Sime~Gen Perspectives Newsletter

MARCH 2008

Contents:
*RELAY FOR LIFE
*ECUMENICON NEWS
*SIME-GEN'S READERS/REVIEWERS CHOICE AWARDS
*COAL FOR CHRISTMAS
*REREADABLE BOOKS
*JOAN WINSTON
*DENVENTION - Denver Worldcon
*JOIN THE REVIEWERS
*NEW REVIEWS
*BORDERLANDS UPDATE
*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**

*****RELAY FOR LIFE******

Once again it's that time when we honor the growing number of cancer survivors and remember those who have lost the battle. Today we are winning the battle against cancer. Treatments are more effective. More patients are surviving longer. Treatments for some forms of cancer are so effective that now doctors use the word "cure" for them.

All this progress is possible because of ongoing cancer research, and I am now twice over a beneficiary of that research. Seven years ago I got cutting-edge treatment for breast cancer. Then just under a year ago I developed endometrial cancer--a separate disease and NOT a recurrence of the breast cancer. For the second time, EARLY DIAGNOSIS was the key to my recovery--and with this particular kind of cancer I have been pronounced cured.

The surgery for endometrial cancer was much more extensive and painful than that for breast cancer, but no further treatment was required. My six-month exam showed everything fine. I'm in a program of Exercise and Cancer Recovery, run by Dr. Matt Wiggins of Murray State University. Everyone in the program gets stronger and more flexible, but I'm so far the only person who had a second cancer surgery after being in the program for some time.

The result was amazing: a week after radical abdominal surgery I was able to drive without pain (my surgeon's instructions were "Try anything you want to do, and if it hurts, stop. Try again a week later.") Ten days after surgery my doctor sent me back to the exercise program, and Matt helped me slowly build back my strength over the next couple of months. In August I went to Japan, where I was able to keep up with the rest of the people on the pre-WorldCon tour, and do everything I wanted to do.

Japan, as you may know, is a series of mountain tops sticking out of the sea. EVERYTHING is up and down, so you're constantly climbing. I went everywhere, and had a grand time. I definitely attribute my enjoyment of that trip to the exercise program.

So, I am very much involved in the Relay for Life, the largest fund-raising program for cancer research--my way of giving back for the help I've been given. If you do not have a Relay for Life team, won't you please contribute through mine?

Jean

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******ECUMENICON NEWS******

Jaqueline Lichtenberg will be teaching at the following con in Maryland in March: http://www.ecumenicon.org/conference/details/ . 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 reached the semi-finals in the Fade-In Writers Network competition . 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.

Coal for Christmas has not won any contests yet, but it is currently under consideration at one major studio and two independent production companies. What that means is that after reading our logline and synopsis, they have asked for and are reading our script. BTW, multiple submissions are not only the norm, but are virtually REQUIRED in Hollywood. We have had to learn a whole new set of rules, very different from the rules for book publishing.

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******REREADABLE BOOKS******

ReReadable Books Review Columns Posted

The January and February 2008 columns for ReReadable Books have been posted. Click the January and February links to read the columns.

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******JOAN WINSTON******

As you know, everything on simegen.com has an underlying Star Trek Connection, so I'm assuming you all want this news about Joan Winston, my co-author on Star Trek Lives! and author of several non-fiction books about Star Trek.

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FROM DEVRA LANGSAM: Joanie Winston is currently (March 2008) in a rehabhospital. Anyway, she is currently at:

Hebrew Home for the Aged
5901 Palisdae Ave
Riverdale NY 10471

She is in room 305. I know that she would love to hear from you. Cheerful or Trekkish cards would be most welcome!

Live Long and Prosper,
Jacqueline Lichtenberg

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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 .

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.

Wicked City by Ace Atkins

Guilty by Karen Robards

Sepulchre by Kate Mosse

In the Earth Abides the Flame by Russell Kirkpatrick

The Genius by Jesse Kellerman

Bad Blood by L. A. Banks

Forbidden: The Revolution by Samantha Sommersby

The Restorer's Journey by Sharon Hinck

Dawn's Light by Terri Blackstock

Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie

A World Too Near by Kay Kenyon

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana by Anne Rice

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******BORDERLANDS UPDATE******

Part 24 of Borderlands, is posted at http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/fans/bev/boom/index.html#part.24 . This one's very different from the rest. It's a story within the story,framed by Marvin telling it to Ammenia on a long train journey, with her occasional interruptions. It's set at least 200 years ahead of the rest of Borderlands, soon after the canon short story "Operation High Time."

If you do decide you don't like life in "20th century Simerica," as one of our participants calls it, nothing happens in this Part that's essential to the continuity of future Parts. However, you will miss the full impact of the surprise at the end of the last episode. Watch the left margin indents.

These episodes were played nearly a year ago, so there's still plenty of backlog. We'll start working on preparing the next few parts ASAP. Feedback tends to motivate us to do so more quickly, of course (hint,hint).

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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 *****

Author spotlights

Chats

Romance articles

Reviews of books by Jacqueline Lichtenberg

Reviews

Shopping

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.