Staying connected

Today I’m reminded of Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series. In the second book, The Naked Sun, Detective Elijah Bailey and the humaniform robot, R. Daneel Olivaw, investigate a murder on a world in which people prefer to have no physical contact. People talk to their neighbors over some kind of vidphones. Why am I reminded of it today?

Today like yesterday and every other day this month and parts of last month, I'm confined mostly to my house and only venture downstairs a limited number of times a day. I have been laid out with a bulging disk in my back and subsequent muscle spasms and nerve pinches and pains. Going from working 8-5, running errands and doing my own writing, blogging and publicity in the evenings and attending meetings and conventions on weekends to this is a major bummer to say the least.

I'm hoping that the surgery the docs mentioned as a possibility will become reality. That's not the tune I was singing 20 years ago when faced with much the same condition. But I'm tired of being limited and now I'm disabled! No more! And yes, I've tried almost all the treatments you can name. I'm not looking for medical advice or sympathy here. I'm just using this situation as opportunity to discuss our dependence on connectivity.

I can remember complaining that my son lived on his computer and didn't get out and do things. Now it's me, though not by choice. I would love to get out and do things. Even the short walks I was taking are too much at this point. But, I digress. Now it's me depending on the internet for my social interactions. I'm also reminded of a movie. What was it? Where a woman needed help from a super-geek friend who she'd never met to defeat a powerful enemy. Turns out that though he had super cyber skills, he couldn't leave his chair and his only pleasure was living through his avatars in virtual realities.

A recent House episode showed a woman who blogged obsessively. She held nothing back, even detailing fights with her husband. She espoused the notion that you learn more about people through their blogs than you do when you meet them face to face. Not my blog, honey.

While the internet is no substitute for the real thing, I can't imagine going through this without having friends I can reach out to online. Even if I have insomnia, I can grab my Blackberry off my nightstand and there will still be friends posting interesting things on Facebook, either from distant time zones or because they can't sleep either. I also enjoy IMing with friends in other states. I'm lousy at keeping in touch by phone and snail mail, but love to stay connected online.

When I log in to Facebook, I'm connecting with my tribe. People I have something in common with. They're mostly other writers who totally sympathize when I post something like "My characters are not cooperating!" or "Doh! I forgot to take my own advice and torture my protag!" I may be stuck inside the same four walls for a while, but I'm not alone. And I can hang out at the cyber water cooler and never have to mention my back once. In the real world, that is the physical one, everyone I know asks me first, "How's your back?" I love that they care how I'm feeling, but I'm sick to death of talking about my back. I can go on Facebook and have the illusion that I'm just as able-bodied as anyone else.

I had to miss all Easter celebrations because of my back, but this Easter Sunday was also my daughter's birthday. Guess what she got for her birthday this year?



I couldn't be there for the birth, though I wouldn't have made it in time anyway(she squirted her out in 2 hours). But she brought her up to see us on Sunday. What a treat! And everyday she sends me pictures from her cell.



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Story sale, and SF and FB fun

I just heard from Every Day Fiction that they want "Grey Drive." I don't have a publication date yet, but you can bet I'll blab it around as soon as I hear. It's a SF flash piece that explores the next thing in media storage. Shout out if you know the answer. ;)

I posed a question on my Facebook wall about profile page vs. fan page. I received some great feedback. I'm not really keen on the idea of getting a fan page. But, on the other hand, my personal friends may thank me. I got the FB account because of my writing. Most of my wall posts have to do with writing. But I'm not going to turn away friends and family. I just don't like the one-way nature of the fan page.

Then imagine my surprise when my google alert for Ann Wilkes this evening takes me to an Ann Wilkes fan page, with my information, that I didn't create. Am I losing it or did FB create it when I created the July event that it lists?

Why do I have an Ann Wilkes google alert? Well, sometimes that's how I find reviews of Awesome Lavratt and other press. And once I even caught a pirate: One of my stories appeared on an ezine without my knowledge or permission. For writers, it's a must. It's not vain, it's sane. >groan<

I finished The Unincorporated Man. My first impression? Deliciously disturbing. My interview with the Kollin brothers and the review over at Mostly Fiction will be available in September.

Meantime, Dani (Kollin) sent me this link to a comic strip about it at Unshelved.

Now I'm reading Japanese SF (in English): The Lord of the Sands of Time by Issui Ogawa.

For any SF fans so inclined, Atomic Tarantula has some interesting T's that only other SF fans will "get". And they're having a two-for sale.

Tachyon is having an anniversary party at Borderlands Books in San Francisco this Sunday, August 30, 2-6 PM.

Tachyon Publications' 14th Anniversary Party!!
14 YEARS OF SAVING THE WORLD, ONE GOOD BOOK AT A TIME!
Please join us for the annual Tachyon Publications Anniversary Party!
The Emperor Norton awards, a special Tachyon giveaway, food, refreshments, and lots of special guests!



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Writing, networking and author interviews sneak peek

My story, "For Chance to Dream" is now available in issue #25 of Beyond Centauri. If you find it in a bookstore, let me know. Otherwise, it's available online at from the publisher, Sam's Dot Publishing. Beyond Centauri is for ages 9+. You can get a subscription or just buy one issue. My first print magazine sale! And my first sale to this demographic! My copy hasn't arrived yet. Can't wait to see it!

The social networking blog entry is up over at Redwood Writers as promised. I also posted the link on some of the sites contained therein and received a lot of great responses, including more suggested sites.

I'm also doing a workshop on social networking on August 4th in Petaluma, CA sponsored by Redwood Writers. More details later.

Yes I know this is Friday. There should be an author interview up. Well, last weekend was spent, instead trying to whip a new story in shape. But I have some great interviews on the way. Karina Fabian, Juliette Wade, Gregory Frost, Dani and Eytan Kollin, and David Brin. As always, interviews go up on Fridays (obviously not every Friday).

I haven't decided whether or not Warehouse 13 is going to deliver. Sometimes you have to watch more than one episode because there's so much setting up of the situation and characters in the pilot.

I have decided that I'd rather watch a bad SF series than a SF, err that's SyFy now, channel movie. They continue to disappoint. Is it that they can't afford good writers? Are they hiring their nephews and nieces to write them? They sort of like paint by numbers. Like there's a workbook with blanks for (disaster), gigantic (name the animal or insect, past or present), (profession) of estranged spouses who now have to work together. Ok, ok, I'm climbing off my soap box now.

Anyone know an expert on biometrics or DNA testing? My story is languishing for lack of information. I sooo don't have time to do proper research. I'd be happy to pay in acknowledgments. :)


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blogging, feeding and digging

I finally figured out how to be an author on Goodreads. Better still I have this blog feeding there. I love reciprocation! I also figured out how to feed automatically to Facebook from Networked Blogs. Outstanding!

I'm posting a blog entry at Redwood Writers in a couple of days in which I'm revealing all of the 50 or so author social networking sites I'm on.

Meanwhile, hubby is now a Facebook fiend just two weeks after joining and now he has a blog as well. His blog is End 21st Century Slavery. My husband, the activist. :)He says he's going to blog every day. Now I have to help him to feed and digg it.

I got another story rejected on Sunday. This was a reprint that was accepted to the first place I sent it. Just goes to show, that the selection process is subjective and the piece has to fit the venue.

I recorded Warehouse 13. I'm off to watch. Of course, I'm getting a little annoyed at the fact that I find shows I like and then they disappear for months on end, sometimes never to return. Some of that was due to the writers strike, so maybe it will happen less now.

If you're local there's a multi-author book celebration for this month's meeting of Redwood Writers. More info at the blog or on their website.


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Two gigs this week and more social networking mania

For those of you in or around Sonoma County, I'll be at the Comic Book Box in Rohnert Park on Saturday from noon to 4PM.

On June 27th, the Comic Book Box, 1451 Southwest Blvd #103, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, will be having a CREATURE FEATURES event! The Producer of WATCH HORROR FILMS, KEEP AMERICA STRONG, a journey into Creature Features, Tom Wyrsch, will be here to show classic interviews by Bob Wilkins and John Stanley! Ann Wilkes the author of the SF book, AWESOME LAVRATT and Alice Henderson author of VORACIOUS will also be on hand! For more information call 707-792-0100!

If you're in the East Bay, I'll be in San Ramon on Thursday.

Date: 7/2/2009
Start Time: 7:00 PM
Description:
Memorable stories begin with intriguing ideas. But where do writers get these ideas? Science fiction author Ann Wilkes will take you on an odyssey of "what ifs" to generate unique scenarios on the spot which she will help you grow into viable story lines. Bring your imagination and notebooks.

Celebrate Summer Reading with us!

Library: San Ramon Libraries - San Ramon
Contact Number: 925-973-2850
Presenter: Ann Wilkes

I really am a social networking junkie. I don't stop with MySpace, Facebook and Live Journal. So, I've had to start a list of all the social networking sites I'm on. There are 15 LinkedIn writing related groups that I'm on, six Book Blogs groups (Ning), Book Place, Book Marketing Network, Goodreads and two groups Goodreads groups. Then there are Yahoo groups. I haven't visited the sf forums in months.

And still, I refuse to Tweet. ;) But, for those who do, my friends over at Oxford University Press asked if I'd share this with my readers: Set Phasers on Tweet: A Star Trek Snowclone Blizzard on Twitter

I convinced my hubby to join Facebook last night. He just returned from a trip to Mississippi to participate in the Gathering Hearts Poverty Tour. He spoke on the labor abuses that are going on in California, what he's calling part time slavery. Now he has another way to get the word out.

On the submitting front: I have already received 2 rejections from the 9 stories I sent out this month. Sent one back out already. It's all a numbers game, like job hunting. Well, talent helps, too.


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engrossing scenes, memorable characters and awesome review of Awesome Lavratt

I have to get right to the best news of all. For those who are still dragging your feet on social networking and thinking it has no real value for you and your career, read and weep -- then cheer. I met this reviewer because someone had an Ning group that they posted to their FaceBook wall. It was over at book blogs, so naturally, I checked it out. The reviewer posted responded to a post there. I checked out her site and found she reviewed Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- favorably, of course. So, I took her up on her offer to review my book. She read it the same day it arrived and gave me this glowing review of Awesome Lavratt at A Journey of Books. I didn't pay her for it, honest. ;0)

Here's a great post on amping up character tension by my writing friend, Becky Levine.

I sent out 8 stories in 8 days this month. How much writing did I get done? I finished a flash piece. :( Most of the stuff I sent off was reprints. And one piece that had just been rejected. I already have one rejection back from this latest batch. I should have popped that one back out last night, but last night was my catch up on sleep evening. Came home from work and crashed.

This isn't a SF flick, and it's not new, but I have to mention it. It's been a while since a movie has really made me think. You might recognize the victim as a character actor, but I didn't recognize anyone else. The movie is Stuck. It does come by its R rating honestly. I muted the intro because of the filthy rap music (luckily no dialog happened during it), for example, and there was some nudity. A young woman, high on pills and booze, drives home. She hits a homeless man crossing the street. He shoots through her windshield and is stuck halfway through. She drives to the ER, can't pull him out and is scared of being spotted so jumps back in the car and drives home. She locks the car in the garage with the man still there. She knows he's alive. She tells her boyfriend, but leaves out the part about him still being attached to her car. During most of the movie this poor guy who had already been experiencing the worst day of his life - before the accident - remains stuck in the windshield. Five people know he's there before the story is over, yet no one helps him.

The really creepy, incomprehensible thing is that she sees the man bleeding all over her car as an inconvenience and a threat to her looming promotion -- to head nurse's assistant! She's very gentle with the patients in the convalescent hospital where she works, but is ready to have this guy die rather than lose a measly promotion she will most likely never get anyway. The even trippier thing is that it's based on an actual event. !!!!! I said her behavior is incomprehensible, but the thing that got to me is knowing that there are people out there like that character.

And how do we apply this to writing? Now THAT'S an unforgettable character!

PS - Rob Sawyer has made the text of his novella, "Identity Theft", which is up for an Aurora Award, available online. There's also a film in the works.

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Literary frustrations

I left poor Horace (of Awesome Lavratt fame) about to get surprised by Darantz (a seven-foot lizard with a beak and an atitude) weekend before last. Got no writing done on the sequel this last weekend. And I'm up to my eyeballs in taxes, Redwood Writers and various promotional activities. And this weekend is full. I best make time this week. Can't leave Darantz in mid-step.

I don't know if there are super sunspots or cyber gremlins or what, but the internet both at home and at work has been sluggish. I'm wrapping this one up quick because I'm getting frustrated.

I'm still learning new stuff about the "new" Facebook. I added Goodreads to my profile but now all my tabs don't show because there are too many of them. Grrr! Their layout options (the few that exist) are still mystifying me. I'm doing a workshop on FB, so I have to learn it all, pronto.

And here's something from a follower at Oxford University Press: Nine Words You Might Think Came from Science but Which Are Really from Science Fiction



But the really exciting thing for me is that I have readers at Oxford!

Social Networking and the March Hare

What could be cooler? I was asked to do research on Facebook and LinkedIn for work, so I got to play on my sites at work last week. Of course this coincided with Facebook changing it's look. In addition to giving FB feedback on their blog and joining all the "I hate the new Facebook" groups that came to my attention, I gave my MySpace page a facelift. It actually looks like it might be a SF writer's page now.

I also found a group on Facebook that is for people that like to coin words. I've course I joined and told them about "procrastinatable".

I just got a library gig arranged, but for setting the date. I'll be giving a talk on "What Ifs". Still need to come up with a catchy title and proper description. Suggestions welcome.

I've been thinking about my seven foot lizard, Darantz, in my Awesome Lavratt sequel. I have to give him a well-rounded personality and a past. So this week, instead of world building, I'm character building. Do think character building will build character. Couldn't resist that one.

The last Odd Month Reading was a smashing success. We had 13 readers! That's a record, aside from the Vintage Voices book launches. The Odd Month Reading series is a reading series I established through Redwood Writers. Here's some pics from the event. Mind you the March event is always referred to as The March Hare's Literary Tea.

Victimized! and Awesome happenings

Someone, somehow got a hold of my bank information and made a purchase at an adult website in my name. As a result, I had to close my bank account today. That was the easy part. Now I have to track down all those recurring payments that won't be able to recur... Not to mention the online billing information at a dozen different sites. And then there's the surviving without the ATM cards until the new ones come. UGH!

Well, on a brighter note, the Awesome Lavratt book launch is scheduled for Janurary 25th at Borders in Santa Rosa, CA. I'm also going to be on the radio promoting it on the 7th at 7PM. The radio station is at 91 FM out of Rohnert Park, CA but is also streamed on their website.

I just joined yet another social network. This one is for speakers. And within it is a subgroup of speakers who are writers. And then, since they didn't have one yet, I started a subgroup of Toastmasters. I had a dozen new members overnight. I have mentioned that I'm a networking junkie...

I've also volunteered to speak for the American Cancer Society. Did I mention I also suffer from volunteeritis?

Of course, the problem is that what with the FT job, the book publicity and the holiday preparations, there hasn't been much actually fiction writing of late. >>takes a deep breath<< I have to get better at budgeting what little time I have. I think I may have to blow up the TV. Of course, it's going to become obsolete in less than 60 days anyway...

Networking Junkie

It's official. I'm a networking junkie. I'm thinking that should be my tag line for my speaking profile. The one I still need to write... I'm in about 8 LinkedIn groups alone. That's in addition to the Yahoo groups, Face Book, My Space and a number of published author online groups. And Broad Universe. I've probably missed ten or so, still.

I've cut way back on volunteering, but the networking is now getting extreme. But I love it! I enjoy meeting people and sharing ideas and tips.

This Ain't No Rodeo is now available. My story, "Bullheaded" is in its pages. 75 percent of the proceeds go towards the Resistol Relief Fund for injured bull riders and their families.

Two story rejections arrived in the last two weeks. I should be getting an acceptance soon, then right?

I finished Lord Tophet by Gregory Frost and have started on the review. It will be at Mostly Fiction eventually. Meantime, I'll just say - AWESOME! Can he ever weave a story within a story and turn a world inside out -- or in this case -- upside down. :)

Come follow me

If I have any friends out there that aren't completely saturated with web 2.0, or is it 3.0 now?, social networking and SEO (search engine optimization), here's another thingy for you. Google Blogger now has a "followers" feature. If you're following someone's blog and they have turned on that function and checked the "show my followers" box, then your little pic or avatar will be on their website.

Why should you want to do this? It's more cyber real estate, of course. So all you bloggers who use Google's Blogger, aka blogspot blogs, come follow me. :) And I'll return the favor if you have a similar site or one that interests me.

While musing over an article for work yesterday, I made an interesting observation. It was about resolving personal conflict. What struck me as I sat staring at the screen trying to come up with a list of meaningful bullet points was this:

People struggle with each other over seemingly trivial matters because of their need to be:

right
in control
validated
noticed

Have I missed anything?

Another observation that I made is that the things that we're not supposed to talk about at the dinner table: money, politics and religion, are the very same things wars are fought over. Those and power, which translates into land and conquest on the grand scale and meddling on the personal one.

I'm having fun with Horace. He's the (first) main character in Awesome Lavratt. He's the main character in a sequel I'm working on now. I have so much fun making him squirm. Poor guy...

I'm almost finished with the fantasy novel, Shadowbridge, by Gregory Frost. I'll probably have it finished tomorrow. I'll be reviewing it at Mostly Fiction along with its sequel.

Next up is editing a ms for a friend and critiquing more of same for OryCon. I got a picture of myself holding my book yesterday in the mail. I had completely forgotten about it. Joe Collins took pictures of the authors in attendance at SpoCon and sent us a copy to keep and a copy to sign and return. And a third copy goes up on a wall at U of W. Pretty cool.