Word count: 8891 | Since last entry: 5201
Last week I sold two stories in one day: “A Passion for Art” to Interzone and a reprint of “Nucleon” to Retro Spec: Tales of Fantasy and Nostalgia.
I originally write “A Passion for Art” way back in 2000, inspired by a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago after the Worldcon that year; I believe it was the first story I wrote after Clarion. I got it critiqued at a workshop at the following OryCon, and the responses I got there convinced me it needed serious work. I set it aside… and for reasons lost in the mists of time I didn’t get back to it until 2008, when I cleaned it up for a different convention workshop. I didn’t wind up sending it to that workshop, but decided it was in good enough shape to submit. It was rejected by 8 other markets (including sitting at one magazine for 145 days, ending with the magazine’s death, then being resubmitted when the magazine revived and being immediately rejected) before settling at Interzone.
“Nucleon” is one of my earliest and most popular stories, and this is its fifth reprint. It was a little long for Retro Spec but I sent it along anyway because it seemed perfect for the market. Apparently the editor agreed.
This coming weekend is OryCon, where I will be appearing on a bunch of programming, including the Endeavour Award ceremony — where I expect that Space Magic will lose to Anathem, but hope springs eternal — following which I will portray a crazed director in Opening Ceremonies. Anyone up for dinner after that? I’ll be starving.
If you’re in Portland but not attending OryCon, perhaps you can come to Powell’s Books at Cedar Hills Crossing in Beaverton for the third annual Sci-Fi Authorfest where a whole bunch of SF authors who just happen to be in town for some reason will be signing books for the Thanksgiving weekend shoppers. We’ll be ably defended by the stormtroopers of the Cloud City Garrison of the 501st Imperial Legion.
Finally, even though I do not have a story in Polyphony 7, I’m pleased to see that it has a chance to finally be published — if you, the book buying public, support it by pre-ordering it. See this blog post for details.
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