Fantasy Matters Post

So, a bit of a report on Fantasy Matters. Fantasy Matters started on Friday. Lucky preregistrants could participate in a cool tour of the world's largest children's literature collection at the University of Minnesota. Buried 60 miles underground (no kidding!) the collection contains original art, manuscripts, and correspondence of countless authors, rare books and dime novels, toys, an amazing wealth of information. And, you can play with it. I intend to do some serious folklore research there during the time of writing Gossamer and Viridian. It was wonderful.

The conference was full of interesting authors and academics. I had a wonderful organic conversation with 5 women at the opening reception, and it was so much fun to attend each other's papers throughout the event. There was much discussion of all fantasy mediums: books, tales, movies, comics. I was pleased that there was no hierarchy or snobbery about "superior fantasy."

One event that stands out was a reading by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu of her new novel The Shadow Speaker where African folklore meets science fiction. Smart, wonderful writing. I bought both her books. pegkerr read wonderfully from her fiction and presented a fine paper on the many types of hearts in the literature. I met new authors, among them blackaire and jackiekessler.

Jack Zipes spoke on the co-opting of faerie tales into a commercial capitalist agenda. Cool. Changeling players, hold on to your glamour and fight banality, that's all I'm saying. And we heard Neil Gaiman read from his new piece Graveyard Tales which isn't out yet. Yes, I know you're jealous. It is wonderful, by the way, Gaiman at his best, a set of short stories emulating Kipling's Jungle Book. Be more jealous, sure.

While I wasn't at the conference, amabaku and Kim, and had a great time eating much too much and talking. All very fun and good. My only complaint? I didn't have Bryon along, and I had to drive a lot.

I would plug Fantasy Matters, especially to those of you who like Wiscon. It's not as fannish, it's more academic, but it's also a good chance to hear readings and talk with all sorts of fantasy writers and scholars on a mortal plain.

Sister Night Sister Moon Submission Failure

Well...

Tried to send Sister Night, Sister Moon to Drollerie Press, but their submission address and their webmaster address do not work. Any intelligence out there?

SNSM may have to wait for the Polyphony submission only...

Catherine

ETA: I found their live journal address, and their address there seems to not bounce. That address is

editor @ drolleriepress. com

So, that's off. One more submission to send out for it in December.

ETA: Received rejection from Tamar Ellen Rydzinski of Laura Dail. Just keeping track.

Thanksgiving

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving break.

In general, as this is my writing journal, I keep most of the personal details of life out of these entries, but I wanted to thank all my fellow writers, editors, and readers for their support during this time. It's been good meeting all of you.

Also, to my long time friends who are reading here, thank you for coming on this journey with me. Your presence, your hand holding, is much appreciated.

I feel very fortunate and lucky with my whole life--always grateful for my husband and my chosen family, happy with a day job that allows me growth and intellectual stimulation, pleased that I am finally chasing down a life long dream of writing. It's been a good year on the whole, and I am grateful. I have almost signed my first book contract, and I have an open invitation to resubmit Substance. Grateful indeed.

I hope your all have wonderful breaks with your family and friends. We're scheduled for two dinners. Some winterizing and Christmas decorating will occur. I will begin Substance for the time conscious.

Take care and enjoy the love and closeness of this time of year.

And yes, I do get sappy like this from time to time. There you have it.

Catherine