EFC17-006 Wm Mark Simmons [35:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (49)

Interview with author and filker Wm. Mark Simmons recorded at Fencon IV.

Is also a broadcaster. Music director of Radio Kansas.

We talk about his writing

Half-Life series

All about Chris Cséjthe

Habeas Corpses

Dead Easy

books standalone

Pathfinders

demos a filk song

filk circles take on many different forms.

closes with a filk song.

Links

http://www.sff.net/people/wm.mark.simmons/

Has Escape from Cubicle 17 suffered from the dreaded podfading disease? I must confess to some degree it has, but all hope is not lost. You will soon see a recovery and more podcasts. I do have several in the can that need some editing before posting. So it’s not a lack of material. I can’t say how often new ones will be posted, but I assure you that they will be posted.

I would like to make a note of some changes coming down the pike. I also do the Conestoga Podcast. Since both of these podcasts are basically the same I will be combining them. I’ll be posting most if not all of the remaining Conestoga Podcasts recorded at Conestoga 11 here on EFC17. Eventually, I’ll create an archive of all the ones from Conestoga on a separate page. If I do record any podcasts at Conestoga 12 - July25-27, 2008 in Tulsa, OK they will be under the EFC17 name.

So check back but not too frequently.

Just got back from Fen Con IV in Dallas, TX. I had a great time and recorded a few interviews which I will be posting over the coming weeks. Vadercast was the featured podcaster their. Alas, our paths never crossed. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to meet up with them in the future.

Update 10-8-2007 — Unfortunately, I’ve been a little busy since I’ve returned from Fen Con. I should have the first podcast up by next week.

Update 10-29-2007 — October has been a very busy month and alas some hobbies have had to be delayed including this one.  I do have new interviews on the way. Until then have a great Halloween (Oidhche Shamhna).

 

 EFC17-002 Joshua Bilmes [31:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5)

2nd of the 3 interviews recorded at Archon 31.

Show Notes

Joshua Bilmes, proprietor of Jabberwockey Literary Agency, http://www.awfulagent.com/.

What brings him to Archon 31 (aka 9th NASFIC, aka Tuckercon)

Visits lots of bookstores

Fairview Heights Borders one of the best in the nation for science fiction & fantasy

How he became an agent

Stan Schmidt and Betsy Mitchell were instrumental

had no grand plan to be an agent but had the connections to get him started.

last nights panel: Here Comes the Pitch
What to do when an aspiring author has that manuscript

It isn’t just what you know. It’s who you know.

going to cons to meet other authors, editors, agents and going towriters conferences too

Why does an author need an agent?

Needs a good agent. Bad agent can cause more harm.

Some publishers don’t look at unsolicited manuscripts. Helps author get thru doors
Agent more attuned to what editor, publisher needs.
Agents are familiar w/ ins and outs of contracts.

An agent wants to build a lasting relationship. Can be like a marriage

Some of the most successful authors have had the same agents for decades

Has an impressive stable of authors
Host has met a few:

Elizabeth Moon
John Hemry
John Moore
Alexis Glynn Latner

Books coming out

During the week of Archon 31 (out now)

Brandon Sandernon’s Mistborn

Violette Malan Sleeping God (trade paper) Mirror Prince (mass market)

Steve Mancino (Joshua’s agent partner)

Kat Richardson’s Poltergeist

Future books Fall 2007 and 2008

Simon Green The Unnatural Inquirer: A Novel of The Nightside (1st hardcover)

Charlaine Harris 8th Sookie Stackhouse novel

Tanya Huff bloodties

biggest success selling a first novelist
peter bret del rey title 1st

Elizabeths Moon’s final book in the Vatta’s War Saga Victory Conditions will be out February 2008. She turned in the final manuscript just before Archon 31.

Hasn’t seen a lot of changes in the publishing industry

Has seen a lot of changes in the retail side. Mid-80’s lots of mall stores. Now lots of superstores

You can’t stumble across a book anymore. You have to go to a big store with intent to buy bookLots of changes in distribution to non-book stores: pharmacies, grocery stores, etc. Fewer distributors. Less variety.

Word of mouth is important
Joshua encourage clients to get out and meet people.

I mention podcasts have changed my non-fiction buying habits These are usually radio shows released as podcasts. And I hope podcasts will help change fiction buying habits.There are more outlets for book reviews available now, especially on the Internet.

Such as Sci Fi Weekly

I mentioned I interviewed TM Wagner of http://sfreviews.net/

Joshua’s recommended websites for SF publishing news

http://www.sfscope.com
http://www.locusmag.com

andrew wheeler at comicmix.com

Wants query letters on a piece of paper

Commandments when talking/writing to an agent

 

 Conestoga Podcast - Program 33 - John Picacio [38:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (98)

Until I post my next EFC17 podcast (which should be soon) you might want to give a listen to my Conestoga 11 Podcast interview with artist John Picacio.

I know a few lucky individuals going to Worldon in Yokohama, Japan this year. One of them is artist John Picacio. I know this because I interviewed him over at the Conestoga Podcast. He’s been nominated for two Hugo awards: Best Professional Artist and Best Related Book - Cover Story: The Art of John Picacio. I also know a few of the people bidding for WorldCon 2009 in Kansas, City. In fact, I interviewed Margene Bahm last year for Conestoga 10 and we talked about their bid. Lastly, the man who inspired me to get into podasting, Paul Fischer of the Balticon Podcast will be going as well.

Nihongo ga wakarimasen means ‘I don’t understand Japanese’. I took one semester and have forgotten most of it. It’s a cool language. It’s much easier to learn the spoken part than written part. Hirigana & katakana are easy. Learning the 1900 plus Kanji characters are … well … a lot. I think I learned 5 of them.

Yeah, I’m doing a little cross promotion between both of my podcasts.

UPDATE [8/23/2007] I will be posting from time to time a podcast from the Conestoga Podcast feed. I will not be adding any show notes. You can go to the Conestoga website for that. These interviews are ones that may be of interest to EFC17 listeners. I would appreciate any feedback if you like the occasional crossfeed post.