DOUGLAS SMITH | Writing the Fantastic

[Note: SFWA (the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and as part of their celebrations, they have asked a number of members to participate in a SFWA 50th Anniversary Blog Tour. I offered up the post below. The first post went up on Monday, and mine is featured today. You can check out the ongoing series by going to this page. I've also included my post below in this blog.

In case you don't know, here's some info on SFWA from their website:

SFWA is a professional organization for authors of science fiction, fantasy and related genres. ... SFWA informs, supports, promotes, defends and advocates for its members. We host the prestigious Nebula Awards, assist members in legal disputes with publishers, and administer benevolent funds for authors facing medical or legal expenses.  Novice authors benefit from our Information Center and the well-known Writer Beware site. SFWA members look out for each other and provide assistance, mentorship, and camaraderie. ... SFWA is a source of information, education, support, and fellowship for its authors. SFWA Membership is open to authors, artists, editors, and other industry professionals who meet our eligibility requirements.

My blog post follows. #SFWApro]

Here's my updated schedule for the Ad Astra convention this weekend. The only change is the signing session from 2-4pm on Saturday.

Hope to see you there!

I blogged earlier here about a new reader and reviewer, Ken McKinley, discovering my work for the first time by coming across my story "Out of the Light" when it was reprinted in an anthology. He enjoyed that story enough for him to go looking for some more. Here's an extract of his review of my SF novelette, "Scream Angel": 

My introduction to Douglas Smith has been a very rewarding one. I stumbled upon his work in a compilation called Best New Werewolf Tales. The story was Out of the Light and it was excellent. This caused me to dig deeper. Who was this mysterious author that I hadn’t heard of before, did he write anything else, and was it as good as Out of the Light?

Well, I now have two of those three questions answered. I can’t say that I know him, but I did find more of his stories on Amazon and after reading Scream Angel, I can tell you that answer is yes for the final question. ... the world needs great story tellers and I feel that Smith deserves to be recognized as such. ...

In a wildly inventive and imagnative story, human emotions of loss, desparation, and love bubble to the surface. I’m usually not a huge fan of heavy sci-fi/fantasy. Most of the time, it requires such a bloated set up to be able to explain everything. I tend to tire of it because many authors have a hard time getting the balance right. ... I can honestly say that Smith does an excellent job in balancing the story and makes for an extremely enjoyable read. I loved the unique characters and premise of the drug, Scream.

The other thing that I found enjoyable is the brief explanation at the end of the story on how he came up with the idea of Scream Angel. It lent a personal touch to the whole thing and allowed the reader to have a glimpse into the creation of it all. I may not know the author, but i’m enjoying getting to know his work. 5 out of 5 stars.

Thanks, Ken!

You can read the full review here. "Scream Angel" first appeared in the anthology Low Port in 2003. It won the Aurora Award in 2004 for best short fiction. It's the lead story in my collection, Chimerascope, and is also available as a stand-alone ebook. 

I don't think it gets any better for a writer than to have a reader discover your work for the first time (assuming they like it <grin>). Ken McKinley writes the review blog Into the Macabre and recently discovered my urban fantasy shapeshifter story "Out of the Light" when it was reprinted in Best New Werewolf Tales (Vol.1). He enjoyed the story enough to write a review. Here are the highlights:

It’s Friday the 13th and I discovered a new author today through his fantastic short story, "Out of the Light." ... Such a wonderful and fresh take on the whole werewolf/shapeshifter legend. The storytelling is crisp with vibrant colorful characters that easily appear in your mind. Nice to meet you, Mr. Smith. We’ll be seeing each other again…soon. 5 out 5 stars.

Thanks, Ken!

You can read the full review here. "Out of the Light" first appeared in Dark Wisdom Magazine in 2007. The story is included in my collection, Chimerascope, and is also available as a stand-alone ebook. 

I'll be attending Ad Astra in Toronto again this year from April 10-12 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel at 600 HWY-7 E in Richmond Hill (Hwy 7 and Hwy 404). Ad Astra is a long running and excellent con that traditionally has had a strong literary focus. 

Here is my schedule of panel appearances and readings, all conveniently scheduled back-to-back-to-back (sigh) on Saturday night:

Urban fantasy gives us the chance to play around with our archetypal fairy tales and mythology. We can bring the gods down to our level and we get to bring magic into the everyday.

Filmed right here in Toronto, Orphan Black has become a huge hit. This show about cloning and conspiracies even mentions Scarberia, and correctly. We'll talk about all the stuff we love about it. Did Season 2 fulfill the promise seen in Season 1, and where do we see the various plot-lines headed?

I'm not sure what I'll be reading from yet, but I will have gifts and giveaways. 

Hope to see you there!

This is very short notice, but if you're in Toronto, I'll be one of ten authors doing readings at the inaugural WordJammin' 2015 event, being held Sunday March 15 (tomorrow) at the Yellow Griffin Pub at 2202 Bloor Street West (just east of the Runnymede subway stop) from 2-6 pm. I will be reading at 3:15pm.

No charge, plus there will be book giveaways and books available to purchase at specially discounted pricing. More info here. Hope to see you there!

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll have a story in a wonderful and important new SF anthology, The Young Explorer's Adventure Guide, from Dreaming Robot Press.

Aimed at middle grade readers, the anthology's goal is to bring greater diversity to science fiction, a genre that remains dominated by white males, both in terms of writers and characters in SF. This anthology is the first in a planned annual series, and this edition will predominantly feature stories with strong female characters as their protagonists.

The project is being funded by a Kickstarter campaign. They've reached not only their initial goal required to produce the anthology, but also the first three of their stretch goals. The second stretch goal meant my story, "Jigsaw," will be included (woo hoo!). "Jigsaw" first appeared in 2004 in the anthology Odyssey, edited by Julie Czerneda, and features a young female geologist on a spaceship who must solve a planet-sized problem to save her crewmates before time runs out.

From the Kickstarter page:

Sally Ride, first American woman in space and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, famously said:

“Young girls need to see role models in whatever careers they may choose, just so they can picture themselves doing those jobs someday. You can’t be what you can’t see.”

Girls need to read stories where any number of possible roles are modeled for them. Just as importantly, boys need to read stories where girls are active participants in adventures. And children of all colors and backgrounds need to know the future includes them.

According to a 2011 study of 6,000 children’s books, only 31 percent had central female characters, and even fewer featured main characters of color.

A genre that’s supposed to inspire us towards a bright future isn’t making space for half the population’s dreams. Boys go and have adventures, girls are to be defended, or prizes to be won, and the landscape is very, very white.

It’s time for a bigger universe.

Although the editors have reached the goal and some of their stretch goals, we would all like to see all the stretch goals reached so that the remaining stories will be included and some additional prizes awarded. This anthology is incredibly worthwhile, and I hope that you'll check out the Kickstarter page and consider contributing. 

As I mentioned earlier, I was one of the author presenters this weekend at INSPIRE!: The Toronto International Book Fair. Yesterday, I had the great pleasure to be on a panel on the Spark Stage at the TIBF with friends and fellow writers, Julie Czerneda and Stephanie Bedwell-Grime, and got the chance to meet Ottawa writer, Andrew Barton, who ably moderated our panel on "Science Fiction: The Future Ain't What It Used to Be." We had a lively and fun discussion with plenty of interesting questions from a packed crowd. Here's a pic of the panel in progress taken by Crystal Huff, who was at the Fair promoting the Helsinki 2017 WorldCon bid.

Before and after the panel, I signed books and helped staff the SFWA booth with fellow SFWA authors from our panelists and other SFWA authors. Here's a photo of the motley crew. Left to right, that is Stephanie, Julie, me, our Canadian SFWA rep, Ottawa writer Matthew Johnson, and Andrew. Not in the picture but also staffing the booth all weekend was Jaym Gates, the SFWA Communications Director. Thanks to another writer friend, Mike Rimar, for taking the photo, and a special thanks to Matthew for coordinating the SFWA booth on behalf of all of us.

Earlier in the day, I managed to catch William Gibson being interviewed about his latest novel, The Peripheral, on the main stage. All in all, I was quite impressed by this inaugural TIBF. Everything was professional and well organized. The volunteer staff were consistently friendly, enthusiastic, and helpful, both for the panel and through the entire weekend. I look forward to another TIBF in 2015.

As I mentioned earlier, I was one of the dozen authors invited to read at the inaugural Hydra's Hearth reading series in Toronto this weekend. Here's a pic of me during the reading. I read this past Friday night from my current work-in-progress, a young adult urban fantasy novel.

Thanks to the organizers for the invitation and to SFContario for hosting the readings this year. And thanks to everyone who turned out and for your feedback after. Much appreciated.

Another short notice post about an upcoming appearance. I'm one of the author guests at another inaugural literary event this weekend, the brand new Toronto International Book Fair. Yes, it's a busy weekend.

I'll be at the SFWA booth (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America) (booth #118) from 2-4pm on Saturday November 15, signing my books. I'm also on a panel with Andrew Barton, Julie Czerneda, and Stephanie Bedwell-Grime from 5-6 pm on Saturday on the Spark Stage (SW corner of the TIBF area). 

The panel is titled "The Future Ain't What It Used to Be" and we are supposed to be discussing:

"Despite the amazing technological advances of the last fifty years, our world looks very different from the future predicted by science fiction. This panel asks the question of what role SF writers play in predicting and preparing us for the future."

All of us on the panel will then be signing our books at the SFWA booth (#118) after the panel from 6-7pm. The TIBF is being held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (North Building), 255 Front Street West, Toronto. 

I hope to see you there. If you're attending, please drop by the SFWA booth while I'm there or attend the above panel or the signing after. Hope to see you there!