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Published by zentao7.com writers group in their January 19, 2005 newsletter
The Word in Writing by B.J. Muntain
Vol 2, Issue 24, January 19, 2005
We have a good mix of information this week, including
breaking news, the closure of some important markets, and some
tragic losses.
I do not guarantee any markets
New Markets:
Portobello Books, a new independent publisher, will be
launching in autumn this year, to "publish the very finest
in international fiction and activist non-fiction." CLICK HERE
Center Street Books, a new imprint being launched this
month by Warner Books, plans to publish books with a clear
connection to America's Heartland. Editor Christina Boys wants
women's fiction with this connection. Only agented manuscripts
are accepted at this time.
Transfinite Magazine is a new .pdf formatted e-zine
publishing science fiction. CLICK HERE
Scribal Tales is also a new e-zine, accepting
"short stories in the fantasy, science fiction, horror and
hybrid genre." Pays $1 per 1000 words. CLICK HERE
Market Changes:
Rumour has it that Tor editor Jim Minz is leaving that
publisher to edit at Del Rey Books, as of the end of
January.
Random House will be starting up a operations in India.
Although Random House India will be focussing on non-fiction,
they are also open to publishing fiction by Indian writers,
"but only when we come along something that is absolutely
marvellous." CLICK HERE
Images, Inc. is turning to producing audiobook
collections only, in genres of science fiction and fantasy. Note:
Their current on-line guidelines are incorrect and unchangeable
at this time. It's best to use the guidelines listed with Ralan's
Webstravaganza (CLICK HERE)
for now.
Check out Project M. Zine's new guidelines at CLICK HERE.
Pay rates have been raised, among other things.
Closed Markets:
Arabella Romances has been closed by the
editors, who cite a lack of funding as the reason for this
closure. Subscribers who would like their money back can e-mail refunds@arabellapublishing.com
before February 28, 2005, including name, address, and number of
copies you've received. CLICK HERE
Alchemy has temporarily suspended publication
and is not accepting submissions.
Weird Tales is overstocked and will not accept
submissions again until March 2006. Editors George H. Scithers
and Darrell Schweitzer say, "We really hate doing this, but
we finally have to admit that we have been acquiring stories and
poems faster than we can publish them."
Mythic Delirium, a speculative poetry magazine,
is closing to submissions after January 18, 2005, as all issues
are filled until Issue 14. Any submissions received after this
date will be returned unread. Submissions will open again after
Issue 13, probably this winter. CLICK HERE
Faniac Magazine has been closed by its editor.
Tom and Ginger Johnson, publishers of a number
of fiction magazines including Classic Pulp Fiction Stories
and Alien Worlds, have retired. The last two magazines to
be closed were Detective Mystery Stories and Echoes,
both ending in December, 2004.
Dated Markets (Anthologies, Contests, Special and Themed
Issues):
Sybil's Garage is looking for short speculative
fiction for their second issue. No deadline was given. CLICK HERE
Something Old, Something New, an anthology being
planned by The Rocking Chair Reader, is open to entries of
"true stories that revolve around weddings and/or marriages
that take place in America's small towns." Deadline:
February 28, 2005. CLICK HERE
The Chicago Tribune Nelson Algren Awards are open to
unpublished stories by U.S. writers. Entry fee: None. Deadline:
February 28, 2005. For complete guidelines, e-mail Aleksandra
Kostovski at akostovski@tribune.com.
The Windy City Romance Writers' 2005 Four Seasons Awards
are open to unpublished Romance Writers Association members only.
Categories are: Single Title Contemporary Romance, Short/Long
Contemporary, Historical and Fantasy/Future/Paranormal. Non-cash
prizes, but exposure to industry professionals. Deadline: March 1,2005.
Entry fee: $25. CLICK HERE
The Writers' League of Texas is holding their 6th Annual
Novel Manuscript Contest. Categories include most genres.
"Winner in each category will meet individually with an
agent..." Entry fee: $50. Deadline: March 1, 2005. CLICK HERE
The Rocking Chair Reader is also collecting stories for
Smalltown Christmas. Deadline: April 2005. CLICK HERE
News:
Scum are already trying to make money on Harry Potter and
the Half Blood Prince. At least one web site has been shut
down for offering the new book (still unpublished) in electronic
format. This is a scam -- don't get caught! CLICK HERE
The Speculative Literature Foundation offers the Fountain
Award: $1000 to be given to "a speculative short story
of exceptional literary quality." Work must have been
published in 2004 and be nominated by the anthology or magazine
editor who published it. CLICK HERE
The Huygens space probe has landed on Titan!
While its parent ship, Cassini, continues to orbit and study
Saturn, Huygens will study the planet's mysterious moon. You can
find all the information on the Cassini/Huygens mission --
including pictures from the surface of Titan -- at CLICK HERE.
Our Losses:
d.g.k. goldberg (Diane Gail Kelly Goldberg) passed away
on January 14, 2005. She wrote fiction and non-fiction, including
two novels: Skating on the Edge and Doomed to Repeat It.
CLICK HERE
Kenneth Vye (K.V.) Bailey (1914 - January 3, 2005).
Bailey was a science fiction poet and critic, whose work includes
the book The Vortices of Time: Poems of Speculation and
Fantasy.
Amrish Puri (1932 - January 12, 2005). Puri, an actor
in India, was best known to western audiences as Mola Ram, in Indiana
Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Charlotte MacLeod passed away on January 14, 2005 at
the age of 82. MacLeod wrote over 30 mystery novels, involving
such fictional sleuths as Peter Shandy, Sarah Kelling and Max
Bittersohn.
Author's Note
You have to see those pictures of Titan. Did you know Titan is
thought to be very much like Earth was when it was very young?
This mission could be very significant for scientists and science
fiction writers alike!
If you have ideas or thoughts for this column, you can contact
me HERE.
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