B.J. Thrower's Web Page

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(Barbara J. Thrower)

SF/F/DF/H Short Fiction Author

Oklahoma
State flag

Oklahoma: Up-to-date information on my home state, including links to the new Oklahoma National Memorial for the victims of the Murrah Federal Building bombing.

Online Bibliographies: I've discovered I have a partial bibliography listed in the ISFDB (Internet Science Fiction Database), which can be reached through the SF Site. It's nice that someone noticed some of my published stories, and if you've published any strange fiction you might find your own self there. For a complete bibliography of my published work (and of anyone else's who interests you), take a look at Locus Online, at The Locus Index to Science Fiction: 1984 — 1998.

"Original Child," a story of Hiroshima, has been published in the CD-ROM anthology Extremes: Fantasy & Horror from the Ends of the Earth. Edited by Brian A. Hopkins and published by Lone Wolf Publications, the cd costs $17.95 and features new short fiction by Yvonne Navarro, George Guthridge and many others, plus some very cool art by Chad Savage. Each cd has a slip page autographed by all 20 authors (the pages took a five-month, round-the-world trip from New Zealand to Oklahoma City so that everyone could sign them), and what do you know, all of our names are on the cover! Go here to find out more about Extremes, including that all-important ordering information. Don't like to read on the computer screen? Each story on the cd has a printable version. Brian is now taking submissions for future editions of Extremes, which include one devoted to Africa and another devoted to the sea.

"Original Child" is my first sale on a first submission to the first anthology I was ever invited to send something to. It's also the most difficult story I've written on an emotional level. I hope it's one of my best efforts; considering the subject matter, it deserved nothing less. SFWA members who are not ordering the cd are welcome to email me for hard copies.

"Original Child" is now online at Fictionwise.com

From the Hellnotes Book Review by Garrett Peck--Extremes: Fantasy And Horror From the Ends of the Earth

"Then, of course, there's the stories themselves. All are set in exotic locales around the globe. No small New England towns here. No stories that could have been set there either. Each tale springs directly from the culture of the country it takes place in... Experience the aftermath of the Hiroshima bombing through the eyes of a vampire in B. J. Thrower's 'Original Child'... These are just a few of the ports of call..."

"Elixir of Life," a sf short story about the conflict between space travel and a love that cannot wait long enough for the traveler to return, has been published in the second issue of Artemis Magazine (Summer 2000). As always, SFWA members may email me to request copies.

Editor Ian Randal Strock and Shane Tortellotte, another author featured in this issue, and I were all at the Barnes and Noble signing in New York City during the Nebula weekend (May 19-21, 2000). Ian was good enough to bring a box of copies as the bookstore neglected to order them, so every copy we signed was free!

"Seepage," a horror short story co-authored by myself, Trey Barker, Laura Elvin, Brian A. Hopkins, Harold Chester and Gary Jonas has been published on another CD-ROM by Lone Wolf Publications, The Red, Red Robin Project. Approximately 70 authors wrote round robin stories for Brian, and all profits from the sale of the CD go to a women's shelter in Oklahoma City. "Seepage" is swampy, smelly, mucky and funny, with an unusual monster and a good ol' boy hero. You'll love it.

"Fence of Palms," my first nationally-published sf short story, has been reprinted online at DNA Publications. It will remain there through approximately the end of May, 2001. The online version is printable. I would be honored if you read it. This story has a painful history for me personally, and I'm thrilled it's finally been reprinted in its original form.

Upcoming Publications:

The Overlook Press will reprint the Lambda award-winning anthology Bending the Landscape: Fantasy, which includes my short story "The Home Town Boy." No word when this will happen, but Overlook will publish Bending the Landscape: Horror first. They published the science fiction volume in October 1998. White Wolf published the fantasy volume in March 1997.

"1984," a non-fiction piece, was accepted for the Lone Wolf Publications anthology Personal Demons (and/or Bad Things That Have Happened to SF/F/H Writers), edited by Garrett Peck and Brian A. Hopkins. This will also be published on CD-ROM. Garrett and Brian want it to be ready for WHC in May, 2001.

Plugs for Author Friends: The first definitive fiction piece I've seen on the Oklahoma City bombing--written by an OKC author--was published online on July, 1, 1999: "Five Days in April" by Brian A. Hopkins is a dark fantasy/horror novelette. You can obtain a printable copy from Chiaroscuro or read it on line via the "bibliography" link at Brian's web page.

Many authors would not have had the courage nor taken the risk to write this story. Four years later, the OKC bombing remains a sensitive subject in the Oklahoma writing community, not to mention the general population here. Brian did have the courage, and he has done a masterful, compassionate job. As one of Brian's fellow Oklahoma authors, it is my opinion that this brilliant novelette deserves wide-spread attention and acclaim. Please read what I consider to be one of the most important published short fiction pieces of 1999. I was pleased that "Five Days in April" made both the Stoker and Nebula final ballots. My congratulations to Brian for winning the 1999 Stoker for Best Long Fiction!

I have an online novel review of Minions of the Moon by Richard Bowes at the Barnes and Noble website. Rick is a World Fantasy and Lambda Award Winner, and he seemed inordinately pleased with my review. Go figure.

Word to the Wise: When you write and submit a customer review on the Barnes & Noble (or Amazon.com) website, you immediately lose the rights to it. I'm not sure who Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com think they are, but that's another subject for another day. If there's anyone on the Internet who would like to pay me to write online novel reviews that I retain copyright on, I may have a knack for it. You decide.

Other Stuff: I have a letter posted online at Science Fiction Weekly, addressing the first review I saw of the premiere issue of Artemis. I comment on the reviewer's belief that all of the magazine's fiction will be moon-based (since EOL isn't). The letter is available under Recent Letters dated September 27, 1999. Thanks also go to the congenial staff of Science Fiction Weekly for using my letter.

The R. A. Lafferty Tribute is on the Biography Page. Thanks muchly to SFF-NET for providing these pages to SFWA members, and to our Webspinner, Vonda N. McIntyre, for messing with them, including mine.

Upcoming here: BJT's Tulsa Tornado Log, pictures of my Nebula Weekend in New York City, and more announcements regarding my latest published stories.

Silly BJ Contest: Who said, "'--besides, I've always been intrigued by women named B.J.'"?

Silly BJ Contest Winner: Tina Stevens, from Minnesota (isn't the Internet wunnerful?). Tina made her first professional short fiction sale to Fantasy & Science Fiction, and won the Silly BJ Contest in the same week. I'm confident she'll make more sales in the future since she's obviously a smart cookie.

For her prize, Tina has opted for an autographed copy of the second issue of Artemis Magazine, which will include my new sf short story, "Elixir of Life." As Tina is in the process of learning, this is a bit like selling a story for "pay on publication."

Silly BJ Contest Answer: Fox Mulder (X Files). And yes, given Mulder's proclivity for porno, he probably meant something else when he said it, but I never cared about that.

Congratulations, Tina! And thanks for playing the Silly BJ Contest.

I can be reached by email at AOL, or at SFF Net.

Thanks for visiting, and come back soon.

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From the Hellnotes Book Review by Garrett Peck--Extremes: Fantasy And Horror From the Ends of the Earth

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