Convicts, conferences and… other things that don’t start with “con”

So many things! First and foremost, at long last I can announce that my alternate history convict short story “These Rebellious Hussies” is forthcoming in Other Covenants. Edited by Mark Shainblum and Andrea D. Lobel and published by ChiZine Publications, this is a volume of Jewish alternate history. The line-up is pretty gob-smacking, and some hyperventilating might have been involved when I saw it. Publication is slated for May 2020, but it’s up for Amazon preorders.

Also announced today is the GenreCon program. It runs 22-24 November in Brisbane, and is a conference that encourages wonderful cross-pollination between writers of speculative fiction, romance, crime, and other genres. The theme this year is “thrive in your genre”, and I’m thrilled to be on two panels (“Love in Strange Worlds” and “Overcoming the Monster”). I’m also running a seminar, “Writes and Rituals”, about religion and ritual in fiction, and how ritual can be useful to writers in their own practice. Tickets are available now, including discounted early bird tickets that won’t last long.

I’m also the publicity manager for the forthcoming CSFG anthology, Unnatural Order. Edited by Alis Franklin and Lyss Wickramasinghe, it will be a wonderful book by Australian citizen and resident authors about monsters and the monstrous. Our Kickstarter campaign is full of some great goodies that are selling like hot cakes, so hurry over to check that out. And submissions to the anthology are open until 31 October (again, Australian citizen and resident authors only; read the guidelines, kids!).

Last but not least, the very delightful and talented Bruria Hammer recently pointed her camera at me and made magic happen. My new author picture is over on my About page. If you’re in Sydney and need a photographer, book her.