I had a letter the other day. It said that a certain National institution didn’t have a copy of one of my books, and, whereas they were charged with having copies of every professional item written by a kiwi, they felt the lack here. I’ve sent them a copy to fill their gap – but …
March 2012 archive
HAVE YOU OVERLOOKED – PAT FRANK?
“Pat Frank” was the lifelong nickname adopted by the American writer, newspaperman, and government consultant, Harry Hart Frank (born in Chicago May 5, 1908 and died October 12, 1964 in Jacksonville, Florida, age 57, of acute pancreatitis. However he packed a lot into his 57 years. Frank spent years as a journalist and information handler …
Cowboys and Aliens (novelization) by Joan D. Vinge.
paperback published by TOR Books, August 2011. This book was another not bought, but, in this case, given to me. The author very kindly sent me a copy and I put it aside for a couple of weeks until I could read it in one uninterrupted sitting. Which I did, becoming so engrossed by halfway …
New Book Out
author copies have just arrived this week for WHERE THERE’S SMOKE:The Fire That Changed the Law. This is the book that my friend and collaborator Linnette Horne and I have spent several years researching and writing. It covers four fires that occurred in Wellington over the four years from 1967 to 1971, one of which …
CRAZY by William Peter Blatty
paperback from TOR Books, published October 2011. Another book where i didn’t just stroll into the bookshop and buy it. This one was a gift from my TOR editor (Jim Frenkel) who kindly sent me a copy when I said I’d really like to read it. (having seen the blurb elsewhere.) And basically if you …
Thinking of David Gerrold
A friend is about to do a review for the DG Awards, and it reminded me that he was at a convention here in New Zealand quite a few years back now. He was a man who adored a good joke, and while at the convention he told me the following one – A kiwi …
And another one (doesn’t) bite the Dust
Yup, Penumbra emagazine has taken THE DOMEN for their May issue. And I’m delighted about it for two reasons. The other – apart from a good sale to a well-done site – is that as a member of the (International) Cat Writer’s Association time was getting short for me to have a published specifically-cat story, …
Dating SF
I’ve been rereading several SF books that were originally published in the 1980s, and ran into a problem for writers of SF who are using the background of our own earth but setting the book in the future. This one gives a time-line at the start of the book. 1969: Neil Armstrong sets foot on …
Attack of the Flash Fiction
I have no idea where/if I’ll sell these, no idea how many my subconscious is planning, and no idea what started it. But last week I was seized by a flash fiction story, you know, the sort that run around 800-950. I wrote it, revised, spellchecked etc. and filed, before turning to write several letters …
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Maybe it’s the Season for it
20 March 2012
Or it’s SOMETHING anyway. Yesterday the country was advised that a second weather bomb was approaching. batten down the hatches, move the livestock, tie down the hens, and prepare to be blown or washed away. Now I’m a realist. I’d rather look a fool preparing, than be a fool by not preparing. So yesterday my …
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