GSHW Blog

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May 8th meeting of the Garden State Horror Writers

“Fantasy — How Subversive Can you Make It?” A talk by Hugo award-winning author John Grant.
John Grant is author of some seventy books, of which about twenty-five are fiction, including novels like The World, The Hundredfold Problem, The Far-Enough Window and most recently (2008) The Dragons of Manhattan and Leaving Fortusa. His book-length fiction Dragonhenge, illustrated by Bob Eggleton, was shortlisted for a Hugo Award in 2003; its successor was The Stardragons. His first story collection, Take No Prisoners, appeared in 2004. His anthology New Writings in the Fantastic was shortlisted for a British Fantasy Award. His novella The City in These Pages has recently appeared from PS Publishing.
As John Grant he has received two Hugo Awards, the World Fantasy Award, the Locus Award, and a number of other international literary awards. Under his real name, Paul Barnett, he has written a few books (like the space operas Strider’s Galaxy and Strider’s Universe) and for a number of years ran the world-famous fantasy-artbook imprint Paper Tiger, for this work earning a Chesley Award and a nomination for the World Fantasy Award. You can find out more at http://www.johngrantpaulbarnett.com/
The event takes place Saturday, May 8th at the East Brunswick Library, 12 Jean Walling Civic Center, East Brunswick, NJ 08816-3529. The business meeting starts at 11 am, followed by the talk at noon. Non-members welcome. Admission is free.

The GSHW is a multi-genre group catering to writers from all walks of life.  The group has hosted presentations by authors such as Elizabeth Bear, Gregory Frost, and F. Paul Wilson.  Membership is $35.00 per year.  For information about the group call 732-276-7531 or visit www.gshw.net.

“Writing a Story in Six Easy Pieces” workshop for new and experienced writers.

The GSHW will present a workshop run by Writers of the Future Award winning author Pat Lundrigan. The workshop will feature exercises and activities to turn an idea into a story in six easy steps.

Pat Lundrigan was the first place winner in the first quarter of the 2007 L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future contest, an international contest judged by professional writers. His story appeared in the Writers of the Future, Volume XXIV anthology, the showcase for the contest, with illustrations from winners of the Illustrators of the Future contest. In 2009, Pat won second place in the Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest, sponsored by Baen Books and the National Space Society to honor the memory of editor and publisher Jim Baen.

The event takes place Saturday, April 10th at the East Brunswick Library, 12 Jean Walling Civic Center, East Brunswick, NJ 08816-3529. The business meeting starts at 11 am, followed by the workshop at noon. All materials will be provided. Non-members welcome. Admission is free.

The GSHW is a multi-genre group catering to writers from all walks of life.  The group has hosted presentations by authors such as Elizabeth Bear, Gregory Frost, and F. Paul Wilson.  Membership is $35.00 per year.  For information about the group call 732-276-7531 or visit www.gshw.net.

It Came From the Slush Pile! A Q&A session with best-selling anthology editor, John Joseph Adams At the EAST BRUNSWICK LIBRARY, 2 Jean Walling Civic Center, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 (tel: 732-390-6950).

John Joseph Adams is the editor of many bestselling anthologies, such as Wastelands, The Living Dead (a World Fantasy Award finalist), By Blood We Live, Federations, and The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Barnes & Noble.com named him ―the reigning king of the anthology world,‖ and his books have been named in numerous best of the year lists. He is also the fiction editor of the forthcoming science fiction magazine Lightspeed, and co-host of The Geek‘s Guide to the Galaxy podcast.

The events is scheduled to occur at the next Garden State Horror Writers meeting (OCT 10) located at  the East Brunswick Library, 12 Jean Walling Civic Center, East Brunswick, NJ 08816-3529. The business meeting starts at 11 am, followed by the guest speaker at noon. Non-members welcome. Admission is free.

The GSHW is a multi-genre writers group catering to the needs of writers from all walks of life. Recently, the group hosted presentations by authors such as Pat Lundrigan, Elizabeth Bear, Lawrence C. Connelly, and Robert Dunbar. Membership is $35.00 per year. For information about the group, email president@ghsw.net or visit www.gshw.net.

Writing the Short Story (Without Making Every Mistake There Is)

Dina A. Leacock, who writes under the name Diane Arrelle, has sold more than 100 short stories to anthologies and magazines. She has two published books, Just A Drop In The Cup, a collection of flash fiction and short-short stories and Elements Of The Short Story. She is proud to be a founding member as well as a past president of the Garden State Horror Writers as well as a past president of the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference. She lives on the edge of the Pine Barrens (home of the Jersey Devil) in South Jersey with her husband, two sons and cat.

Visit her website at: http://www.dinaleacock.com

 The events is scheduled to occur at the next Garden State Horror Writers meeting (January 9, 2010) located at  the East Brunswick Library, 12 Jean Walling Civic Center, East Brunswick, NJ 08816-3529. The business meeting starts at 11 am, followed by the guest speaker at noon. Non-members welcome. Admission is free.

The GSHW is a multi-genre writers group catering to the needs of writers from all walks of life. Recently, the group hosted presentations by authors such as Pat Lundrigan, Elizabeth Bear, Lawrence C. Connelly, and Robert Dunbar. Membership is $35.00 per year. For information about the group, call 908-528-3074 or visit www.gshw.net.

Keith DeCandidio speaks on “How to be a Professional Writer (Non-Writing Bits Version)”

Keith R.A. DeCandido

Author/editor Keith R.A. DeCandido discusses the various and sundry elements of having a writing career that have nothing to do with actually writing: time management, career management, relationships with editors and agents, and much more.

Born in the Bronx to a pack of wild librarians, Keith was forced into a career in publishing and over the past two decades he’s been a writer, editor, book packager, musician, TV host, anthologist, podcaster, and karateka.  As the author of over 40 books, his work ranges from novels to comic books to short fiction to eBooks to nonfiction, most in various media universes. In 2005, he novelized Joss Whedon’s Serenity and his recent or forthcoming work includes novels in the Star Trek universe, the ongoing Farscape comic book series, and the StarCraft: Ghost Academy manga series. Keith was recently awarded Grandmaster status from the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers.

Visit Keith’s website at: http://www.decandido.net

The events is scheduled to occur at the next Garden State Horror Writers meeting (OCT 10) located at  the East Brunswick Library, 12 Jean Walling Civic Center, East Brunswick, NJ 08816-3529. The business meeting starts at 11 am, followed by the guest speaker at noon. Non-members welcome. Admission is free.

The GSHW is a multi-genre writers group catering to the needs of writers from all walks of life. Recently, the group hosted presentations by authors such as Pat Lundrigan, Elizabeth Bear, Lawrence C. Connelly, and Robert Dunbar. Membership is $35.00 per year. For information about the group, call 908-528-3074 or visit www.gshw.net.

Ellen Datlow will be speaking about: The Impact of the Economy on the Current Editing Climate.

About Ellen: http://ellen_datlow.livejournal.com ’s cabinet is crammed with trophies (including nine World Fantasy awards). The latest addition to her collection is this year’s Hugo Award for Best Editor – Short Form.

The events is schedule to occur at the next Garden State Horror Writers meeting (SEPT 12) located at  the Monmouth County Library, 125 Symmes Drive in Manalapan, NJ 07726 (opposite Target). The business meeting starts at 11 am, followed by the guest speaker at noon. Non-members welcome. Admission is free.

The GSHW is a multi-genre writers group catering to the needs of writers from all walks of life. Recently, the group hosted presentations by authors such as Pat Lundrigan, Elizabeth Bear, Lawrence C. Connelly, and Robert Dunbar. Membership is $35.00 per year. For information about the group, call 908-528-3074 or visit www.gshw.net.

THE GSHW PRESENTS: Have I Got Muse For You! with award-winning writer Mike Penncavage

Join New Jersey writer, Mike Penncavage (winner of the 2009 Derringer Award), for a writing workshop packed with tips and techniques on where to find ideas for stories, and how to use them.
 
The events is schedule to occur at the next Garden State Horror Writers meeting (JULY 11) located at  the Monmouth County Library, 125 Symmes Drive in Manalapan, NJ 07726 (opposite Target). The business meeting starts at 11 am, followed by the guest speaker at noon. Non-members welcome. Admission is free.

The GSHW is a multi-genre writers group catering to the needs of writers from all walks of life. Recently, the group hosted presentations by authors such as Pat Lundrigan, Elizabeth Bear, Lawrence C. Connelly, and Robert Dunbar. Membership is $35.00 per year. For information about the group, call 908-528-3074 or visit www.gshw.net.

GREGORY FROST will talk about “The Muse and Where to Find Her: Some Advice on Writing” at the next Garden State Horror Writers meeting at the Monmouth County Library, 125 Symmes Drive in Manalapan, NJ. The business meeting starts at 11 am, followed by the guest speaker at noon. Admission is free.

The GSHW is a multi-genre writers group catering to the needs of writers from all walks of life. Recently, the group hosted presentations by authors such as Pat Lundrigan, Elizabeth Bear, Lawrence C. Connelly, and Robert Dunbar. Membership is $35.00 per year. For information about the group, call 908-528-3074 or visit www.gshw.net.

Frost is a writer of fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers. His latest work is the fantasy duology, SHADOWBRIDGE, published by Del Rey Books. Booklist, in a starred review, praised the first volume, saying, “Frost has created a world containing all manner of fantastic story.” Gary K. Wolfe in Locus Magazine added: “Surpassingly lovely prose…Frost could be on his way toward a masterpiece.” The American Library Association included it on their 2009 Best Genre Fiction reading list.

The second book, Lord Tophet, garnered Publishers Weekly’s coveted starred review: “Frost brings the charm of an ancient storyteller and the wit of a contemporary tale-spinner to this dramatic tale, effortlessly manipulating his troupe of mortals and immortals and bringing the truths and myths of Shadowbridge equally to life.” The Fantasy Book Critic called it “one of the few must-read fantasies of the year.”

His previous novel was the historical thriller, Fitcher’s Brides, from Tor Books, a re-imagining of the fairy tale of Bluebeard that was a finalist for both the World Fantasy Award and the International Horror Guild Award for Best Novel.

His short story collection, Attack of the Jazz Giants and Other Stories, also received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which called it “one of the best fantasy collections of the year” while hailing the author as a master of the short story form. His short stories have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Asimov’s Magazine, Weird Tales, Realms of Fantasy, and in numerous award-winning anthologies. Recent work includes “Late in the Day,” in the December 2008 Realms of Fantasy; “The Final Act,” in Ellen Datlow’s Poe: 19 New Tales of Suspense anthology commemorating the bicentennial of Poe’s birth; and “The Bank Job,” in an unreleased werewolf anthology edited by Darrell Schweitzer, due out in 2010.

Frost is one of the Fiction Writing Workshop Directors at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA. His web site is www.gregoryfrost.com and his blog is”Frostbites,” at http://frostokovich.livejournal.com

The Garden State Horror Writers  is pleased to announce the upcoming appearance of Hugo and Locus  award-winning author, Elizabeth Bear, at their April 11th  meeting at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters in  Manalapan. Bear, an important new voice in the science fiction and fantasy field, will be presenting a talk on “World Building  & How Writers Get Their Ideas” and will follow up with a signing of her books. The meeting is open to the public and begins at noon.
 
Debuting in 2005, Bear is known for the SF Thrillers Hammered  (which won the Locus Award for Best First Novel), Scardown, and Worldwired, all part of the Jenny Casey Trilogy. Set in 2062, the series follows the gritty adventures of Jenny Casey,  formerly of the Canadian Special Forces, as she faces mean streets filled with drugs, gangs, and warfare in virtual reality. Bear is also the author of the popular Promethean Age Series, an urban fantasy set in contemporary and historical  settings. Blood and Iron begins a saga that follows the Faerie Court in its battle with Human Mages for control over Earth’s destiny. Other novels of note are her stand alone SF novels,  Carnival and Undertow, as well as Norse fantasies A Companion to Wolves and All the Windwracked Stars. Along with two short story  collections, Bear’s award-winning short fiction has been  published in many genre publications, with “Tideline” winning  the coveted Hugo award for Best Short Story in 2008. Visit her  website at www.elizabethbear.com to find out more information.

Lunacon.org
Various GSHW Members will be speaking on a wide variety of topics at Lunacon 3/20-3/22.
Speakers: Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Gary Frank, Neal Levin, Hildy Silverman

Track Start Time End Time Room
Gaming 3/21/2009 2:00:00 PM 3/21/2009 3:00:00 PM Odelle
Title:  Religions in a Gamer’s World
Description:  Flesh out your game with viable-sounding religions, rather than the cookie cutter ones we see in the manuals. Actually, not much is said in the manuals on religion, cults, folkways, etc. For instance, your cleric might worship the assassin’s god of sophisticated death, or the Elvish grass and nut maidens who provide forage for animals of the forest. You’d want some kind of pantheon, as well as knowledge of how to please your deity/ies and invite him/her/it/them to listen to your prayer/invocation/ritual.
Participants:  Alexandra Honigsberg, Neal Levin, James Daniel Ross, Jane T. Sibley[M],

 
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Gaming 3/21/2009 4:00:00 PM 3/21/2009 5:00:00 PM Poplar
Title:  Game Designers’ Roundtable
Description:  Game designers of various RPGs talk about particular challenges of design and worldbuilding.
Participants:  Leigh Grossman, Neal Levin, Aaron Rosenberg[M], James Daniel Ross,

 
Sunday Total Events This Day: 2 
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Gaming 3/22/2009 1:00:00 PM 3/22/2009 2:00:00 PM Poplar
Title:  A Tribute to Gary Gygax
Description:  The biggest name in the development of roleplaying games, and one of the few recognizable names in a low-profile field, Gygax was always a lightning rod for many people’s views about gaming, both from inside and outside the field. A look back at Gygax’s life and influence on the field.
Participants:  Neal Levin, Aaron Rosenberg, James Daniel Ross,

 
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After Dark 3/22/2009 12:00:00 PM 3/22/2009 1:00:00 PM Brundage B
Title:  E-Publishing Seminar
Description:  There’s growing e-book market for paranormal romance, fantasy, and science fiction. What should writers (and readers) know about the way the e-book field is developing?
Participants:  Bianca D’Arc, Michele Lang[M], Neal Levin, Jim Minz,
 
Saturday Total Events This Day: 1 
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Literature 3/21/2009 2:00:00 PM 3/21/2009 3:00:00 PM Elija Budd
Title:  The Broad Universe (BU) Rapid Reading
Description:  Broad Universe is a woman’s organization founded to promote the works of women authors in the speculative genres. A variety of BU members will read 5-10 minutes of their work, followed by Q&A. Participants include Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Sarah Avery, Racheline Maltese, April Grey, and Gail Z. Martin
Participants:  Danielle Ackley-McPhail,
 
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Literature 3/21/2009 2:00:00 PM 3/21/2009 3:00:00 PM Brundage B
Title:  Ghosts in Fantasy
Description:  Why should ghosts frighten us? Are we prejudiced against the metabolically challenged? Where do we get our ideas of ghosts? What different conceptions of ghosts do we see in folklore, literature, and media?
Participants:  Pauline Alama[M], Ginjer Buchanan, Gary Frank, Marvin Kaye,

 
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Literature 3/21/2009 6:00:00 PM 3/21/2009 7:00:00 PM Brundage A
Title:  What’s Next When the Zombies are Gone?
Description:  Now that even Jane Austen characters are fighting zombies, have they jumped the shark? What will take their place in pop culture if the thundering herds of zombies go the way of the passenger pigeons.
Participants:  Gary Frank, Kim Paffenroth, Steven Sawicki[M], Micah Schneider,

 
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After Dark 3/21/2009 9:00:00 PM 3/21/2009 10:00:00 PM Brundage A
Title:  What Would Cthulhu Do?
Description:  Fascination for all things Lovecraftian extends to many people who have never read Lovecraft - such as the audience for the satirical advice column DEAR CTHULHU. What is it about Cthulhu that resonates so well to a twenty-first century audience?
Participants:  Gary Frank, Kim Paffenroth, Nick Pollotta, Patrick Thomas[M],

 
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Craft of Writing 3/21/2009 10:00:00 AM 3/21/2009 11:00:00 AM Brundage B
Title:  The Future of Short Fiction
Description:  There have been troubling signs recently, like the loss of Realms of Fantasy, F&SF switching to a bi-monthly schedule, and declining subscriptions. At the same time, there’s the rise of online magazines, the recent rebirth of anthology series, and more. How is the short fiction landscape in SFF changing.
Participants:  Linda Anfuso, Neil Clarke[M], Marvin Kaye, Hildy Silverman, Shane Tourtellotte,

 
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Business of Writing 3/21/2009 12:00:00 PM 3/21/2009 1:00:00 PM Grand North
Title:  Magazine Editors’ Roundtable
Description:  What are magazine editors looking for, what are they seeing too much of, what annoys them, and what makes some writers a pleasure to work with.
Participants:  Christopher Cevasco, Neil Clarke, Marvin Kaye, Hildy Silverman, Gordon Van Gelder[M],

 
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Literature 3/21/2009 4:00:00 PM 3/21/2009 5:00:00 PM Grand South
Title:  Revisionist Fairy Tales & Other Retellings
Description:  Why are authors drawn to retelling familiar tales? What makes a retelling creative enough to attract interest even from those who know the original?
Participants:  Alma Alexander, Sam Butler, Josepha Sherman, Hildy Silverman[M],

 
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Science & Technology 3/21/2009 5:00:00 PM 3/21/2009 6:00:00 PM Odelle
Title:  Online Learning
Description:  Weren’t we all supposed to be educated from home in our own private learning pods by now? A look at what’s going on in online learning in various environments (academic, business, etc.).
Participants:  Kevin DiVico, Hildy Silverman[M], Elisabeth Waters,

 
Sunday Total Events This Day: 1 
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Media 3/22/2009 1:00:00 PM 3/22/2009 2:00:00 PM Bartell
Title:  Is LOST Lost?
Description:  So, was the addition of time travel to the series helpful or shark bait?
Participants:  Kathleen O’Shea David[M], Kim Kindya, Perrianne Lurie, Hildy Silverman,