Austin SlugTribe Newsletter
Date: June/July 1996
It's Good to be Regular
Well, here is the second edition of our SF/F/H study group newsletter
for 1996. The first one came out with a little fanfare (but blowing
your own horn is tiring, so we're going to play that down now), and
folks seemed to like seeing it again, despite the goofy slug masthead
I used. Especially those folks who haven't been able to make a meeting
in a while. The hope is, y'all will remember there is still a writers'
study group and find time on 2nd & 4th Tuesdays to come by, bring
work, give your 2 cents, whatever. Still at 7:00 p.m., still at
Hancock Rec Center at 41st and Red River. This issue looks a lot
better since Jay Lake produced it. Oh, and if you want the fame and
glory of editing the newsletter, just let me (Wendy) know! I'll gladly
pass it on!
Slugs on the InterNet
Remember that we have a Slugtribe mailing list for folks who can get/send
Internet email. So far we mostly coordinate group events to movies and then
discuss the movies after. Oh, and we read about Don Webb weekly, which is a
hoot. The mailing list is sponsored by Earl Cooley (aka Shiva) and those
generous folks at FACT who also put on the ArmadilloCon Science Fiction
convention each October. If you want to be on, send an email message to the
guarder of our gates, Mikus Grinbergs (mikus@bga.com), and ask him for
instructions and an entre.
Like, Totally Cool, Emily
Emily Coyner made her first major sale this spring-and to a literary
market! She got an envelope from the University of Los Angeles, to whom
she'd submitted her story, "Rare Earth." She thought she was reading the
usual, "we like your story, fine writing, but..." But she never read "but,"
Because they bought the thing! It's coming out in their magazine, New
Voices, sometime soon! Congratulations, Emily! Emily also just came back
from a totally neat weekend writers' workshop at the University of Northern
Iowa, where she actually read one of her stories at the open mike event.
Wowed her audience too, with her wit and good humor!
Spam is Good to Ron Sanderson
Some of you may remember the goofy theme that came up in one of our Tuesday
night meetings, "Spam is Dead"? And how some of us decided to write a short
story with that as the first line? It was a fun exercise, and, for one of
us, very productive, too! Ron Sanderson actually sold his Spam story! I
didn't get the name of the publication or I'd tell you here, but well done,
Ron! Selling Spam. Wow.
The Slug Collection, by Shirley
Speaking of these group themes for writing projects, Shirley Crossland
became inspired to collect these efforts from the past few years into a
chapbook sort of thing. And print it with her own money! We hope to see the
results soon, and I'll bet she'll trade you one for a minor contribution.
SlugTribe Money Issues
Speaking of finance, these newsletter mailings cost around $11 for postage
each time. Jennifer Evans has cleverly kept a SlugTribe Kitty (lotsa animal
terms, there) of the extra tips the group leaves when we eat out
before/after a meeting. (Hey, we do the 20% tip rule.) And Mikus
contributed a big $20 just 'cause that's the way he is. My point here is,
if you're a person who comes to meetings irregularly, you might consider
contributing a little postage money yourself. See me (Wendy) or Jennifer.
Dr. Mikey in China
Member Mike Brotherton successfully defended his astronomy thesis on the
emission lines of quark... somethings this May. He is now officially Dr.
Brotherton! That represents years of hard work, so slap him on the back
when you see him next! For most of the month of June, he's gone off to
Shanghai, China for an astronomy convention--he won a grant that paid his
way.
New Address for Asimov's & Analog
Penny Press, the new owners of Asimov's SF and Analog magazine, have moved
their new babies to an office in New York. Send submissions here (unless
you know Gardner Dozois' secret Philadelphia address): 10th Floor, 1270
Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
Warner Books Contest
Warner Books announced a contest for new and unpublished SF/F authors.
Entries to be judged by C.J. Cherryh and 1st place gets a contract and
$5000 advance against royalties. To submit for Round One, send them a
synopsis and the first several chapters (up to 60 pages). Submit your book
manuscript before January 31, 1997 to: Warner Aspect First Novel Contest,
Editorial Dept, 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
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