Another Reason Why Doing Readings Flummoxes Me aka Come to GA Tech and See Me Titter and Turn Bright Red

Minor change in logistics for tomorrow’s reading at the GA Tech SF Symposium. I’ll have a little less time than I initially figured, and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to get through all of “The Archer of the Sun and the Lady of the Moon.” So rather than trying to rush through it, I decided instead to read the first chapters of “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast.” Also, it seems more fitting to read actual, y’know, science fiction at a symposium on science fiction (versus fantasy).

Did a practice run last night to check my timing and pacing, and it occurred to me that I’ve never done a reading of any of my non-G-rated works before. The opening chapter of “Sinner” has sex, violence, murder, and expletives in it. And now I’m wondering if I can get through it without turning bright red and teeheeing like a schoolgirl.

So yeah, the rather aggressive butterflies I was sporting in my stomach have become mutant hippopotami.

The Shape of Things to Come: Science Fiction at Georgia Tech – Full Schedule

Received the final schedule for this Thursday’s (11/17) science fiction symposium, The Shape of Things to Come: Science Fiction at Georgia Tech, hosted by The School of Literature, Communication and Culture (Skiles Building, Room 002). My reading with Joe McDermott and Chesya Burke is schedule for 4:30 pm-6:00 pm. I’ll be reading “The Archer of the Sun and the Lady of the Moon,” one of the stories from Returning My Sister’s Face.  

The symposium is free to the public and promises to have heaps of interesting subject matter and discussion topics. Hope to see folks there! 
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BOGO Deal: Buy Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest ebook, Get Wish of the Demon Achtromagk ebook Free

I’ve been bandying about the idea of self-publishing an ebook short story collection for a while but have been unmotivated to hash out the formatting and conversion details. Finally decided to get my act together and check out what all the cool kids have been talking about. Rolled up my sleeves and dug into all the how-to’s of converting a manuscript into the various ebook formats. Discovered it’s actually pretty straightforward if a bit persnickety.

So as an experiment and trial run, I’m publishing two ebooks, each for the low, low price of only $0.99, at Amazon (for the Kindle) and Smashwords (for the Nook, Sony reader, iPad, and other formats).

My Nebula Award-winning novelette, “Sinner, Baker, Fabulist, Priest; Red Mask, Black Mask, Gentleman, Beast”:

And my short story, “The Wish of the Demon Achtromagk,” originally published as an audio podcast by Drabblecast for their Lovecraft tribute month:

And as a bonus, all this month of November, anyone who buys “Sinner” will also get an ebook of “The Wish of the Demon Achtromagk” for free.

Just drop me an email with either your Amazon order number for “Sinner” or the very last line of text in the ebook (not the last line of the story but the last sentence of the back matter), and I’ll email you a coupon to download a complimentary copy of “The Wish of the Demon Achtromagk” ebook from Smashwords in whatever format you like.

More information and cover art:
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Back to Work After the Halloween Mini-Holiday

Alas, my five-day Halloween weekend is over, and it’s time to get back to work. “The Girl Who Drew Cats” is now officially a first draft. Still dwelling on whether I want to change a couple story elements, then I’ll do another editing pass and decide whether I want to send it out for critique. Been out of my various writers group short story critique loops for a while—due to spending the last couple years working on the novel. Sorta feel guilty submitting something for critique when I’ve been so inactive. Meh, will see how I feel after another editing pass.

Then it’s back to work on “The Art of Victory.” Hopefully, a few weeks distance will aid my ability to re-focus it…and also keep it from becoming a novella.

Finally, I gave myself until November to not fret, dwell upon, or panic about my forthcoming reading for the Georgia Tech Science Fiction Symposium on the 17th. It is now November, and I am in deep panic mode. Have no idea what to read. Leaning toward “The Tanuki-Kettle” or “The Tiger Fortune Princess.” Could also do “The Archer of the Sun and the Lady of the Moon.” I can conceivably read any of those in half an hour. Probably. But are fairy tales appropriate for a college science fiction symposium? My SF story options are all way too long to read in 30 minutes. Urg.

Decisions, decisions. And then pathological terror. Yup. Happy November.

The Red String Slated for Cricket’s February 2012 Issue

Got an email from Debby Vetter, my Cricket editor, sending along the page proofs for “The Red String” and letting me know it’s scheduled to be published in next year’s February issue. Hurray! She also mentioned that this is the last story Cricket has in inventory from me and encouraged me to submit more.

Aside from the thrill of having an editor, y’know, invite me to submit something, it occurs to me that I’d been so focused on the novel effort for the last couple years that I simply haven’t been writing much children’s fiction. And I’ve missed it. Soon as I started poking around in that neglected corner of my creative process, got an immediate story idea, complete with title—”The Girl Who Drew Cats”—as well as a solid opening underway.

So I’m setting aside “The Art of Victory When the Game is All the World” for a bit. Probably good to put a little distance there anyway. “Art of Victory,” in addition to threatening to turn into a novella, is feeling a tad overextended and expansive, both focus- and story-wise. Couple weeks might be exactly what I need to regroup and rein things back under control with it.

Another Addition to My Dance Card: JordanCon IV

And continuing the trend of conventions getting a massive head start on 2012, got a note from Jennifer Liang inviting me to be a guest at JordanCon next year!

I couldn’t send my “Yes, absolutely!” reply fast enough. In addition to Mary Robinette Kowal—who is fabulous—being their Author Guest of Honor, the JordanCon folks really impressed me with their organization and professionalism. They run an awesome convention, and I’m thrilled to be returning.

Georgia Tech Science Fiction Symposium

I’ve been invited to participate in Georgia Tech’s Science Fiction Symposium on Nov. 17. Hosted by the Georgia Tech School of Literature, Communication and Culture, the symposium’s goal is to showcase the work Georgia Tech does with science fiction as well as demonstrate its commitment to science fiction as an art form.

Looks like I’ll be doing a reading between 4:30-6PM with other Atlanta-based authors, including J.M. McDermott and Chesya Burke. Sounds like it’ll be great fun…aside from, of course, the inevitable crushing panic and anxiety at the prospect of doing a reading…

Also, I have no idea what I’m going to read.

Another Glowing Review for Requiem Duet, Concerto for Flute and Voodoo!

Oh, squee! Saw another glowing review for “Requiem Duet, Concerto for Flute and Voodoo.” This one by Michael K. Rose at Myriad Spheres:

…a well-written and intriguing story, Foster’s skill as a writer draws the reader in to the emotional worlds of the characters. In short fiction it is often difficult for readers to have enough invested in the characters to care about them but Foster accomplishes this flawlessly.

This is turning out to be my week for swelled headedness!

Requiem Duet, Concerto for Flute and Voodoo Reviewed by Fantasy Matters

Saw a review of “Requiem Duet, Concerto for Flute and Voodoo” by Fantasy Matters that totally made my day. Among other glowy things, the reviewer called me “one of the best writers of speculative short fiction currently working”:

Eugie Foster is one of the best writers of speculative short fiction currently working. She has great facility for language and structure, an ability to see beauty and terror in equal measure, and consistently crafts stories that are both harrowing and satisfying…”Requiem Duet, Concerto for Flute and Voodoo”…is a story about friendship and grief, about losing your heart to find it…You may cry at the end. You’ll be glad you read it.
Fantasy Matters

My plan for today is to grow a fantastically swelled head. Yep.

On My Dance Card: Dragon*Con and Outlantacon 2012

Is there something in the air that’s rousing convention committees to get a massive head start on 2012? First got a “we are excited to have you back as a Guest” email from Dragon*Con’s guest committee last week. And now got a note from the fabulous Edward DeGruy inviting me to reprise my guesthood at Outlantacon for 2012. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining! Just boggling.

And, of course, I said “absolutely, you bet, yes with bells on” to both :).