Past Future Present 2011---An Anthology with a Purpose

Past Future Present 2011, edited by Helen E. Davis, and presented by Copper Publishing is an anthology that follows a model that I would like to see more e-publications adopt.

The sole theme of this book appears to be the promotion of the authors. Here are presented stories that are meant to attract and entertain, as well as leave the reader wanting more. That more is happily supplied through links that lead to more of the authors published works.

This is not only a simplistic idea, but a clever one as well. It plays on an on-line reaction we all have. We see a picture, short blurb, or article om the web. Our curiosity is raised. Oh look, there's a blue highlighted text link we've become conditioned to respond to. We click on it, read the resulting article and click on another link. It's addicting, and we are naturally curious.

Why should not every e-pub anthology, and magazine, do the same to shamelessly promote their authors? It can only help business all around.

I have not read all of the stories in Past Future Present, but the start that I made on a few was enough to convince me to purchase the book.

The author names are all recognizable to anyone who read science fiction and fantasy short fiction. They were willing to take the risk of selling their stories for a share of the earnings. The authors I have spoken to tell me they have received royalties from the Past Future Present sales, and they would gladly participate in a similar project in the future.

The pubblicity that could be generated if all short fiction e-markets chose this model of publishing and publicizing could eventually earn a decent following and income for the authors willing to participate.

Pick up a copy of Past Future Present 2011 from the Kindle store. Remember, you don't need to own a Kindle to enjoy the books.

The Feathered Edge, An anthology worth reading

While I wait to hear everyone's opinion on the suggestions from yesterday's post, I thought I would go ahead and start by mentioning The Feathered Edge, an anthology edited by and showcasing at least two members of the CW family.

Some of you may recall the wonderful Lace & Blade anthologies (Vol. 1 and 2) published by Norilana a few years ago, and edited by the gifted Deborah Ross.  She just happens to be a talented author as well.  And the Feathered Edge, published by Sky Warrior Books, is the continuation of those anthologies.

The Feathered Edge

The Feathered Edge

The Feathered Edge is available from Amazon.com in both trade paperback and Kindle edition.  Much to my surprise there are still no customer reviews.  Now when more and more books are being independently published by editors and authors, the support of colleagues for reviews and publicity has become more important than ever.  I admit that I have fallen behind in my own reading and have not yet reviewed this deserving anthology either.  I fully intend to remedy this lapse.

For those of you who may not have the funds to purchase your own copy at this time, check with Sky Warrior Books for a review copy.  They require a 50+ word review in return.  Your review of the Feathered Edge, as well as any of their other books for sale, will help this small press company grow and be able to publish more deserving authors in the future. 

Free Publicity for Potential Authors

Hello Everyone,

I thought I would stop by to make certain that everyone knew this blog is most definitely still active.

I've been actively working in the background to find the best path for the revival and survival of the CW anthology. This means I am in discussion with fellow editors and authors.  Many ideas are being examined.

The opening up of this blog to the public was just such a suggestion.  Here anyone interested in Clothesline World may comment, but please reserve the sharing of story ideas for the private facebook page.  Any potential author or supporter of CW can join the private facebook group.  Just ask here or e-mail me at clotheslineworld@gmail.com.  I'd love to grow the CW family.

Now, I have had a thought.  What would all of you think of posting the bios for potential CW authors here.  I thought it might offer a little free publicity for everyone, and help us all get to know each other.  Who can afford to turn down free publicity?  The posting of a bio in no way means that a potential authors submission has been accepted. 

I would also be happy to announce sales and publications, even self publications in places such as Amazon.com.

The comment board is open.  Please let me know what you think.

Private Facebook Group for CW members

For those of you who would like to friend me on Facebook, just because you like me, or because you would like to join the private CW group on fb, just let me know.

You will find my fb page at

http://www.facebook.com/messages/#!/rochelle.uhlenkott

Hugo Awards 2012

Sorry about the delayed post, but for some reason Blogger would not let me post from my iPad.

For those of you who haven't heard, or did not watch the ceremony in person or on-line, here are the results.

Big Heart Award -- Juanita Coulson
Special Committee Award -- Robert Weinberg

John W. Campbell Award -- E. Lily Yu

Best Fan Artist -- Maurine Starkey
Best Fan Writer -- Jim C. Hines
Best Fancast -- SF Squeecast (Lynne M. Thomas, Seanan McGuire, Paul Cornell, Elizabeth
Bear, Catherynne M. Valente)
Best Fanzine -- SF Signal (edited by John DeNardo)

Best Semiprozine -- Locus (edited by Liz Groen Trombi, Kirsten Gong-Wong, et al.)

Best Professional Artist -- John Picacio
Best Editor, Long Form -- Betsy Wollheim
Best Editor, Short Form -- Sheila Williams
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form -- "The Doctor's Wife" (Dr. Who) (written by Neil
Gaiman; directed by Richard Clark , BBC Wales)
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form -- Game of Thrones, Season 1 (created by David Benioff
and D.B. Weiss, written by David Benioff, D. B.
Weiss, Bryon Cogman, Jane Espenson, and George
R.R. Martin; directed by Brian Kirk, Daniel Minahan,
Tim van Patten, and Alan Taylor, HBO)
Best Graphic Story -- Digger (by Ursula Vernon, Sofawolf Press)
Best Related Work -- The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, Third Edition -- edited by
John Clute, David Langford, Peter Nichols, and Graham Sleight, Gollancz)
Best Short Story -- The Paper Menagerie -- by Ken Liu (The Magazine of Fantasy & Science
Fiction March - April 2011)
Best Novelette -- Six Months, Three Days -- by Charlie Jane Anders (Tor.com)
Best Novella -- The Man Who Bridged the Mist -- by Kij Johnson (Asimov Oct. - Nov. 2011)
Best Novel -- Among Others -- by Jo Walton (Tor)

Updated CW Guidelines

Hi Everyone,

Below are the updated guidelines for CW.

You will note that the payment clause has changed. With luck, this will change again in the futue, for the better.

All rights to the CW world have recently reverted to me. At the moment, we are looking at setting the anthology up as an ebook release. However, I am also looking for more authors-- yes, I am at Chicon recruiting. Wish me luck.

I am also in the process of soliciting a preliminary cover. Naturally, when I have the cover in hand, I will post it.

Clothesline World Guidelines
(8-31-12, Version 2.0)

Clothesline World, created by Vera Nazarian and Rochelle Uhlenkott is a new annual shared world anthology series of outrageously imaginative fiction based on a nutty idea. Think: Terry Pratchett, Hitchhiker's Guide, and string theory, and then take it to the next level that includes the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the Fall of Rome, and the philosophical musings of the entire Western Civilization. The anthology series will be edited by Rochelle Uhlenkott, and the first volume is scheduled to be published in electronic edition. Participation in this project is by invitation only.

So, what's this all about, you ask?

First, read the Clothesline World Bible to get the concept in a nutshell. (Don't worry, it's only a couple of pages long, and you'll giggle, we promise).

Next, start that idea factory running. Want to take the fantasy angle? Sure, by all means bring on faerie. How about hard science fiction? Again, be our guest with the hard physics and string theory. Want to include steamy romance or the thrill of suspense? The heady whiff of steampunk, or the charm of history? The stylish surreal, or the edgy noir? Yes to all!

In Clothesline World the improbable becomes the real, and anything that can happen most likely will. Magic is woven into every fiber -- or maybe not! Wait, it's science, which is just magic in the making--with a twist. Legendary heroes can rise from the midst of the lowliest of fringe dwellers, the most orthodox nomads, or the most bumbling of adventurers. In a world that strives to meet the lofty heights of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams, there is ample opportunity for practically everything -- the hilarious, suspenseful, supernatural, romantic, horrific, historical, scientific, and even the ludicrous. In short, the storylines can be developed in a nearly unlimited manner, as long as they stay within the flexible framework of the concept. And the concept itself is open to the full range of the speculative and fantastic genres.

Editor Rochelle Uhlenkott says: "Make me laugh until the tears are flowing. Make me say "Wow!" Evoke the "Awe" response. Break my heart. Blow me away with imaginative wonder. Make me forget, just for a moment, the stressful reality of the world we all live in."

So write your story, with your unique angle and spin on the Clothesline World concept. Use the shared world bible as your guide and jump-off point, and then let your imagination run wild.

Show us your idea of life on a clothesline.

RIGHTS PURCHASED: First English Language Rights and non-exclusive electronic rights. The concept of Clothesline World remains our exclusive property, but you are free to resell your story later as long as you credit us and refer to it as "A Clothesline World story." The anthology will be published in an electronic edition, to be followed by a trade paperback edition to be produced later if sales allow.

PAYMENT: pro rata share of 80% of royalties after earnout, plus a contributor copy.

WORD LENGTH: Up to 10,000 words, with longer stories having to be exceptional. Preferred length around 5,000 words.

READING PERIOD: ongoing.

DEADLINE: until volume is filled.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Electronic submissions are preferred. If you must submit hard copy, please let us know and we will accommodate you. Please submit your story via e-mail, as an RTF file attachment, or let us know what file format works for you.

EDITORIAL ADDRESS: clotheslineworld@gmail.com

"Clothesline World" Copyright © 2007 by Vera Nazarian and Rochelle Uhlenkott, owned by Rochelle Uhlenkottwww.clotheslineworld.com

EDITORIAL ADDRESS: clotheslineworld@gmail.com

"Clothesline World" Copyright © 2007 by Vera Nazarian and Rochelle Uhlenkott

www.clotheslineworld.com

Writer's Guidelines

Clothesline World
Guidelines
(9-19-07, Version 1.0)

Clothesline World, created by Vera Nazarian and Rochelle Uhlenkott is a new annual shared world anthology series of outrageously imaginative fiction based on a nutty idea. Think: Terry Pratchett, Hitchhiker's Guide, and string theory, and then take it to the next level that includes the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the Fall of Rome, and the philosophical musings of the entire Western Civilization. The anthology series will be edited by Rochelle Uhlenkott, and the first volume is scheduled to be published in trade paperback by Norilana Books. Participation in this project is by invitation only.

So, what's this all about, you ask?

First, read the Clothesline World Bible to get the concept in a nutshell. (Don't worry, it's only a couple of pages long, and you'll giggle, we promise).

Next, start that idea factory running. Want to take the fantasy angle? Sure, by all means bring on faerie. How about hard science fiction? Again, be our guest with the hard physics and string theory. Want to include steamy romance or the thrill of suspense? The heady whiff of steampunk, or the charm of history? The stylish surreal, or the edgy noir? Yes to all!

In Clothesline World the improbable becomes the real, and anything that can happen most likely will. Magic is woven into every fiber -- or maybe not! Wait, it's science, which is just magic in the making--with a twist. Legendary heroes can rise from the midst of the lowliest of fringe dwellers, the most orthodox nomads, or the most bumbling of adventurers. In a world that strives to meet the lofty heights of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams, there is ample opportunity for practically everything -- the hilarious, suspenseful, supernatural, romantic, horrific, historical, scientific, and even the ludicrous. In short, the storylines can be developed in a nearly unlimited manner, as long as they stay within the flexible framework of the concept. And the concept itself is open to the full range of the speculative and fantastic genres.

Editor Rochelle Uhlenkott says: "Make me laugh until the tears are flowing. Make me say "Wow!" Evoke the "Awe" response. Break my heart. Blow me away with imaginative wonder. Make me forget, just for a moment, the stressful reality of the world we all live in."

So write your story, with your unique angle and spin on the Clothesline World concept. Use the shared world bible as your guide and jump-off point, and then let your imagination run wild.

Show us your idea of life on a clothesline.

RIGHTS PURCHASED: First English Language Rights and non-exclusive electronic rights. The concept of Clothesline World remains our exclusive property, but you are free to resell your story later as long as you credit us and refer to it as "A Clothesline World story." The anthology will be published by Norilana Books in a trade paperback edition, to be followed by an electronic edition to be produced later.

PAYMENT: $0.02 a word on acceptance as an advance against royalties, then a pro rata share of royalties after earnout, plus a contributor copy.

WORD LENGTH: Up to 10,000 words, with longer stories having to be exceptional. Preferred length around 5,000 words.

READING PERIOD begins on April 30, 2009.

DEADLINE: until volume is filled.

HOW TO SUBMIT: Electronic submissions are preferred. If you must submit hard copy, please let us know and we will accommodate you. Please submit your story via e-mail, as an RTF file attachment, or let us know what file format works for you.

EDITORIAL ADDRESS: clotheslineworld@gmail.com

"Clothesline World" Copyright © 2007 by Vera Nazarian and Rochelle Uhlenkott

www.clotheslineworld.com