Aurealis Awards, here I come ...

This is me with Jack Dann at the Aurealis Awards last year (January 1009).

I had to present one of the categories, which I've done before, butI'm always a little nervous because I don't want to get anything wrong. One year I opened the winner's envelope and it was two people as joint winners. The way it was laid out I couldn't tell which first name went with which last name and I have a terrible moment, where I had to madly scramble to remember the five short listed authors and put the names together.

Last year Richard won an award. When he'd asked me to give his acceptance speech, he told me he was 99% sure he wouldn't win, so I wasn't mentally prepared but I bumbled through. Richard's speech won a few laughs.

This time Tansy has asked me to do her acceptance speech if she wins in the fantasy short story section, so I'm prepared. Siren Beat from Twelfth Planet Press.

The Aurealis Awards are a chance for everyone in the Spec Fic world to put on their glad rags, quaff champagne and mingle. Kudos to the Fantastic Queensland team for the great job they've done organising the award these last five years. And congratulations to all the short listed authors and their editors.

Aurealis Awards coming up!

The AAs, as they are known for short, are Australia's Spec Fic Awards and this year I'll be going to cheer for fellow RORer, Tansy Rayner Roberts. I wouldn't miss the chance to wear a little black dress and drink champagne while catching up with everyone in the Spec fic world from across Australia!


The ROR team will be cheering for our Tansy. Her 'Siren Beat, published by Twelth Planet Press is a finalist in the Best Fantasy Short Story section.

Tansy also has a shorlisting in the YA short story section with her Shiny #5 story, 'Like Us'.

Peter M Ball must be tap dacing on the ceiling with three shortlistings in two sections. And Sean Williams (ever the bridesmaid never the bride) is shortlisted twice for the 20th (?) time. Maybe this year he'll win.

But, as Sean will tell you, it is just a buzz to be shortlisted. The Aurealis Awards were established in 1995 and they are peer judged. Having served 5 years as a volunteer, I know it is a big job that requires dedication from the volunteers who read the entries and agonise over the shortlisting, and from those who coordinate the process and the gala ceremony.

Best of luck to everyone whose work has been shortlisted and many thanks to the AA team. See you there on the 23rd of January. Tickets available from the Judith Wright Centre Boxoffice and Pulp Fiction Books, Brisbane.

Pulp Fiction

Shop 28 Anzac Square Arcade, 267 Edward St
Phone: 3236 2750
Email: pulpfiction@compuserve.com

The Road to Publication

Marianne, Belinda and Rowena at the book signing table, at the Logan North Library.

Trent, Marianne, myself, Louise Cusack, Kylie Chan and Andrew Warrilow were on a panel today about the Road to Publication and what happens after. Thanks to everyone who came along and caught up with us.

The panel topic ties in with our recent posts on First Sales. Having been on these kind of panels before, I noticed there are recurring questions. So I thought I'd answer them over several posts.

How do I polish the craft of writing? Which leads to ... How do I know when my book is ready to send out?

Join a writing group that is specific to your genre. For instance Vision writers. Either on-line or in person (which is better), you can learn to critique in a supportive environment. Critiquing other people's work is really useful to help hone your analytical skills.

Attend as many workshops as you can, to polish your craft and meet other writers. See the QLD Wrtiers Centre workshop program, or the writers centre in your state.

Read books on writing. I always recommend Ursula K Le Guin's 'Steering the Craft of Writing' specifically for its chapter on Point of View. Many beginning writers have trouble with this.

Read widely in the genre, as well as doing your research. Read the books that are being short listed for awards. Aurealis Award, Australia. The Hugos and the Nebulas in the US.

And,when you finish your first book, put it away for a while and write another. You'll learn so much, you'll be glad you didn't send your first book out before you could rework it.

Then have your book assessed by a manuscript assessor who knows your genre. Ask your writing friends if they've used an assessor they can recommend. Take a look at the Australian Writers Market Place, produced by the QLD Writers Centre. You'll find, ms assessors, agents, competitions and publishers.

Next time I'll look at How do I know which publisher to send my book to? and How do I get my book in front of a publisher or agent?

Richard still partying!

Hi!

Can't believe that the WOLF KINGDOM quartet won the Childrens/Illustrated Fiction Category at the Aurealis Awards. Wow! I was so sure I didn't have a chance. I didn't fully believe it when Lee Battersby sent me a humorous sort of congratulations on the night - I thought it was maybe more humour than fact. It was only the next morning, yesterday, when other emails came through and I knew it was true.

Now I wish I'd come up for the ceremony - not so much for the ceremony itself, by all accounts Rowena did at least as good an acceptance as I could've done myself. But I', sorry I missed the party afterwards - all the good vibes. It's a great event they put on, and I'd have attended without hoping to win, except for the overload of work I was under (uni teaching, proofreading WORLDSHAKER, stories promised by deadlines - everything landed on me at the same time).

Anyway, I have to say it feels great to be an award winner. I've won 4 Aurealises before, but this was the sweetest of all, because it was totally out-of-the-blue. And I'm so glad Laura Peterson, my wonderful illustrator, also received an award. I was so lucky to have her working on the books - and she was out-of-the-blue too, a relatively unknown talent needing and deserving recognition.

I've been doing some judging myself lately, for the NSW Premiers Literary Awards - that's the other job that's used up all my time. The experience confirmed past experiences - that judges on panels take thir role very very seriously and really work hard to set aside all prejudices. No favours, no account of reputations, just the quality of this particular book. I can't give the shortlist or winner, of course - I'm not even mentioning the category. But all 3 of us did our very best to be open-minded. As when I did judging for the Aurealises, 5, 6 years ago, I ended up with real admiration for my fellow-judges. Not everyone will agree with our decisions, we didn't always agree among ourselves - but we talked everything out, recognised our own limitations and tried to go beyond them. Three cheers for human nature!

I was going to blog yesterday, but I was too busy celebrating. Today I'm feeling a little seedy. But when I get over the seediness, I'll be back on a high. It's great to receive recognition from the spec fic community - from people whose opinions I specially value.

Cheers
Richard

PS Isn't it amazing how well the spec fic community does awards? I mean, compared to any other genres. Nebulas, Hugos, World Fantasy (as won by our very own Margo) - we're just GOOD at it! And the Aurealises keep going from strength to strength - they've done so much to raise the profile of SF & Fantasy & Horror in Australia.

WHoooHoo!

Trent & yours truly at the ceremony.

Well, I'm back from the Aurealis Awards. What a great night. The AA team did a wonderful job. Glitz Glam and Fun.

When Richard sent me his speech, he said he was 99% sure he and Laura wouldn't win best children's picture book. And what happens? They win!

So I did a mad scramble to grab the speeches and get up to the podium trying to look cool calm and elegant. I was so focused on doing my bit as a presenter of the fantasy awards that I wasn't mentally prepared to deliver Richard and Laura's thank you speeches. But I managed to get through it without stumbling. Way to go, Richard and Laura.

Next section was the Young Adult Short Story and who should win but Trent with his story 'Cracks' printed in Shiney #2. Tansy was terribly proud as she had been involved in the editing.

The reactions of the different winners were spontaneous and delightful.

And congratulations to all the finalists. The judges had their work cut out for them. For instance, in the fantasy section there were 156 short stories which one team of judges read and 38 books, which were read by another team of judges. Since most fantasybooks are 100K plus, this was a lot of reading!

A big thank you to everyone involved in the award, judges convenors and helpers on the night.

Cheers, Rowena.

Countdown to Aurealis Awards

All across the country, the writers were stirring, packing their bags, preparing their acceptance speeches and crossing their fingers ...

Tomorrow is the Aurealis Awards' night. It's exciting to see your friends' books and stories on the short list for awards. I'll be crossing my fingers for them. But most of all, it is exciting to see the genre celebrated with so much talent.

Nothing beats getting together with a bunch of friends for a few drinks and laughs. The Aurealis Awards are a great opportunity to catch up with everyone in the industry, writers, artists, agents and publishers.

So dust off those little black dresses and snappy suits and get your tickets, only 8 left!

Cheers, Rowena

Awards and Champagne

Nothing beats winning an award, but seeing good friends shortlisted for the Aurealis Awards comes pretty close!

This year Trent gets the bouquet for most shortlistings amongst the RORees. Trent's short story 'Delivery' is a finalist in the Science Fiction section. But, on the night, we'll also be cheering for Margo's 'The Fifth Star in the Southern Cross' and Tansy's 'Fleshy' in the same section. Trent's story, 'Day Boy', is a Finalist in the Horror section and, his story 'Cracks' is a Finalist in the Young Adult section, appearing with fellow RORee, Dirk's story titled, 'This is not my Story' (although, in this case it is!).

Richard is a Finalist in the Best Short Children's books section with 'Escape!, Under Siege, Race to the Ruins, the Heavy Crown'. (This one may also be up for the Longest Tittle!). Plus we'll be cheering for Margo in the Best Fantasy section with 'Tender Morsels' and Marianne in the SF section with 'Chaos Space.' On top of that, Rowena, Margo, Richard and Trent all have stories in 'Dreaming Again', which is a Finalist in the Best Anthology section. And Visiting Author, Cat Sparks's story 'Sammarynda Deep' is a Finalist in the Fantasy section.

So January 24th will be a big night for the RORees! Most of the Australian Speculative Fiction scene will be coming to Brisbane for the event. The awards evening is held at the Judith Wright Centre, entry only $27.50 per person. It's worth attending for the fun of catching up with everyone in the Ozzie spec fic scene.

Also over the weekend there will be the Recovery Breakfast, at 9.30 am, at the Stanford Hotel. And the Industry Seminar, 11am, at the Queensland Writers Centre. (Entry for this is included in the price of the award's ceremony ticket). So mark this weekend in your diary and come along. We're a friendly bunch!

I'd love to see my friends win, but ultimately the winner is Speculative Fiction, as we celebrate the genre. Congratulations to everyone who is a Finalist and a big Thank You to the team of volunteers who run the award.

Cheers, Rowena