Saturday, November 26, 2011

An Excellent Week.

It's been raining pretty much all weekend so far.  And it's been great not to feel the need to write an assignment, or do some marking, or get out into the garden. Instead I've been relaxing with my wife and watching DVDs.

And just enjoying myself.

After the waiting, waiting, waiting of last week, this week has been completely different. (or, as I heard an idiot say recently, a complete 360 degree turn)

Not only have I thoroughly enjoyed the buzz of receiving a glowing review from Thoraiya Dyer (Yes, Gitte, still floating),  but I appear to have passed the first two units of my university course. I've also had some minor success at work which I might be able to talk about soon, and I received the latest issue of Dark Matter (#6 - containing four reviews I wrote).

Oh yeah, and I sold another story.

Yes, one of those stories I had hopes for has found a home - and an excellent home it is too. It's amazing what a sale and a good review will do for your spirits, not to mention self confidence.  Doubts, get thee behind me!

On top of all that, I was able to finally sort out the comments on my blog - so they're working again.

Feel free to use them to tell me how things are going for you.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Shameless Self Promotion.

Thoraiya Dyer, author of The Company Articles of Edward Teach (yes, I have it on my bookshelf) and winner of both Ditmar and Aurealis awards, had lovely things to say in her review of Anywhere But Earth.

Not only did she give the anthology five out of five stars, but she specified my story as one of the top five stories, the ones that "that made (her) huggle the book in sheer delight."

She went on to write about my story thus:

"As for Steve Cameron’s ‘So Sad, The Lighthouse Keeper,’ I was looking forward to it all the way through, and had to make an effort not to skip ahead. You know about my tragic lighthouse obsession, right? Anyway, this story was even better than I’d hoped. The characterisations were spot-on and I found the structure and symmetry of the story incredibly satisfying."

Wow! I was thrilled to have those things said about my piece.

The whole review can be found here.

The book (e-format and paperback) can be purchased here.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

In A Holding Pattern.

While my friends are thrilled to be making some pretty impressive announcements this week (Congatulations, David McDonald and Gitte Christensen), I've got nothing new to report on the sales front.  Stories are out, a couple of them on hold, a couple more I'm quietly confident of selling, a couple I expect to be returned to me soon.

It's the same old waiting game. And as David points out, it's worse then the rejection.

Rejection is the short, sharp moment you rip the band-aid off. The waiting is the agony you feel for months building up to it as your hopes and dreads rise in tandem. It's like sitting in the dentist's office, the dull throb in your teeth, the anticipation of more pain and relief, and the stacks of old magazines that none of my friends ever actually buy or read.

And yet I keep writing and submitting, because when you do make a sale, and then later hear good things about your story, the pain is forgotten.

But editors, if you are reading this, get back to me soon, please. I'm tired of these old business magazines lying around here.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Brainmelt.

My brain is a gooey, melted, non-functioning mass. My final uni assignment for the semester is a week late (Yes, I have the required extension) and all those theories and thoughts have turned my mind to mush.

No writing, no listening to music, no fun, no life. And I'm still waiting to hear back from a bunch of markets. No news is good news, right? (yeah, right...)

Arrgghhh!  Things must be better next week.  Good or bad, the assignments will be done by tonight.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Three - Two - One - Liftoff!

I flew up to Sydney for the weekend in order to be present at the Anywhere But Earth launch. (check out Greenspace's photos of the event)

The launch was programmed during the NSW Speculative Fiction Festival, held at the Writers Centre. My wife decided to accompany me and so we signed up for the day's panels. And what a great day it was. The panels were fantastic, the people were nice and the centre and its grounds were amazing.

I met a bunch of new folk, caught up with a lot of others and had a splendid evening at The Three Weeds chatting, drinking ale and eating fish and chips.

The highlight for me, however, was the launch of Anywhere But Earth. Keith Stevenson did a great job (as he did with the book) with readings by Margo Lanagan, Alan Baxter and Richard Harland.

And if those names don't make you buy the book, don't forget I'm in there too.

We had a fantastic weekend in Sydney, as we always do.  Of course it's always lovely to come home.

On another note, I've had a few people mention to me that they have been having trouble commenting on my posts. I've sent an enquiry to blogger, but it might be you, not me.