A Very Late "Bits and Ends"

We're a week into February, and I'm feeling the crazy-busy of the month big time.  So much that I was up so late last night that I didn't have time to blog.  (And then, promptly, overslept… bring on the Vitamin D and Sunshine!)

So, in a semi-chaotic, Manic Monday form, here's some stuff I'm doing that I hope you enjoy!

Saturday, February 11th, 12-3PM

ROMANCE READINGS at

Stained Glass Creations and Beyond

2 River Road, Stafford Springs, CT.

Because Renée and Sean are close friends, their store gets my very special reading rates:

$10 - individual

$15 - couple

Each reading is about 15 minutes long, possibly 20 for a couple.

Please come out.  If you've never seen the Tarot Reader side of me, I believe you'll be pleasantly surprised.  Thanks!

xx

Sunday, February 12th

Romance Broad Pod!!

Five Awesome Broads share snippets of romance fiction from their novels in the Broad Universe sponsored podcast based on our popular Rapid Fire Reading events at science fiction/fantasy conventions.  Now you can enjoy the fun from the comfort of your mp3 player every month.

http://broadpod.posterous.com

xx

Sunday, February 27

Broadly Speaking: Writing Romance hosted by Rae Lori

I can't tell you how excited I am about this second Broad Universe podcast!  We're interviewing authors based on the topics of the Broad Pod, and it's a whole lot of fun - and educational, too!  We talk about writing technique, research, craft, marketing… whatever we can in our 30 minutes.  Please, tune into this second episode!

http://broadlyspeaking.posterous.com

xx

Besides those public things:

I'm meeting with my writer's group tomorrow, which is always fun and wonderfully inspiring for me.

I've got three more article deadlines for the month.

I've got a fabulous new project I'm starting this month that I signed an NDA on.  ;)  (So, I can't tell ya' 'bout it!)

I need to get back to Conbust (in the next few days) with the details about my Tarot and Writing workshop!  (So, go to Conbust!  Register now!)

I need to catch up on my fiction submissions (1 submission all year, alas!)

There's 200 emails just sitting in my inbox, most needing pretty quick action.

I have the first set of Spot-Checks and reviews due for my tutoring team.

Oh, and I actually want to spend some time with my horse, cat, rabbit, and husband… y'know?  Selfish stuff like that.

So, that's why my Manic Monday blog is so flipping late.  And why there's a bunch of you still waiting for responses from me… for which I apologize very much!  I'm continuing to work - promise!

News! News! News!

Oh what a Manic Monday this is!

Three - count 'em THREE - deadlines this week!  Oh, and a car appointment.  And a Skype conference for the newest Broad Universe podcast: Broadly Speaking!

And some horse time!

Anyway, some Important Stuff You Should Know!

Keep your eye on the Bad-Ass Faeries Official Website.  :)  There's some nifty free stuff there, like wallpaper and fiction!  In fact, watch for a fun little flash by Christy and me starring Cameron and Roy from our "Party Crashers" short story in Just Plain Bad!

xx

I am now the proud editor of an anthology along with the fabulous Kate Kaynak!

We even have an official Call for Submissions.  :)  Here it is:

Call for Submissions for the anthology UnCONventional

We're looking for stories that take place at fantasy/sci-fi conventions or other gatherings in which the convention/conference itself is just the cover for something supernatural or fantastic. Imagine time travelers using a steampunk con to cover their attempt to open a portal to return to their own times, werewolves holding a beauty pageant at a dog show, or vampires holding a treaty summit at Dragon*Con.

Suggested Length: 3,000-7,000 words. Up to 10,000 words is possible, but it will be a HARD sell.

Due Date: July 1st, 2011

Editors: Kate Kaynak and Trisha Wooldridge

Submission Guidelines: Please email your submissions to us at: editor@SpencerHillPress.com.
Put your story into the BODY of the email (no attachments, please!) and put "UnCONventional" in your subject line along with the title of your story. Legalese: We can only accept previously unpublished stories. Please do not used licensed characters or any trademarked or copyright-protected material without written permission in advance of submission (This is NOT the place for fanfic). Contributor compensation will include a $10 advance paid upon publication, a contributor copy of the paper version, a royalty percentage split between all contributors, and, of course, bragging rights. Stories should be appropriate for adult and teen readers (age 14 and up); please, no explicit sex or graphic violence!

Visit the publisher at:  http://www.site.spencerhillpress.com/Submissions.html

xx

I'm also blogging with the Worcester Bloggers!

Ok, so I've got a whole one post up, but more will come.  I promise.  Many will be pretty horse pictures.  Other stuff will be food-related.  :)  I'll try to keep it all fun!

xx

I'm looking for advertising for the Bay State Equine Rescue Wine, Beer & Liquor tasting booklet.  :)  Get your products in front of eating and drinking horse lovers!  Contact me for rates and details. 

Advertise AND save horses. :)  You know you want to!  And you know I'll be begging you again in 4 months for the Blogathon if you don't.  <3

xx

Next Manic Monday's post will be the first ever Broadly Speaking podcast.  It will feature interviews with Gail Z. Martin, Jennifer Pelland, and Morven Westfield about the writing in regards to Faith and Fear. 

It will be cool!

Tune in. :)

xx

It is very cold in MA and my feet are only finally warming up entirely after a day of hanging out with horses.  A stomped-upon foot feels painfully strange as it gains more and more feeling.  The same for a poor typing hand that was squished between a door and a horse butt.  That is me; and I am Tired. 

So, that's all the news your getting. 

Happy Monday!

10 Benefits of Broad Universe Membership

As some of you noticed, I took a brief hiatus from blogging. I had a lot of overtime at work… and there was a lot of awesome things happening with Broad Universe! As no one has yet hooked me up with a personal time machine (or a personal David Tennant, but that's a different story…), I had to give things besides the blog priority.

But I'm back! And as it's still Writerly Wednesday, I want to share with you the biggest thing that's helped in my fiction writing career:

Broad Universe

As part of the community, I've made some amazing friends and business contacts, learned a lot, and had a place where I felt celebrated and supported. As an organization, we offer this to any woman writing or publishing in the many speculative genres through our discussion list, the Broadsheet publication, and the community we build online and at conventions. As a member, I'm supporting fellow women through our mission… and getting these benefits:

Spiffy Broad Universe Pins!

Show the world you're proud to be a Broad, unafraid to display your awesome feminine power, willing to help your writing sisters!

Ooh, shiny!

Post to the Broad Universe Discussion List

Anyone can join the discussion list on a read-only basis. That's pretty cool in and of itself because there's open calls, news about signings, releases, contests, and lots of great information about the publishing industry from brick and mortar stores to epublishing. Members get to be in the thick of it: asking questions, adding opinions, sharing news, networking with Broad editor, authors, and professionals.

Bad-ass faeries need my writing and reviews? To the laptop!

Promotion through Advertising

With our 10th Anniversary, one of the things Broad Universe has started doing is advertising. We've taken out ads in Locus, Ralan.com, Realms of Fantasy, and many convention booklets for the organization and to honor member achievements.

Conventions support our writers… we support conventions with ad $ = Win-Win!

Print Catalog Listing

Every year, Broad Universe puts out a New Releases catalog that we send out to convention faring Broads or Broads running local events. This catalog informs hungry readers of available books by members so they can sate their voracious appetite.

So… Many… Booooks… ~drool~

Online Catalog Listing

Broad Universe also offers an online catalog, and as we develop our brand new website, the listings will come up in regular search engines, helping more readers find books by their favorite authors, on their favorite topics, and in their favorite genres.

Gay, angel-ghost pairing… AND steampunk? w00t!

Broad Universe sponsored Local Events

From local libraries and coffee shops to the Library of Congress, members of Broad Universe have been able to meet readers and audiences beyond their genre and with the support of other members as they read, talk, and sign their books.

Enjoy an afternoon of intergalactic travel, dragons, and lattes…

Promotion via our Social Networks

Broad Universe has accounts on Facebook and LiveJournal, as well as an online newsletter dedicated to member happenings. Members can use all of these avenues to promote their work, their achievements, and any events they are running.

I can haz Broad Universe?

Rapid Fire Readings

Hearing an author read can inspire a reader to become a fan. Reading aloud effectively comes with practice… and not everyone is a big enough name to land her own reading (or draw enough of a crowd) by herself. RFRs give writers a chance to practice reading in short bits and among supportive colleagues. Not only that, the more readers, the bigger the audience, the more potential fans for everyone!

It's just 5 minutes. You can wow people in 5 minutes, trust me!

The Broad Pod

Taking the RFR and broadening (take or leave the pun) the audience beyond a physical location at a convention or other venue and into the infinity of the Internet - because, you know, orbiting aliens might be pirating our broadcasts - is the idea of the Broad Pod podcast. Give fiction-hungry listeners a taste of several pieces so they may seek out more.

Wait! They know we're listening?

Book Tables

At conventions where there's enough Broads willing to help, Broad Universe may purchase a dealer's table and cover the taxes - taking no cut of the authors' profits - so that members may have an extra venue to sell their books. Even for members who cannot make it to conventions, many of us will step up and let them mail us books to sell on their behalf.

So, we got your vampires here, your androids there… your dystopic future over here… What's your pleasure? All of them? Great!

xx

In any case, being a member of Broad Universe has become an important part of my writing career, and I was happy to be able to renew this year with an extra donation to help women who want to join but cannot afford.

Please take a minute to find out more about Broad Universe, or share some of your stories about BU or your favorite organization that helped you in the comments!

Frankly, Friday, I don't give a damn

There's really not much to report on for food today in my part of the world. I could list you all the food experiences in Myrtle Beach and Madison, but that would just be a list, really, and that's not all that interesting.

And I know enough about voice to realize if I think it's boring, it will come out boring.

I haven't done many reviews.

I haven't tried many new recipes. But my friend Jaleta Clegg has a good one for crock pot meatloaf I may appropriate for a meal next week.

I have a few things that require a little more research before I present, but I haven't gotten that far yet.

I did a Faery Friday last week, and had a wonderful release party that following Sunday. Yay!

And I had been thinking of doing a Feminist Friday post about working with people online and how gender and perceived gender attributes come into play when communicating, tutoring, and working with others. That may be coming in the future - like next week - but I simply haven't the brain power to give it the attention its due today.

I'm still stuck in that vortex of To-Dos that I was talking about on Wednesday.

In going through my email, I have a partial list of stuff that needs a-writing:

For the Broad Pod & Broad Universe:

General write up for the Broad Pod page for the new Broad Universe website.

Some Broad Pod press releases for upcoming epis

Benefits of Broad Universe Membership emails to our list

2011 Broad Pod planning email

Readercon Rapid Fire Reading emails

Dragon*Con Rapid Fire Reading emails

Bay State Equine Rescue Writing:

More sponsorship request emails

Interview questions for existing sponsors

Emails asking for updated adoptee stories

Writing I've Promised Others:

Writer Beware Guest Blog

3 Reviews: a graphic novel + 2 poetry books

List of elemental faeries

Writing for Writing Partnership with Christy:

Newsletter News

Newsletter article on genre

Newsletter serial mini-fic

Alec's speech for current scene we're working on

Writing for PAY:

Review for Worcester Magazine (requires trip out to a certain location today)

FICTION:

Synopsis for Starbard

More on android story

More on kelpie story

'Course, there's still phone calls I have to make, other emails awaiting answer, critiques for my correspondence writing group, and my paid tutoring/training time and several other obligations not listed.

My friend, Kelly A. Harmon, left a good comment & tip about unplugging from the web to get the writing done on my last blog post, which I probably need to do. I'll make my to-do list for the day over breakfast tomorrow… because I know I can't do all that in one day.

So, I suppose my fun alliteration for the day will have to be Frantic Friday. Wish me luck - and I always welcome more organizational tips in comments!!

More April Adventures

OMG - is the month REALLY almost over?

Is it REALLY almost my birthday???

Didn't I just write my first April post… wow… that long ago?

Add the cliché at your own risk.

In any case:

News!

We haz podcast!!

http://broaduniverse.posterous.com/

or

http://broadpod.podbean.com/

The actual screwing around on Audacity continues to get easier with the occasional glitch of half of someone's reading going silent for no apparent reason - but was easily fixed by pasting the original over the messed-up part.

Even the time it took to figure out how to get the files smaller (with Scott's help), was easier.

Then… Podbean's server crashed.

Yes! Just my luck!

Sooooo… I moved onto Posterous, which was recommended to me from Kim Vandervort, from a friend of hers. It lets me continue my lazy addiction to doing just about EVERYTHING from my email account, and that makes me happy.

So does the 1 gig of storage space.

And then Podbean was up and running, so I reposted all the even-more-compressed files there.

Fingers totally crossed that the new site doesn't go the way of mypodcast.com and get overloaded by people wanting to use it and failing! (At least I know Podbean's been around for a while and… if push comes to shove, I may bite the bullet and ask BU to fund it for better storage space, but I'm hoping to keep this an endeavor that doesn't cost the organization anything.

In the meantime - go enjoy some fabulous fiction!

(And, because I was so busy on this compressing and stuff, stop back at the Broad Universe website and give us a donation if you like it!)

xx

This week, I'm reading poetry at the Jacob Edwards Library on April 29th (the day before my birthday!). There will be a bunch of local poets - so please come by and show your support.

I'll be reading from The Unicorn & the Old Woman… and other Poems, along with the poem that will be published in Poetry Locksmith this May!

xx

The DragonWriters, my very first writing group and a bunch of amazing writers and artists, FINALLY has our own blog! We're still working out a posting schedule, but please check us out here:

http://www.dragon-writers.com/

xx

It's 2:30 now… Can I post my blogs, have completed podcasting updates, done a food review... AND HAD A REALLY PRODUCTIVE DAY … before 3:AM???

See my answer on Twitter!

Adventures in Podcasting

This definitely goes as a Manic Monday post… since it made most of my waking hours on Sunday (into Monday), well, MANIC. (To put it nicely).

Back in August or September, I volunteered to put together a podcast for Broad Universe. It seemed simple enough. I mean, I KNEW there would be a reasonable amount of work in making it happen, and I was good with that.

In fact, I'm loving most of it!

I enjoy organizing, keeping people on the time table, recording the intros, outros, etc.

In general, I love learning new things.

As an added bonus, I get to hear these fabulous snippets from the other Broads.

What I hadn't entirely been planning for was the issues regarding hosting. The Catch-22 of free Podcast hosting seems to be that for the hosting site to be easy to use, it has to have space issues. If you don't want space issues (or other issues), you need super-special-ninja-tech skills to get it to work.

Or, you have to pay. Which I had not planned on doing, nor is it in the Broad Universe budget (or my own!) for me to pay to host our episodes somewhere.

After fighting for a good 4 hours with mypodcast.com, I am trying out podbean.com, where Morven hosts her podcast.

The problem with mypodcast.com, as I'm inferring based on the forums, is that the group was entirely unprepared for the memory or bandwith or something like that because for this second episode (we're updating once a month), I was told I needed to change it from 128 kmb… something or another… to 96 of that. (i.e. make it smaller). However, when I changed the size, the file was unreadable. After a lot of help from friends, like Dan Kupka, Morven Westfield, and the Husband-of-Awesome, we found MANY forum questions facing this same issue. One of the answers was that mypodcast.com had to delete old posts to make room, and that was causing the problems. Considering I had a whopping ONE podcast archived, I really wasn't ready to delete it… and even if I did, it probably wouldn't have solved the problem.

Long story short, I've moved the podcast to podbean.com - but our memory is now at 71% used with the whopping TWO episodes posted now.

le sigh!

Obviously, I'm off to see if a free hosting site exists that will let me have a few episodes… AND WORK! Am I really asking for so much?? Really?

Some general thoughts on podcasting, though, are that the advice I've found online all only match with the type of podcasts that the advice-givers had. While I have been able to glean bits and pieces from all the articles and publications I've read, I'm still floundering in the dark - especially on the hosting and promoting part.

The Broad Pod is basically a podcast of the trademark Rapid Fire Reading that Broad Universe has become known for at convention across North America. A Rapid Fire Reading throws together several women in one time slot, and we each give a small reading based on work we want to promote - or that fits the theme of the convention or convention track. It's an awful lot of fun, and the audience gets a variety of snippets from all sorts of work: humor, bone chilling horror, moving, hard science, social science, high fantasy, urban or contemporary fantasy…

It's great!

As a benefit to members who don't or can't attend conventions, the Broad Pod is opening up this promotional arena to them. Any member can send me a recording - regardless of if she attends conventions or not - and we will broadcast these readings to the world.

So, if you'd like to help members of Broad Universe AND hear some fabulous writing, feel free to check out our latest installment of the Broad Pod, as it is currently hosted here:

http://broadpod.podbean.com

And if you have any advice on my ever-so-wonderful hosting issues - please send me an email!

Enjoy!

Valentine's Day!

Since I missed Friday, included in this week's Manic Monday is some nom-tacular Valentine's day festivities.

But first, this message:

THE BROAD POD EPISODE 1 IS DONE!!!

WHEEEEEEEE!!!!

This is my very first time making a podcast, and it came out GREAT! J Please go listen to it now! J

http://broadpod.mypodcast.com

Did you go download it? Listen?

It's only 27 minutes long. I can wait.

…

Isn't it awesome?

Anyway, take it to work or add it to your podcast lists. J Next month we will have a Feminist theme to celebrate Women's History Month!

Stay tuned!!

xx

Now, Valentines Day.

We made sushi. It was yummy! I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Hope you had as much fun as we did!

<3 + xoxo !!!