Spacecast Community

Hey Guys!

Nope, it's not me. I said ON SPEC not Simulacrum. But this glorious publishing month sees my old matey, Ms. Lesley Livingston, gracing the cover of Canada's most awesome tome of SF/Fantasy/Horror tales (Geez, thanks for finally allowing me to come outta the closet with the intel, ya minx!). Lesley, as I'm sure no one needs to be told, was the sparkly Waitron on the much missed SPACEbar (she also happens to be the object of obsession to a certain SPACE poster, Mr. Dougray Scott ESQ, to the utter chagrin of his long-suffering wife, Lynn).

The story is "Following Darkness Like a Dream", it's the first of many, and if you've got any sense you'll get off yer butt and go check it out at your local bookstore, this weekend.

Like Bill Cosby said: "Come on and buy a copy, it'll make ya smile..."

Steve

P.S Way ta go, Dude!

---

Come on over for a taste of darkness...

http://www.myspace.com/avalon_rising

So that's what she's been up to - congrats to her!

---

How odd that On Spec should come up here, NOW. I too have information concering the Fall 05 On Spec...I wasn't sure if anyone here would know of the magazine and be interested but as It's already a topic of conversation...well, I'll let Peter Watts explain it:

 

Something different this time around: a story not by me, but by polymathematician Jim Anderson. This piece was originally slated to go into On Spec, the literary sf magazine I help to edit; but mistakes were made, as they say, and an early, rougher draft of the same story ran instead. That initial mistake was innocent and utterly forgivable. Somewhat less forgiveable was the unconscionable length of time it took us to even publicly admit the mistake (over a month), and the subsequent decision to not run the correct version in a future issue. Worse, OS didn't even see fit to post the story online, which would have been a trivial investment in time and cost-free to boot. As it is, if you want On Spec to show you the story as Jim intended it, the onus is on you to explicitly request it; it's a little like negative-option billing, in which we just assume you want to follow our prefered agenda unless you go to the trouble of opting out.

As one who has consistently endured the indifference of Big Fat Publishers who can never be bothered rectifying their mistakes, this does not sit well with me. And so I've offered this space for Jim to show you what the real "Ashes" looks like— and if you don't like staring at the color scheme on this page, you can also download the tale as a pdf.

So here he is. And shame on On Spec. -- PeterWatts

http://www.rifters.com/real/shorts.htm

 

Congratulations to Leslie!!

 

---

Yes! Yes yes yes! I begin haunting my local Chapters tomorrow (the only place I know of nearby that carries the magazine)!

Is Lesley amazing or what? Not only is she gorgeous, but here's proof that she's smart and multi-talented, too! Also, if you go to http://www.becel.ca/brokenescalator/index.asp, you can hear what a great set of pipes she's got on her as she yells for help! And, most importantly, she has never had a restraining order taken out on me! Ever! Is she cool or what?

OK, seriously, this is a super-cool piece of news and could not have happened to a more deserving, um, dude, as Steve so elegantly puts it.

Doug (once again, embarrassing himself)

---

well, it gives me an excuse (like i really need one! ) to head into Ottawa near the Hill area to a magazine store i know of that sells not only On Spec but also NeoOptio, a B.C. sf magazine.

and steve was not the only one who knew of our charming Ms. L's writing endeavours (though i will admit i was not aware of the On Spec matter), but who also promised to keep his big fat mouth shut about it until she was ready to reveal herself in all her literary glory.

and that! to you lot who said i could not keep a promise.

CONGRATULATIONS, LESLEY!

loud cheer!

---

Thanks, but I don't need any help getting into trouble since I seem to manage quite well on my own.

greggC wrote:

well, it gives me an excuse (like i really need one! ) to head into Ottawa near the Hill area to a magazine store i know of that sells not only On Spec but also NeoOptio, a B.C. sf magazine.

Not only is Neo-Opsis (slight typo there, Gregg) a BC publication, but it's produced right here in Victoria. In theory, I could visit Karl and Stephanie, the folks who publish it, and shake them warmly by the hand.

CONGRATULATIONS, LESLEY! loud cheer!

{Gets up off floor} Yes, indeed. Now, I'm going to sit quiety in a corner until my hearing returns.

Doug ("WHAT?")

---

Wow!

 

Congrats, Lesley!

---

http://www.scapecast.org

are there other ways that you shake hands, doug?

(he asked with some trepidation, envisioning slime-dripping tentacles attached to nameless things from the Outer Darkness wrapping themselves around fingers, palm, wrist and forearm...)

:0

---

Thanks, but I don't need any help getting into trouble since I seem to manage quite well on my own.

{As "the Old Man" from "A Christmas Story"} Tonight! Tonight! It's coming tonight! Tonight! Tonight! Tonight! Hot damn, tonight!

Actually, it's here now, in my hot... well, luke-warm little hands. I picked up the Winter 2005 issue of On Spec on the way in to work. Haven't read Lesley's story yet, but am looking forward to it.

Doug

---

Bumping this year old thread to let everybody know that the delightful Ms. Livingston is keeping the world up to date on her writings (and actings, too) in her own (finally!) blog. Check out "All This Time..." at: http://lesleylivingston.blogspot.com/ ("Occasionally, I get stuck on escalators." Heh heh.)

BTW, the On Spec read was lovely. Very nice story. Looking forward to her next story; according to the aforementioned blog, it's coming out sometime in the not too distant future. Go, LL!

Doug

---

Bumping this old thread with some new developments. Last week on her blog, occasional board member and former SpaceBar employee Lesley Livingston announced a book deal with Harper Collins! That's, like, a real, high-profile publishing company! Time for me to start pestering the ordering librarians at work.

Doug

---

Very cool - congrats to Lesley!

---

DougAScott:

Bumping this old thread with some new developments. Last week on her blog, occasional board member and former SpaceBar employee Lesley Livingston announced a book deal with Harper Collins! That's, like, a real, high-profile publishing company! Time for me to start pestering the ordering librarians at work.

Doug

oh, RIGHTEOUS! that's our Lesley! :)

---

Thanks, but I don't need any help getting into trouble since I seem to manage quite well on my own.

Further Lesley writing news!

Lesley has a short story (the lead story no less!) in the new anthology book Misspelled. It's an enjoyable, funny little tale of a magic spell gone wrong (the anthology's overall theme).

She also seems to finally have a sight of her own. It looks like a work in progress at the moment but there is a bio (complete with Waitron mention! ) and a bit about her upcoming novel, Wondrous Strange. Be sure to check it out at http://www.lesleylivingston.com/.

Doug (still swooning after all these years...)

---

al-RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITE!

---

Thanks, but I don't need any help getting into trouble since I seem to manage quite well on my own.