(Early) Friday Quick Updates: The Manly Wade Wellman Award; some writing market and other links; and a special last-minute local author holiday bookstore

(Early) Friday Quick Updates: The Manly Wade Wellman Award; some writing market and other links; and a special last-minute local author holiday bookstore

Posted on 2013-12-19 at 15:35 by montsamu

Thursday, December 19, 2013: The “Friday” quick updates are coming a day early today, ahead of a segment on 2013 in North Carolina science fiction and fantasy on WUNC’s The State of Things in the noon hour today. Tune in live on the radio or Internet, or catch the podcast or re-broadcast this evening!

First, the really big news. A couple of years in the making, I’m very happy (and quite a bit nervous and scared and hopeful) to share an announcement from the (also new) North Carolina Speculative Fiction Foundation which launches the Manly Wade Wellman Award, celebrating the year’s best science fiction and fantasy novels written by North Carolina authors. Much more including the first preliminary eligibility list over at the NCSFF. It’s been a lot of work and (extra) late hours to get to this point, and there’s much more to do. But for now, it’s here, and coming in 2014.

Second, a swath of “writer’s markets” and other news to pass along that have been slowly accumulating:

• Unlikely Story is currently reading stories for "A Journal of Unlikely Cartography". See their submissions page for details.
• Christie Yant is guest editing a special issue of Lightspeed Magazine, and has issued a special call for submissions for this "Women Destroy Science Fiction!" issue.
• Resurrection House issued a call for stories as well for a themed "XIII" anthology.
• The Speculative Literature Foundation announced its inaugural Working-Class and Impoverished Writers' Grant.
• The Piedmont The Piedmont Laureate program is still accepting applications from writers of short fiction to serve as the 2014 Piedmont Laureate. Entrants are not required to have published a book of short fiction stories – published stand-alone stories will suffice. Authors must be residents of Wake, Alamance, Durham or Orange counties. The selected Piedmont Laureate will serve from March 1 to December 31, 2014. Laureate activities include presenting readings and workshops, encouraging creative writing and promoting literature at public events. Typical appearances last between twenty minutes and one hour. The honorarium is $6,500 and the deadline is January 9, 2014.

Third, 2014 is just around the corner. While I’m working hard on the 2014 book preview, a quick reminder that illogiCon is January 10-12, and Carrie Vaughn will be at Quail Ridge Books on Friday the 17th. As always check out the newsletter for the most up-to-date event listings.

Lastly, this post will host a last-minute local author holiday bookstore. Get these last-minute holiday gifts hand delivered in the Triangle area this weekend, free, no minimum order. Place your orders here by Sunday morning so I can plan my route; if you’re in Garner, please do it today as I’m heading that way on Friday. Note: the links go off to IndieBound to make finding out more about the books and ordering from your local bookstores easier; I’m not delivering those! Total up what you want and Paypal to [email protected] with your order. Delivery is free! Email [email protected] with any questions about delivery distance, payment, or availability.

The Shambling Guide to New York City by Mur Lafferty — $15 (5 copies in stock as of 12/19)

Geek Mom by Natania Barron — $20 (4 copies in stock as of 12/19)

Snowbird Gothic by Richard Dansky — $12 (4 copies in stock as of 12/19)

Vaporware by Richard Dansky — $17 (4 copies in stock as of 12/19)

Three by Jay Posey — $8 (1 copy in stock as of 12/19)

<img title=“Bull Spec #7 Cover: “Gearaffes” by Angi Shearstone based on D.K. Thompson’s short story “The Gearaffe Who Didn’t Tick”, additional cover design by Jeremy Zerfoss” alt=“Bull Spec #7 Cover: “Gearaffes” by Angi Shearstone based on D.K. Thompson’s short story “The Gearaffe Who Didn’t Tick”, additional cover design by Jeremy Zerfoss” src=“http://bullspec.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/bullspecgearaffecover_112811_01-pdf-pages-tiff-900w1.jpg?w=236&h=300” height=“275” />

Bull Spec #7 with stories by Dave Thompson, Jason Erik Lundberg, Jason K. Chapman, Natania Barron, Stephanie Ricker, and J.P. Trostle — $8 (always in stock)

Bull Spec #8 with stories by Elizabeth Creith, Brenda Kalt, Rich Matrunick, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Gwendolyn Clare, and Peter Wood and Paul Celmer — $8 (always in stock)

Bull Spec #1 is FREE with any order of $20 or more — just ask if you’d like it included

Posted in Friday Quick Updates