Susan Forest

One of the highlights for me of World Fantasy this year was running into R Scott Bakker, whom I hadn’t seen for several years. We had a great conversation, late into the night. Also, my reading was well attended by about 15 people, which really surprised me. Also, got my copy of Among Others signed by Jo Walton. The art show was small, but high quality. Good friends, good restaurants, Edge book launch!

Where do I start to rave about When Words Collide? Our numbers were up–over 400 attendees. The Keynotes were inspiring, especially Adrienne Kerr’s and Anthony Bidulka’s. Personally, I sold 4 paintings, read at my own reading, two book launches (and had a new story come out in OnSpec) and IFWA’s Bedtime Stories, attended a really well-run Aurora Awards banquet (I didn’t win for best short story, but congratulations to Suzanne Church, who did! Woot!) and some really fun parties. AND, I launched my first collection! But of course, the best part, as always, was the incredible energy of the participants from so many different genres of writing. And exhausting, but very satisfying weekend.

The cover art for Immunity to Strange Tales, my collection coming out from Five Rivers Chapmanry Press in August is done. I love it!

So, now I have galleys for Immunity to Strange Tales! I’ve seen the introduction by Mark Leslie, the cover art, the font–it’s getting really exciting! The launch is in August at When Words Collide.

Final proof edits for Technicolor Ultra Mall were approved by the author and sent in to Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing yesterday, and they will finish the layout this weekend. Launch in the fall. Very exciting! Also, I finally bought paint, canvases and brushes and have completed two paintings, and am half way through the third. Plus, I have an idea for another short story–will likely get to that tomorrow when it rains.

What a great evening! Frontenac House puts on a classy book launch party. I was able to go hear my good friend, Bob Stallworthy read some of his poetry, which I love (and he reads it so well), but I also heard Richard Harrison for the first time, and he was awesome, too. I even bought his book–it’s been a while since I read poetry, but after last night, I am inspired to learn from my poet colleagues again.

Which, of course, is the whole point of the weekend. I was able to approach Jim Minz and remind him of a favorable rejection he gave me on a previous novel and he invited me to submit my new novel to Baen, which I will do post-haste. Wish me luck, everyone!

Susan

P.S. My reading from “The Director’s Cut” from Tesseracts Fourteen at the Edge Launch went very well; we also had readings from Jemma, Rigor Amortis and Evolve. And, there was chocolate!

Of course, my plane left half an hour late from Calgary, so the hour and a half I was supposed to have to transfer planes in Toronto became only an hour, so I was running madly to get my bag, get through customs (interrupted by multiple airline agents saying, “sorry, this customer has to bump you because he has a connection”) and run several really long corridors to get to the right gate. A lady was standing there saying, “Are you on this flight?” and I called out “Yes!” and she said “Get on!” So I slip into my seat — the last empty one on the plane — as the stewardess is going over the drill, and wondering . . . will my suitcase make it?

Then, looking out the window, I see a guy driving a little electric cart over — with my red suitcase on it. But I think, “the propellors are going — how can he load it on the plane?” And then I see him trot around the wing, my suitcase on his shoulder, and hear a clunk at the back of the plane. So yes, I got here, and so did my luggage!

Met up with old friends and met new ones. Panels are interesting, parties are good. Will read a little from Tess 14 on Saturday at Edge’s launch, AND I get to wear my Aurora pin on my badge. Post more soon!

Just finished re-reading and tweaking Chapter 17 yesterday – Chapter 18 today. I’m happy with the way it’s going! Oh, and I put two submissions (short fiction) in the mail this week! Yay! Plus, I had the opportunity to read a selection from “The Director’s Cut” at Pages Books on Wednesday night as part of a joint Tesseracts 14 / Rigor Amortis launch. It was fun, and we had 42 people present!

The past week has been excellent! Let me see if I can remember ALL the fantastic things that happened! First off, the writers’ workshop with David B. Coe as our guest author was amazing! I was very fortunate to be his host and billet during the workshop, and so as we drove back and forth to various workshop and social events, I was able to have some very enlightening and stimulating discussions about writing and the business with him. The workshop itself was very informative, as we discussed a number of topics as well as doing our critiques. And, I got some good ideas for further working and marketing my short story.On his Facebook page, David wrote: “Great workshop. I had a wonderful time, and was blown away by the level of work I read and the level of professionalism I encountered. Thanks!”

The workshop was followed by ConVersion, which, for all its shortcomings (such as having no idea when or where any of the panels were occurring — including absolutely no mention of the big musical production I was involved in — communication was an issue) was very profitable on a number of fronts. The Monster Mash, our musical, was a big hit in spite of its time being switched multitple times right up to the day of performance (we were lucky all the actors got there on time). I got to sing a song and I played the villain, which is always fun.

The literary programming was run by IFWA, and as such, was very successful. Panels had interesting presenters, were well attended, and took the various topics to new places for most people. I was able to do a panel, judge the Robin Herrington Short Story Contest and do three separate readings, which all went well (and I got some nice compliments!). I attended a number of entertaining functions tool, such as having the opportunity to hear wonderful stories at Bedtime Stories with IFWA, Writers’ Idol and launches for Rigor Amortis and Edge Press’s Tesseracts 14, as well as improvisation by the hilarious 404s.

One really special highlight was my opportunity to receive my Aurora Pin as a finalist for my short story, “Back” in Analog. It is a gorgeous pin, and part of a limited edition just for winners and finalists. Very special!

And naturally, I also had opportunities to buy books (and get autographs!), t-shirts and art, network with authors, editors and publishers, and make connections for future writing opportunities. Very exciting! And on top of ALL THAT, I got to spend big chunks of my weekend with my two daughters, who also took in parts of the convention (one performed in the play with me and the other attended panels with me!). AND both my daughters received publishing credits for artwork they did for the 2010 In Places Between chapbook!

My husband took care of the home front (he is to die for!) and we even got to spend a fun afternoon together today getting out of the city on his motorcycle. AND, my oldest daughter was able to skype me from England to say her interview for her application for her doctorate program went well!

All in all, I feel like about the luckiest person on the planet, right now.