Jay Lake: Writer

[conventions] I will be reading at SF in SF, February 11th, 2012

Ok, not really a convention, but I don’t have a tag for ‘events’ or ‘readings’. I probably should, huh?

At any rate, I’ll be reading at SF in SF on Saturday, February 11th, 2012, along with K.W. Jeter, hosted by Terry Bisson — two of the more interesting people I know. My appearance there is being sponsored by my publisher, Tor Books, as part of a tour for the recent release of my second Green novel, Endurance [ Powells | BN ].

We’ll be appearing at The Variety Preview Room at 582 Market St. @ Montgomery, 1st floor of The Hobart Bldg. [ Google Maps ] Doors open at 6:00 pm and the event starts at 7:00 pm. I believe I’ll be reading something connected to Sunspin. If you’re in the Bay Area, come on down for an evening of live science fiction reading and discussion.

Hope to see you there!

Tags: Books, California, Conventions, Endurance, Green, Sunspin

Posted: 6:44 am Wed January 25 2012 | Comments(1) |

[awards|repost] Obligatory story pimpage

I haven’t published much short fiction this year, due to the effects of my cancer journey on both my productivity at the keyboard and on my focus on marketing. Such writing time as I’ve had has remained focused on my novels. Nonetheless, a few things have squeaked out into the marketplace.

For my own part, I think the best of these is my Sunspin novelette, “A Long Walk Home”, which has been selected for Year’s Best Science Fiction volume 29. If you’re a Hugo or Nebula voter, I hope you’ll give it consideration.

Anyway, here’s the list.

Novels
Endurance (Green, volume 2), Tor Books

Novelettes
“A Long Walk Home“, Subterranean Online
“The Decaying Mansions of Memory”, Untold Adventures

Short Fiction
“The Blade of His Plow”, Human for a Day, ed. Martin H. Greenberg and Jennifer Brozek
“A Critical Examination of Stigmata’s Print Taking the Rats to Riga”, The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities: Exhibits, Oddities, Images, and Stories from Top Authors and Artists, ed. Jeff and Ann VanderMeer
“‘Hello,’ Said the Gun“, Daily Science Fiction
“A Place to Come Home To” (with Shannon Page), When the Hero Comes Home, ed. Gabrielle Harbowy and Ed Greenwood
“Unchambered Heart”, ChiZine
“You Know What Hunts You“, The Edge of Propinquity

ETA: I suppose I’m also eligible for Best Fan Writer, if you happen to like this blog a lot.

Tags: Awards, Books, Endurance, Repost, stories

Posted: 5:29 am Wed January 11 2012 | Comments(0) |

[personal|writing] 2011 productivity, a bit on 2012 writing goals

In 2011, I spent May and June, and September through December, on chemotherapy, six months out of my year. I also underwent a liver resectioning in July to remove a metastatic tumor. In August, along with kenscholes, I co-hosted the Hugo awards ceremony at Renovation, the 69th World Science Fiction Convention. In September, I had the “A” interview and cover of Locus magazine. Those were pretty much the high points of my year.

However, even with spending eight months under serious medical care and running around on stage in the middle of all that, as well as holding down a full time job from which I never took a leave of absence, and parenting my daughter, I did manage a little bit of writing and marketing. It’s been a fairly thin year by my standards, less than I would usually expect from myself, but I did produce a total 243,100 words of first draft fiction and related nonfiction. That’s 198,500 words of first draft on my Sunspin project, along with 38,200 words of short fiction and 6,400 words of nonfiction. I also executed revisions to much of this material, including both Sunspin‘s outline and manuscript, and the revisions and final turn-in of the third Green book, Kalimpura. Plus seeing the release of Endurance, the second Green book.

This is far short of my original goal of 600,000 words on Sunspin first draft this year, but cancer pretty much ate my life and stranded me at the 243,100 mark. Likewise it interfered with my marketing of short fiction. Nonetheless, I managed 26 submittals of original short fiction, with 10 acceptances, 14 rejections and 4 outstanding. (The math doesn’t quite add up because of year-to-year overlap.) I also managed to submit 12 reprints for consideration, of which 7 were accepted, including two Year’s Best. 4 nonfiction pieces were accepted as well. In addition there were various foreign rights sales, the most notable of which was a three-book deal in the German market.

My 2011 convention and conference schedule was severely curtailed by my medical issues, but I did make it to Rain Forest Writers Village, Norwescon, the Locus Awards, ReaderCon, Worldcon, and (briefly) Orycon.

For 2012, if I can stay out of the oncology unit, I plan to write the other 400,000 words of Sunspin, revise the first two volumes for submittal and publication, and write several requested novellas and short stories. For financial reasons, my convention attendance will be severely curtailed except where I’m being sponsored to appear, unless fiction sales pick up enough to refill my travel budget. I do currently expect to be at Confusion, RadCon, Rain Forest Writers Village, Norwescon, Orycon and Surrey. Additional appearances to be confirmed/announced as time and resources permit.

Even if I do go back into cancer treatment, experience shows I can still be reasonably productive. If I metastasize yet again, I still plan to write another 100,000 words of Sunspin, as well as revise the first two volumes and write the requested short fiction.

I’ll be discussing 2012 goals and my thoughts on them in more detail with another post. For now, this is the 2011 round up. I hope it’s been informative.

Tags: Books, Child, Conventions, Endurance, friends, Green, Kalimpura, Personal, stories, Sunspin, Travel, Writing

Posted: 8:52 am Sat December 31 2011 | Comments(1) |

[links] Link salad dances the cotton-eyed joe

A reader reacts to Endurance — They liked it. Interestingly, they read and enjoyed this book without having previously read Green. That pleases me.

The Tweets of War: What’s Past Is Postable — Re-enacting historical events on Twitter with realtime WWII. (Via my Dad.)

Fluorescent Spray Could Help Surgeons Identify Cancer Quickly — Having been the recepient of an erroneous surgical procedure which also missed an existing tumor, this might have saved me immense trouble. Though I wonder how much good it does for tumors embedded within healthy tissue, as opposed to on the surface of an organ.

Virtually indestructible robostarfish penetrates tiny cracks

Reverse Mentoring Cracks Workplace — Top Managers Get Advice on Social Media, Workplace Issues From Young Workers. I don’t normally bother to link to the Wall Street Journal, which is basically FOX News for the 1%, with all the same lies and distortions of reality, but this is interesting and nonpolitical.

Flaming Napalmed Knickers — Language Log (again) on the completely and objectively false conservative meme that Obama uses “I” more often than other presidents, and is therefore a narcissist. I especially like this comment, which could apply to virtually all conservative allegations about Obama: Frankly, I’m disappointed in these people. Can’t they invent new fabrications instead of tediously repeating old ones?

God and man and William F. Buckley

When Did the GOP Lose Touch With Reality? — Conservative David Frum: I can’t shrug off this flight from reality and responsibility as somebody else’s problem. I belonged to this movement; I helped to make the mess. Something very, very few conservatives are willing to say. Good for him for at least partially owning up to the hideous monstrosity the GOP has become.

The Price of Intolerance — It’s early yet for a full accounting of the economic damage Alabama has done to itself with its radical new immigration law. And it couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of small-minded conservative bigots. But I repeat myself. Reality, meet ideology. More on this in other Southeastern states pushing little brown people out in the name of pursuing immigration ‘reform’.

Secret Bill To Be Voted On Today Would Allow The Military To Sweep Up US Citizens At Home Or Abroad — This is beyond disgusting. Where are those self-proclaimed Constitution-loving conservatives now? (Via danjite.)

?otd: Would you have been married a long time ago?

11/29/2011
Writing time yesterday: 0.0 hours (chemo fatigue)
Body movement: 30 minute stationary bike ride
Hours slept: 8.0 (fitful)
Weight: 211.0
Currently (re)reading: The Warrior’s Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

Tags: Books, Cancer, Culture, Endurance, healthcare, history, Language, Links, Personal, Politics, reviews, Tech

Posted: 6:00 am Tue November 29 2011 | Comments(0) |

[links] Link salad couldn’t be paid to stop there

A reader reacts to Endurance — And likes the book quite a bit.

To Develop Expertise, Motivation is Necessary but Insufficient — There’s a lesson in this piece for both aspiring writers and working writers.

CO2 climate sensitivity ‘overestimated’ — Global temperatures could be less sensitive to changing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels than previously thought, a study suggests. Interesting stuff.

We Are the 99.9% — Paul Krugman on income distribution and productivity.

NYT Claims Increasing Bipartisan Support for Plans that Could Raise the Cost of Medicare Policies by $34 Trillion — Mmm, that conservative privatization fetish is really going to pay off this time!

?otd: Ever been to Cleveland?

11/26/2011
Writing time yesterday: 0.0 hours (chemo fatigue)
Body movement: 30 minute stationary bike ride
Hours slept: 11.5 (solid sleep plus napping)
Weight: 207.8
Currently (re)reading: I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett

Tags: Books, climate, Endurance, healthcare, Links, Occupy Wall Street, Personal, Politics, Process, reviews, Writing

Posted: 8:14 am Sat November 26 2011 | Comments(1) |

[personal] Reading, infusion

The Endurance reading went well last night. We had about 12 for dinner, and about 35 at the Cedar Hills Powells. I wore the spiffy new hat that janetl sent me with her custom-made patch on it that says “Virtual Mohawk”. Came home, crashed out and slept over nine hours. Go, me.

Off to breakfast with Dad shortly, then chemo. Y’all play nice while I’m gone.

Tags: Books, Cancer, Endurance, family, health, Personal

Posted: 8:38 am Fri November 18 2011 | Comments(0) |

[writing|cancer] Plowing ahead with books and chemo

Yesterday my oncologist informed me that I had lost all my nose hairs. Full nasal Brazilian, that’s me. Which explains the odd booger-to-finger ratio lately, as I commented on my Twitter and Facebook feeds. And the perpetually runny nose. It’s like being three years old again. I shall attempt to maintain nasal dignity at tonight’s Powell’s reading and signing for the release of Endurance [ jlake.com | LiveJournal ]. Do come if you’re in the PDX area. Given that I actually slept well last night, I might even be lively!

The postponed chemo ten of twelve starts tomorrow. I passed my blood tests yesterday, and we discussed whether my ongoing head cold was of concern. So long as I don’t run a fever or slide back into GI terror, they’re going to plug and run me.

Meanwhile, plans are stirring for the spring. I expect to have the first volume of Sunspin, Calamity of So Long a Life, revised and back to my agent by the beginning of March so it can finally go to market. I have a few travel itineraries coming together. Look for me at RadCon, unless I’m feeling desperately broke in February, with other appearances to be announced.

I don’t have my writing brain or my normal life back yet, but I can see them from here. Tonight’s reading and signing will be a nice reminder.

Tags: Books, Calamity, Cancer, Conventions, Endurance, health, Personal, Sunspin, Travel, Writing

Posted: 6:46 am Thu November 17 2011 | Comments(6) |

[books|repost] Endurance reading and signing at Powells Cedar Hills

[repost]

My one and only formal public appearance this fall will be for a reading and signing in celebration of the forthcoming release of Endurance [ Powells | Barnes & Noble ], the second Green book.

I’ll be appearing at the Powell’s Cedar Hills store on Thursday, November 17th, at 7 pm. As is usual, I’ll have an open dinner from 5 pm to 6:30 pm, at McMenamins Cedar Hills, at the north end of the same retail complex Powell’s is in. If you’re planning to come to the dinner, please do let me know in comments or via email so I can include you in the headcount.

Hope to see you there.

Tags: Books, Cancer, Conventions, Endurance, health, Personal, Portland, Repost

Posted: 6:37 am Tue November 15 2011 | Comments(1) |

[links] Link salad is dying for a peaceful night’s sleep

Endurance gets Klausnered

jimvanpelt on psychotic persistence and creative success

Avro Vulcan over the wreck of the B-24 “Lady Be Good”, Libya, date unknown — If you can’t write a haunting short story based on this image, you’re not really trying.

The Silver Lining of More Cancer Deaths — Well, yes, if you want to put it that way…

When Everyday Foods Are Hard to Digest — GI Specialists Suspect Specific Carbohydrates May Cause Painful Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I was diagnosed with IBS back in 2002, which in retrospect was probably a precursor to my colon cancer.

Autistic Kids May Have More Cells in Some Brain Areas — Most of these neurons develop before birth, which would go against the theory that certain vaccines or other environmental influences encountered after birth may cause autism. Except that’s not a theory, it’s crank hysteria. Calling the thoroughly discredited vaccine-autism link a theory is like calling Creationism a theory. Or the Tooth Fairy. It’s an intellectually fatuous attempt to make your reporting appear balanced. (Thanks to David Goldman.)

24 Hours at Fukushima — A blow-by-blow account of the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. (Via danjite.)

Mobile Flash Abandoned for HTML5: Adobe Surrenders, Apple Wins? — Presented without further comment.

The Story of Broke: Rebuilding the American Dream — Must-watch video for those who will never watch it, because, you know, liberals are evil.

Understanding the nature of hypocrisy — A little primer for my friends on the Right. And my own thoughts on the subject, from a year or so ago: [ jlake.com | LiveJournal ]

?otD: Are your feets too big?

11/9/2011
Writing time yesterday: 0.0 hours (chemo fatigue)
Body movement: airport walking to come
Hours slept: 7.5 hours (badly interrupted)
Weight: n/a
Currently (re)reading: The Truth by Terry Pratchett

Tags: Cancer, Endurance, Food, healthcare, Japan, Links, Personal, Photos, Politics, Process, reviews, Tech, Videos, Writing

Posted: 6:37 am Wed November 09 2011 | Comments(1) |

[books] Endurance is out today

Today is the release date for Endurance, the second of the Green books. She’s back, she’s bad, and she’s ready to be read. Publisher’s Weekly gave the book a starred review, so I know somebody liked it. My agent comments on the release here.

If you want to score the book for yourself, here’s some links. [ Powells | Barnes & Noble | Audible.com ]

And of course, I’ll be at Powells Cedar Hills location on Thursday, November 17th, at 7 pm for a reading, discussion and signing. It’s my only formal public appearance this fall due to chemotherapy (I can’t even make it to Orycon this weekend), so if you want to catch me live and on the hoof, that’s your main chance.

I hope you enjoy the book.

Tags: audio, Books, Conventions, Endurance

Posted: 8:51 am Tue November 08 2011 | Comments(2) |