Good morning, Readers!

Happy news!

The Prix Aurora Awards are now open for nominations!  *cheering sound effect*

What are the the Prix Aurora Awards? Well, they're the fan-voted awards for Canadian speculative fiction run by the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association.  It's essentially the Hugos, but for Canada (and without the weirdo sad/rabid puppy contingent).

This award recognises brilliant works by Canadians in various formats all pertaining to SFF, from novels, to songs and poetry, to art and even fan stuff.  You can find all the categories and the eligible works listed under each one here.

​Yes, I have an eligible work under Novels (Human).  No, I am not begging for nominations.

I do think, though, that if you have an interest in the plethora of Canadian SFF talent, you should really be paying attention to the Prix Aurora Awards.  For just $10.00 you become a CSFFA member, and you get to nominate the work you most admire.

Better yet, for just $10.00 membership, when it comes voting time, you'll get a sweet voters package full of stuff - books, short stories etc - so that you can make an educated vote.  For just $10.00.  You get a whack of free stuff to have forever.  I mean... what a steal, right?

So, here's the deal: if you are really invested in a particular Canadian talent, and you really want to see them recognised, you can do your part to make sure it happens!

You have until 19 March, 2016 to make your nomination.

The ballot will be announced 01 April, 2016.  Yes, April's Fools.  Good luck believing the announcement.

Voting begins 15 June and end 23 July (to give folks time to actually read the nominees).

Now, if you know of a work published in 2015 that is not on the above-linked eligibility list, you can enter the work in yourself to ensure it's there for consideration when people start nominating.

For more detailed instructions/information on how to nominate, click here.  And happy (Canadian) reading!

Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

Sorry this post is late.  I was trying to search for relatively cheap flights to Calgary for When Worlds Collide.  It's a little disheartening.  Anyway, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a thing that happened.

Let me preface this with the admission that I was not a huge Star Wars fan.  I'm a little too young to have seen the original films in the cinema, so I have been inoculated against their ground-breaking cinematics.  I was also an adult when I first saw the originals, and, stripped of the accepting wonder of a child, I found them not great.  The protagonist was a whiny little shit, the big baddie was less menacing than I expected, and the writing was bloody awful.

Sorry fans.

I actually found the prequels that everyone hates so much pretty much true to form, but with more C.G.I.

As I wasn't overly enamoured by the Star Wars universe, I didn't go for any of the periphery stories.  I haven't read any books, or seen any of the cartoons that further fill out and (I'm told) better explain the universe and the characters who inhabit it.

So, while this new Star Wars certainly piqued my interest, I wasn't chomping at the bit to go see it.  I wasn't the first in line to see it.  Not even the second.  In fact, I waited until Christmas Eve before going to see it with my brother and father.

The short review:

I really liked it.

The longer review:

Rey was delightful; gifted, a survivor and likeable, but far from perfect.  Finn, as her counterpoint, was wonderful; funny, empathetic, with a struggle that a fair few can find relateable.  He cannot be what he's told he must be all his life.  I liked this.

Despite the hilarious Twitter account, I adored Kylo Ren as the villain.  He is clearly untrained but powerful.  I mean (SPOILERS), he stops a blast shot mid air.  Once he traps someone, he can turn his mind and body to other things, AND THEY STAY TRAPPED.  His loose grip on his temper, coupled with his power, is brilliant, in my opinion.  There is never anything so terrifying as raw, uncontrolled power.  Not knowing when he might next explode in a fit of rage was scary, and I really liked it.

I especially liked it because I could feel how impotent Kylo Ren felt.  I could feel the conflict and the rage.  It was great.  Brilliantly acted, Mr. Diver.

That said, (MORE SPOILERS) this movie was basically A New Hope redux.  It was almost exactly the same story with different characters and a few tweaks in the plot.  It was far better written and much better acted, but it was still the exact same story.

I was, all in all, quite impressed with the film.  It wasn't my favourite film.  Star Wars has not become my favourite franchise all of a sudden, but I certainly was not disappointed.

Best of all, the cast was wonderfully diverse.  The two heroes are a woman and a black person.  I very much appreciated this.

If you haven't already, go see the film. It's not Pan's Labyrinth level of brilliant, but it's a great flick all the same.

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers!

How are you?

I have to share something that happened over the holidays that I found equal parts flattering and humorous.  I've already shared it on Facebook, so this is old news for my followers there.

As I always do at Christmas, I gave a copy of my latest book to the Amazing Flatmate.  She puts up with a lot from me while I'm writing, so it's only fair.  This year, of course, it was Human.  As it turns out, she's really enjoying it.

Like... a lot.  I received a flattering text while she was on her way to the States to spend New Years with her family there.  The exchange that followed was pretty funny... for me....

See?  She puts up with a lot.

And for the record, that laugh I gave was totally justified.

But, this is the first time I've ever been told that something I've written has inspired fan art.  I'm really chuffed!  I guess however much I hated writing the thing, Human isn't a half bad book.

And on that note, I'm off to fix up the Daughters of Britain manuscript.  There is much to be done on that front.

Happy Monday everyone!

​Ciao!

Good morning, Readers....

If you're up early and not too hungover.  It's now officially 2016 and I just wanted to wish you all the best for the coming year.

I owe you all so much for a spectacular 2015.

Your kindness.

Your willing to take a chance on an unknown self-pubbed author.

Your encouragement.

Your unabashed support.

You are all so incredible.

Thank you.  Seriously.  Sorry to get all soppy, but I mean it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you!

Alright, I'm done with the one line paragraphs.

Mostly.

Heh heh heh...

Sorry.  Being silly now.  So, yeah.  I just wanted to let you all know what awesome folk you are and how much you all mean to me.  It's hard, because I know that not everyone reading this blog is a personal friend, or even an acquaintance who I can thank in person.

Part of the reason I hold my monthly meet ups and attend conventions (and want to travel outside of Ottawa to do so), is so I can meet you in person.  It's always nice to put faces on the invisible support I've received.

So, thank you for making 2015 as spectacular as it was.  Thank you for being wonderful.

I hope your 2016 is full of magic and love, joy and adventure!  Go forth and be your lovely selves!

Ciao!