Cancellation

When you are poor, very small things can impact your plans. I'm sorry to say that my wife and I are doing so badly financially, and we've had so much bad luck recently, that we can't afford to travel this weekend, so I will not be able to attend Libertycon.

Back from OKC

Got back from SoonerCon, had a wonderful time. It's one of the friendliest conventions around, and the program topics were excellent. Enjoyed dinner Saturday night with Karl Gallagher and Clifford McMurray and Sonya McMurray at a barbecue joint on Douglas Ave. called The Rib Crib. I'll be posting some photos later, but I'm tired from the traveling right now

Just a month left

There's now just a month to get your nominations in for the Dragon Awards this year (they close July 24). I'd like to think "Another Girl, Another Planet" is a contender for Best Alternate History Novel.

I'm sure you would enjoy it if you haven't read it already, and I'd appreciate your support.

"Brilliant ideas, well told. I loved it!" - Larry Niven.

"It was one of those rare optimistic alternate histories that still managed to convey an interesting story... If you are curious at all about one way humans might have flown farther than the Moon, then you might want to pick up Lou Antonelli’s Another Girl, Another Planet." - Mattmitrovich, Amazing Stories.

"Good Lord, Lou Antonelli did something I thought was impossible. He made me like an alternative history story, and usually I hate those." - Abyss & Apex

"You don’t like or read alternate history? Neither do I. Too bad, you’ll like it anyway. Really." - Declan Finn, A Pius Geek

You can find the Dragon Awards nomination page here:

Shrinking markets

Over the weekend I sent off a story to Red Sun magazine. They replied yesterday "Unfortunately, we must return it to you as we are on indefinite hiatus."

I'm grateful that even though they have closed, they were professional enough to still send a email. A lot of other venues, under similar circumstances, would have simply never replied. I had this happen recently with Perihelion magazine.

This highlights the disturbing shrinkage of respectable markets for short s-f fiction. It looked like a few years ago that the internet was leading to a proliferation of new markets, but I suspect many of them simply can't generate any revenue to cover whatever small overhead they have.

Even with a "4 the LUV" market, the owners must have a real job someplace and I'm sure become strapped for time.

14th anniversary

Today marks the 14th anniversary of my first short story publication, when Jayme Lynn Blaschke published "Silvern" in Revolution S-F on June 17, 2003.

I attended my first s-f con, ConDFW, the previous February. I met Jayme there. I had just started in write spec fic and asked him if I could submit. He said "sure". I whipped up "Silvern" and emailed it to him.

This was his introduction:

"New writer Lou Antonelli isn't really a new writer at all. A longtime newspaper editor and reporter with multiple awards from Texas Press Association in editorial, column, and feature writing, Antonelli has recently turned his hand to science fiction with impressive results, as evidenced by the following story."

It is still archived at the Revolution SF site. You can it there.

Monday morning update

It's always nice to get a royalty payment you weren't looking for. It's even nicer when it starts the week off on a Monday morning. Kudos to Michael A. Willis at the Digital Fiction Publishing League for being a great publisher. He reprinted my Sidewise award finalist short story "Great White Ship" in his QuickFic anthology last year.

With the publication of my short story "The World Turned Upside Down" in "Rocket's Red Glare", I've had 107 short stories published since 2003.
This doesn't count any stories I self-published, either on-line or via Amazon.
I have 15 stories right now in various slush piles, and five pending publication.

Latest tally

With the publication of my short story "The World Turned Upside Down" in "Rocket's Red Glare", I've had 107 short stories published since 2003.

This doesn't count any stories I self-published, either on-line or via Amazon.

I have 15 stories right now in various slush piles, and five pending publication.

Anthology series

Superversive Press is planning a series of anthologies later this year, each with a theme tied to a planet. I have agreed to write a story each for Mercury, Venus and Mars. Thanks and a tip of the hat to Jon Del Arroz, David Hallquist and L. Jagi Lamplighter Wright.

My SoonerCon schedule

SooonerCon in Oklahoma City is only three weeks away, June 23-25. Here is my schedule:

Readings
Alternate History:  4:00 PM Friday – Rice:  Lou Antonelli, Walt Boyes, Jeff Provine, Joy Ward

Using Your Creativity for Fun and Profit - 5:00 PM Friday Ballroom E
Description: Bottom line: You’re in business for yourself. But’s that’s so boring! Inspired project and time management dos and don’ts from the pros on living and working as a creative person who gets stuff done.  Panelists:  Jan S. Gephardt, Lou Antonelli, Ryan Bellgardt, Jerry Bennett, W.J. Hodgson, Peter Pixie.

 Alternate History’s Allure - 1:00 PM Saturday Ballroom E
Description: What appeals most about the alternate history genre? How does a real historic setting with a changed fictional outcome inspire hope, regret, and more? Panelists: Jeff Provine, Lou Antonelli, David Carrico, Peter Pixie, Bradley H. Sinor, Joy Ward.

The Romance of “Out There” - 3:00 PM Saturday Ballroom F
Description: Discuss your favorite works involving exploration “just for the heck of it.” What human traits impel us over the next hill, or to the next star system? Can humanity’s drive to explore be fulfilled on this planet? Panelists:  Curtiss Mays, Lou Antonelli, Tim Frayser, Clifford McMurray, Cary G. Osborne, Mel White

Autographs
4:00 PM Saturday 10 Forward: Lou Antonelli, Deborah Chester, Karl K. Gallagher, Lou Antonelli

How to Create a Universe: 11:00 AM Sunday Theater
Description: World-Building Techniques It’s just as easy to get lost in trivial descriptive details as it is to hurry through and miss the small things that make up a dynamic SF world. Writers share their advice on developing descriptions of customs, settings, cultures, religions, politics, geography and more for cohesive and captivating genre reads.Panelists:  Lee Killough, Lou Antonelli, Deborah Chester, Maureen McHugh, Jody Lynn Nye, Timothy Zahn.

Ethics of AI Are androids slaves (Blade Runner, Star Wars)? 3:00 PM Sunday Pung
Description: Would a self-aware intelligence have the right to personhood (Chappie, Ex Machina)? Is it okay to love an AI (Westworld, Cherry 2000)? Panelists discuss the ethical considerations of artificial intelligence development and creation.  Panelists: Shawn Scarber, Lou Antonelli, Kimber Chessmore, Jackie Kramer, Tim Frayser, Joey Rodman.