News

One of the wonderful things that can happen at a Worldcon is that I’ll run into someone I haven’t seen in years, which is precisely the case with this week’s guest, Patrick Swenson. I found him at a table in the Dealers’ Room, and over a very quick chat (it was his table and he was shamelessly involved in acts of commerce) learned that he’d had a novel (The Ultra Thin Man) come out the previous summer, and indeed that the paperback version had been released only the month before. Naturally, I had to invite him to visit here on EATING AUTHORS.

If you’re a writer, you probably know Patrick because you sent him a submission. For fourteen years, he edited Talebones, a magazine published by the imprint he started in 2000, Fairwood Press. The magazine is gone, but the press continues, publishing books by some impressive authors including Michael Bishop, Ken Scholes, James Van Pelt, and the late Jay Lake.

In addition to running a small press, Patrick also facilitates one of the most popular writing escapes, the Rainforest Writers’ Retreat. Set on the shores of Lake Quinault, in the Quinault Rainforest, it’s an excuse to get away to paradise. Oh, and also to write. Check it out, but I’ll warn you now, the three 2016 sessions are already sold out. However, Patrick assures me you can sign up for a spot on the waiting list.

Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been looking forward to this week’s edition of EATING AUTHORS for months. Not just because Fran Wilde is another of the coterie of Philadelphia-based authors, nor because she’s branded as one of Tor Books’ Next Generation of SFF Authors, nor even because she writes the very popular blog Cooking the Books. No, I’ve been eagerly awaiting this installment because it gives me such delight to be able to tell you that her debut novel, Updraft, releases tomorrow!

Before going any further, some disambiguation is in order. This is not the Fran Wilde who is a New Zealand politician. Nor does she have a bridge named after her (don’t believe her if she tells you otherwise). On the other hand, that same-name former Wellington mayor surely lacks my guest’s cred as a Geek Mom, programmer, or writing instructor. And don’t get me started on her interest in food. It’s become schtick to put the two of us on Food Panels together when we’re at the same conventions.

The other thing I have to tell you is that while tomorrow’s release is her novel debut, it is not her writing debut. Other stories exist (both published and soon-to-be) in her Bone Universe, as well as short works in two other series (her Moon Universe and the Gem Universe), as well as a world she’s created for the folks Storium for their storyteller gaming world. Fran has ideas, and they’re too big to be contained in single stories or even individual novels.

The last thing you need to know is that somehow Fran has managed to alter all the world’s calendars. Tomorrow is not the first day of September. Rather, at least for 2015, the month is to be known as “Uptember.” Trust me, I’ve learned not to argue with her.

Somewhere, it is Monday. In theory, if this has posted, I should have returned to Philadelphia after an evening flight from Chicago and the glory that was the 50th annual celebration known as the Nebula Awards Weekend.

At the time I write this, I don’t know the outcome of my award category, but if you’re a dreamer the odds-makers in Vegas probably offered a nice return for the longshot. As they say, it’s an honor just being nominated, and really that’s true. I’ve been there before, and it’s part of why I like to showcase each year’s Campbell Award nominees here on EATING AUTHORS, because win or lose, surely they are all worth taking a closer look at and their work deserves your attention.

I’ve crossed paths with this week’s guest numerous times over the years, owing to our mutual interest in SF and state of residence, and so I immediately recognized his name on the nomination list. But to most people, Eric S. Raymond (aka ESR) is perhaps famous as a leading advocate for open source software. And what makes his presence on this year’s list of Campbell nominees particularly intriguing is that his bibliography of SFF publications consists of only a single short story, “Sucker Punch,” which he’s described as

a solid, craftsmanlike first effort that delivers what its opening promises and suggests the author might be able to deliver quality work in the future

and has expressed his own doubts regarding his nomination, fearing his name on the ballot is more a reflection of his politics than his storytelling ability.

We’ll see how it all pans out later this summer. In the meantime, here are his thoughts on his most memorable meal.

Read the rest of this entry »