2009 News:
Office hours during the festive season
The Aurealis office will be closed from Friday 18 December 2009 and reopen Monday 11 January 2010.
Friday 18 December will be the last post day for orders before Christmas.
Happy festive season from Aurealis.New Australian Small Press online TMP
The Mayne Press, publisher of Paul Haines' Aurealis Award shortlisted title, Slice of Life has a new website - http://www.themaynepress.com
TMP is publishing Slice of Life as a fundraising venture for the Paul Haines' cancer fund. Support a worthy cause and buy a copy of frighteningly paranoid tales.
Weblog links @ Twitter
Recent links of interest:
Shaun Tan interview @ The Star "Striking, surreal and unsettling" bit.ly/2NBHS
Jonathan Strahan & Jack Dann contribute to SF Signal Mind Meld on creating anthologies bit.ly/HyO8K & bit.ly/b1nbf
At Writer Unboxed blog, Sophie Masson gives her answer to a reader question on "Fairytale as a basis for fantasy" bit.ly/Do1N2
All in the Mind explores The Singularity with scientists and sf author Richard K Morgan bit.ly/gJEKN - mp3 & transcript available.
Michael Pryor was guest poster @ The Random Blog recently. His intro post is here: bit.ly/AzjYD and he continues posting on the subjects of Steampunk, series, history, and more.
Reminder: The Aurealis Awards close Saturday 31 October 2009. Find the nominated works here bit.ly/OaqxG
Reading the text: Joel Shepherd interview at Grinding to Valhalla bit.ly/3NIPbO
Here's the transcript bit.ly/fBweE and video bit.ly/OMOyY (scroll down) of Jennifer Byrne Presents (First Tuesday Book Club): Monsters and Bloodsuckers
And finally, I'm redesigning the blog. Here's a pic of what I've done so far bit.ly/15mKCa I'd appreciate any comments, either via Twitter or email: ax@aurealis.com.au. Thanks.
Follow us on Twitter here: http://twitter.com/AurealisXpress for more links
Carissa's Weblog
AurealisXpress Reviews from July Edition
Better late than never, I've uploaded the reviews from our July edition of aXp to LibraryThing. You can find them there or on the front page of our blog. Enjoy.
Carissa's Weblog
Read The Last Stormlord Online
Glena Larke's new book The Last Stormlord, the first in the Watergiver trilogy, is being released soon and Voyager Online has let us know that it's available to read online through the HarperCollins Browse Inside application. aXp's reviewer Crisetta MacLeod loved it, as shown in the quote featured in their blogpost. Check out her full review at LibraryThing or at our blog.
Carissa's Weblog
Recent links at our Twitter account
We've started posting links of interest to our Twitter account
New SF TV - DEMONS Thursdays at 8.30pm, from August 27. Encores Fridays at 10am and Sundays at 6.30pm on @scifitv http://bit.ly/nQ82n
Q. Problem with Oz setting in getting a book published in the US? A. from Editorial Anonymous http://bit.ly/B5xf5
Dirk Strasser is in the "Author Spotlight" @fantasymagazine http://bit.ly/k2KTU
Trent Jamieson's "Story of the Three Book Deal" http://bit.ly/DYG0h @ ROR
Flashy new site >> the new Rangers Apprentice website http://www.rangersapprentice.com
Tracey O'Hara will be interviewed on Romance Radio on the 28th http://bit.ly/fUBCz Should be avail. for download soon after
CBCA Award Winners @abcarticulate: Shaun Tan among Children's Book Council winners http://bit.ly/45Oph
Kaaron Warren is one of the authors responding to the Blogging & Social Networking Mind Meld @sfsignal http://tinyurl.com/r9zroq
KJ Taylor's (author of The Dark Griffin) ABC Radio Interview is available http://bit.ly/49ZDM5
Chronos Awards Winners @ the Continuum Blog http://bit.ly/tLrj9
Continuum Reports at The Continuum Blog http://continuum5.blogspot.com
"an epic post-apocalyptic sci-fi love story" audio drama featured in the latest The Lifted Brow mag via @BlackOnline http://bit.ly/cT1AF
25 New and Notable International YA Books http://tinyurl.com/levwf2
Stephen M Irwin touring with The Big Book Club via @BlackOnline http://tinyurl.com/lqws44
Oz SF on the 2009 Inky's Longlist: Worldshaker by Richard Harland and Two Pearls of Wisdom by Alison Goodman http://bit.ly/15lIcE
SF Audio Inspiration - Robots Edition
More items from the ABC that might serve as inspiration for SF Writers; "Do you read me HAL? Robot wars, moral machines and silicon that cares" from All In The Mind. The transcript includes a link to "Robot Love" an "audio adventure" from The Night Air which includes tracks by Forest J Ackerman, The Buggles, and from South Park. See also the lecture by Rodney Brooks "Remaking Manufacturing With Robotics" available at ABC Fora.
Carissa's Weblog
Isobelle Carmody & Kim Falconer Interviews
Found an interview with Isobelle Carmody from June at Fantasy Book Review and a much more recent one with Kim Falconer by Mystic Medusa.
Carissa's Weblog
Interviews Roundup
Margo Lanagan interviewed by Books I Done Read Blog
Drag Me to Hell director Sam Raimi talks to Triple J and The Movie Show (also the stars)
Q&A with Duncan Lay at Voyager Online
Kate Constable interviewed at Australian Women Online and at Reading Rocks Blog
Michael Pryor interview at Pizza's Book Discussion Blog
Keri Arthur at Deadline Dames
Carissa's Weblog
The Physics of the Impossible, and A Hypothetical Future
Two recent items of interest from the ABC include The Physics of the Impossible (audio) in which Dr Michio Kaku discusses the science fiction or science fact of such things as invisibility cloaks and teleportation, and 2050: a hypothetical future, a long (82 mins) video of a panel speculating about the world of our future, held at the UTS.
Carissa's Weblog
Shaun Tan Interview and Gallery
The Guardian has a long piece on Shaun Tan with some great quotes and insight from Shaun. Also included is a gallery of the story "Eric" from Tales from Outer Suburbia.
Carissa's Weblog
"Whitewashed" Book Covers
There's been some recent controversy about Justine Larbalestier's US cover for Liar. I first came across it via Read Alert who shared some relevant links, including Justine's response. Justine later shared some of the responses she's received. [Edited to add: see also]
Carissa's Weblog
Jennifer Byrne presents Utopia and Dystopia
The most recent episode of Jennifer Byrne Presents, the supplemental show to The First Tuesday Book Club, was on "Brave New Worlds - Utopia and Dystopia in Literature" and featured panelists Emily Maguire, Max Barry, John Marsden, and Richard Neville discuss the works of Orwell, More, Shute, Huxley and many others. A transcript and list of books and authors discussed is available, as well as wmv and mp4 downloads of the video from the podcast page.
Carissa's Weblog
Blog Carnival for July
Patty Jansen is hosting this month's Australian Spec Fic Blog Carnival at her LiveJournal.
Carissa's Weblog
Colin Wilson's Life in Comics
Faster Than Light Podcast has a two part interview with Colin Wilson about his life in comics.
Carissa's Weblog
Debating Fairytales
ABC Radio's The Book Show on the debate about the origin of fairytales. Audio is available to stream or download. A transcript is also available.
Carissa's Weblog
Gene Wolfe and Vampires on The Book Show
On The Book Show George Williams reviews the new collection The Best of Gene Wolfe, and James Bradley shares his theory on why Stephenie Meyer's vampires are so popular. Audio is available to stream or download, and there's a transcript of the Wolfe piece; wait a couple days and there may be one for the Bradley too.
Carissa's Weblog
MWF Fundraising Event
Melbourne Writers' Festival is running a fundraising event on the 21st of July that features Shaun Tan introducing an early screening of the film Coraline, based on the book by Neil Gaiman. Money raised will go to the MWF Schools' Program.
Carissa's Weblog
Popular Romance Conference Schedule
The International Association for the Study of Popular Romance Conference will take place in Brisbane on the 13 & 14th of August.
Papers to be presented include:
- Kim Wilkins, University of Queensland, Australia: “’Deliciously contrary’: Reimagining Medieval Women’s Agency in Australian Popular Romance”,
- Margot McGovern, Flinders University, Australia: “And so the Lion Fell in Love with the Lamb: Acts of Inversion in the Young Adult Vampire Romance”, and
- Anthea Taylor, University of Queensland, Australia: “Romance, Masochistic Desire and Vampiric Subject-Formation in the Twilight Novels”
Carissa's Weblog
Shaun Tan interview at Bookslut
Mitchell Jordan interviews Shaun Tan for this month's issue (#86) of lit blog Bookslut.
Carissa's Weblog
Interview with Stephen M. Irwin
Gary Kemble interviews Stephen M. Irwin, author of The Dead Path, for ABC News Online.
Carissa's Weblog
Felicity Pulman Workshop
NSW Writers' Centre is running the workshop Magic and Fantasy - Exploring the 'Otherworld' with Felicity Pulman on the 2nd of August.
Carissa's Weblog
Tender Morsels controversy
The release of Margo Lanagan's Tender Morsels in the UK has raised a bit of controversy. Here's two articles I came across, first from The Guardian Online, and the second from The (Daily) Mail Online.
Carissa's Weblog
Russell T. Davies interview
ABC News talks to Russell T. Davies about "life, Doctor Who, and the return of Torchwood", including an extended audio interview.
Carissa's Weblog
Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival Deadlines
The deadlines for action, animation, fantasy, horror, & science fiction filmmakers to submit their genre feature film to the 2009 Maelstrom International Fantastic Film Festival (MIFFF) in Seattle are as follows:
Regular Deadline: July 20th, 2009
Late Deadline: July 30th, 2009
Without A Box Extended Deadline: August 10th, 2009
Schedule Announced: August 25th, 2009
Festival Begins: September 18th, 2009
To submit your film or for additional information about MIFFF, please visit the newly launched official website at www.mifff.org
Carissa's Weblog
More Interviews: Warren and Harland
Two interviews with Kaaron Warren at Falcata Times and Zone Horror (via)
Another interview with Richard Harland, this time at ABC's Articulate Blog
Carissa's Weblog
Audio & Visual
Garth Nix talks about creating fantasy characters with LearncastNSW on YouTube.
The Book Show on Ray Bradbury and his love of libraries and his hate of the internet.
The Melbourne Writer's Festival is having a film-night fundraiser featuring Coraline, the film based on Neil Gaiman's book, introduced by Shaun Tan.
Carissa's Weblog
Interviews: Damian Broderick, Michael Gerard Bauer, Lyn McConchie, Shaun Tan, & Richard Harland
We love YA interview with Michael Gerard Bauer.
Tim Jones interviews Lyn McConchie.
Felicity Bloomfield interviews Richard Harland.
Carissa's Weblog
Podcasts: Shaun Tan, Richard Harland, Terra Incognita
Alex Fitch interviews Shaun Tan for Panel Borders. They talk about "breaking into the illustration business, the art of designing books and the influence of Raymond Briggs on Shaun’s work".
The Sydney Writers' Centre Podcast interviews Richard Harland.
And the latest Terra Incognita Podcast episode is out, with Jason Nahrung reading his story Smoking, Waiting for the Dawn and Keith Stevenson reviewing Canterbury 2100, edited by Dirk Flinthart.
Carissa's Weblog
SF on the ABC
Found some current and upcoming programs of interest on ABC TV; for kids, The Boy and Galactik Football on iView, and Being Human and Torchwood, Friday nights on ABC2. The first episodes of the latter two programs have already aired, but are available on iView for a limited time.
And coming up is Clone in early July on ABC2.
Carissa's Weblog
Podcast interviews with Carmody and Knox
The Book Show interviewed Isobelle Carmody for their Off The Shelf segment, and Faster Than Light Podcast interviewed Elizabeth Knox.
Carissa's Weblog
Aurealis Awards Open for Nominations
The Aurealis Awards are now open for nominations. See the site for more details, including a list of the Judges.
Carissa's Weblog
SF Blog Carnival for June
This month's Spec Fic Blog Carnival is being hosted at HorrorScope.
Carissa's Weblog
VWC Events in June
Some upcoming events at the Victorian Writers' Centre include:
The Hero's Journey with Paul Collins, 28th June. There's a special offer to non VWC members for this workshop. Please mention “VWC PROMO DEAL” to receive a special discount at the VWC membership rate of $100 / $90 concession. OFFER CLOSES MIDDAY, MONDAY 22 JUNE. Bookings are essential to receive this offer. Phone 9654 9068.
Genre Publishers Tell All with "a guest editor" from black dog books, Stuart Mayne (Aurealis Magazine) and Janet Rowe (Five Mile Press), June 30th.
Carissa's Weblog
New website for Andrew J McKiernan
Australian spec-fic and horror author/illustrator (and Aurealis magazine's Art Director!) Andrew J McKiernan now has a new website: http://www.andrewmckiernan.com
Find samples from the forthcoming "SHARDS: Short Sharp Tales" collection by Shane Jiraiya Cummings & Andrew J McKiernan in the Image Gallery, as well as illustrations that have appeared in Aurealis magazine, Orb Speculative Fiction, and a number of other collections and anthologies.
The site also contains a full bibliography of works published, plus two pieces of previously unpublished fiction to read for free: "The Memory of Water" and "Last Words".
Carissa's Weblog
Miscellaneous from the Newspapers
Some miscellaneous items of interest from the newspaper sites: Alison Croggon won the Pascall Prize for criticism, an interview with author Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and top Oz scientists and science broadcasters (including Sean Williams) share their favourite science books - fact or fiction.
Carissa's Weblog
Oz Graphic Novels
Two long articles on the forthcoming graphic novels, The Example and Flinch, feature interviews with creator Tom Taylor: "In a superhero-free world" from The Australian, and "Tom Taylor on The Example and Flinch" from Cool Shite.
Carissa's Weblog
Author Interviews
Some recent author interviews found around the blogosphere include: Kaaron Warren at Luke Reviews, Paul Collins at We love YA, and Kim Wilkins at Grinding to Valhalla.
Carissa's Weblog
Writing Tips Website from Richard Harland
Richard Harland has created a 145 page Writing Tips Website full of solid advice for fantasy, speculative fiction and genre writers.
www.writingtips.com.au is as big as a small book and totally FREE. Richard says he took four months off from his own fiction writing—“it started out as a small service for aspiring writers and just kept growing and growing!”
The tips cover everything from getting published to good writing habits, from dialogue and action to naming and point-of-view. Check it all out at www.writingtips.com.au.And look for an interview with Richard in June's aXp.
Carissa's Weblog
SF on ABC TV
Some recent items of interest from ABC TV include:
Collectors had a segment on an Astro Boy collector. The video is available to stream or download.
Margaret and David review Terminator Salvation on At the Movies. There's a transcript and the video is available to stream or download.
Carissa's Weblog
Ditmar Award Winners
The Ditmar Award winners were announced at Conjecture this weekend past. They are:
Best Novel - Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan (published by Allen & Unwin)
Best Novella - "Painlessness" by Kirstyn McDermott (GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator #2)
Best Short Story (tie) - "This Is Not My Story" by Dirk Flinthart (ASIM #37) and "The Goosle" by Margo Lanagan (The Del Rey Book of Australian Science Fiction, Del Rey)
Best Collected Work - Dreaming Again edited by Jack Dann (Harper Voyager)
Best Artwork - Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan (Allen & Unwin)
Best Fan Writer - Rob Hood
Best Fan Artist - Cat Sparks for Scary Food Cookbook (Agog! Press)
Best Fan Publication - ASif! Australian Speculative Fiction In Focus edited by Alisa Krasnostein and Gene Melzack (Twelfth Planet Press)
William Atheling Jr Award for Criticism or Review - "Popular genres and the Australian literary community: the case of fantasy fiction" by Kim Wilkins (Journal of Australian Studies, Vol 32, Issue 2)
Best Professional Achievement - Angela Challis for Black: Australian Dark Culture Magazine and Brimstone Press
Best New Talent - Felicity Dowker
Also awarded were:
The A. Bertram Chandler Award - Rosaleen Love
The Peter McNamara Award - Sean Williams
Carissa's Weblog
Vogel Awards Results
The winners of the 2009 Sir Julius Vogel awards have been announced. They are:
Best Novel - Adult: Dark Heart, Russell Kirkpatrick (HarperVoyager, HarperCollins, NZ)
Best Novel - Young Adult: Thornspell by Helen Lowe (Knopf, Random House Children’s Books, USA)
Best Short Story: Under Waves and Over by Grant Stone (Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #37, Australia)
Best Novella/Novelette: Stroke of Enticement by Nalini Singh, in “The Magical Cat” (The Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin; USA)
Best Collected Work: The Invisible Road by Elizabeth Knox (HarperVoyager, HarperCollins, NZ)
Best New Talent: Helen Lowe
Best Professional Publication: Deputy Dan and The Mysterious Midnight Marauder Written by Sally McLennan, Artwork by Joel Liochon
Best Professional Artwork: Emma Weakley – cover artwork for Newtons Sleep (Random Static, Wellington, NZ)
Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form: Skankenstein – the music video (Krafthaus, Wellington, NZ)
Carissa's Weblog
News via HorrorScope
Some recent news items of interest from HorrorScope include:
2009 QWC/Hachette Australia Manuscript Development Program for Fiction Writers now open
News: The John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers 2009
News: Applications now open for Regional Arts Fund (NSW) 2010
Carissa's Weblog
Clarion South Report on IROSF
At IROSF, Aidan Doyle reports on his Clarion South experience in "Attack of the Killer Sock Puppets: Six Weeks at Clarion South" (registration required).
Carissa Thorp
From The Age
Two items of interest from The Age: a feature on Will Elliott and his new book, and "The Fan Force" a piece on "serious acts of fandom".
Carissa's Weblog
Australian Shadows Awards - Changes
The 2009 Australian Shadows Awards are now open for submissions, but there are some changes. HorrorScope has more details.
Carissa's Weblog
David Eagleman Morning Interview
On Wednesday, 3rd of June, Margaret Throsby will interview David Eagleman, an American neuroscientist who studies "time perception, synethesia and the way neuroscience will influence the legal system" for her Morning Interview program. Their email newsletter points out that he’s also a science-fiction writer. The full audio will be available for streaming, or for download without the music.
Carissa's Weblog
Market News
Some market links:
Spec Fic for Kids Submission Call from Twelfth Planet Press
The Text Prize
Scary Kisses Anthology
A call for articles for AussieCon 4 Blog
Carissa's Weblog
Kim Wilkins' Paper on Fantasy Literature
Back in April, Sean Williams linked to a pdf of a paper (now Ditmar award nominated) by Kim Wilkins called "Popular genres and the Australian literary community: the case of fantasy fiction". Check it out.
Carissa's Weblog
New Terra Incognita Podcast
The 7th episode of the Terra Incognita Podcast is available, featuring Bill Congreve reading his story Souls Along The Meridian and a review of Maria Quinn's The Gene Thieves by Keith Stevenson. Horrorscope Blog links to their February interview with Congreve.
Carissa's Weblog
Author Interviews
Here's some recent author interviews:
Carissa's Weblog
ABC Links
Some recent links of interest from the ABC:
Articulate links to a short film about a Voodoo doll;
Will Elliot is interviewed about his new book about living with mental illness;
PM reports on the Comic Art exhibition at the Jewish Museum of Australia;
Figaro Pho - gothic short films for kids about phobias.
Carissa's Weblog
New SF on TV
Some shows to look out for: Apparitions, UKTV, Tuesday 26th May; Sanctuary, SCI FI Channel, Thursday 28th May; Dollhouse, FOX8, Tuesday 9th June. All PayTV unfortunately. And True Blood is available on iTunes.
Carissa's Weblog
Collectors and Collections
Last week's Collectors program on ABC TV featured two items of interest: an interview with collector and "very collectable" artist Graeme Base, and the "Creepy Collection" of Jack Sim. Both segments are available to watch online or for download.
Carissa's Weblog
5 Questions for Kate Forsyth
As part of her blog coverage of the Sydney Writers' Festival, Tara Moss asks 5 questions of Kate Forsyth.
The Nerd Circuit
Tasmania's Mercury Newspaper reports on the second annual Tasmanian Sci-Fi Convention. Also, the "Top 10 sci-fi prophesies that came true."
Aussie Month on Persnickety Snark
YA blog Persnickety Snark is having "Aussie month" in May, featuring interviews with writers and publishing professionals, including Paul Collins, Sarana Behan, and Kristen Young.
Author Interviews
Recent Author Interviews found round the traps:
Richard Harland (Podcast)
Keri Arthur (and Contest)
Tom Taylor (Podcast)
Fiona McIntosh (Podcast)
ABC Radio links
Recent ABC Radio links of interest include:
The Lifted Brow Literary Magazine profile
Ditmar Awards Shortlist
The Ditmar Awards Shortlist is out now. Adam Duncan's cover for Aurealis Magazine #40 has a nomination in the Best Artwork category.
Star Trek Books
ABC RN's The Book Show explores the universe of Star Trek books. The audio is available for streaming or download.
Book Import Debate
Garth Nix was on ABC TV's Lateline program Thursday evening debating Australia's planned book importing restrictions with Don Grover, CEO of Dymocks.
Carissa's Weblog
Free ebook from John Birmingham
John Birmingham's Weapons of Choice is one of the new free titles available at Suvudu Free library this month.
Alison Goodman at InsideADog
Alison Goodman is Writer in Residence at InsideADog for the month of May.
Chat with Maria Quinn
According to Voyager's Captain's Log newsletter, Australian Women Online is running a live online chat with Maria Quinn, author of The Gene Thieves, today (Fri, 1st May) at 8pm. I'm assuming it'll be in the Book Club forum, though it is unclear. The website also has an interview/review.
Carissa's Weblog
Sydney Writers' Festival
SF & related events of interest at this year's Sydney Writers' Festival include:
Writing Fantasy: Workshop with Richard Harland 16/5
Writing Fantasy: Workshop with Richard Harland 17/5
Emily Rodda Talks 17/5
John Flanagan at Blacktown Library 19/5
Catherine Jinks at Penrith Library 20/5
CBCA Writing Masterclass with Kate Forsyth 21/5
Children's Literature for Adults 22/5
Research and Writing 23/5
Ranger's Apprentice with John Flanagan 24/5
Black Holes, Wormholes and Vomit Balls in Space 24/5
The Secrets of Writing Fantasy for Young Adults 24/5
It's All Formulaic 24/5
Carissa's Weblog
Emily Rodda Interview
ABC Radio's Conversations program features a 50 minute interview with Emily Rodda (Jennifer Rowe). The audio is available for download.
Carissa's Weblog
So You Want to be a YA Writer?
This year's Reading Matters Conference is sold out but places are still available (as of 28th April) for So You Want to be a YA Writer? featuring Alison Goodman.
Carissa's Weblog
Richard Morgan in Melbourne
Richard Morgan will be at the following Melbourne events in May.
Friday 7th:
12pm Minotaur, 121 Elizabeth St, Melbourne. Meet & Greet. Signing Store Stock. Contact: Paul Duncanson (03) 9670 5414.
1.10pm Dymocks Southland, Nepean Hwy, Cheltenham. Meet & Greet. Signing Store Stock. Contact: Chuck McKenzie
9pm Melbourne Science Fiction Club, St Davids West Brunswick Uniting Church, 74 Melville Rd, West Brunswick. Guest Speaker, Slowglass to sell books at the event. Contact: Murray MacLachlan.
Saturday 8th:
12pm Nova Mob, Community Room, Northcote Library, 32-38 Separation St, Northcote. Guest Speaker, Slowglass to sell books at the event. Contact: Lucy Sussex, Julian Warner, Justin Ackroyd (03) 9489 0893.
Carissa's Weblog
Writer's Website Launch
Mark Turner, a slush reader for Aurealis, has launched Rivergum Press, "a live, on-line Community for Writers and Writing-related Professionals and Amateurs alike", with forums, user-submitted resources, news and events, and a blog and online magazine, open for submissions. Check it out.
Carissa's Weblog
Kim Westwood's Nightship
On VoyagerOnline Kim Westwood shares how her Aurealis Award short-listed story Nightship came to be. The latest Terra Incognita SF Podcast has Kim reading the story.
Carissa's Weblog
Ditmar Awards
Nominations for the 2009 Ditmar Awards are due to close on the 4th of May.
Carissa's Weblog
The Literature of Prediction
From ABC RN's Ockham's Razor: "Janice McAdam from Sydney has degrees in physics and children's literature and calls herself a 'lapsed physicist'. Today she talks about the genre of science fiction as a prediction into the future."
Audio available to stream or download for a limited time. A transcript is also available.
Carissa's Weblog
The Fairytale Godmother
Folklorist Jack Zipes talks to The Book Show about Angela Carter and "her Gothic twist on tales like Cinderella and Puss in Boots."
Audio available streaming or for download for a limited time.
Carissa's Weblog
Aurealis Awards Photos
The Aurealis Awards have posted a Flickr photoset of images from this year's Aurealis Awards Ceremony by Elleni Toumpas, including a picture of our own Aurealis Magazine Editor, Stuart Mayne.
Carissa's Weblog
Author Interviews
Catch some recent interviews with Australian authors, including Karen Miller at Blogging the Muse, Steven Amsterdam at LiteraryMinded, Jenny Blackford at The Specusphere, Alison Goodman at Nethspace, and Kim Falconer via Voyager Online.
Carissa's Weblog
Good news for Richard Harland
Richard Harland has secured a US deal for his steampunk/Victoriana novel Worldshaker. As well, Richard's short story A Guided Tour in the Kingdom of the Dead has been selected for Tor's Year's Best Fantasy 2009 anthology, along with Kim Wilkins' The Forest.
Carissa's Weblog
Shaun Tan Spotlight
Tor.com's resident Art Director Irene Gallo featured Shaun Tan in her Hugo Nominee Spotlight series.
Carissa's Weblog
We Love YA
New YA Blog, We Love YA, is run by a group of Australian and New Zealand readers, reviewers and writers. Launched last week, they've posted a couple items of interest to SF readers; an interview with Michael Pryor, and an interview with Sarah Foster of Walker Books.
Carissa's Weblog
CBCA Shortlist
The shortlist for the CBCA Book of the Year Awards has been released. Lots of SF authors on the list including Melina Marchetta, Shaun Tan, Emily Rodda, and D.M. Cornish. The winners will be announced on Friday, 21 August 2009.
Found via InsideADog.com
Carissa's Weblog
SF on The Book Show
Recently on ABC Radio's The Book Show:
Shaun Tan's visual narratives: 2009 Colin Simpson Memorial Lecture
Writing sex and dystopia in speculative fiction
Available for download and streaming for a limited time.
Carissa's Weblog
Be an Aurealis Awards Judge
The Aurealis Awards organisers are now accepting applications from people interested in being a judge for the 2009 Awards. Have the Judges Application Form in by Friday, 24th April to be considered.
Carissa's Weblog
Fullmetal Alchemist premiere at Supanova
Supanova's on in Brisbane this weekend, and Madman Entertainment is hosting a simultaneous premiere (in Japan and Aus) of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, the new anime series based on the best-selling manga by Hiromu Arakawa. The event is at 6pm on Sunday, April 5th. The series will also be a part of the upcoming launch of Madman's high-quality streaming video service, Screening Room Plus.
Carissa's Weblog
Jeff Vandermeer on Clarion South
In a post called Clarion South 2009: A Teachers View, Jeff Vandermeer blogs about his experience as one of the instructors at the workshop earlier this year.
Carissa's Weblog
Karen Miller Interview
Fantasy Book News & Reviews Blog interviewed Karen Miller early in March.
Carissa's Weblog
Mind Melds
Australians are regularly asked to contribute to SF Signal's Mind Meld feature. So far this year:
Sean Williams answers the question "Who are Your Literary Influences in the Ongoing Conversation of Science Fiction?".
Glenda Larke, Margo Lanagan and Anna Tambour give their opinions on "Taboo Topics in SF/F Literature".
Simon Haynes shares who he thinks are "the funniest writers in the history of sf/f?" and gets some props himself from Dave Freer.
Jonathan Strahan gives his answer to the question "Does The Used Book Market Help or Hurt the Publishing Industry?".
Karen Miller shares her "Most Difficult Part of Being a Writer".
Sylvia Kelso reveals her "favorite book".
Carissa's Weblog
Recently on Horrorscope
Some posts of interest from HorrorScope:
Clarion South is asking for donations to help support the workshop. They hope to raise $4000 dollars by the end of March.
Chuck McKenzie has started a second "fictional blog" called Deadwalkers. New chapters go up weekly.
Dr. Mark David Ryan's thesis A dark new world : anatomy of Australian horror films is available to download at the QUT website.
Carissa's Weblog
Lee Battersby wins Australian Shadows Award
Lee Battersby won the 2008 Australian Shadows Award for his novella The Claws of Native Ghosts earlier this month. You can find a link to an interview with him and comments by Guest Judge Sarah Endacott about the award and its nominees at the AHWA website. Found at SFScope.
Carissa's Weblog
More Flycon Interviews
More Flycon interviews at ABC's Articulate blog; Jack Dann, Daniel Fox, Roberta Gellis, and Sara Douglass.
Carissa's Weblog
Twilight-inspired free Concert
ABC Classic FM program Sunday Live presents a free concert in Penrith by the Leichhardt Espresso Chorus called Love, Lust and Longing — Songs for Edward and Bella. An all-Australian program, it includes: Sally Whitwell, She Walks in Beauty; The Song of the Wandering Aengus; Dan Walker, Excerpts from Seven Deadly Sins; Marco Creazzo, Ave Maria; and Elena Kats-Chernin Longing.
The program will be broadcast live on Classic FM from 3pm on Sunday 22nd of March. Streaming audio is available.
Carissa's Weblog
Settling Mars
The Science Show interviews biomedical science student Luke Sturgess about his plans for settling Mars. The audio is available to stream or for download. A transcript is also available.
Carissa's Weblog
Star Wars Exhibition
Last Friday ABC TV's Collectors program had a segment on the Star Wars Exhibition currently on at the Powerhouse Museum and moving to Scienceworks in Melbourne in June. The segment is available to stream or download.
Carissa's Weblog
TISF Podcast - Sean Williams and Marianne de Pierres
The latest Terra Incognita podcast features Sean Williams reading his story A Longing for the Dark which "has not been published, however it was the basis for sections of the novel Geodesica: Descent". And Keith Stevenson reviews Chaos Space by Marianne de Pierres.
Carissa's Weblog
New Australian Graphic Novel
Flinch, "a collection of stories exploring the title theme", features work by Shaun Tan and Terry Dowling among others. Articulate has more info and links.
Carissa's Weblog
Sean Williams Interview
Sean Williams "talks shop" with Rowena Cory Daniells over at The Mad Genuis Club blog.
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Flycon Interviews
ABC's Articulate blog has posted three interviews so far for Flycon; Sherwood Smith, Jennifer Fallon, and Dave Freer
Carissa's Weblog
Clarion South Australian Book Recommedations
In three posts at Amazon's Omnivoracious blog, Jeff VanderMeer shares the recommended Aussie reads of the students at Clarion South.
Carissa's Weblog
Sean Williams and John Birmingham Interviews
The Sydney Writers' Centre Podcast interviews Sean Williams and John Birmingham. The audio is available to stream or see the rss feed for a download link. A transcript is also available.
Carissa's Weblog
Free Hal Spacejock #2
Simon Haynes shares "how to score a copy of Hal #2" in ebook form.
Carissa's Weblog
AurealisXpress on Twitter
AurealisXpress is now "tweeting" at https://twitter.com/AurealisXpress
Carissa's Weblog
Flycon
Flycon, the online convention, begins this weekend. For more information, visit the con's LiveJournal. And check out the flycon-related posts from Twitter.
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Lost in Austen
On ABC TV, Lost in Austen is about "bored bank worker Amanda Price (who) becomes lost in her favourite Austen book, after she finds a strange portal in her bathroom and swaps places with its heroine Elizabeth Bennet." Starts this Sunday, March 8.
Carissa's Weblog
Free eBook from Sean Williams
Seen on Twitter, probably @abcarticulate: Sean Williams' The Crooked Letter is available as a free pdf download.
(AurealisXpress is Twittering @AurealisXpress)
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Blog Carnival at Ticonderoga Online
February's Australian SF Blog Carnival can be found at Ticonderoga Online in two parts: part 1, and part 2.
Carissa's Weblog
Off the Shelf
ABC Radio's The Book Show has a new series called "Off the Shelf" where readers are asked what they're reading and why. George Williams, a constitutional lawyer, shares his top five sf reads. Audio is available streaming or for download.
Carissa's Weblog
Terra Incognita
The latest Terra Incognita SF Podcast features Louise Katz reading her story 'The Little Demon' and Keith Stevenson reviewing Star Wars: Force Unleashed by Sean Williams. Next month Sean Williams reads 'A Longing for the Dark", and coming up, Kim Westwood.
Carissa's Weblog
Special Offer - Year of SF with Lucy Sussex
SPECIAL OFFER TO SF WRITERS
Book now by calling The Victorian Writers' Centre office on 9654 9068. Please mention “VWC PROMO DEAL” to receive a special discount at the VWC membership rate. OFFER CLOSES 4PM MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY!
The Year of Speculative Fiction – the SF Novel Challenge
With Lucy Sussex
Course: Speculative fiction is all around us: in film, TV and the prognostications of Earth’s future. It can vary from alternate worlds (Nazis win WW2), to near-future thrillers, supernatural romances, space opera (Star Trek novels) and dispatches from the frontiers of the human imagination. The challenge, in this series of workshops, is to write a speculative fiction novel in 2009, workshop it and learn how to market it – even sell it! Award-winning writer Lucy Sussex hosts the challenge, which includes guest spots from editors, publishers and publicists. Lucy Sussex is a writer in various genres, including speculative fiction. She has won Ditmar and Aurealis awards, and been shortlisted for the World Fantasy Guild and IGHW (International Guild of Horror Writers) awards. To be eligible, sample chapters and story outlines are required to be submitted by Monday 2 March (max 1000 words).
When: Saturdays 28 March, 23 May, 25 July, 26 September, 28 November, 10am – 4pm
Where: Victorian Writers’ Centre, 1st floor Nicholas Blg 37 Swanston St Melbourne
Cost: $570, Members $530/$500 Bookings essential: 9654 9068
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Library Author Talks
Whitehorse Manningham Library Service has two events of interest: See Urban Fantasy Romance authors Narelle Harris and Keri Arthur at Doncaster Library on Saturday 14th of February and then visit Nunawading Library on Wedndesday 18th of February to see the Sci-Fi Author talk with Trudi Canavan, Cecilia Dart-Thornton and Adam Browne in conversation with Jack Dann. Bookings are essential. Download the event poster, or visit the Calendar page for more information.
Carissa's Weblog
Aurealis Awards Spotlighted
Radio National's The Book Show puts a "Spotlight on Speculative Fiction Writers" and the Aurealis Awards. The interviewees are Alison Goodman, Adrian Bedford (K.A. Bedford) and Jonathan Strahan. The audio is available for streaming or download for a limited time.
Carissa's Weblog
Marchetta, Guest Blogger
Melina Marchetta guest blogs at Persnickety Snark about her "less-than-ordinary week".
[Found via Misrule]
Carissa's Weblog
Blog Carnival at Voyager Online
The Voyager Online Blog is host of January's Australian Spec Fic Blog Carnival.
Carissa's Weblog
News from HorrorScope
Recent news items from HorrorScope Blog:
Shadowmuse, "the theatrical adaptation of five short speculative fiction stories written by Australian authors."
The 2009 Australian Horror Writers Mentor Program
Carissa's Weblog
John Flanagan Interview
ABC Radio's Life Matters interviews John Flanagan. The audio is available for streaming or download (for a limited time).
Carissa's Weblog
Aurealis Awards 2008 Winners
The full list of this year's Aurealis Award winners can be found at the Aurealis Awards website.
Carissa's Weblog
YA Authors Event
Meet Justine Larbalestier and Simmone Howell at a free State Library of Victoria event on Sunday, 22 February. Details, and a link to the booking site can be found at Read Alert Blog.
Carissa's Weblog
New Aussie SF Blog
Check out Ripping Ozzie Reads, a new group blog from Rowena Cory Daniells, Trent Jamieson, Flinthart, Richard Harland, Tansy Rayner Roberts, Marianne de Pierres and Maxine McArthur.
Carissa's Weblog