Tag Archives: Galactic Chat

Galactic Chat 70 – Peter Clines

One of the first writing websites I started hanging around on when I initially started trying to get published was the Permuted Press message board. The reason I was there was because I had read an amazing book (you can read my review here) and had immediately went on a frantic search to find out more about the author–and when the next book would be out!

It’s hard to believe it has been over five years–disturbing in fact–but, since then, Peter Clines has gone from strength to strength, not only continuing with the “Ex” series, but bringing out other wonderful works.

As he celebrates the latest instalment in the “Ex” series, Peter joined me on Galactic Chat. Yes, I gush, and yes, I had a LOT of fun doing this one. I hope that you enjoy listening to the result!

After a holiday break, Galactic Chat returns! David McDonald interviews author Peter Clines on the eve of the release of his new book, Ex-Isle.

In a wide ranging interview, they cover topics from the”Ex” series to Peter’s Hollywood career, and discuss the nature of heroism and the power of storytelling.

Join them as they fanboy over Classic Doctor Who and Supergirl, and listen in amazement as David tempts Peter into joining him on his soapbox about “Man of Steel”.

NB: Sadly, technical issues mean that David’s first few questions are a bit distorted (though intelligible), but please bear with it as Peter is crystal clear and Skype reins in its anger in time to let you hear David gush.

As Sean is on sabbatical, this is David’s first attempt at creating a podcast so all issues are his fault, and should not reflect on the podcast as a whole!

Peter’s website
Ex-Isle Amazon Page
The Doctor Who episode they are talking about
The Dragon Movie

Credits:
Interviewer: David McDonald
Guest: Peter Clines
Music & Intro: Tansy Rayner Roberts 
Post-prod.: David McDonald
Feedback:
Twitter: @galactichat 
Email: galactichat at gmail dot com
Ex-Heroes 

Galactic Chat 68 – featuring me!

Bit of a belated post, but I found out what it was like to be on the other side of the mic when Sean interviewed me for Galactic Chat! I really have no idea what I said–I was a bit nervous–but if you want to listen, follow the links below:

This week’s chat sees Sean interviewing fellow chatter and recent HarperCollins author David McDonald.  

They talk about David’s new film novelisation and  volunteering in the speculative fiction community.  Of particular interest will be some of the expectations on writers when writing for tie-in properties.

David also talks about the wonderful and enlightening responses he’s got to his Paying For Our Passion guest post series.

The Salon article David mentions can be found here.  If you are interested in his guest post series the initial post is here

You can find more on David McDonald here.

Credits:
Interviewer: Sean Wright
Guest: David McDonald
Music & Intro: Tansy Rayner Roberts
Post-prod.: Sean Wright
Feedback:
Twitter: @galactichat
Email: galactichat at gmail dot com

State of the Writer Update – Reviews, Interviews and Guest Posts

While the blog has been reasonably active–due to some wonderful guest posts–I have been a bit remiss in posting what I have been up to. There is a lot going behind the scenes, and I am getting a fair bit of writing done, but I still can’t announce some things that are coming up (which is killing me).

In the meantime, here are some quick updates:

Stories

  • My story, Our Land Abounds, got the audio treatment on the wonderful StarShipSofa!

Reviews

  • The first review of Backcountry is up and it’s a great one! You can read it here

Interviews

I’ve done a couple more interviews for Galactic Chat, with more on the way.

  • The splendid Amanda Pillar talks being on both sides of the editor’s desk and her new novel, along with plenty more
  • The fascinating Tsana Dolichva talks on a  number of subjects, from necroastronomy to Defying Doomsday

Travel

  • I went to the Reconnaissance convention in New Zealand and had an amazing time. Full report to follow!

Guest Posts

I am so grateful for the wonderful contributions I have received of late.

  • I continue to be humbled by the response to the Paying for Our Passion series–check out the wonderful posts that people have made (And you can get involved, too!)
  • Gwen Hernandez gave a masterclass on Scrivener, one of my favourite writing tools
  • D.K. Mok wrote on a subject close to my heart – the spec fic community
  • Holly Kench–as part of the promotion for the Defying Doomsday crowdfunding campaign (FUNDED! OH YEAH!)–with a must read for authors on writing disabled characters
  • Emilie Collyer, fellow Clan Destine author, on her writing journey

Hopefully I will be able to make some more announcements soon!

Galactic Chat 65 – Tsana Dolichva

I loved chatting to Tsana about necroastronomy and bad science in books – and of course the wonderful anthology, Defying Doomsday. There is still time to back it and make a huge difference!

In this week’s chat, David talks with Tsana Dolichva about her work as an Astrophysicist, providing scientific advice for authors and her role in the upcoming crowd funded anthology Defying Doomsday. They also chat about reviewing in small communities and the Australian Women Writers Challenge.

You can find the various links for Defying Doomsday below:
Links:
Pozible Campaign: http://pozi.be/defyingdoomsday
Website: http://defyingdoomsday.twelfthplanetpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefyingDoomsday
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DefyingDoomsday
Tumblr: http://defyingdoomsday.tumblr.com/

Credits:
Interviewer: David McDonald
Guest: Tsana Dolichva
Music & Intro: Tansy Rayner Roberts
Post-prod.: Sean Wright
Feedback:
Twitter: @galactichat
Email: galactichat at gmail dot com

Galactic Chat 64 – Amanda Pillar

In this episode of Galactic Chat I get to talk to one of my favourite Aussie Spec Fic people – Amanda Pillar! I have been lucky enough to be on some panels with Amanda, and can testify to how much you can learn from listening to her. Enjoy!

In this week’s chat, David talks with Amanda Pillar about her work as an editor on such projects as Ishtar, her day job as an Archaeologist and her debut novel Graced, from Momentum Publishing.

You can source Amanda’s novel from links at the Momentum website here.

Credits:
Interviewer: David McDonald
Guest: Amanda Pillar
Music & Intro: Tansy Rayner Roberts
Post-prod.: Sean Wright

Feedback:
Twitter: @galactichat
Email: galactichat at gmail dot com

Galactic Chat 63 – Pat Cadigan

In this latest episode of Galactic Chat, I get to talk to to the amazing Pat Cadigan. In a wide ranging interview, we cover everything from Heinlein to Cyberpunk, look at “fix up” novels, and find out how Pat is ‘punching cancer in the face’.

It’s a wonderful interview with one of the top writers in her field, and I hope you enjoy listening to Pat as much as I did.

In this weeks chat, our first for the year, David talks with Pat Cadigan about her early influences and her friendship with Heinlein.  There’s some brief talk about the honorable tradition of fix-up novels in Science Fiction and some discussion around the early formation of the Cyberpunk Genre.

Pat also talks openly about her response to cancer and gives us an update on how she is coping.

Finally there is some discussion about projects that have been launched in response to the Requires Hate situation to promote and support POC in the Science Fiction and Fantasy community.

Links referenced: A Report on Damage Done by One Individual Under Several Names

Credits
Interviewer: David McDonald
Guest: Pat Cadigan
Music & Intro: Tansy Rayner Roberts
Post-prod.: Sean Wright
Feedback:
Twitter: @galactichat
Email: galactichat at gmail dot com

 

Galactic Chat 61 – Kameron Hurley

In this latest episode of Galactic Chat, I get to talk to another one of my favourite writers—Kameron Hurley. I discovered her writing through the Bel Dame Apocrypha (God’s War Trilogy), one of the most original works of sci fi in recent times. But, she is also one of the leading fan writers in the spec fic community, and continues to challenge and subvert many of the things we take for granted with her blogging and essays.

As usual, my inner fanboy was fighting for control the whole time, but Kameron still managed to deliver a fascinating interview, where she talks about everything from Dragonlance to blog tours, and other topics listed below.

Plus, you get to find out more about her amazing new series!

This week David chats with award winning author and blogger Kameron Hurley. Kameron has been nominated for the Nebula, Clarke and the BSFA, selected for the Tiptree honour list and this year won the Hugo for Best Fan Writer. Additionally, her essay “‘We Have Always Fought’: Challenging the ‘Women, Cattle and Slaves’ Narrative” also won the Hugo for Best Related Work.

Please enjoy their chat where they talk about the influences on her most famous trilogy (including a dodgy rental apartment with bugs), when authors should speak out on issues of poor or disadvantageous contracts and what’s next on Hurley’s agenda.

You can find Kameron at her website

Credits
Interviewer: David McDonald
Guest: Kameron Hurley
Music & Intro: Tansy Rayner Roberts
Post-prod.: Sean Wright
Feedback:
Twitter: @galactichat
Email: galactichat at gmail dot com

Galactic Chat 58 – Ken Liu

In this latest episode of Galactic Chat, I get to talk to one of my favourite writers – Ken Liu! I have to apologise to all our listeners, because I was completely starstruck, and not very articulate. Fortunately, Ken more than makes up for it with one of the most fascinating interviews I have done.

We cover a huge range of ground, from the art of short stories to the challenges and pleasures of translating into English. We also get to hear about Ken’s upcoming “silkpunk” novel, which sounds absolutely amazing.

Anyone who loves short stories, epic fantasy, going out into the broader culture of spec fic or sweeping sci fi will get a huge amount out of this podcast. Actually, any spec fic fan is going to love it!

In this week’s episode David interviews Hugo and Nebula Award winning author Ken Liu. They talk about the short story form, the difficulty in translating from Chinese to English, Ken’s translation of the Chinese sci-fi masterpiece The Three Body Problem by  Liu Cixin and Ken’s own epic fantasy”Silkpunk” series called The Grace of Kings. 

The blog post they reference in the cast is  http://www.jasonsanford.com/blog/2014/8/want-to-be-a-successful-writer-avoid-short-stories

You can find Ken at his website.

The-Three-Body-Problem-Liu-Cixin

Galactic Chat Post Ditmar Bonus Cast

From the Galactic Chat Website:

In this week’s cast, we decided to do a Skype catch up with the team to talk about out recent Ditmar win.  In addition to congratulating each other we also took the time to engage in a little reflection.  We discuss podcasting as a way that authors can skill themselves up for interviews in other media spheres. We also talk about some of our favourite interviews and who we would interview if given the chance and money being no impediment.  

Enjoy our slightly Coode Street-esque ramble.

Credits

Interviewer: Sean Wright

Guests: Mark Webb, David McDonald, Alex Pierce, Helen Stubbs

Music & Intro: Tansy Rayner Roberts

Post-production: Sean Wright

Feedback:

Twitter: @galactichat

Email: galactichat at gmail dot com

2014 Ditmar Award ballot released

Well, the past few weeks have been intense, so much so that I forgot all about this (after the first bit of squeeing), but the 2014 Ditmar Award ballot has been released, and I feature twice (highlighted in bold below)!!!

I have been very fortunate in how many wonderful people I have met since I first entered the scene, not only are most of the names on the ballot good friends, I have also had the chance to work with some amazingly talented people. Both Galactic Chat and the New Who reviewing stuff are so much fun to do, and that comes down to the great company in which I find myself.

Given that in both categories I am up against Hugo nominated works I don’t expect to win, but that’s more than okay. I am just proud to see my name up alongside so many people I respect and admire. Thank you to all those who nominated Galactic Chat and Reviewing New Who!

Whether you vote for me or not, please do make sure you do vote if you are eligible to do so. The more people who do, the more respectability the Ditmars have as the representation of the opinions of the entire Aussie spec fic community.

Good luck to all the nominees!

Voting has now opened, and will remain open until one minute before midnight AEST (ie. 11.59pm, GMT+11),
Wednesday, 28th of May, 2014.

You can vote online here, or visit here for more information.

Best Novel

  • Ink Black Magic, Tansy Rayner Roberts (FableCroft Publishing)
  • Fragments of a Broken Land: Valarl Undead, Robert Hood (Wildside Press)
  • The Beckoning, Paul Collins (Damnation Books)
  • Trucksong, Andrew Macrae (Twelfth Planet Press)
  • The Only Game in the Galaxy (The Maximus Black Files 3), Paul Collins (Ford Street Publishing)

Best Novella or Novelette

  • “Prickle Moon”, Juliet Marillier, in Prickle Moon (Ticonderoga Publications)
  • “The Year of Ancient Ghosts”, Kim Wilkins, in The Year of Ancient Ghosts (Ticonderoga Publications)
  • “By Bone-Light”, Juliet Marillier, in Prickle Moon (Ticonderoga Publications)
  • “The Home for Broken Dolls”, Kirstyn McDermott, in Caution: Contains Small Parts (Twelfth Planet Press)
  • “What Amanda Wants”, Kirstyn McDermott, in Caution: Contains Small Parts (Twelfth Planet Press)

Best Short Story

  • “Mah Song”, Joanne Anderton, in The Bone Chime Song and Other Stories (FableCroft Publishing)
  • “Air, Water and the Grove”, Kaaron Warren, in The Lowest Heaven (Jurassic London)
  • “Seven Days in Paris”, Thoraiya Dyer, in Asymmetry (Twelfth Planet Press)
  • “Scarp”, Cat Sparks, in The Bride Price (Ticonderoga Publications)
  • “Not the Worst of Sins”, Alan Baxter, in Beneath Ceaseless Skies 133 (Firkin Press)
  • “Cold White Daughter”, Tansy Rayner Roberts, in One Small Step (FableCroft Publishing)

Best Collected Work

  • The Back of the Back of Beyond, Edwina Harvey, edited by Simon Petrie (Peggy Bright Books)
  • Asymmetry, Thoraiya Dyer, edited by Alisa Krasnostein (Twelfth Planet Press)
  • Caution: Contains Small Parts, Kirstyn McDermott, edited by Alisa Krasnostein (Twelfth Planet Press)
  • The Bone Chime Song and Other Stories, Joanne Anderton, edited by Tehani Wesseley (FableCroft Publishing)
  • The Bride Price, Cat Sparks, edited by Russell B. Farr (Ticonderoga Publications)

Best Artwork

  • Cover art, Eleanor Clarke, for The Back of the Back of Beyond by Edwina Harvey (Peggy Bright Books)
  • Illustrations, Kathleen Jennings, for Eclipse Online (Nightshade Books)
  • Cover art, Shauna O’Meara, for Next edited by Simon Petrie and Rob Porteous (CSFG Publishing)
  • Cover art, Cat Sparks, for The Bride Price by Cat Sparks (Ticonderoga Publications)
  • Rules of Summer, Shaun Tan (Hachette Australia)
  • Cover art, Pia Ravenari, for Prickle Moon by Juliet Marillier (Ticonderoga Publications)

Best Fan Writer

  • Tsana Dolichva, for body of work, including reviews and interviews in Tsana’s Reads and Reviews
  • Sean Wright, for body of work, including reviews in Adventures of a Bookonaut
  • Grant Watson, for body of work, including reviews in The Angriest
  • Foz Meadows, for body of work, including reviews in Shattersnipe: Malcontent & Rainbows
  • Alexandra Pierce, for body of work, including reviews in Randomly Yours, Alex
  • Tansy Rayner Roberts, for body of work, including essays and reviews at www.tansyrr.com

Best Fan Artist

  • Nalini Haynes, for body of work, including “Defender of the Faith”, “The Suck Fairy”, “Doctor Who vampire” and “The Last Cyberman” in Dark Matter
  • Kathleen Jennings, for body of work, including “Illustration Friday”
  • Dick Jenssen, for body of work, including cover art for Interstellar Ramjet Scoop and SF Commentary

Best Fan Publication in Any Medium

  • Dark Matter Zine, Nalini Haynes
  • SF Commentary, Bruce Gillespie
  • The Writer and the Critic, Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond
  • Galactic Chat Podcast, Sean Wright, Alex Pierce, Helen Stubbs, David McDonald, and Mark Webb
  • The Coode Street Podcast, Gary K. Wolfe and Jonathan Strahan
  • Galactic Suburbia, Alisa Krasnostein, Alex Pierce, and Tansy Rayner Roberts

Best New Talent

  • Michelle Goldsmith
  • Zena Shapter
  • Faith Mudge
  • Jo Spurrier
  • Stacey Larner

William Atheling Jr Award for Criticism or Review

  • Reviews in Randomly Yours, Alex, Alexandra Pierce
  • “Things Invisible: Human and Ab-Human in Two of Hodgson’s Carnacki stories”, Leigh Blackmore, in Sargasso: The Journal of William Hope Hodgson Studies #1 edited by Sam Gafford (Ulthar Press)
  • Galactic Suburbia Episode 87: Saga Spoilerific Book Club, Alisa Krasnostein, Alex Pierce, and Tansy Rayner Roberts
  • The Reviewing New Who series, David McDonald, Tansy Rayner Roberts, and Tehani Wessely
  • “A Puppet’s Parody of Joy: Dolls, Puppets and Mannikins as Diabolical Other”, Leigh Blackmore, in Ramsey Campbell: Critical Essays on the Master of Modern Horror edited by Gary William Crawford (Scarecrow Press)
  • “That was then, this is now: how my perceptions have changed”, George Ivanoff, in Doctor Who and Race edited by Lindy Orthia (Intellect Books)