coming, too. Including some editors. Here's a sample of interviews to come:

Jeff VanderMeer (2009 WFC award nominee)
Ann VanderMeer (2009 WFC award nominee)
Kage Baker (2009 WFC award nominee)
Tim Powers
Jay Lake
Ellen Datlow (2009 WFC award nominee)
Kij Johnson (2009 WFC award winner)
Louise Marley
Nisi Shawl (2009 WFC award nominee)
M.H. Bonham
Madeleine Robins
G. David Nordley & C. Sanford Lowe

My review of Tessa Dick's The Owl in Daylight went up last month at Mostly Fiction. She's Philip K. Dick's widow.

I delivered a presentation at a writing convention on Developing Your Online Presence. Now I'm taking it on the road with a new business partner. Busy, busy, busy!

Want a new word? How about kerfuffle? It's like chaos or confusion. Much kerfuffle about nothing. ;)

Ever wonder what the next evolution in media storage will be? Read my vision of the future in media storage, "Grey Drive" at Every Day Fiction. Please also rate it and leave a comment if you are so moved.

I had a great interview with the brothers Kollin, authors of The Unincorporated Man at Science Fiction and Other ODDysseys.

I'll be on the local radio again next month promoting the writers conference that the Redwood Writers are hosting in Santa Rosa. It airs October 13, 2009 at 9AM on KRCB, Rohnert Park (91 FM). It also streams live. The conference is the 24th of October at the Flamingo Hotel. I'll be presenting on building an online presence as an author.

If you're not watching FlashForward tonight, shame on you. It's the new show based on the book of the same name by Robert Sawyer. It airs tonight on ABC. Woo Hoo! Chalk one up for SF novelists!

Check out my interview with Jasper Fforde, author of the Thursday Next novels over at Science Fiction and Other ODDysseys. In the previous post, you'll also find some amusing SF story links.

I'm gearing up for the huge two day festival I used to be in charge of. Now I just handle the entertainment. What a load off that was! I just hope my foot is healed enough to teach Greek dancing. Did I fail to mention that it's the GLENDI ETHNIC FOOD FAIR? And that it's SEPTEMBER 19 and 20 in SANTA ROSA, CA?

Looking forward to Flashforward, based on the book by Robert Sawyer. Go, Rob!

What is with all the nines? District 9 and 9. Still haven't left my cave to view either of them.

Next month is conference/convention month for me. Silicon in San Jose, World Fantasy Convention, also in San Jose, and Redwood Writers Conference in Santa Rosa.

This week at Science Fiction and Other ODDysseys, you'll find helpful resources for authors, an interview with Juliette Wade, author of stories in Analog, and more. Next week, stay tuned for an interview with Jasper Fforde.

http://sciencefictionmusings.blogspot.com/2009/09/science-fiction-haps-and-lists.html
http://sciencefictionmusings.blogspot.com/2009/09/meet-sf-author-juliette-wade.html

I posted my con report on SpoCon in Spokane, WA. You can find it here.

The local newspaper, The Inlander, will give you some details I missed.

And then there's M H Bonham's report: on her shadowhelm blog.

I interviewed Kevin J. Anderson over on Science Fiction and Other ODDysseys today as well. His latest book, Winds of dune with Brian Herbert was released this week.