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In Memoriam – John Dalmas

John Dalmas (b.1926 as John Robert Jones) died in June following a short bout of pneumonia.  In 1969, when Dalmas was working for the US Forest Service, he published the novel, The Yngling, which was serialized in Analog and published in book form in 1971.  Two stand-alone stories appeared in Analog in 1970, but Dalmas didn’t publish any more fiction until […]

In Memoriam – William B. Sanders

William B. Sanders (1942-2017​) aka, William Sundown, was a writer and editor of science fiction. His work frequently drew on his own Native American heritage, coupled with a dry humor and biting cynicism. His novels included alternate histories, Journey to Fusang (1988), which Roger Zelazny called “a clever romp through maybes and might-have-beens” and which received […]

Don’t Tweet Your Rejections

by Shanna Swenson

Rejection is one of the worst parts of writing. When you get a story or novel rejected by an editor or agent, it stings. Your first instinct may be to go online and seek comfort and commiseration by letting your followers know what you’re going through. But stop and think before you spread the news of your rejection all over social media.

Teaching Stuff: It’s About the Mystery …

by Richard J. Chwedyk

I have my students do some exercises where they utilize stories about recent scientific/technological developments as a basis for fiction. We call it “NOT a Science Project.” I’m always amazed at how well some of them do their homework, and how often a simple exercise becomes the basis for a final project.

Ten Tips For First-Time Travelers to Helsinki

by Sylvia Spruck Wrigley

WorldCon in Helsinki is THE social event of the year, and we’re all really looking forward to it. However, for many folks, it might be the first time traveling to a country where English is not the native language. This can be nerve-wracking because it is impossible to know what to expect. In a vague attempt to help, I’ve created this ten-point list of how to cope.

Creating a Reading Series For Your Town

by Mark Niemann-Ross

At the 2017 Nebulas, I presented what we’ve learned about running a reader series in Seattle and Portland with hopes of assisting anyone interested in running a series in their home town. I’m following up that presentation with this written summary; let me know if you find it useful or have any further questions.