A little love

Check this out — Praise for me!

Dear Editors,

Mr. Adams recently wrote a review for one of our audiobook titles, ‘SALEM’S LOT by Stephen King, and I have to say, I was so impressed by it. It is, by far, one of the best audio reviews I have ever read in my time at Simon & Schuster Audio. His description of the narration is eloquent, descriptive, and truly shows him to be an aficionado of spoken word.

Please send our regards to Mr. Adams.

all best,

Theresa Pantazopoulos

Theresa Pantazopoulos
Publicity Manager
Simon & Schuster Audio

For those of you who don’t read Locus–first, shame on you. But if you don’t read Locus and you still want to read my reviews, they will be reprinted on Locus Online in the near future. Stay tuned.

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A week of slush

This past week or so of slush seems to have been uncommonly good. I set aside quite a few stories over the past couple days, much more than usual.

Was everyone waiting to send their good stuff until Gordon was away teaching Clarion?

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More audio news

More good news!

Amazing Stories has accepted two audiobook reviews by me for their September issue (which I believe will be issue #2). It also looks like I’ll be contributing audiobook reviews to them on a regular basis, so stay tuned. This, of course, being in addition to my Locus reviews.

Not to suck up or anything, but I have to say that I’ve been very impressed with editor Dave Gross thus far. His suggested edits to my reviews tightened up several spots nicely and really improved them overall.

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First audiobook review column published!

Sorry I haven’t been posting more recently. Been very busy with freelance stuff. That and haven’t thought of anything interesting to post.

Some good news in the mail yesterday: I received my July 2004 Locus contributor copy (and payment) which features my first audiobook review column. It should be on newstands soon. Go buy it.

Oh, last week Gordon and I saw TV’s The Bachelor/New York Giants QB Jesse Palmer at Liberty Bar & Grill in Hoboken when we were out having lunch. Palmer was having lunch with another rather large gentleman who I assume was a fellow football player, but I didn’t recognize him (looked to be a linebacker or lineman of some sort). This siting didn’t make my day or anything (I will never watch any incarnation of The Bachelor, and I’m not a Giant’s fan), but it was somewhat amusing.

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Advertise Here

If you’d like to advertise on this site, please contact me for more details. This blog attracts 12,000 hits and 7,500 unique visitors per month on average.

I’ll accept banners of the following dimensions. If you have some other dimensions, feel free to inquire.

700 X 60 banners
468 X 60 banners

Advertising rates start at $50 per month, with discounts negotiable for long term packages.

I can also design banner ads for you if you don’t already have one. Animated GIF banner ad design is $30-$50 per ad.

For an example of my work, please examine the following (each example is a $50 ad):

The Prodigal Troll banner

The Gist Hunter banner

Crystal Rain banner

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Blog Reviews

Here’s a list of reviews I’ve posted to my blog.


Spin by Robert Charles Wilson

I just started doing this, so it’s kind of sparse right now, but I
expect there will be more soon.  Here are some
reviews I’ve had published in magazines:


Audiobook Review:
The World is Flat, in
Publishers Weekly

June 6, 2005


Audiobook Review Column:
Locus
Listens
to Audio #2
, in
Locus Magazine

December 2004 [contents],
reprinted in
Locus Online, February 2005

Audiobook Review:
Dune: The Battle of Corrin, in
Amazing Stories
(Issue #605)
November 2004

Audiobook Review:
A Canticle for Leibowitz, in
Amazing Stories
(Issue
#604
)
October 2004

Audiobook Review: The Curse
of Chalion, in
Amazing Stories
(Issue
#604
)
October 2004

Book Review:
The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad, in

Science Fiction Weekly

August 2004


Audiobook Review Column:

Locus
Listens
to Audio
, in
Locus Magazine

July 2004 [contents],
reprinted in
Locus Online, July 2004

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The Etymology of “Slush”

I was having lunch in the city on Friday with a couple other writers and
editors, and the subject of slush came up.  Eventually, we got around to
discussing how the term "slush" came about.
 
No one knew for sure where the term came from, but Gordon recalled something
he’d heard once, that if not true, at least makes sense.  The gist of it is:
 
The term slush came about back in the old days, when writers would actually hand
deliver manuscripts to the magazine’s offices.  When the offices weren’t open,
the writers would toss their manuscripts over the transom (what’s
a transom?
), into the office.  So when the editors came to work (or back
from lunch), they would have to wade through the pile of submissions, which was
in some way similar, apparently, to wading through slushy snow.  Thus, the slush
pile.  This is also appears to be the source of the term "over the transom."
 

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A Canticle for Slushowitz

Found in the inbox of the Holy Blog:

"Ode to Slush Readers"
by Tony Hellmann

It comes in crates, of increasing weights,
You cannot slow it’s rush.
With pen in hand, and no evening plans
You prepare to tame the slush.

The first cover letter says it all:
The author wants to be famous,
But he had his novel spiral bound;
What an ignoramus.

The second author cannot write,
His usage and spelling are poor.
He notes this in his cover page:
"That’s what I need an editer for."

The next one is promising: a new idea,
But no S-A-S-E,
That’s okay; less work for you.
Her rejection saves a tree.

This one starts out: "Dear Mr. Jones,"
And the cover letter is stellar!
You roll your eyes and shake your head
Your boss’s name is "Ms. Heller."

Your eyes are crossed, your interest lost
But you’re paid for this, you know.
If the next fifty stink, it’s okay
Just two hundred more to go.

At last, a submission excites you,
With a gripping, original style.
You know your boss will want this one
And that makes your job worthwhile.

Copyright 2004,
Tony Hellmann
Used with permission.

 

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