December newsletter: The fourth annual Bull Spec guide to Carolinas science fiction and fantasy, ahead of the first annual regional author holiday book expo this Saturday!

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December newsletter: The fourth annual Bull Spec guide to Carolinas science fiction and fantasy, ahead of the first annual regional author holiday book expo this Saturday!

Posted on 2013-12-05 at 17:59 by montsamu

Vol 3. No 12. December 5, 2013:

Finally! It’s here! Bull Spec announces the release of the fourth annual guide to regional science fiction and fantasy, covering 2013 in Carolinas (and some friendly neighbors) novels, anthologies, collections, young adult, middle grade, audiobooks, and more. The guide, organized both by format (novel, anthology, audiobook) and genre/age group (fantasy, science fiction, horror, young adult) includes works by Ariel Djanikian, Tony Daniel, David Weber, David Drake, Jay Posey, David Niall Wilson, Jacob Foxx, Alex Cavanaugh, James Maxey, Gail Martin, Tonia Brown, Matt Ross, Danny Birt, J. Michael Shell, Michael J. Sullivan, Maggie Schein, Mindi Meltz, Melissa Scott and Jo Graham, Faith Hunter, John Hartness, Jenna Black, Mur Lafferty, RS Belcher, Diana Bastine, Stuart Jaffe, David B. Coe, Cherie M. Priest, Daniel Wallace, Richard Dansky, Mike Allen, Jason Mott, Alex Wilson, Lewis Shiner, Nathan Ballingrud, Lauren Harris, Kelly Gay, Davey Beauchamp, Hank Davis, Natania Barron, Jason Morningstar, Beth Revis, Megan Shepherd, Author, David Macinnis Gill, Mike Jasper, Bridget Ladd, Alethea Kontis, Nathan Kotecki, L. Jagi Lamplighter, PT McHugh, A.J. Hartley, Ursula Vernon, Gabriel Dunston, Jeremy Whitley, Jason Strutz, Brockton McKinney, Clay Griffith, JM McDermott, Teresa Frohock, Alex Granados, Nancy A. Collins, Gray Rinehart, Jay Requard, Tee Morris, Pip Ballantine, Steve White, Eden Royce, and more.

The guide is released in advance of the first annual regional author holiday book expo at Durham’s Atomic Empire on Saturday, December 7 from 3 to 8 pm, which includes nearly 20 of the Carolinas authors from this year’s guide, who will be on hand to sign and personalize their books. So far, the lineup includes: Natania Barron (Geek Mom), Clay and Susan Griffith (Vampire Empire), Matthew Ross (The Secret of Ji), James Maxey (Greatshadow), Nathan Kotecki (The Suburban Strange), Ariel Djanikian (The Office of Mercy), Jay Posey (Three), and more.

Meanwhile! Some publication notes and other news:

  • K. B. Sluss, "Lost in Transit" in Daily Science Fiction (K.B. also posted a really nice review of Jason Mott's The Returned and another of Kim Stanley Robinson's Shaman)
  • In September, Jordan Taylor's short story "The Desire of All Things" was published in Shimmer 17
  • Alan Watkins' flash story "Blackout" was published at Dead Mule
  • Alex Wilson's Writers of the Future winning story "Vestigial Girl" was podcast on Escape Pod back in July, read by Carolinas author Nathaniel Lee
  • Durham author Stephen Messer shared a Herald-Sun article on the opening of a new bookstore in downtown Durham
  • Local comics news? Yes. Brockton McKinney posts that Ehmm Theory #4 is out now!
  • ECGC 2014 is open for registration: http://ecgconf.com/register/
Lastly, I couldn't stop by too long, but this year's NC Comicon was a smashing success. Great, lively, costumed crowds, a fantastic lineup of guests and vendors. If I didn't see you there, and if I won't see you this weekend at the holiday book expo, will I see you at illogiCon in January?

-Sam

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UPCOMING EVENTS, DECEMBER 2013

3 — Regional book release day for the anthology Kicking It edited by Faith Hunter and Kalayna Price (December 3)

NEW: 7 (Saturday) 2 to 4 pm — Chapel Hill Comics hosts a Man v Liver signing with Neil Hinson and Paul Friedrich. More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1430873870461541/

NEW: 7 (Saturday) 3 to 8 pm — First annual regional author holiday book expo at Durham’s Atomic Empire, with (so far) Natania Barron, Clay and Susan Griffith, Matthew Ross, Bully Pulpit Games, Eryk Pruitt, Ariel Djanikian, Stuart Jaffe, and Bull Spec. More info: /2013/11/18/monday-musings-a-local-author-holiday-book-fiesta-at-atomic-empire-on-saturday-december-7-and-miscellaneous-news/

10 — Regional book release day for Collection: Cat ‘O Nine Tales: The Jane Yellowrock Stories by Faith Hunter and The Jane Yellowrock World Companion by Faith Hunter with Carol Malcolm (Dec 10)

31 — Local book release day for The Grendel Affair: A SPI Files Novel by Lisa Shearin (Dec 31, 2013)

JANUARY 2014

7 — Local book release day for Darkest Fear (Birthright) by Cate Tiernan (Jan 7, 2014)

7 — Regional book release day for Black Arts: A Jane Yellowrock Novel  by Faith Hunter (Jan 7, 2014)

10-12 (Friday to Sunday) — illogiCon iii: The Search for Schrödington’s Gold at the Embassy Suites Raleigh-Durham/Research Triangle, with author guests of honor Mary Robinette Kowal and Lawrence M. Shoen, authors Laura Anne Gilman, John Kessel, Gail Z. Martin, James Maxey, Tony Daniel, Misty Massey, Richard Dansky, Natania Barron, and more. More info: http://www.illogicon.com/

NEW-NEW: 12 (Sunday) 7:30 pm — William Shatner visits Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh on Sunday Jan. 12 at 7:30 pm for “his one man show SHATNER’S WORLD; We Just Live In It to select cities across the U.S, following a Broadway debut. The 90-minute show will take audiences on a hilarious and often poignant voyage through Shatner’s life and career, from Shakespearean stage actor to internationally known icon and raconteur, known as much for his unique persona as for his expansive body of work.” More info: http://www.dukeenergycenterraleigh.com/event/shatner-4718?camefrom=EMCL_196211_10072994

14 — Local book release day for Watchers in the Night (Guardians of the Night) by Jenna Black (Jan 14, 2014)

NEW: 16 (Thursday) 8 pm — The Monti teams up with Scientists with Stories and the UNC Morehead Planetarium to produce a one-of-a-kind storytelling show under the dome at the Planetarium. The theme is #ScienceFail. More info: http://www.themonti.org/events/sciencefail

17 (Friday) 7:30 pm — Quail Ridge Books hosts Carrie Vaughn for Dreams of the Golden Age. More info: /2013/11/06/news-quail-ridge-books-to-host-author-carrie-vaughn-on-january-17-2014/

FEBRUARY 2014

1 (Saturday) 11 am – Flyleaf Books hosts Wendy Webb for The Vanishing. More book info: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/wendy-webb/the-vanishing/9781401341947/

21-23 (Friday to Sunday) — MystiCon in Roanoke, VA with guests John de Lancie (ST:TNG’s “Q”), author Todd McCaffery, author A.J. Hartley, and more. More info: http://mysticon-va.com/

MARCH 2014

4 — Local book release day for Ghost Train to New Orleans (The Shambling Guides) by Durham’s Mur Lafferty (Mar 4, 2014).

APRIL 2014

1 — Regional book release day for Charlotte author Gail. Z. Martin’s Reign of Ash, book two in her Ascendant Kingdoms series from Orbit Books after 2013′s Ice Forged.

5-6 (Saturday and Sunday) — 2014 North Carolina Literary Festival hosted by the NCSU Libraries at NC State University; the primary venue for the Festival will be the James B. Hunt Jr. Library on Centennial Campus. “This free public event is presented on a rotating basis by the Duke University Libraries, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries, the NCSU Libraries, and North Carolina Central University. The Festival is designed to attract people of all ages, from our surrounding communities and across the state. The program will be varied and will include author readings and discussions, book signings, activities, bookstore sales and more.”

11-13 (Friday to Sunday) — JordanCon 6 in Rosell, Georgia, with author guest of honor Patrick Rothfuss and artist guest of honor Larry Elmore. More info: http://www.jordancon.org/

26-27 (Saturday and Sunday) — The Festival of Legends at Storybook Farm in Chapel Hill.

MAY 2014

6 — Local book release day for The Sea Without a Shore by David Drake (May 6, 2014) — Lt. Leary series

16-18 (Friday to Sunday) — DeepSouthCon 52 at new convention ConTrails in Bristol, Virginia. (That’s the big that sticks out over Tennessee in the southwest corner of the state.) With Guest of Honor: Gordon Van Gelder and Artist Guest of Honor: Charles Vess. Additionally, the Rebel and Phoenix Awards will be presented. “Contrails is a new convention in scenic Bristol, Virginia. We’re an “old fashioned” sci fi literature con with an emphasis on the written word, discussion and southern hospitality.” More info: https://sites.google.com/site/contrailssf/home

20 — Local book release day for Durham author and playwright Monica Byrne’s debut novel, The Girl in the Road.

23-25 (Friday to Sunday) — Animazement in Raleigh, NC. More info: http://www.animazement.com/

NEW-NEW: Shatterdome Atlanta 2014 is a new fan-run Pacific Rim convention being held May 31, 2014 at the Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center being put on by (among others) Conni Covington. Here are some links to learn more; they’re still pretty early in planning so I don’t see guest lists and such yet: http://shatterdomeatl.tumblr.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/events/1376406699280500/

JUNE 2014

(May 30) to June 1 (Friday to Sunday) — ConCarolinas in Charlotte, with guest of honor George R.R. Martin. More info: http://concarolinas.org/

26-29 (Thursday to Sunday) — ConTemporal in Raleigh at the Hilton North Raleigh Midtown. “Join us for the Third Annual Extravaganza!” More info: http://contemporal.org/

JULY 2014

11-13 (Friday to Sunday) — ConGregate in downtown Winston-Salem. More info: http://www.con-gregate.com/

NOVEMBER 2014

15-16 (Saturday and Sunday) — NC Comicon at the Durham Convention Center.

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