Sime~Gen Perspectives Newsletter
FEBRUARY 2008
Contents:
*NEW STAR TREK FAN FIC POSTED
*SIMECENTER NEWS
*ECUMENICON NEWS
*SIME-GEN'S READERS/REVIEWERS CHOICE AWARDS
*COAL FOR CHRISTMAS
*REREADABLE BOOKS
*DENVENTION - Denver Worldcon
*JOIN THE REVIEWERS
*NEW REVIEWS
*INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR VICTORIA ROSENDAHL
*NEW ITEMS FROM ARTISTS AND AUTHORS AT CAFE PRESS
*STARRED CROSS JEWELRY
*HELP WANTED
*PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
*AVAILABLE RELEASES
*SITES TO REMEMBER
*SUBSCRIPTION AND CONTACT INFORMATION
**COPYRIGHT NOTICE**
*****NEW STAR TREK FAN FIC POSTED******
Well... it's not NEW new. Remote Control is Jacqueline Lichtenberg's very first attempt at writing a script in the mid-1960's, before creating her Star Trek fanfic universe, Kraith before development of the Intimate Adventure premise before her first fiction sale of the Sime~Gen story Operation High Time before winning any awards for writing, but it may have some historical interest for fans. Read Remote Control -- brought to you by Doug Dietz who retrieved it from a 'zine Jacqueline no longer possesses. Or explore our growing Star Trek fanfic section . Recommend 'zines to be added.
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****** SIMECENTER NEWS ******
This month's story on SIMECENTER is:
Snow Roses (by Katy Thorp)
- be careful interpreting omens
The accompanying artwork is:
Broken Mandates (by G.B. Chew)
- best viewed in the abstract
These enjoyable works were donated in support of United Way.
When you donate to this worthy organization, be sure to tell them you were referred by SimeCenter.
Send your comments, questions, etc.--about the site, the stories and art...whatever--to the address below. [Mention 'SimeCenter' in the subject so I'll know it isn't spam.]
In Service to Unity,
Kaires Tevesu
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******ECUMENICON NEWS******
Jaqueline Lichtenberg will be teaching at the following con in Maryland in March: ECUMENICON. I used to teach at this esoteric con when I lived in New York. I expect to be at Westercon (Las Vegas) and Worldcon (Denver) this year but plans haven't been sketched in for that yet.
The convention is called ECUMENICON
Date: March 27-30, 2008
Thursday evening through Sunday Afternoon
Best Western Hotel & Conference Center
5652 O'Donnell Street
Baltimore, MD 21224-4630
Reservations: 800-633-9511 (Toll free)
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******SIME~GEN READERS/REVIEWERS CHOICE AWARDS******
Coming In Spring 2008 - The Re-launch of Sime~Gen's Readers Choice Awards
Sime~Gen's Reviews Department is gearing up for the Spring 2008 rebirth of our Reviewer's Choice Awards. We will be awarding biannual awards in the following categories: Favorite E-Book, Favorite Paper Book, Favorite Publisher Web Site, Favorite Author Web Site, Gatemaster's Favorite Book, and Favorite Sime~Gen Reviewer.
All active participants in the reviews process - from Sime~Gen Reviewers, Staffers, and Gatemasters to Authors, Editors, and Publishers - will be eligible to nominate and vote in the various categories.
There is much behind-the-scenes work to be done, and many parameters yet to be worked out. We ask for and appreciate your input. To date, we have settled on a definition of "active participation."
1) Eligibility to Nominate - must have been active within the last six months.
2) Eligibility to Vote - must have been active within the last three months.
Keep watching for updates on procedures as they are worked out.
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******COAL FOR CHRISTMAS**********
COAL FOR CHRISTMAS by Lois Wickstrom and Jean Lorrah has just reached the semi-finals in the Fade-In Writers Network competition.
Winners will be announced in January. It would be great to win one of these contests, but even making the semi-finals is a minor credential in our quest to sell our scripts to Hollywood.
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******REREADABLE BOOKS******
The review columns for November and December 2007 have been posted. And the books to be reviewed in this column for June 2008 have been posted. You can now view the material to be discussed from January through June 2008.
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******Advertisement*****
BROKEN GODS: House of the Rose, Book Three ~ In a medieval world at war, the vampires who call themselves djinni protect the House of the Rose from Crusaders, Saracens, and Mongols. They also preserve the past-life memories of the people of the House. Can a young Mongol warrior adapt to the secret life of a djinn, or will the intrigues of the ambitious Seer Nadira lead all to ruin? http://www.michaela-august.com/novels.html
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In the Service of Samurai - YA/Adult Japanese Fantasy "Last Samurai Meets Pirates of the Caribbean" Vassal of EL - YA/Adult Fantasy Mystery
"Winged men, murder, a past that comes back to haunt him"
Gloria Oliver - Unveiling the Fantastic - www.gloriaoliver.com
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TWIST OF HONOR ~ a historical romance set at the decadent court of Charles II. Kit Fitzgeorge is an honorable soldier with a dishonorable assignment--kidnap a young, wealthy widow and deliver her into a forced marriage with an impoverished earl. He has a simple plan...and falling in love with his intended victim isn't part of it. But he can't resist her, even if it means ruin for both of them... http://www.awe-struck.net/AUTHORS47/tohon.html
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******Denvention - Denver Worldcon******
Jean and I are making plans for Denvention (Aug 6-10, 2008). Kaires is looking to stay in the Party Hotel to run the Simegen Party, possibly with other participants such as Broad Universe. She'll need all the help you can give her.
I'm planning to have badge-ribbons made with the image Patric made for the tattoos we've been giving away at cons.
Jean, Torun Almer, and I expect to room together in Hotel #1 on the Denvention hotel site.
http://www.denvention.org/facilities/index.php
The convention says the hotel will take reservations at the discounted convention rate starting Jan 21, so now's a good time to start hunting for others who will brave the altitude. Denver is lovely once you re-learn how to breathe!
Live Long and Prosper,
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
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******JOIN THE REVIEWERS
As Coordinator of our Reviews Department, I ask for your help.
With the current upsurge in e-book publishing that is sweeping the Internet, we daily receive an increasing number of books to review. Yet, in counterpoint, we have a shortage of reviewers, and many of our reviews staff are several books behind.
We are eagerly and actively seeking new people to review for us. As with all of Sime~Gen, our reviewers are volunteers. When they write a review, it is posted with their byline, and they get to keep the review copy of the books they have read and reviewed.
For more information on our Reviewers Agreement, visit http://www.simegen.com/agreements/revagr.html.
Please help us by passing this information along to anyone you know who might want to join our happy band. If interested, they can e-mail me or send a note expressing their interest to Jean.
Midge Baker
Reviews Coordinator
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******NEW REVIEWS********
These reviews are a sample of this month's new postings. Our Reviews Department is continuously posting new reviews. Find a list at http://www.simegen.com/reviews/ . Use our domain Google Search box on http://www.simegen.com to find books by a particular author, or to find a particular title.
Biting the Bullet by Jennifer Rardin
The Third Circle by Amanda Quick
Dead In The Water by Norma Williams
Liquid Bones by Cassandra Zaruba
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******INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR VICTORIA ROSENDAHL*****
Read Alice Klein's latest interview with Victoria Rosendahl, author of Bitter Tastes. This interview comes at the perfect time of year as Ms. Rosendahl gives part of the sales of her books to fund literacy campaigns. May this inspire all of us! http://www.simegen.com/reviews/columns/mysteries/
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Anyone shopping Amazon who wants to contribute to simegen.com without it costing them a cent, please start by using any of the Amazon Search boxes on our pages. Our top page has three really handy ones near the bottom.
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******NEW ITEMS FROM ARTISTS AND AUTHORS AT CAFE PRESS
A SIME~GEN postage stamp is now available to order on cafe press. It can be used just as you would use a a regular postage stamp. Be the first on YOUR block to have them!
We've got a new page for Cafe Press items from our artists and authors. Now you can get t-shirts, greeting cards, clocks, mugs, and other great stuff with work from your favorite artists. You can even buy books about Nessie, the Orange Forest Rabbit and The Reluctant Spy that aren't available anywhere else. http://simegen.com/marketplace/cafepress/ is a direct link to all our items and merchandise stores. Use of this page will give the domain extra income.
If there is an item that you wish to see that isn't offered, just write Lois and she'll get it ready for you to order.
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*******STARRED CROSS JEWELRY
Think about magnificent, hand-crafted Starred-Cross Jewelry for your holiday giving:
The image comes in four designs:
- silver & enamel brooch *
- silver & gold brooch
- silver & gold outline pendant
- small silver pin
(The first three are 1-1/2" square; the pin is about half that size.)
* Enamel can be almost any color - think Householding colors! How do you describe the color you want? Try http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_colornames.asp.
Follow the link to the artist's own page for ordering.
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******HELP WANTED
The spotlights section of Simegen.com currently needs interviewers, spotlight posting personnel, an assistant spotlights gatemaster, and a keygifts store manager. We are also requesting an Assistant Reviews Co-coordinator - duties include covering when other staff are unable to perform tasks. We are almost finished revamping our reviews section and expect activity to be at a constant high level. We're looking for a versatile quick learner able to put in some time daily. Pluses are: A good command of the English language (syntax, grammar, punctuation, in that order), some computer experience or ability to learn, and an interest in books. Direct all inquiries to simegen@simegen.com.
Individuals to take over, or assist with the SIMECENTER Site -- It isn't at all hard, but a bit time-consuming...and very rewarding ("meeting" these marvelous authors and artists, if only via EMail and their websites). Please write me, Kaires Tevesu, if you are interested.
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******PUBLICATION SCHEDULE********
We have had to withdraw the entire Sime~Gen project from Meisha Merlin for a wide range of reasons. They missed several deadlines for publication of TO KISS OR TO KILL and showed no signs of intention to get it out any time in the foreseeable future. That stalled everything else. It was very disappointing. So we are now actively in search of another publisher. THE UNITY TRILOGY should continue to be available for some time -- they have the right to dispose of all stock in the Meisha Merlin warehouse.
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******AVAILABLE RELEASES***********
~ the Omnibus reprint of Jean Lorrah's SAVAGE EMPIRE: DARK MOON RISING -- is #1 in the reprint program.
~ Trade Paperback edition of DREAMSPY from BenBella Books and you can order on Amazon and some other places. Read the comments here: http://www.simegen.com/writers/luren/dreamspy/dreamspyreviews.html.
~ SAVAGE EMPIRE: PROPHECIES is #2 in Jean Lorrah's and Winston Howlett's omnibus reprint of the Savage Empire series.
Still Available in Trade Paperback, SIME~GEN: THE UNITY TRILOGY.
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***** Sites to Remember *****
Reviews of books by Jacqueline Lichtenberg
Sound files of Jacqueline Lichtenberg pronouncing Sime~Gen vocabulary words can be found at http://www.simegen.com/jl/nivetsoundfiles/index.html.
To sign up for classes, go to http://www.simegen.com/school/SchoolForms.html.
To volunteer, go to http://www.simegen.com/agreements/helpwanted.html for the latest openings.
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To contact editor for any reason, please e-mail Lisa Saunders at simegen@simegen.com.
*Please Note all material posted on Official Virtual Tecton is copyright © by Sime~Gen Inc. and all rights are reserved. To get your Sime~Gen(tm) material sanctioned for web posting or to get permission to repost from official materials, e-mail ambrovzeor@aol.comor contact simegen@simegen.com. Sime~Gen (tm) is the trademark of a fictional universe copyright © by Jacqueline Lichtenberg, 1969, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986 and Sime~Gen Inc. 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.