Donna Farley talks about upcoming books in podcast

Donna Farley appears in an online podcast talking about Saint Cuthbert, the subject of her two upcoming books from Conciliar Press, The Ravens of Farne, a picture book, and Bearing the Saint, a YA novel. 

Tony Pi story now online at Beneath Ceaseless Skies

Tony Pi's short story "Silk and Shadow" (in the Mercuria series) is available now for free online at Beneath Ceaseless Skies, in issue #11.

Derryl Murphy's story "Last Call" optioned by filmmaker

Derryl Murphy's short story "Last Call," originally published in OnSpec (and available online here), has been optioned by filmmaker Jean-Francois Da Sylva, who has previously made The Grandfather Paradox, based on a short story by Edward M. Lerner.

Derryl will be posting regular updates on the progress of the film at his blog, If You Can't Say Anything Nice....

Simon Rose offering workshops on writing and publishing children's novels

Simon Rose will be leading workshops on Writing and Publishing Your Children's Novel in Calgary March 16 and 18:

Monday, March 16, 2009 - 7 pm to 9 pm Inspiration, Imagination and Invention

We examine the writing process from initial concept through to the finished manuscript, including how to turn ideas into stories, the creation of outlines, story structure, character development, the role of research and the importance of editing and revision. Cost: $50.00

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - 7 pm to 9 pm Marketing and Promotion

This workshop explores websites for authors and writers, online marketing, media relations, book launches and bookstore signings, promotional events, securing speaking engagements, as well examining ways to research and submit to publishing houses. Cost: $50.00

The workshops will be held at the Palliser Bayview Pumphill Community Association, 2323 Palliser Drive SW, Calgary.

Register at sorcerersletterbox@gmail.com or at (403) 285 9383. 

Louise Bohmer's debut novel available for pre-order

Louise Bohmer's debut novel, The Black Act, is now available for pre-order from the publisher, Lachesis Publishing.

From the back cover: 

The history of a curse is fraught with bloody battles, bitter hatred, and dark secrets.

Through five generations, ghosts of war haunt the Wise Women. When the Rebellion of Glenna ends, their curse sleeps bound in the Tunnels of the Dead, waiting for its chance to re-awaken the battle between the Wood People and Dalthwein Clans.

Claire, a distraught young Wise Woman born in the sacred valley of the fae, unwittingly helps it escape imprisonment. While her twin sister, Anna, receives psychic glimpses of ancient secrets she must unravel. With her scribe teacher, Rosalind, she also struggles to uncover the reasons behind Claireʼs strange behavior, ever escalating since the death of their Guild Mother, Grianne.

The Age of the Wise Women will cease, if the curse does not end with Anna and Claire. Perhaps inheriting the mistakes of their ancestors, and learning the truths of their identities, will bring great suffering for these witch twins? 

Call for papers for the 2009 Academic Conference on Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy

From Allan Weiss:

The 2009 Academic Conference on Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy will be held Saturday, June 6, 2009, in Toronto, Ontario, at the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy, one of the most important collections of fantastic literature in the world.

We invite proposals for papers in any area of Canadian science fiction and fantasy, including:

• studies of individual works and authors;
  
• comparative studies;
  
• studies that place works in their literary and/or cultural contexts.
  

Papers may be about Canadian works in any medium: literature, film, graphic novels and comic books, and so on. For studies of the audio-visual media, preference will be given to discussions of works produced in Canada or involving substantial Canadian creative contributions.

Papers should be no more than 20 minutes long, and geared toward a general as well as an academic audience. Please submit proposals (max. 2 pages) by email or hard copy to:

Dr. Allan Weiss
Department of English
York University
4700 Keele St.
Toronto, ON M3H 3N4
aweiss@yorku.ca

Deadline: April 1, 2009

Tony Pi sells new "Mercuria" story to On Spec

Tony Pi has sold his short story "Cygnet's Shadow" to On Spec. It's the fourth story set in the lands of Mercuria that he has sold, the others being "Come Frost, Sun, and Vine" in Tales of the Unanticipated #29, "Silk and Shadow," forthcoming in Beneath Ceaseless Skies #11 on February 26, and "The Shadow-Witch" in Cinema Spec, forthcoming in the third quarter of 2009. Tony reports he's currently "wrestling with a novella" also set in Mercuria, "The Swan King's Daughter", for submission to Alembical.

Catherine MacLeod sells short-short to On Spec

Cathering MacLeod has sold a short-short story entitled "Water Breaks" to On Spec.

John R. Little's newest book now available for preorder

John R. Little's newest book, Dreams in Black and White, has just gone up for preorder and will be published in June: you can read about it here.  The book is published by Morning Star, an imprint of Bloodletting Press.

As well, John is the Featured Author at Horror World for February.  You can see a new short story of his, "Following Marla," on their web site.

John's novella "Miranda" is on the preliminary ballot for Long Fiction for the Bram Stoker award.

Cemetery Dance's Shivers V includes Steve Vernon novelette

Shivers V, edited by Richard Chizmar and just released by Cemetery Dance Publications, includes Steve Vernon's novelette "The Forever Long Snake of Olan Walker."