Tag: Fantasy Magazine

IBARW & Fantasy Magazine

By:  TempestElsewhere on the Internets

This week’s Blog For A Beer is a special IBARW edition.  Readers of this blog may find J T Glover’s essay on Bias in American SF interesting and the BfaB post uses that as a jumping-off point.  The crux is this:

…for those who would prefer a different SF: what do you want, and how are you going to get it? My frustration with Mr. Banker’s post was exceeded only by my curiosity. What sustainable alternative exists, now or in future, and how will it come about? Can it be created without alienating most of SF, and if not, does that matter? Even as the writer in me is most concerned with writing well and getting published, the reader in me wants both literary challenges and comfort food. The librarian in me believes that we must make room for everyone, whoever they are and whatever they believe, else we abandon the promise of speculative fiction.

Read the full essay and comment on it here.

We have two other pieces up this week that that fit into the theme.  As I mentioned yesterday, there’s a clip of Ghetto Man roasting the Superfriends.  Oh 1979, you were so crazy.  Also, N K Jemisin’s really, really excellent review of the latest Temeraire book that illuminates some of the big themes Novik explores in the books and also ties in why her fanfic roots make the series so amazing. And there’s a reprint of Broken Mystic’s essay on Dust, a Muslim character in the X-Men comics.

I love my job.

Adaptations

By:  TempestWriting
Adaptations

In case you don’t read Fantasy every day (and why not?!) I want to draw your attention to an announcement we just put up.  We’re going to start podcasting radio plays (or, more properly: audio dramas :as the plays won’t necessarily be on the radio) next year and so we’re accepting script submissions starting September 1.  I know at least one person who’ll be excited about this.  We’re looking for original scripts OR stuff adapted from existing stories.

I suspect a lot of writers will want to do adaptations but might wonder and worry if an author would mind having their story turned into a play.  They have to get permission, of course.  So I thought it would be a good idea to gather in one place a list of authors who would like to see their stories adapted.  If you are such an author, please comment.  Put the URL to your website in the URL field (which will be the click through on your name), a link to your bibliography, and a link to where folks can contact you.

Keep in mind that comments below are NOT the same as permission to adapt a story.  It’s merely an indication that the author is interested.  Any script writers who want to adapt a story should contact the author directly.

I should also note that the rights and permissions for audio plays are not the same as audio rights.  Thus, if you allow someone to adapt your story into a radio drama, it should not affect your ability to sell the audio/podcast rights.

ETA: Somehow in all of this I forgot to mention that I am open to people adapting my stories as well.  Bibliography link is at the top of the page, as is the Contact link.

Two Opportunities at Fantasy Mag

By:  TempestGeekitude

We’re looking for people in two areas.  Web Interns and Review Managers.  Interns first:

Web-Savvy Intern for Online Magazine

Fantasy Magazine, an online genre entertainment publication, is looking for interns to work primary in Web Production with some crossover into editorial and multimedia development.

Interns will learn or hone their skills in web design and production, content management, and email marketing. There will also be opportunities to help us develop new content, from non-fiction features to podcasts and video.

We’re looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

  • Strong HTML skills. Ability to hand-code AND work with WYSIWYG editors.
  • Knowledge of CSS.
  • Experience with blogging software. WordPress a big plus. Also relevant: Blogger, Moveable Type/Typepad, LiveJournal, and similar.
  • Experience with social media and social networking.
  • Comfortable working exclusively in an online environment.
  • Interest in or experience with podcasting and video blogging a big plus.
  • Ability to learn quickly and complete tasks with little supervision.

The position will require 10 – 15 hours per week (from mid-August to mid-December), very flexible, with some weekend work and online meetings required. We’re open to candidates from any location as long as you are available during some part of American east coast business hours. We do offer college credit. The position is unpaid.

To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to this gmail address: fantastictempest. Please put your cover letter in the body of the email and attach your resume in rtf, doc, or pdf format. A link to an online resume is also acceptable. If applicable, please include links to web projects you’ve worked on.

We will only contact candidates if we intend to interview them.

Seeking Review Manager

Fantasy Magazine is looking for one or two people to join our existing review manager in keeping track of and overseeing reviewers and review material plus seeking out and vetting new reviewers. We’re looking for candidates with the following qualifications:

  • Highly organized and able to take initiative.
  • Willing to manage reviewers and, if need be, stay on them to turn in assignments.
  • Comfortable working in an online environment.
  • Experience with GoogleDocs, WordPress, or similar programs.
  • Comfortable communicating with editors, authors, and publicity personnel to request and coordinate review materials.

The position will require 5 – 10 hours per week, very flexible, with some weekend work and online meetings required. We’re open to candidates from any location as long as you are available during some part of American east coast business hours. The position is currently unpaid but by 2009 will have a small monthly stipend.

To apply, please send a letter of interest with a summary of qualifications to this gmail address: fantastictempest. We will only contact candidates if we intend to interview them.

If you know someone interested in either of these opportunities, please send them here or forward the text. Thanks!

Magazines That Want (More) Diversity

By:  TempestWriting Life
Magazines That Want (More) Diversity

I often talk about the need for markets and their editors/publishers to do more to up the diversity in their slush pile and, consequently, in the publication itself. And one of the steps toward doing so is making sure that people know about your intentions in that direction. It does help to make the statement outright, but you still must back that statement up with results. Editors sometimes ask me how they get the word out, and, as I said in my Mind Meld contribution the other week, one of the ways is writer to writer to writer. Since I’m a writer whose blog is read by other writers, I guess I should do my part. :)

I recently sent this list of magazines looking for more POC authors and stories with POC characters and non-standard cultures/settings/etc to the Carl Brandon mailing list. I know that the editors of these markets want more because they told me so (which is as good an indication as any).

Fantasy — Any magazine I’m involved with definitely cares about this issue. One would hope it goes without saying, but not everyone is aware of who works for what and the goings on behind the scenes.

Sybil’s Garage — Before the last reading period, Matt Kressel and I had several discussions about how to draw in more diverse submissions. We edited the guidelines to make that desire clearer and I encouraged authors I knew to apply. I believe the next submission period is in early August, so keep an eye out and, yes, send your stuff in. Matt also says not to make any pre-judgments on what a Sybil’s Garage-type story is.

PodCastle — Rachel Swirsky is definitely on the look out for great stories by POC authors. I gave her some names and stories to check out, but you increase your own chances by submitting. PodCastle, like EscapePod, takes reprints. And it doesn’t matter how long ago the story was published, just so long as it’s good (and fantasy — for SF stuff, submit to EscapePod).

Asimov’s — Sheila Williams has mentioned to me a couple of times that she’d like to see more women in her slush (particularly with SF stories) and I suspect that she could use more submissions from POC and/or with POC characters and under-represented cultures.

As always, none of these markets is likely to publish a story just because it’s written by a POC or has POC characters. But in order to have a chance, you need to send the story in!

There are probably markets that I’m missing or editors who want more diversity but haven’t mentioned it to me. If so, mention it in the comments. I’ll add it to the main post as we go along.

Other markets looking to increase diversity (as indicated in the comments):

Fantasy Magazine Launches New Website

By:  TempestThe Publishing Biz
Fantasy Magazine Launches New Website

On July 17, 2008 Prime Books announces the launch of the new Fantasy Magazine website.

The site design is by Matthew Kressel of Senses Five Press, which publishes Sybil’s Garage and Paper Cities: An Anthology of Urban Fantasy.   The artwork is by New Zealand-based artist Sanjana Baijnath.

Fantasy Magazine’s authors have included some of the best new and established voices in the fantasy genre, including Stephanie Campisi, Paul Jessup, Richard Parks, Holly Phillips, Ursula Pflug, Ekaterina Sedia, Rachel Swirsky, Lavie Tidhar, Catherynne M. Valente, and Jeff VanderMeer. The magazine publishes a new story each Monday, with commentary, interviews, reviews, and essays appearing throughout the week along with Friday’s Blog for a Beer! feature, which allows readers to unleash their creative talents. The new site will add audio and video content, previews of Prime and Juno books and new contests.

“Fantasy Magazine … [has] already shouldered their way into the ranks of the most prominent fiction e-zines on the internet”—The Year’s Best Science Fiction

“Fantasy Magazine is one of the most promising new fiction publications to launch in the field in years.”—Locus

“We hope to continue bringing innovative and enthralling fiction and features to fantasy lovers across the globe . . . and this is just the first step in many to come. Keep reading Fantasy Magazine!” —Cat Rambo and Sean Wallace

The magazine’s staff includes co-editors Cat Rambo and Sean Wallace, managing editor K. Tempest Bradford, and intern Nivair H. Gabriel.

Upcoming content in 2008 includes works from authors such as Jim Hines, J. MDermott, Ursula Pflug, and Erzebet Yellowboy. This week’s story is “Watermark” by Michael Greenhut, accompanied by an audio version read by Cat Rambo.

On a personal note, I’d really like to thank Matt for the hard work he did setting up the site.  That’s a custom theme you see, which he made from the ground up.  He incorporated all of the elements I asked for and offered suggestions and improvements of his own.  I can’t recommend (or thank) Matt enough.  It’s really beautiful work and he’s a hell of a programmer.

I’m also super, super pleased that Sanjana allowed us to use her art.  I fell in love with that image the first time I saw it.

This Week @ Fantasy

By:  TempestElsewhere on the Internets
This Week @ Fantasy

This week we had a lot of interesting stuff go up at Fantasy, so you should all check it out!

First, this week’s story, Marrying the Sun, by the writer to watch out for, Rachel Swirsky.  Rachel has also agreed to do a Puppet Strings Author Spotlight for us, so go over there and ask her questions about her story and such.

And if you’re still in need of a fiction fix, there’s an excerpt from Seaborn by Chris Howard available.

On the non-fiction side, I did an interview with Gregory Banks about disability in SF/F fiction and there’s a review of Empress by my homeslice Naamen.

And, of course, today is Fantasy Friday.  Time to Blog For A Beer!  We’re talking about superheroes and property damage today, inspired by my marathon watching of Justice League Unlimited.  Almost every show in the Bruce Timm DC Animated Universe is like crack to me, so I’m happy to get a chance to talk about it (even if this particular aspect is annoying).

Today @ Fantasy

By:  TempestElsewhere on the Internets
Today @ Fantasy

Over the next few weeks we’re rolling out some new features at Fantasy Magazine. One that we’re very excited about is Puppet Strings, a cousin to our Author Spotlights. Once or twice a month a Fantasy author will give you a sneak peek into the magic behind their fiction–be it the inspiration, the writing process, the research, or whatever else. Then for the next five days the author will answer questions and participate in discussion about their story.

Our first author is Darja Malcolm-Clarke, author of His One True Bride.  She talks about the background behind her inspiration, which is wide ranging and very interesting:

I love the idea that a spontaneous, violent physical reaction is the only possible response to being separated from the divine after it being so close (whatever form He or She might take, and through whatever belief system). That is how I imagine being in contact with the divine must be: it undoes you. There’s no going back.

Read it here. Also, Darja will answer questions about her Puppet Strings post and discuss His One True Bride until Sunday evening.  So go and discuss, question, poke, and be impressed.

Oh Sci-Fi Channel Movies

By:  TempestElsewhere on the Internets
Oh Sci-Fi Channel Movies

Today @ Fantasy we’re talking about Sci-Fi Channel movies and why we watch them (or why we stay away).  Inspired by Genevieve’s brave forays into the living room to watch these crazy things, I thought it would make for fun discussion.  Plus we can talk about AZTEC REX and all that is wrong with it.  Join us as we laugh at the likes of Mansquito, Mr. Stich, and pre-spork the movie Genevieve just found out is coming on soon.  I’ll give you a hint:

She’s a model, he’s an elite commando.  They’re going to solve global warming — by destroying the aliens who are causing it!

You think I am lying?  I am not.