Sime~Gen Perspectives Newsletter

DECEMBER 2008

Contents:
* SIME~GEN TENTH ANNIVERSARY
* ANNOUNCING THE ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S CHAT JANUARY 1, 2009
* SIMECENTER NEWS
* REREADABLE BOOKS UPDATE
* Check our our new Amazon "Stores"
* NEW REVIEWS
* COAL FOR CHRISTMAS
* KEYBOOKS RESTOCKED
* BORDERLAND UPDATE
* JOIN THE REVIEWERS
* NEW ITEMS FROM ARTISTS AND AUTHORS AT CAFE PRESS
* HELP WANTED
* PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
* AVAILABLE RELEASES
* SITES TO REMEMBER
* SUBSCRIPTION AND CONTACT INFORMATION
**COPYRIGHT NOTICE**

******SIME~GEN INC SEEKS STORIES TO CELEBRATE TENTH ANNIVERSARY*******

We are older than Google, older than Yahoo, older than Amazon.com. Before Facebook, before YouTube, before Napster, before Netflix, there was Simegen.com. And we're still here!

Simegen.com first appeared online and Sime~Gen Inc. was incorporated way back in the last century, in 1999. We'd like to fill our January newsletter with YOUR memories of those good old days!

Many of you have been with us for far more than ten years, since the paper fanzine days. Many others only found us when we went online. What we're looking for are stories about 1999, 2000, and the first couple of years of the new millennium, when our scattered online presence of websites about Sime~Gen run by people who loved the fandom were consolidated in one place and became available at a single URL, simegen.com.

Were you one of those excited by the idea of a web presence, or were you one of the people dragged kicking and screaming into the new technology? Were you among the originators of the S~G role-playing game? Have you been on the simegen-l listserv from its inception? Were you one of the writers who took our writing course, The Essence of Story, when it debuted? Were you one of the many people who deserve our heartfelt thanks for helping us construct and run the early versions of simegen.com?

Send us your memories of the earliest days of S~G on the World Wide Web, from the time before we consolidated into one website, until 2004. We will put your stories in the Tenth Anniversary January 2009 newsletter--and if there are too many for one newsletter, we'll use them over the next two or three months. And then we will post them online in a special Tenth Anniversary page.

It's our anniversary. We've survived, and are bigger and better than ever! Send us your reminiscences about our beginnings on the web.

Send your stories to karen@simegen.com before December 20, 2008 for consideration for inclusion in the January newsletter.

HELP US PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999!

******

**** ANNOUNCING THE ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S CHAT JANUARY 1, 2009

Including combined information from Jacqueline, and Karen:

This is your chance to talk real-time to Jean and me -- I try to come early and stay late, January 1, 2009.

And it's your chance to vote awards for people at simegen.com who have been especially helpful to you. We announce the stock awards, but then all in attendance get a chance to nominate and vote for other awards. Karen has a list of our Awards -- frankly I always forget!

You can see brief definitions of all the awards at http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/chats/chat2006_chat2.html#awards. In many cases, more detailed explanations of these awards, with lists of previous winners, can be found on the main Awards page. You can see these by following links from the one-liner page, above.

We (theoretically we're always lagging on this) post the list of awards because it forms the major part of the history of this domain. I feel it's important to keep track of our major contributors.

So anyone who's on our lists or deals with us in any way is more than welcome to sit in, nominate, vote, and chat.

We run it in two simultaneous IRC chatrooms -- so you can split your screen in half. One screen is moderated during the business meeting so the log is easier to clean up. The other screen is just chatter. Then both "rooms" are opened so everyone can talk to each other and just party.

For those that don't have the mIRC (or equivalent) software, there is an entry point for you via the web page of http://www.simegen.com/techtools/chat/.

We use the "rooms" #sgchat for the business meeting and #sgtalk for "side talk." Those who attended last year using mIRC or equivalent, your settings are unchanged.

The New Year's Chat will be 4pm EST, 3pm CST, 2pm MST, 1pm PST. For those not in North America, please use the Worldclock website to calculate the time that is right for you.

The edited and cleaned text of the meeting is put online as soon as possible.

Previous chat logs can be found at http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/chats/ if you want to take a look.

Karen will gladly help OFF LIST to get you connected to the chat.... the access information will NOT be posted to any of the lists for security reasons. Some help, though perhaps not quite current, is also found on http://www.simegen.com/techtools/ where tutorials can be found.

Karen will be on AIM prior to the chat and will do what she can to help everyone who wants to attend, "get connected."

******

****** SIMECENTER NEWS ******

The story we present this month is:
WORM, TURNED, by Mary Turzillo
- this time, it's personal

I "met" Mary through correspondence on the [simegen-l], and then met her in person at the Denver WorldCon.

Among other things, she was representing Clarion Writer's Workshop, and this month's post is for them.

The accompanying artwork is:
LADY STORM, by Michael Cox
- behind the scenes

I'd like to learn the story behind this one. What an amazing imagination!

This month's recipient, as mentioned above, is The Clarion Writers Workshop, Teaching Science Fiction & Fantasy writing since 1968.

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

******

******REREADABLE BOOKS

December 2008 column is now posted.

Here is how books are chosen for this review column, and how the column is organized. More books will be reviewed in January 2009.

To see books to be reviewed through June 2009

The review columns will be posted after they are first available in the printed magazine and on lightworks.com. This review column is first published on paper in The Monthly Aspectarian then posted to their website (lightworks.com) and finally archived some weeks later on simegen.com.

To be informed of when a new column is posted to simegen.com, you may subscribe to the monthly Newsletter-l that announces most new activity on simegen.com or you may subscribe to the newsletter ReReadable-l. Both free subscriptions can be found at http://www.simegen.com/archives/.

******

******Advertisment*****

When you enter the imagination of L. H. Young, you begin a fascinating ride, whether you are traveling the time stream with witches, finding love the stuff of legends with her wonderful vampires, traipsing across the universe with her Sci-fi, or going to school with four unusual teenagers born with the ability to heal by touch. Donąt forget that she even writes for the imagination of the very young as seen in The Christmas Kitten.

*****Please Support Those Who Support Us*****

****** Check our our new Amazon "Stores"

Blatant commercial to keep simegen.com on the air.

If you buy from Amazon using one of our search boxes at the bottoms of many of our pages, or find what you're looking for in our a-stores, we get a few cents to pay the bandwidth bills.

Our Amazon stores (we recommend buying directly from Amazon itself, not one of their onboard retailers unless you know the retailer very well -- we get paid the same, but have found better customer service with amazon.com shipments).

http://www.simegen.com/marketplace/keybooks/

-- NEW STORE created to hold gift items specially useful to writers, both in writing and in just finding the TIME to write.

Also we now have google ads on our main entry pages -- and they pay nicely when someone finds what they want via one of those ads. But don't click just to click -- click something that looks like what you really want.

******

******NEW REVIEWS******

The Last Plague by Glen E., M. D. Page

Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K Hamilton

Dragonheart by Todd McCaffrey

Undying by V. K. Forrest

The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts

Bloodsins by Kay Hooper

The Fire by Katherine Neville

Sinner by Ted Dekker

Foreclosure by Jacqueline D'Acre

******

******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.

******

******KEYBOOKS RESTOCKED******

Keybooks, the book store for writers needing inspiration and ideas, and Key Gifts, the store full of gifts for hard working writers have been redesigned and restocked with new items.

- for books and DVD's

- for items of use to writers

*******

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

The latest part of Borderlands is all about "Going to Nivet," and that, in fact, is its title: you can read all 19 episodes at http://www.simegen.com/sgfandom/fans/bev/boom/index.html#part.27. Ambassador Tsibola is heading for Capital, the unimaginatively named capital of Nivet Territory; at the same time, Jed and Maree Mullinsare on their way to see their son Bart graduate from Donor school. All of them have come a long way since last year (in story time, that is; almost five years ago in player time!) from an essentially Sime-free life to one that's thoroughly intertwined with events across the border. But that's why we call it Borderlands.

Due to a glitch, we had to reorder the episodes near the end of Part 26. The episode titled "Triangusul investigates some black sheep on the Tsibola family tree" has been moved down to the end of the part, and arguably should have been moved further down into Part 27. Still, there are plenty of other continuity errors in older parts. Flora Rayner is now a regular member of the International Cooperative Fiction Generators Cooperative, Non-Local 1. Stories in which she participated will first appear in Part 30.

******

******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 at rvcoord@simegen.com or send a note expressing their interest to Jean.

Midge Baker
Reviews Coordinator

******

******Advertisement******

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.

******Please Support Those Advertisers Who Support Us *****

******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 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.

******

******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.

******

******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.

******

******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.

******

***** 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.

To unsubscribe from this list, send an e-mail to listserv@simegen.com with no subject and the text "unsubscribe NEWSLETTER-L".

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.com or 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.