Dandyfunk

Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest

My story "Space Hero" has won the Grand Prize in the Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest. Last year I won second place with a re-write of one of my WotF quarter-finalist stories, but this year I managed to write two new stories for the contest, and sent the best one in. The story will be published on the Baen Books website sometime in the future, as a feature story.

And congratulations to second place winner David D. Levine (another former WotF winner) with his story "Citizen-Astronaut" and third place winner Stuart D. Gibbon with his story "High Ground." I'm sure we'll see those stories in print soon.

The National Space Society and Baen Books sponsor this contest in memory of Jim Baen, to celebrate the role science fiction has in making advances in science. The basic requirement for entries is that they show the near future of manned space exploration.

The National Space Society has a simple vision: People living and working in thriving communities beyond the Earth, and the use of the vast resources of space for the dramatic betterment of humanity. They have local chapters all over the United States. I've been getting their magazine adAstra for the past year, and I enjoy it thoroughly.  Check out the magazine's website where you can download a sample issue and read some articles.

Jim Baen (1946-2006) was a noted science fiction writer, who became and editor and publisher when he founded Baen Books, a leader in the field of military SF, fantasy, adventure and space opera. They also have a thriving e-book division called Webscriptions, which allows readers to download books before publication.

A big thanks to Baen books and The National Space Society for providing the prizes (including membership in the Society!), judges Hank Davis, Jim Mintz, David Weber. And special thanks to William Ledbetter for organizing the contest and getting the results out.

What I'm Reading Now

Actually, I finished this one:

The Things that are not There by CJ Henderson. This novel takes the Lovecraftian Horror story and welds it together with some hard-boiled detective fiction. I mean, really, if some nameless unspeakable horror from the depths of time and space comes after you, would you rather just go insane or pick up some heavy duty firearms and rocket launchers and go right after them?

I also finished four books in the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. I'm up to Ashes of Victory, and will probably  take a break before I continue on with the series.

Star Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back just came in the mail. This graphic novel series has a great premise: What if Luke didn't destroy the Death Star and Yavin and the Rebellion were destroyed? It's the same characters but pivotal events are changed.

Signs of Spring

The first crocus is up!

Doug Fieger, 1952-2010

Doug Fieger, lead singer and songwriter for The Knack, died sunday after a long battle with lung cancer.

The band's big hit was, as anyone who was alive in 1979 knows, My Sharona.

And that song remains etched on my memory. Not because of the catchy riff (does anyone NOT know it?) or the cheeky lyrics or the because it was the first wave (more like tsunami) of the New Wave. No, I remember it so clearly because back in the summer of '79, it was just about the only damn thing on the radio worth listening to.

Let me explain . . . I spent that summer in upstate New York, where the radio waves were overwhelmed by nondescript AM stations. But, if your turned the dial carefully, and ever so slowly, and had the volume turned way up (a trick I learned from my older brother) you could find decent FM stations. Not many of them, but they were there. There were no AOR stations, I couldn't be that lucky. But there were top 40 stations, and if I got up early on the weekend, I could catch the beginning of Casey Kasem's Top 40 countdown and hear My Sharona replayed as the number one hit of the previous week, and then I would listen to the entire countdown, just to hear it again. It was Number ONE for the whole summer. Or at least it seemed that way. And sure, there were other great songs that summer, I just don't remember them the way I remember Sharona.

The Knack and Doug never had a follow up smash hit (as was expected by the media), and the band broke up, reformed years later and put out more albums, making their own way through the music world. Some of the later songs I like as much as Sharona. "Just Wait and See" and "Don't Look Back" are two of my favorites.

It's a sad day for my musical memories. But as Doug said in his song "Pop is Dead:"

I wonder what they'll say, years from now

Who'll understand it all anyhow?

Condolences to his family and friends. And in some more of his own words, "Don't look back."

My story is out . . .

My story "Love and War" is in the current issue (#109) of Space and Time magazine, with a fantastic illustration from Russell Morgan.

Go here to see the details of the issue. I haven't had a chance to read it, but it looks like a solid issue. Be sure to check out C.J. Henderson's story, "The Mambo King of the Inter-Dimensional Dance Floor," and if you want to know more about him, there's an interview with him here.

Also in this issue you'll find some cutting-edge fiction from fellow GSHW member Andrew Alford and his story Saint Michael’s Sword. And I can't wait to read Chuck Rothman's "Saving Hitler."

Look for it on newsstands now!

Tonight's Project:

The new barebones PC arrived in the mail. Attempting to transplant the old harddrive and XP.

Update: Everything  seems to be working.

Some woodworking stuff

Some drawers I made for a tool cabinet that is still in the planning stage:

 

that's the 3" tall version, and here's the 1 1/2" version with some tools:

 

I also bought a tool rest from Grizzly, and added it to a new platform for the bench grinder:

 

Cherry Weiner visits the GSHW

Saturday was the monthly meeting of the Garden State Horror Writers, and our guest was literary agent Cherry Weiner (note to all of you looking for agents: she DOES NOT take unsolicited submissions). She's been in the field for many years and handles many genres, including western, SF, and urban fantasy.

The bulk of the meeting was Cherry fielding questions about publishing, agents, and writing in general. One piece of advice that was repeated many times is that quality of your writing is the most important thing. 

When talking to an agent, either in an informal setting or during a pitch, the thing she looks for is if the writer is excited about their work. She often meets writers at conferences, and if she likes your work she may ask you to submit to her.

Back from the Cod

Sunset on Cape Cod.

My story is out . . .

Over at Flash Fiction On-line, you can read my short-short story, "How High the Moon."

click here