Here · There · be · Typos

I woke up feeling nauseous (no, I am not pregnant; yes, I am sure). It was weird and unpleasant but I figured it would pass. It didn't. It got steadily worse in queasy waves as I went through my morning routine. By the time I boarded the tram for work, it was pretty bad, but I still held high hopes it would all just go away. Then, when I was around three tramstops away from my workplace, it really kicked in. In a split second, I was drenched with sweat, my head was spinning, and I needed to throw up, immediately. I struggled through a thick crowd of blank-faced unmoving people, and made it to the bottom step of the tram before...fainting. I fell unconscious from the bottom step of the tram to the concrete at the tramstop. I was only out for a couple of seconds, and when I came to, I still couldn't control my body (I'd landed - hard - on my butt and then collapsed onto my back). I lay on the concrete flopping around like a fish out of water, disorientated and in pain, moaning, and everyone just stared at me.

A tram full of people, and d'you think even one of them reached out for me as I fell off the tram? Nope. Did any of them disembark to check if I was alright? Nuh-uh. Did even one person so much as ask "are you ok"? You guessed it - no. They. Just. Stared. I'd understand if I was a dubious looking individual, but honestly, I look about as harmless as one person can. I was in my work clothes, clearly headed for a day at the office, and I was clearly ill, not drunk or high or crazy.

Then the tram pulled away, and, as the commuters aboard it craned their necks to stare at me some more, and as the passing motorists did the same, and as scores of people walked past me, I vomited over and over again whilst still grovelling and moaning on the concrete of the tram stop in the middle of a busy road.

Eventually it was all over and I struggled to my feet and staggered the remaining couple of blocks to my workplace. (It was gastro - again. My family has had a bad run with that lately.)

What is wrong with people?! If I'd seen something like that happening to someone, I'd at least go over to them and ask if they were alright. If someone passed out getting off the tram and I was near them, I would automatically, as a freaking reflex action, reach out for them, grab them, try to save them from their fall. And then I wouldn't just stand on the tram gawking at them, I'd disembark (there will always be another tram coming by in a few minutes, it's not going to destroy my day to take that long to check on the wellbeing of another human being) and try to help them.

But noooooo. The good people of Melbourne just gawked and moved on, leaving me to die, for all they knew.

So thank you, fellow Melbournites. You suck. The worst thing about that hideous experience was not the illness itself, it was the sheer soul destroying humiliation and the total coldness of humanity. Like Ralph in Lord of the Flies, I weep for the blackness of man's heart.

Current Mood:

distressed

Well done to the Sinister Reads crew for their ongoing support and encouragement of Aussie writers, artists, editors, publishers, and the kitchen sink.

Current Mood:

contemplative

You can also pick up the anthology in print from Amazon (and other places, I'm sure, it's just quick and easy for me to do one link!).

Current Mood:

sick

Heaps of reviews and other stuff as always. Here's the TOC:

Editorial:

It's a load of science fiction! by Stephen Thompson

Features:

Conflux 6 by Alan Baxter
The stars my destination by Stephen Thompson

Writing and Publishing:

A Few Badman (things) by Damien Kane
Hero's Journey: Threshold Guardians by Stephen Turner
Writing: the Malaysian experience by Yusuf Martin

Fiction:

Serial: Melvin the Bomoh by Yusuf Martin
Words in white by RJ Astruc

Up and Coming:

Allen & Unwin by Astrid Cooper
Ford Street Publishing by Astrid Cooper
Hachette Livre by Astrid Cooper
HarperCollins by Astrid Cooper

Book Reviews:

Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror Volume 3 (Angela Challis, ed) reviewed by Felicity Dowker
Black Cathedral by LH Maynard and MPN Sims reviewed by Bobbi Sinha-Morey
Halfhead by Stuart B MacBride reviewed by Ian Banks
Heart's Blood by Juliet Marillier reviewed by Carol Neist
Immortal Outlaw by Lisa Hendrix reviewed by Bobbi Sinha-Morey
Midnight Echo Issues 1 and 2 (Cummings and Challis, eds) reviewed by Damien Smith
Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle reviewed by Bobbi Sinha-Morey
Shadow Box 2 edited by Shane Jiraiya Cummings reviewed by Ross Murray
Shards by Shane Jiraiya Cummings reviewed by Felicity Dowker
Slice of Life by Paul Haines reviewed by Felicity Dowker
State of Emergency by Sam Fisher reviewed by Amanda Greenslade
Subversive Activity by Dave Luckett reviewed by Carol Neist
The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong reviewed by Bobbi Sinha-Morey
The Poison Throne by Celine Kiernan reviewed by Helen Venn
The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall reviewed by Felicity Dowker
The Road to Camelot (Sophie Masson, ed) reviewed by Carol Neist
The Routledge Companion to Science Fiction (Bold, Butler, Roberts and Vint, eds) reviewed by Ross Murray
Under the Dome by Stephen King reviewed by Rocky Wood
Windfollower by Carole McDonnell reviewed by Carol Neist

And I seem to have received a couple of nice review mentions for one of my pieces in the flash horror anthology 52 Stitches, at the Book Smugglers and on Amazon. Quick extract:-

Finally, in “The Homeless Situation” by Felicity Dowker, we see a future where human empathy is a disease, and the homeless litter the streets. Of all the stories in Fifty-Two Stitches, this was probably my favorite. I’m a sucker for dystopian stories, and “The Homeless Situation” puts a terrifying new spin on a dreary future.

Current Mood:

tired

It was ridiculously great fun, the best possible way to spend Halloween (I mean, really...could there be any better Halloween pasttime than chatting with Clive Barker?!). Some fabulous questions were asked and Clive was, of course, brilliant. Some of his answers were like wonderful little stories in their own right.

Ah. Lovely. Thanks, Clive.

Current Mood:

pleased

Please note that the AHWA members chat event with Clive Barker will take place at 1pm - 2pm AEST (not noon - 1pm AEST as previously advertised). 

No change to the day or anything else (it'll still be Saturday 31st October, Halloween), just that one hour shift forward in time.

Again: the chat event will take place Saturday 31st October from 1pm to 2pm AEST.

Please pass this onto your networks.

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anxious

Date: Saturday, 31st October (Halloween)

Time: Noon to 1pm (AEST)

Venue: AHWA Member’s Chat Room

Clive is the author of The Books of Blood, The Hellbound Heart, the Books of the Art, Imajica, the Abarat Quintet, and Mister B Gone, amongst many others. Clive has written, directed, and produced numerous movies including Hellraiser, Nightbreed, Candyman, and Midnight Meat Train. Clive is an accomplished visual artist, known for his spectacular paintings and photography. Not restricted to any one medium, Clive has also turned his formidable talent toward comic books and computer games. To explore Clive’s work and philosophy, please visit his official site Revelations.

If you are a member and you wish to participate, please RSVP to ahwa@australianhorror.com.

Members can join in the chat simply by logging into the members area of the AHWA site and from there accessing the member chatroom. (Please note that the chatroom is currently being upgraded, so don't panic if you see odd things there within the next day or so. Everything will be up and running shortly. We recommend that all members planning to take part familiarise themselves with the chatroom before the actual event.)  The chat will be moderated to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible, and every effort will be made to ensure as many members as possible get their chance to ask Clive a question.

If you're not yet an AHWA member, but don't want to miss out on this once in a lifetime event, please visit the Membership section of the AHWA site.

Queries can be directed to the AHWA chatroom manager...me. (felicitydowker at hotmail dot com).

Come and chat with Clive...if you dare.

Current Mood:

excited

paulhaines

You can get yourself a copy here. All proceeds go towards helping Paul battle cancer.

Current Mood:

cranky

...but in actual fact, it was just a really dumbass article where the sexuality of those involved seemed to have little to nothing to do with the non-point of the piece. 

And Cat had nothing to do with it.

Or did she...

Current Mood:

silly

The AHWA and 'Nameless' competition director Stephen Studach are thrilled to announce that the `Nameless' competition will be judged by multi-award winning master of dark fiction Ramsey Campbell.

In honour of Mr. Campbell's involvement, the competition's deadline has been extended to the 13th of March, 2010.

Read the story here. Come up with a conclusion and a title! Make your $10 donation and enter the competition here.

Competition prizes include a $500 winner's cheque, and a prize pool of horror goodies:

• A manuscript version of the story signed by as many of the writers involved as can be tracked down.
• A copy of The Australian Writer's Marketplace 2009/2010.
• A copy of The Year's Best Fantasy & Horror 19th annual collection (edited by Datlow, Link & Grant.)
• Free 1-year membership, or 12-month renewal, to the Australian Horror Writers Association.
• Books: Signed limited editions – Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge; Wild Things by Douglas Clegg; Prodigal Blues by Gary A. Braunbeck.
• A boost to any personal horror library – Development Hell by Mick Garris; Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill; Infected by Scott Sigler; The Nature of Balance by Tim Lebbon; The Dark Descent edited by David G. Hartwell; a pre-loved copy of The Books of Blood (vols 1-3) from Marty Young's own collection.
• A first edition of The Last Days of Kali Yuga, Paul Haines' forthcoming collection of stories; published to impeccable standards by Brimstone Press, and slated for release in December 2009.

The six best endings will be featured at HorrorScope - The Australian Dark Fiction Weblog.

All proceeds from this competition go to award-winning author Paul Haines, to assist Paul and the Haines family, while Paul undergoes treatment for cancer.

That's a massive prize pool of cash, books and kudos, the chance to help the very worthy and wonderful Paul Haines, and the chance to have your work judged by Ramsey Campbell.

Have you entered yet?

If not, are you nuts?

Go to it!

Current Mood:

shocked

I took hundreds of photos (about 180, to be precise), as well as some video footage of the awesome Ninjaz With Attitude.  I'll post some of my papparazzi productiveness tomorrow, with a link to the bits I don't post here.  All the people I promised photos to: I'll email them to you tomorrow.

In short: wine, wine, wine, books, books, books, great fun, great people, great wisdom, oodles of business mixed with extreme pleasure.  I am a very happy camper.

And now, to reacquaint myself with that wonderful thing called sleep...

Current Mood:

ecstatic

Oh, and I should probably post about the panel I'm on:-

Sunday 4th October at 10am in Room E: Publishing Options Panel

There are a variety of publishing options today. Come and hear about traditional publishing, POD, e-books, and self-publishing.

Felicity Dowker

Alan Baxter

Jim Minz

Current Mood:

excited

However, I've seen "single spaces after periods please" in very few publication guidelines, and I've never had an editor comment on my use of double spaces, so I'm wary of changing my habits if there's little reason to (and if it's likely to result in editors gnashing their teeth and asking me why the hell I'm using single spaces where double spaces should live and flourish).  If, however, I'm simply behind the times on this one, I'd like to know so I can adapt accordingly.

Consensus?

(Yes, this is boring, but essential knowledge.)

Current Mood:

confused

mikandra

jasonfischer

And Midnight Echo #3 is coming. The usual excellent artwork produced by the official magazine of the Australian Horror Writers Association can be seen in the promo:-

Current Mood:

contemplative

Well, s'ok.  I did 5,000 words in one sitting last week.  I'll just have to do that all over again.  Some weeks the day job just sucks the life out of me and there's nothing left over to contribute to my writing at the end of the working day.  I'm coming to peace with that and I've worked out ways to compensate (like, er, marathon weekend writing binges).  Instead of sleeping in one day per weekend, I've been writing in.  Much more productive.

And, damn, but I've got me some fabulous beta readers! Great constructive comments and suggestions, and boundless enthusiasm that spurs me on.  /grateful

I can't believe I'm almost at the halfway mark of the first draft now.  It's like jumping off a cliff: taking the initial leap is a huge decision and indescribably difficult, but once you've jumped...falling? That's easy.  In fact, you've got no choice.

Current Mood:

tired