Space and Time Magazine

08:28 pm - RE: Second Half of Interview with Jon Gibbs

And here is the second half of my interview with Mr. Jon Gibbs: http://jongibbs.livejournal.com/18666.html.

Current Mood: cheerful

07:15 pm - First Part of Interview with Jon Gibbs

Just a quick blurb to let you know that the first part of Jon Gibbs' interview with Yours Truly has been posted. Check it at: http://jongibbs.livejournal.com/17304.html

Current Mood: accomplished

07:21 pm - Dodged a Distribution Bullet

So, awhile back, I got in touch with Source Interlink regarding distribution into Borders. I was hoping to switch to them entirely once my Ingram contract lapsed, as SI has exclusive distribution rights into Borders and also has access to Barnes and Noble and other outlets through which Space and Time is sold. Plus, they're service agent didn't treat me like something she scraped off her shoe. Seemed like a no-brainer, right? Unfortunately (or so I thought at the time), Borders wasn't taking any new magazines, so Source couldn't do business with me at the time. Disappointing, but I figured I'd just contact them again when my Ingram contract was up.

Well.

Today I received a notice that Source Interlink is in bankruptcy court. Had I gone with them, I'd be f&#@ked right now, because once you leave Ingram (unless you're Time or People or something yooge like that), they ain't taking you back.

See? Sometimes things go the way they should...even if it doesn't appear that way at the time.
 

Also wanted to mention that I'll be at Balticon over Memorial Day Weekend, despite a snafu that resulted in my not being invited until the last minute. Diane Weinstein, my art director extraordinaire will be there and there's going to be a Space and Time panel (yes, they were going to run one without me. No, not sure how). If you're in Hunt Valley, MD or thereabouts and want to stop by, it's a great con and lots o' fun. Hope to see you there!
 

Current Mood: contemplative

01:38 pm - Issue #107 in Print and Electronic and Personal News

Issue #107 is now in wide release and getting rave reviews. A few sample comments:

"Nicely weird-pulpish cover on #107, reminds me of Invaders From Mars/Mars Attacks! (now at a swimming pool near you!)"

If you're a fan of Space and Time, please spread the word! We have both electronic and regular subscriptions available, we're in the book stores, and we always want/need more readers. A subscription makes a dandy and economical gift, too.  

Current Mood: busy

02:49 pm - Hugo Nominations are Out

Please join us in congratulating the following Space and Time contributors on their Hugo nominations:

Best Pro Artist:  Donato Giancola

Best Fan Artist:  Alan F. Beck; Brad W. Foster

Current Mood: pleased

06:33 pm - Lunacon Weekend

This weekend is Lunacon and I am psyched. I have four panels on Saturday, and one

on Saturday. If you're in the area of Rye Town, NY, I hope you'll join me there. Here's my schedule:

Current Mood: accomplished

09:26 am - Peter S. Beagle Interview!

Thanks to my buddy, Mr. Stephen Euin Cobb, Space and Time has a brand spanking new interview with the legen- (wait for it) - dary Peter S. Beagle! I had the pleasure of meeting Peter and his manager, Connor Cochran, at Balticon a while back, and am just thrilled that they agreed to give us this interview.  I'll be posting a snippet on the web site as a teaser in the next couple of days, but you'll have to wait for Issue #107 to arrive in April to read Part 1 (Part 2 will appear in Issue #108).

As for the .pdf version of Space and Time, just wanted to let current subscribers know that they are entitled to receive access to it as part of their regular subscription. Simply contact me at the email provided on the S&T web site and I'll tell you how to gain access. Remember, though, it's not for sharing, and yes, we will be tracking access to ensure that only the current subscriber/new electronic-only subscriber is pulling it in. If we catch any shenanigans, we'll cut you off and a bill for the unauthorized access will wing its way to you faster than you can say, "theft."

Current Mood: jubilant

12:29 pm - RE: Online Subscriptions Now Available!

Okay, we're taking our first toe-dip into producing an online option for Space and Time. For now, it is a simple .pdf downloadable option, which can be either opened and read online or printed at home. Subscriptions are available for newcomers at half the cost of a regular print subscription, or $10.00. And anyone who is a current or new print subscriber will be given access to the online version at no extra charge.

More details will follow, including directions for ordering. I'm very curious to see the response to this new option, as it will inform the future of the magazine overall. My goal is to stay in print AND in cyberspace, but should a paper version become impossible to sustain, at least we'll continue to exist in some fashion.

In the meantime, folks, please encourage anyone and everyone to either subscribe themselves or buy subscriptions as gifts!

Current Mood: excited

12:39 pm - NY Comic-Con 2009

Wow, what in Hades happened?

Last year, my crew and I were praising Comic Con's show runners for having learned the lessons of a rocky first year and pulling their stuff together. We looked forward to this year's show, assuming even more improvements would be in place.

Wrong.

The place was still packed to the rafters, which is a good thing considering the economic times. The downside is that walking the floor Saturday was akin to traveling the Japanese subway system at the height of rush hour -- claustrophobic, somewhat violent, and not at all fun. There was no way to stop and look at anything without risking life and limb. I definitely felt for any wee ones who'd been shlepped along; they must have feared being stomped into wine by the throngs of fans. I didn't attend on Sunday, but from what I hear, it wasn't any better.

NYCC also took a big step into "huh?"- ville when they eliminated special seating for the press. As in, the press had to stand in the same, insane lines as everyone else to get into movie previews, panels, and other special events, with no guarantee of decent seating or placement. I asked one of the show runners why they made this change, and received some rambling explanation of, "this is a show for fans and we felt it was more egalitarian to give everyone equal access."

Ummmm, no.

If you invite the press, the going theory is that you want positive coverage, both for your show and for your partners from Hollywood, publishing, and other venues who have come to peddle their wares and garner publicity. By treating the press like everyone else, they lost the ability to even get into some panels, their photographers couldn't get into position to take decent pictures, and reporters were so disgruntled they just slammed the whole thing (like this). If the show is concerned about 'egalitarianism,' then limit the number of press passes and make sure the press section is moderate in size. Here's a thought: maybe not everyone who claims to have a blog should be awarded a press pass equal to that of MTV News. That would make a heckuva lot more sense, don't'cha think?

Also a disappointment - the special guests and events. In previous years, NYCC boasted appearances by Stephen King, Kevin Smith, nearly the entire cast of Battlestar Galactica, and many other luminaries from Hollywood and big publishing. World premiere trailers and clips from major movies and new television shows were de rigeur. This year, Comic Con lost their Guest of Honor about two weeks before the show (J. Michael Straczynski, who had to bail for an unexpected British Emmy award. Yeah, that makes no sense to me, either). They did manage to pull in Joss Whedon to promote Dollhouse, but only for an appearance on Sunday. As for other guests? Few to none, and nowhere near the status of a King or Stan Lee. When even the comic book luminaries can't be bothered to show up at your comic convention, there might be a big problem.

The coolest thing I saw was Dave Gibbons introducing a full 18 minutes of Watchmen, plus a bonus scene, and yes, it does look amazing. Other than that? We got clips from the new Friday the 13th (why?) and incomplete footage from Terminator 4 (why????). Oh, and they showed the premiere of the Wonder Woman animated movie which, while really enjoyable, included none of its stars. Instead, we got a quick pre-taped intro from Nathan Fillion. Yay?

Where was the Friday night airing of BSG in the big theater? Where was the latest Christmas episode of Dr. Who, not yet shown in the US? And, while I'm at it, where were the clear signs, directions, maps, or listings for the panels hidden in the bowels of the Javitz Center??!! I probably missed some of the cool stuff going on down in the pits there because I couldn't find it, and I doubt I'm alone in that. I only made it into one panel successfully - the one, not surprisingly, that they did grab the press out of line and plunk us into front-row seats. It was the Torchwood panel, which was listed incorrectly as a Dr. Who panel in the horribly unclear  and inaccurate guide provided in the official Comic Con guidebook. It was very enjoyable, mostly because Torchwood star Eve Myles (Gwen) is the most adorable thing I've ever seen. She was simply delighted that everyone liked her, her show, and her genuine Welch accent.

Overall, I have to give NY Comic Con 2009 a grade of C. Hopefully, when the show returns in October of 2010 - their new, apparently permanent month -- they'll have learned from the many mistakes of this year and provide their vast number of attendees with good reasons to brave the crowds. Already promising is that they will have the entire Javitz Center to themselves, thus spreading the wealth and reducing the terrifying congestion of the show floor.  

Current Mood: bitchy

12:26 pm - Realms of Fantasy - Very Sad

As reported by Ian Randal Strock in SFScope yesterday, one of the great genre magazine, Realms of Fantasy, is closing. This is a harsh blow to fans of great short fantasy, and Space and Time extends its regrets and best wishes to editors Laura Cleveland, Shawna McCarthy, Douglas Cohen, and the other dedicated folks at RoF. We also extend our sympathy to the authors and readers of RoF, who have lost another pro-level market, another source of top speculative fiction.

Not to be a total downer, but I doubt RoF will be the last giant to fall. The sad fact is that magazines owned by publishing conglomerates can be tremendously successful in terms of advertising and subscriptions -- to the rest of us -- but to a corporation comparing their sales figures to other, bigger, more generically commercial enterprises? Not so much. The definition of "success" is mighty subjective in the publishing business.

In any case, for fans AND authors of speculative short fiction who want the remaining markets to survive this economic crisis, here is the only advice I can offer: Subscribe. Buy off the shelf. Invest a few bucks. It doesn't have to be Space and Time, either (although I have a certain bias). Throw some cash at Fantasy & Science Fiction, Asimov's, Analog, Weird Tales, Fantasy Magazine, Cemetery Dance, etc. Go to Ralan, read through the list of options, and pick one or two with "your" kind of fiction.

It's all about the numbers. The art won't survive without 'em.

Current Mood: melancholy

09:39 pm - Arisia 2009: A Train Odyssey

This past weekend I attended the Arisia convention in Cambridge, MA. And guess what I learned?

I learned that electric trains break down in freezing temperatures. As in, they cease their helpful, forward locomotion and no amount of chanting, "I think I can, I think I can" will bring them back to life. As a result, my usual 5 hour jaunt from Jersey to Massachusetts took 12 hours, necessitated a transfer from one train to another in the middle of Nowhere, Connecticut, and resulted in missing the entirety of Friday at the Con. Grrrrrr!

However, from Saturday on, the weekend improved dramatically, mainly because Arisia is a whole lotta fun. I moderated a panel on Saturday about the changing genre magazine industry, participated on panels about crossing genres and the attraction of evil, and read one of my own short stories. I also attended the Masquerade, in which my daughter participated (she was the TARDIS from Dr. Who), one of the dances (80's flashback!), and a few of the many, MANY Saturday night parties. Oh, and I dropped in on some other folks' panels and readings as well.

The attendance at Arisia was impressive, especially considering the current economy. The hotel was full and hopping 'round the clock. While the elevators at the Hyatt Cambridge present a challenge (they can only handle about 8 full-grown adults at a go, or else they break down), the rest of the hotel is pretty perfect for a Con. The hotel staff actually likes Arisia and its fans. They go out of their way to make attendees feel welcome and to provide plenty of useful services. For example, they maintain a 24-hour food service in the lobby with reasonable prices. They also run the Sci-Fi channel in the bar throughout the entire weekend.

The convention itself is well-run and caters well to its attendees and guests. Registration is smooth and fairly quick. The Con Suite is well maintained and the Green Room is absolutely the best I've ever enjoyed. Take a look at that clip above - that's only half the table on the last day, and doesn't include the crock pots full of hot, homemade food like beef barley stew, Malaysian curry with veggies and tofu, fresh morning oatmeal, and much more. Kudos to the friendly Green Room staff!

This is a big party Con, with parties that appeal to pretty much any and all types of fans and their interests. Some are definitely NC-17 affairs, but there are plenty of simple shmooze-fests to balance them out. Panels also reflect a wide range of topics, everything from offering parenting advice to the science behind Heroes to a Dr. Horrible sing-a-long to the fundamentals of polyamory. There's definitely something for everyone at Arisia, and the diversity of attendees year after year attests to the Con's broad appeal. I recommend trying it out next Martin Luther King weekend - I think you'll have as much fun as I did.

Although, might I suggest driving?

Current Mood: tired

08:41 pm - Off to Arisia and Issue #106

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm off to Arisia in Cambridge, MA. tomorrow. I'm going to be on several panels throughout the weekend, at least one with Space and Time founder Gordon Linzner. If you're in the area, come on by -- Arisia is a fun convention and I'm always happy to meet folks.

As for Issue #106, it shipped out earlier this week, and so should be hitting shelves and mailboxes right around...now. Feel free to post in the comments your thoughts on the issue after it arrives - I'd love to hear what you think!

Stay warm out there.
 

Current Mood: cheerful

10:31 pm - Out with the old....

...and say hello to the new!

To those of you viewing this blog from the web site - welcome! For those who came here directly, hop on over to www.spaceandtimemagazine.com and check out the redesign. I'm eager to get your feedback and read your suggestions as to what you would like to see included on the site.

The site will expand and unique content will be added that complements the print magazine, so please visit often and participate in our evolution.

FYI, the editorial staff is very nearly finished going through all the submissions from our recent reading period. If you have not received either an acceptance or rejection by now and would like to check on the status of your submission, please feel free to contact me at hildy@spaceandtimemagazine.com.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Current Mood: accomplished

12:22 pm - Happy Chrismukwaaneidwalistice

I think I got 'em all in there.

Anyway, just a quick post to wish everyone a very happy and healthy whatever-the-season-means-to-you. Oh, and to  remind you (oh-so-subtly) that subscriptions to a great magazine make wonderful, economical gifts that keep on giving throughout the New Year.

Here's to ya!

Current Mood: happy

10:00 am - Reading Period Is Over...

...but that doesn't mean all the acceptances/rejections have gone out yet, so don't panic if you haven't heard from Gerard. Our associate editors are batting clean up on the remaining submissions, so final reviews and decisions will probably be going on for at least the rest of the month. I have to say, I'm very pleased with the overall quality and quantity of submissions during this last window. We've taken some great stuff from pros and newbies alike, and I can't wait to share them all with you folks in upcoming issues.

For those of you that HAVE received notices of acceptance, I will be sending out contracts soon. My plan is to get them all out by the end of December.

As for when we'll open to submissions again, well, I have to tally up the final inventory from this round before that can be determined. It's probably going to be awhile, because there were a lot of goodies to buy up and we are pretty well stocked for all of 2009. As always, I'll put out an announcement as to when we reopen to submissions, on the web site and to the usual venues (Ralan, GilaQueen, etc.).

In the meantime, Issue #106 will be coming out in January, kicking off our 2009 cycle. It's got some weird and wonderful treats for fans, so please check it out!

Current Mood: pleased

10:57 pm - Post-Philcon and SFWA Party

Happy Thanksgiving, all!

This past week was made of crazy. First off was Philcon, for which, of course, I got a nasty cold. The cold decided, "Hey, she's not inconvenienced enough, so I'll just take up residence in her vocal cords. Ha!" So from Saturday evening on, I had laryngitis -- not too convenient with two panels awaiting moderation on Sunday. I managed to rasp my way through the first one (I did a lot of pointing at the other guests) and Gordon Linzner acted as my voice on the second (I passed him notes).

On the plus side, my kidlet, hubby, and I all still had a lot of fun. Yes, I know folks are cranky about the new venue (Cherry Hill), but I thought the space worked well for the convention -- elevators were relatively quick, the hotel staff was responsive, the rooms for panels and events were pretty well grouped, and the guest rooms were comfy and quiet at night. On the negative side, the restaurant didn't serve the finest cuisine, and because of the location, strolling out to another restaurant wasn't terribly convenient. Travel was also apparently an issue for folks using public transportation (we're in NJ, so we just drove -- about an hour plus away).

Anyway, I had a nice lunch with Allegory publisher Ty Drago, partied with the SFWA folks, and attended/moderated panels with excellent attendance, including the Space and Time panel. Poor Ty is still scratching his head as to why he was included on that panel (as am I), but we made it work.

Monday night was the annual SFWA gathering in NYC known affectionately as the "Mill 'n' Swill." It didn't seem as crowded this year as others, but there were still quite a few folks clustered about. I had a wee bit more voice back by then, but still sounded like an adolescent boy, so I couldn't network quite as much as I would've liked. Still, just the thrill of  being in the same room as luminaries such as Joe Haldeman, Norman Spinrad, A.C. Crispin, and so many others made the trip into the city totally worthwhile.

Today was a peaceful day of turkey and fixings with the family. I hope everyone else out there enjoyed a happy and healthy (and filling!) day as well. I'm so thankful for everyone who has/continues to support the magazine and me. Best wishes to you all!

Current Mood: thankful

08:16 pm - Cherry PHillcon this week!

After a sad weekend trip (rest in peace, (Sheri/Tia), I'm looking forward to a good time next weekend at Philcon. Philcon is in Cherry Hill this year (hence my name mash-up above) and I am looking forward to hanging out with all my con buddies. I'm going to be an even busier bee than usual at cons, since I'm a PSFS member and part of the Literary Programming committee, as well as a guest -- I'm co-hosting the SF Quiz Show Friday night, sitting on four panels on Saturday and two on Sunday. One on Saturday is a Space and Time panel, so if you're attending the convention, please drop in and meet some of the editorial staff, including our founder Gordon Linzner.

For more info, visit www.philcon.org.

As for Issue #106, I've started sending the stories and artwork off to Kathryn Freeman for layout. Here's a teaser to whet your appetite: our lead story is a brand spanking new tale from Norman Spinrad. Not too shabby, eh?

Current Mood: busy

09:38 am - Back Cover of Space and Time: J-F-M Issue #106

Current Mood: busy

02:21 pm - General thought on current subs

This is a quick entry as I get ready to head to Florida with the family for a week. Gerard has been forwarding stories in the final stages of consideration to me and, after reading about 20 of them, I can't help but share the following, general thought.

If you are submitting to a magazine, a book publisher, or online publication, wouldn't you, oh, I don't know, PROOFREAD YOUR WORK FIRST? Honest to Heloise, campers, you'd be floored by how many stories are just riddled with typos, spelling, and grammatical errors. And I don't even mean little boo-boos, but big ol' mistakes that a simple read-through should have caught. I've rejected at least two stories that were right on the bubble of being accepted, simply because the authors apparently didn't care enough to proof their work before submitting. Why should I choose their work over the many others who bothered to both craft a great story and make sure it is error-free? Hell, one guy had to type his story in prison, and HE bothered to submit a flawless manuscript. If he can find time between breaking rocks to proofread, then why can't others?

That's it for now. Hope y'all have a happy first week of November!

Current Mood: annoyed

10:15 am - RE: Capclave, ho!

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm heading down to Capclave for the weekend (www.capclave.org). I'm going to be speaking on some panels Saturday and Sunday, catching up with con buddies ::waves to several LJ friends:: and promoting Space and Time. Please say "hi" if you're there and I already know you, or "pleased to meetcha" if you're there and I don't. Also, make sure you stop by Darrell Schweitzer's table or Danielle Ackley-McPhail's if you need an issue. I'm shlepping several as well, so feel free to buy direct.

Current Mood: crazy