James Patrick Kelley, Scott Edelman and John Kessel (all facing the camera) during the reception in the lobby before the start of the Nebula Awards banquet Saturday night. That's Rosie Smith to the left and Karen Wester Newton with her back to the camera.

Jake Kerr of Dallas (the only other Texan I know who was there) smiles. He was joined at the reception before the Nebula Awards banquet by nominee Dave Goldman (on the left), and Jake's stepdad Mike Selembo. Nominee Tom Crosshill has his back to the camera. 

Alethia Kontis, who was the presenter for the Andre Norton Award, in the lobby during the reception before the Nebula Awards ceremony (right). I don't know who her friend is.

More on The GreatWhite Ship

Since I posted other comments, I will post this last comment made on the Facebook page: 

"Shedrick Pittman-Hassett Nice story...I got a very vivid picture of this monstrous ship emerging from the lightning-filled storm clouds. And the colloquialisms ground the story in its setting with authenticity. Really enjoyed it."

For a story that people really enjoyed and that has received a lot of positive comments, this was a hard one to sell. DSF was the 16th market I sent the story to, which I guess shows that entertaining, sweet and inspiring stories aren't mainstream in S-F any more.

 Spent some time today filling out the guest questionnaire for ArmadilloCon, also sent a mug shot to SoonerCon. I also went through a round of resubs. I have a dozen stories nestled in various slush piles now.

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Well, the comments about "Great White Ship" on the Daily Science Fiction Facebook page have been pretty positive.

Some people seem to think writing using dialect or regional authenticity is illiterate. I ran into the same kind of comments about "A Rocket for the Republic".

1. Daily Science Fiction

   Thursday

   Lou Antonelli: "Great White Ship" - Email featured science ficiton story for 5/11/2012.

    ·  · Share

   • William Ledbetter and 4 others like this.
   • • 

       Steven Doyle Does DSF employ an editor? The frustrating thing is, this could have been a really good story, given a little help. (An airport bar doesn't have the charm of Gavagan's Bar or The White Hart, but the location was relevant to the story.)

       Yesterday at 6:34am · 
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       Gregg Chamberlain seven... this story has that sense of wonder i always look for in most of my short sf.

       Yesterday at 7:14am · 
     • 

       Walter Giersbach This is a fine alternate-history tale in large part because it relies on character as much as expository story writing. Good job, and just five days after the 75th anniversary of the Hindenburg's last flight. (Yep, I live next door to Lakehurst-Dix-McGuire and can see the hangars from my house.)

       Yesterday at 8:57am · 
     • 

       Anna Berg Loved the story, but 100% agree with Steven that it needed another pass. There were too many colloquialisms (I went to wave) and the ending seemed off. Still glad to have read it though! :)

       Yesterday at 9:49am · 
     • 

       Lauren Liebowitz Maybe this is because I live in Texas, but I didn't notice any weird or jarring colloquialisms - the whole thing was in someone's voice, so it sounded appropriate to me.
       
       I thought it was charming!

       Yesterday at 10:24am · 
     • 

       Gregg Chamberlain i also feel that any colloquial text was appropriate for the setting. actually, i kept picturing the actor who played the father in Ugly Betty and the guy who played the silent native American in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as the old soon-to-retire latino airman and Billy Mack the tower control operator who were both present when the lost airship showed up out of the storm during their watch.

       Yesterday at 10:47am · 
     • 

       William Ledbetter Read it this morning, Lou. Great story. Very entertaining!

       Yesterday at 10:58am · 
     • 

       Joy Fleisig Nice take on the Hindenburg and alternative history. My father, who was almost 12 at the time, "took credit" for blowing the Hindenburg up, it passed over his house and he thought "die, you Nazi bastards!"
       
       I'll see about turning this into a story one of these days.

       Yesterday at 11:50am via mobile · 
     • 

       Howie Erickson Great story - one tech question though. Would the airship dump ballast on landing? Wouldn’t that make the airship ship rise? I probably don’t understand enough about airships but one of the worries I have is getting the technology wrong in one of my stories. Lou, if you have time I would like your comments on this.

       Yesterday at 12:22pm · 
     • 

       Lou Antonelli From what I read, once you landed you dumped the water ballast to make the airship easier to maneuver - make it lighter, in case the ground crew had to wheel it around or pivot it around the mast. You reloaded the ballast tanks with water when you were ready to leave again. Then again, I might have misinterpreted what I read. Then again and again, we we say in the newspaper business, "never let the facts get in the way of a good story."

       Yesterday at 1:06pm ·  ·  1
     • 

       Alexander Floyd Jordan Loved it. Aircraft, secrets, parallel histories, and storms create an amazing illusion.
       I actually agree with Mr. Doyle for once (its a mad world, after all). 6, almost 7, shouldve been an 8. A little more would have sent this story someplace beyond exceptional. The author did what he set out to accomplish, so in my book, he can add one more notch on his stick from me. Thank you for sharing

Almost there

Looking forward to Daily Science Fiction publishing my story "Great White Ship" tomorrow, May 11. It will be going out to their 4,000 subscribers. It will be posted, as per Daily S-F policy, on their web site a week later, May 18 - which is the day I arrive in Washington for the Nebula weekend. So because of the timing, it will be the weekend story both times, email and internet.

'Great White Ship' ready to sail

Spent some time this afternoon proofing my story "Great White Ship" which will be going out to the over 4,000 subscribers of Daily Science Fiction on Friday, May 11. It will be posted on the web site a week later. I also sent along my bio and some story notes the editors asked for. DSF has also bought my flash (995 words) story "Double Exposure". Both these two stories are, in my own estimation, some of the best, not the best, stuff I have written.