Shimmer is looking for some help in the copyediting dept. Publisher Beth Wodzinski says:

We’re looking for any extraordinary qualifications (beyond the usual extraordinary qualifications of copy editing). Detail-oriented, willing to look things up carefully, even if they seem very obvious and impossible to get wrong, familiar with Chicago manual, experience preferred. Unfortunately, it’s a volunteer position, but the work is usually not overly burdensome.

Interested parties should contact Beth Wodzinski at beth[at]shimmerzine.com.

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My friend Konrad Walewski is looking for Readercon photos to accompany the article he’s writing for a Polish SF magazine. If you’ve got any he can use, email him and let him know.

Or, if they’re online, you can post links to them here. I wouldn’t mind seeing them myself!

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Pursuant to my previous post about slush readers:

Noctem Aeternus is still looking for HORROR readers.

Anyone who is interested should contact Kelly Green. Position has been filled!

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When asked for advice, I always tell writers that one of the best things they can do is read lots of slush. Well, I just told this to someone recently, and he reasonably asked: Do you know of anyone who needs a slush reader? As it happens, I don’t, but perhaps someone out there does.

So how about it? Does anyone have need of a slush reader?

UPDATE: Actually, if you’re interested in *becoming* a slush reader, feel free to comment or email me also. I’ll play Slush Cupid for all, since I am kind of doing that anyway.

UPDATE 2: Okay, so it seems like I’m just making myself kind of a middleman here, receiving emails which I then forward to interested parties. How about I just post a note for whatever magazines are looking for readers? That way anyone who’s interested can contact them directly. I mean, unless I know you personally, what’s the point of involving me in this process? I’m happy to play Slush Cupid, but that’s probably more easily accomplished by just posting a notice about the open positions, wouldn’t you all agree?

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Wil Wheaton has an interesting article up at Suicide Girls about post-apocalyptic SF (and zombies). Some discussion spills over onto his blog too.

Since I’m the editor of such a book, I mentioned that it might be something he’d enjoy (and offered to send him an advanced copy when they’re ready). He wrote back right away expressing an interest in seeing it and gave me an address to send it to.

You know, there’s just something surreal about getting an email from someone you’ve seen on television. What’s the most surreal experience you’ve ever had when meeting someone famous?

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Yesterday, I posted about the Roc editor position being filled, along with an informed speculation about the identity of the new editor. Well, a Roc author confirmed to me today that the new editor is, in fact, Jessica Wade.

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My friend Alyssa Smith, who was up for the open Ace/Roc senior editor position, is reporting that the position has been filled (and not by her):

The job has been filled; I received a message from Susan this afternoon letting me know that they’ve chosen to downgrade the position a bit and promote internally.

Alyssa speculates that the position has been filled by the former assistant, Jessica Wade. Can anyone confirm or deny that?

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So, back from Readercon. Had a lovely time. Saw lots of old friends. Met lots of new ones. Avoided running into enemies, but possibly made some new ones. Did typical con activities. Some highlights:

• Attended first Kaffeklatch. Was disappointed that there was no Kaffee.
• Prior to hosting first Kaffeklatch, dubbed it “Klatch of the Titans,” then retitled it “Klatch of the Titan,” since there was only one of me.
• Hosted first Kaffeklatch. Infuriated that there was no fucking Kaffee.
• Took Kaffeeklatch attendees to dinner at Korean BBQ place due to extreme lack of Kaffee and extreme desire for food
  
• Discovered Kaffee in Con Suite and Green Room. Felt better.

And here are some non-Kaffee-related highlights:

• Saw with my own eyes, and touched with my own hand, the fabulous, the spiffy, the astounding Kowal Portable Typewriter and Adding Machine, which I’d previously seen on Mary Robinette Kowal’s blog (and subsequently on Boing-Boing)
• Chatting with Wastelands‘ publisher Jason Williams
  
• Listening to Gary K. Wolfe of Locus discuss the interesting life of Cordwainer Smith
  
• Dinner with Sean Wallace and Stephen Segal of Wildside Press/Prime Books at a restaurant with an animatronic moose
• Having Elizabeth Bear write me a rejection haiku on her autographing name tent, in essence creating for me a 1 of 1 limited edition poetry chapbook
• The haiku, “Slush Haiku in the Style of JJA,” reads: Thank you for your submission / But I am afraid / Your story “did not grab me.”
• The phrase (spoken with orgasmic glee): “Oh, Mr. Gernsback!”
• The Traveler Book Restaurant, where I got not only free books, but also some kick-ass pizza as well
• Getting a review copy of RADIO FREEFALL by Matt Jarpe hand-delivered
• Hanging out in the bar with Paolo Bacigalupi and others
  

No doubt there were many more excellent things that happened, and apologies here if I didn’t drop your name, but it’s getting late and I have to work tomorrow. Can’t be falling asleep when I’m supposed to be reading slush.

Oh, and one other thing: At the con, I also llearned that I can now announce that I’ll be editing an original SF anthology for Prime. More details on that soon!

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Two of my agent’s (Jenny Rappaport) other clients have started blogs: Nathalie Mallet, author of PRINCES OF THE GOLDEN CAGE (Night Shade Books, August 2007) and Dave Williams, author of THE MIRRORED HEAVENS (Bantam, July 2008).

Also, F&SF author John Langan has a blog. Go say hello!

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