NEW THIS MONTH
The latest sales and accomplishments by workshop members

May 2008

Vylar Kaftan just signed a contract for "What President Polk Said" to appear in the Phantom anthology from Prime Books.

Tochi Onyebuchi, aka Treize Aramistedian, writes: "My short story 'Sand in His Shoes' will be appearing in an upcoming issue of Crimespree Fiction. The story was actually workshopped on the OWW's Fiction Beta branch while that was still in existence, so this one's an oldie. But I'd like to thank everyone who took a look at it. This is my first short-story sale ever, so I'm pretty excited."

Camille Picott found an acceptance letter from Afterburn SF for a sci-fi story called "Gargoyle." It's slated for publication next February. She says, "I'm very excited it has found such a good home!"

Sandra Ulbrich-Almazon is pleased to announce that the anthology FIRESTORM OF DRAGONS will carry her short story "A Reptile at the Reunion." It will be available from Dragon Moon Press in mid-May and on Amazon June 1st. "This story was my first submission to OWW when I joined nearly five years ago, and I wouldn't have sold it without extensive revision based on the many comments I received on OWW."

April 2008

Chris Clarke has sold short story "The Future Hunters," which was an EC winner here late last year, to Strange Horizons. "The story was written for Interzone's Mundane SF issue bur after making the first cut, the editor Geoff Ryman, in probably the nicest rejection letter I've ever received, said it ultimately lost out to another sailing story by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro. I'm very pleased it found a home at Strange Horizons. Many thanks to the late Gary Peterson, Monica Byrne, David Emanuel, Annette Lee, and Stephen Gaskell for their valuable input."

Cathy Freeze sold her 4500-word short fantasy "Practicing Perfection" to Cat Rambo at Fantasy Magazine. "...haven't sold a short story since before the flood. It was posted on the workshop around July of last year, and I wanted to say thanks to my OWW critters--give 'em their due: Sylvia Volk, F.R.R. Mallory, Holly McDowell, Ray Capps, Zvi Zaks, Camille Picott, Kyri Freeman, Sam Butler. People should do those challenges--so many of those have been saleable."

Our crack OWW research team has discovered that Anna Owomoyela's "Small Monuments" will be published in the upcoming issue (#36) of ChiZine . Says Anna: "...I'm in some excellent company. To say I'm excited is an understatement, at best."

Sharon Ramirez writes: "Just wanted to let y'all know my short story "Hotter than Hell" has been purchased by The Edge of Propinquity webzine. Yes, my first commercial sale! This was the first story I brought to my first Context, and Charlie encouraged me to stick with it. Well, I did, and it finally paid off. I want to thank all of you for reading, reviewing and telling me to keep submitting, and for supporting me through the rough first drafts. You guys are the best!"

March 2008

Leah Bobet has sold her short story "Bell, Book, and Candle" to Clockwork Phoenix, an original anthology edited by Mike Allen. She says: Thanks to Amanda Downum, Rayne Hall, Chris Coen, Sylvia Volk, and Bo Balder for their helpful critiques when the story was workshopped! The anthology's release date is Spring 2008. Also, "Furnace Room Lullaby" -- also workshopped back in the day -- has been accepted at horror podcast Pseudopod. The story originally appeared in Fantasy Magazine #5. Thanks again to everyone who gave input on this piece on the 'shop!"

Aliette de Bodard made two more sales this month: "Ys" to Interzone and "Horus Ascending" to IGMS. "Neither of them went through the workshop, but they benefitted greatly from what I learnt there."

Rochita Loenen-Ruiz's story "Rituals of Grief" has been accepted for publication by Reflection's Edge. "This is my second sale to RE. The first one was in 2006. I think I passed 'Rituals of Grief' through the workshop sometime last year. Unfortunately, I don't remember everyone who read it. I do remember Fiona McDonald reading it as well as Calie Voorhis, Aliette de Bodard, and Marshall Payne."

Camille Picott's flash fiction story "Blood Rain" has been published in AlienSkin Magazine. "Thanks to F.R.R. Mallory for a great review!"

February 2008

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Semi-Finalists include these three OWW members: Michael Keyton for his YA fantasy DREAMSPIDER; Dylan Otto Kriderfor his mystery suspense thriller TAKING OVER; and Jan Whitaker for THE TRUCK: a baby-boomer nostalgia murder mystery. Big congratulations to all three!

Dana Davis has published THE MASK OF TAMIRELLA."I would like to thank OWW critiquers Steve Olson, Yolanda Scott, and Jeanne Foquth for their comments on select chapters of The Mask of Tamirella way back in 2001 when I was writing under the psuedonym Jodi Fox. Their comments, along with those from other workshops, allowed me to tighten and improve the novel for publication."

Michael Keyton has sold "Bony Park" to the Read By Dawn Anthology, Volume 3.

Joseph Rhea's novel CYBERDROME has been published and is now for sale at Amazon.com, with an acknowledgment to OWW!

January 2008

Clover Autrey's fantasy romance UPON EAGLE'S LIGHT is being released from The Wild Rose Press. She says, "I would never have gotten this far without OWW."

Cathy Chance's short story "Call Signs" will be published in the March 2008 edition of Afterburn SF.

Jennifer Dawson's story "Not Quite As It Seems" is being published in the July 2008 issue of Beyond Centauri. She says, "The story was workshopped back in 2003 and would not have been accepted for publication without the many reviews it received here. I'd like to thank Elizabeth Hull, Cathy Freeze, Leonid Korogodski, Donna Johnson, and Susan Elizabeth Curnow for their invaluable feedback."

Rayne Hall says: "Two of my published stories have won Honorable Mentions in Ellen Datlow's Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 2007. I had workshopped both stories at OWW and received very helpful crits. I don't know if anyone remembers critting them since this was in 2004-2006. ('Burning' was originally published in Byzarium and has been anthologised elsewhere several times since in slightly different versions. 'The Bridge Chamber' originally published in the horror anthology Read by Dawn Vol 1)."

Vylar Kaftan has been busy! Not only is Vylar a finalist for the Pagan Fiction Award with her story, "The Black Doe," she also has "Pointing at the Moon" in December's Cosmos and "Scar Stories" in Bandersnatch. And she's just signed a contract for "The Luckiest Street in Georgia" to appear in the June issue of Realms of Fantasy.

Rochita Loenen-Ruiz has sold "The Wordeaters" to Weird Tales. "This is a story that was workshopped on OWW. I'd like to say thanks to the folks who critted this piece. Off the top of my head, I remember Calie Voorhis, Fiona MacDonald, and Erzebet Yellowboy who read this story and I won't forget how Richard Rogers had such faith that the story was a good one."

Sean Markey has sold "Sorrowbird" to Fantasy Magazine. "I would like to thank Vylar Kaftan, Aliette de Bodard, and everyone else who helped by critiquing this story for me."

Suzanne McLeod's agent has made a 3-book deal with Gollancz. SPELLCRACKERS is the first book in the series. Suzanne would like to thank Cathy Freeze, Calie Voorhis, Sierra Black, Ursula Warnecke, Fiona MacDonald, Deb Atwood, Katrina Kidder, Sarah Trick, Sharelle Toomey, "and others, whose names have sadly disappeared into the black hole that ate most of my old computer."

Sandra Panicucci had "Growing Up Dragon" accepted for the Feb-Apr issue of Sorcerous Signals. "Too Hot To Handle" (written for the February 2007 challenge on interspecies dating) was just accepted by Byzarium. She comments, "After four years of rejection that's two in three months. I hesitate to brag because I don't want the gods thinking I'm getting overconfident, but since you asked..."

Ursula Warnecke sold short story "Ink Stained" to Afterburn SF for the June 2008 issue. "The story received two lovely, thoughtful and helpful reviews on OWW, one from M David who I would like to thank very much, and one from Gary Peterson, who I can't unfortunately thank but I have to mention his enthusiasm and interest in the story. Both were really helpful to me in polishing the story. This sale is for Gary."

Beth Wodzinski has gotten word that her story "The Human Clockwork" will appear in the January Flash Fiction Online, a new pro-paying flash market. "I'm really fond of this story, but it's been tricky to place it; I'm thrilled to have it go to a good home."

Maria Zannini has two articles centering on the writing life: "Networking Nightmares" in the December issue of WOW! and "Motivation Triggers" in the January issue of Vision: A Resource for Writers (just in time for resolution-making).

December 2007

Brenta Blevins writes: Raven Electrick Ink is publishing my story "Running for Life" in its Sporty Spec: Games of the Fantastic anthology. The anthology is being launched at the end of November 2007. My story "Submission Letters" is being published in Bound in Skin, an anthology of gothic romances being released by CatScratch Books in December 2007.

Aliette Bodard has a story in Interzone, issue 213: "The Lost Xuyan Bride." She has also sold three workshopped pieces: "The Dancer's Gift" to Fictitious Force, "The Dragon's Tears" to Electric Velocipede, and "Dragon Feasts" to Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine. She says, "I'd like to thank Elizabeth Porco, Heather deLisle, Toms Kreicbergs, and Camile Picott for 'The Dancer's Gift'; Linda Steele, Rochita Loenen-Ruiz, Keir Alekseii Roopnarine, Aimee Poynter, Nancy Kreml for critiquing 'The Dragon's Tears'; Linda Steele, Karen Kobylarz and Marc Ward for 'Dragon Feasts'; and Marshall Payne also took a look at all three off-OWW, which helped tremendously.

Al Bogdan took second place in the Writers Of The Future competition with a story titled "The Girl Who Whispered Beauty." He says, "Huge thanks go out to Bob Haynes who was my first-reader on this story. Thanks also to Christine Ciarrochi Rothrock and Margret Treiber for additional comments that helped me polish it up. Plus, while I'm at it, a shout-out to ALL my old OWW buddies!"

Chris Clarke will have his short story "The Snow Queen's Risk Assessment" reprinted in the small literary journal Wings of Icarus. He also won Jim Van Pelt's Story In Seven Sentences Competition with the short story "A Tale of Seven Seas."

Carlos Cortes writes: "Once upon a time I had the inestimable help of staff and members to transform dribbles into something almost readable. My agent sold Perfect Circle, a few months ago, on a two-book deal with an option on a third to Bantam, an imprint of Random House. According to their crystal ball it will be released in September 2008. Passing through OWW has been one of the highlights of my life. I met my wife there and made scores of friends. My heartfelt thanks to those who helped shape my dream: Shawna Kennedy; Susan Curnow; Treize Armistedian; Michael Goodwin; Andre Oosterman; Brian Otridge; Donna Johnson; Jim Giammatteo; Leonid Korogodski; Deb Cawley; Nemecio Chavez; Ian Morrison; Jeff Kuczynski-Brown; and scores of other wonderful writers."

Vylar Kaftan's short story, "Kill Me" is now available at Helix. He says, "I've got work forthcoming in COSMOS, and my work just appeared in the Bandersnatch and Paper Cities anthologies which debuted at World Fantasy."

Sarah Kelly writes: "A note to let you know my story 'Kukulkan' is published in the December 2007 issue of Analog. I workshopped it at OWW under the title 'Dark Matter Sings Sacrifice.' Many thanks to those who looked at it, I got some great feedback here. I'm listed at OWW under my pseudonym Sarah K. Castle."

Darja Malcolm-Clark writes that "The Beacon" was published in Clarkesworld in August. She adds, "I have also sold 'Pearl in Shadow' to Ideomancer (forthcoming issue), and 'His One True Bride' (which was workshopped on OWW!) to Fantasy Magazine (coming out in March or April)."

Sandra McDonald's short story "The Fireman's Fairy" is in the December issue of Realms of Fantasy, which should be available on shelves now. She says "I'm a big fan of Realms of Fantasy and I'm glad they liked that story."

Ruth Nestvold sold world rights for her novel Yseult (final title TBD) to a German publisher (Random House, imprint Blanvalet), and they will be trying to market it to other Random House imprints in other countries. The German translation will probably come out in the winter of 2008/2009. The contract includes hardcover, trade paperback, and paperback.

Ian Tregillis writes: "Three days ago, my agent and I formally accepted an offer from Patrick Nielsen Hayden at Tor to purchase my science-fantasy trilogy The Milkweed Triptych. Holy cow! My first novel sale, and a three-book deal to boot! Even though I haven't workshopped the Milkweed novels through the OWW, this is very much an OWW-related victory. The Milkweed universe started out as a single short story that I wrote four years ago. Kelly Link reviewed that story, "Heart of Oak", as an Editors' Choice way back in December 2003! It was Kelly's review, and the feedback from my crit partners here on OWW, that gave me the confidence that the Milkweed world and the characters in it were worth exploring further. I wouldn't be here today if not for the 'orkshop. Thanks, OWW. I'm a lifer."

Steve Westcott signed a two-book deal with Frontlist Books, an imprint of Softeditions, a number of months ago, The second edition of Reluctant Heroes was released on 1st October this year with the sequel, Cronan the Librarian, scheduled for release on 8th March 2008. He notes, "Both books were heavily workshopped in their early stages and I owe thanks to the likes of Pen Hardy, Shawn Cormier, Nancy Proctor, Roger Anderson, Miquela Faure to name but a few. Without OWW and their help my scribblings would have struggled to achieve publication standard. Cheers, guys."

We have four authors who made the quarterfinals in the Amazon Breakout Novel Contest: Rhonda S. Garcia for her novel "Lex Talionis"; Jon Paradise for his novel "Changing Fates"; Mary E. Tyler for her skating novel "On the Edge"; and Jan Whitaker for her novel "The Truck: A Baby-Boomer Nostalgia Murder Mystery". Congratulations to all! And good luck in the finals.

Maria Zannini has signed with Samhain Publishing for her futuristic fantasy Touch of Fire, to be released Summer 2008. "From the time I decided to take up fiction to when I was offered the contract turned out to be three years almost to the day. I couldn't have done it without my OWW critique partners, Dorothy Winsor, Mike Keyton and Margaret Fisk. Thank you, my friends for your astute observations and the sharp, bloodied instruments you used to keep me focused."

Jennifer Dawson's story "Not Quite As It Seems," is being published in the July 2008 issue of Beyond Centauri. She says, "The story was workshopped back in 2003 and would not have been accepted for publication without the many reviews it received here. I'd like to thank Elizabeth Hull, Cathy Freeze, Leonid Korogodski, Donna Johnson, and Susan Elizabeth Curnow for their invaluable feedback." Jennifer's flash fiction story "New Philadelphia" was accepted at Flashshot. Jenniver says, "I wrote that one on my friend Cal's advice for a Drabbler contest on alien brothels. It didn't make it into that contest, but I chopped it down to a hundred words and it'll be published in January."

Rochita Loenen-Ruiz sold "Six Events in a Love Story", an original fairy tale to Byzarium, appearing in the October 2007 issue.

Heidi Kneale sold her Dragon Smut challenge story "God's Wrath" to the Black Dragon, White Dragon anthology, due out at the end of 2007 or early 2008. Heidi says, "Black Gate editor Howard Andrew Jones liked my story, but didn't think it was right for Black Gate, so he recommended Black Dragon, White Dragon. Lo and behold, I sold. Alas, I didn't get to keep the 'dragon smut' line, but I did get to keep the 'venom cocks' line."

Mike Keyton has a story coming up in the anthology Strange Stories of Sand and Sea called "Beside The Sea Side, Beside The Sea" published by Fine Tooth Press due out by the end of 2007.

June and July 2007

Tom Barlow's story "The Hard Way" has been podcasted by Well Told Tales.

Elizabeth Bear's CARNIVAL was named to the "Top 10 SF/Fantasy" list in the may issue of Booklist.

Orson Scott Card contracted with TOR to publish an anthology of stories that have appeared in the first four issues of his online magazine, OSC's Intergalactic Medicine Show. It will include OWWer Brad Beaulieu's story "In the Eyes of the Empress's Cat." Brad also has a new story comming out in the DIMENSIONS NEXT DOOR anthology that will be published next year by DAW.

Susan Curnow sold her workshopped story "The Hawk, the Hound, and the Lady Fair" to Aoife's Kiss. When she can stop dancing, she sends her "thanks to all who reviewed it."

Earl P. Dean's short story "The Heat Tailor" will appear in SAY...What's the Combination? edited by Christopher Rowe and Gwenda Bond. He admits that "it has not been workshopped on the OWW, but I'm sure the final edit before submission was informed by the observations of this community, so thanks. And way to go to all the OWW members who work so hard." Indeed.

Aliette de Bodard's story "Deer Flight" is going to be in Interzone 211, the special Michael Moorcock issue. And her story "Sea Child" sold to Coyote Wild for their Fall 2007 issue. Aliette writes: "I'd like to extend my thanks to those who critted it on OWW. Unfortunately, while I know I workshopped it, I haven't kept tabs of who took a look at it...." Just consider yourself thanked.

Chris R. Evans (OWW member 1999-2001), sold the Iron Elves series, which he describes as "Shanarra meets Sharpe's Rifles," to Pocket Books. A DARKNESS FORGED IN FIRE, the first book, will come out in hardcover in 2008.

Margaret Fisk's short story "Unique Worlds" won first place in The Twelfth Annual PARSEC Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Story Contest! She tells us: "This is my first sale since joining OWW! As part of the prize, my story will appear in the Confluence 2007 program book for everyone to read. I'll be going if any of you are. Special thanks to David Cummings, Swapna Kishore, Matt Herreshoff, and David Weisman, who are now saying, 'Huh? What?' because they reviewed 'Unique Worlds' under its first title of 'Out of Warranty,' but I took Matt's advice and went through two titles before settling on 'Unique Worlds'."

One of Stephen Gaskell's stories, originally titled "A Shadow Over Bedlam," recently sold to Pseudopod. Stephen informs us that "The piece was completely re-written after a fantastic critique by Ruv Draba, who helped immensely in the story's reincarnation as a somewhat different beast called 'Everyone Carries a Shadow.' Props to everyone at the workshop for helping me get to sale number two so soon after the first one! The story should be available for download in three to six months."

Vylar Kaftan's story "Dinner Made Willing" is up at The Town Drunk. It was workshopped as "Eat Organic." Vy sends "Thanks to everyone who helped improve the story!" "Godivy," a former EC story, sold to the PAPER CITIES anthology. "Something Wicked This Way Plumbs" sold to Shimmer. And Vy's story "Galatea" appears in Heliotrope. Wow!

Melissa Marr's first novel, WICKED LOVELY, which grew out of a story she workshopped on OWW, debuted at number 8 on the New York Times bestseller list, and then climbed to number 2 and 3 for a few weeks. Which is pretty darn cool!

Jill Myles, who belonged to OWW under a different name, sold SEX STARVED, the tale of a nerd-turned-succubus, and a sequel to Pocket Books for release in Fall 2008.

Ruth Nestvold's story "The Leaving Sweater" was published by Strange Horizons.

"The Nurse's Tale" by Sharon Ramirez received an Honorable Mention in last quarter's Writer's of the Future contest. Sharon says, "I'd like to everyone who reviewed this story, especially Crash Froelich, Katrina Kidder, Matt Herreshof, Mike Keyton and others--sorry, but I misplaced some names, you know who you are. Everyone made such great suggestions, and helped so much in the rewrite process. I'm excited because while I didn't place in the top three, I know this is how a career in writing is built, one brick at a time. Again, many thanks!"

David Reagan sold "Solitude Ripples From the Past" to Futurismic. It's his third sale this year!

Rachel Swirsky's story, "A Letter Never Sent," is up at the Konundrum Engine Literary Review.

Jeremy Yoder has a story in the humorous fantasy anthology entitled BASH DOWN THE DOOR AND SLICE OPEN THE BAD GUY.

May 2007

Aliette de Bodard just sold her alternate history novelette "The Lost Xuyan Bride" to Interzone. She writes that "This is my second sale to them, and I'm amazed it happened all over again." She sold another novelette, "The Naming at the Pool," to Reflection's Edge for their May issue. And her short story "Weepers and Ragers" is now up in the Second Quarter 2007 issue of Abyss & Apex. Wow -- what a month!

Pat Lundrigan was a member of OWW until January of this year. He must have seen something good coming, because his story "Hangar Queen" won the first quarter 2007 Writers of the Future contest and will be published next year. It was workshopped under the title "Shop Queen," and Pat sends thanks to reviewers Martin McGrath, Chris Coen, Keith Pilkinton, Martha Knox, and Robert Haynes. He told us that "Robert had the foresight to say this in his crit: 'Excellent story, and one that I think will have an excellent chance at Writers of the Future once it's revised and polished.' How's that for a prediction?! Those critiques helped me straighten out a few things in the story and made it so much better. Thanks again guys!" Pat entered Writers of the Future twenty-one times before winning, proving that persistence does pay off. He joins numerous other past OWWers in winning this recognition. Congratulations!

Karen Miller's novel THE INNOCENT MAGE, which was originally workshopped on OWW years ago, has been published in the UK by Orbit and was the #1 bestselling science fiction/fantasy title last month. It will be released in the US this September. She's getting used to those number-one spots: her media tie-in novel STARGATE SG-1: ALLIANCES was the #1 Gardners UK bestseller for the 4th quarter of 2006. She's currently got 8 novels under contract in 3 different markets (Australia, UK, and US). Karen told us: "I've said it before and I'll say it again -- the OWW gave me the strength and courage to keep going more times than I can count."

April 2007

Tom Barlow, part of the famous OWW Clarion class of '05, saw his story "Call Me Mr. Positive" appear in Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show, Issue #4, February 2007.

Elizabeth Bear reports that Realms of Fantasy is buying her obligatory nontraditional-format Rock-And-Roll Elf story, "Hobnoblin Blues." Internationally, her story "Sounding" was shortlisted for a British Science Fiction Association Award, while Hiyakawa purchased Japanese translation rights for her debut trilogy, HAMMERED, SCARDOWN, and WORLDWIRED.

Leah Bobet's story "After the War" appears in the latest issue of Sybil's Garage.

Siobhan Carroll sold "The White Isle" to Realms of Fantasy.

Alliette de Bodard sold her short story "Within the City of the Swan" to Shimmer for their Art issue (short stories inspired by a piece of art). Among the critters she thanked on her livejournal were Mary Robinette, Marshall Payne, and all the OWWers who took a look at it.

Somehow we think we overlooked the fact that Amanda Downum's story "The Salvation Game" will be appearing the BEST OF FANTASY MAGAZINE anthology coming out early this summer. Whoops. Glad we fixed that, because if you missed it the first time, now you've got another chance to see it.

Mark Fewell's story "Those Who Came To Learn And Die" was published in the Spring 2007 issue of NonEuclidean Cafe.

Charles Coleman Finlay's science fiction bodymod crime noir short story "An Eye for an Eye," about a man who has an eyeball transplanted to his rear, appears in the June issue of F&SF.

Nancy Fulda's story "Pastry Run" appeared in Baen's Universe #4.

Merrie Haskell's story "One Million Years B.F.E.: Diary of an Anthropologist in Exile" appears in The Town Drunk.

Sandra McDonald sold "The Fireman's Fairy" to Realms of Fantasy, her fourth sale to that magazine. In addition, her first novel, THE OUTBACK STARS, was released into the wild by Tor this month.

Karen Miller's novel THE INNOCENT MAGE was the #1 bestselling SFF title in the United Kingdom during early April.

Ruth Nestvold and frequent co-author Jay Lake saw their story "Incipit" appear in TEXT:UR - THE NEW BOOK OF MASKS, edited by Forrest Aguirre. Their story "The Big Ice" appeared in Baen's Universe #4.

Sarah Prineas sold a reprint of her short story "The Fates Take a Holiday" to the ANDROMEDA SPACEWAYS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE BEST OF FANTASY anthology. Oh, and we should also mention that HarperCollins sold French language rights to Sarah's novel MAGIC THIEF and two sequels, at auction, to Gallimard, and Finnish language rights to Tammi.

Benjamin Rosenbaum published two stories in 2006. Ho hum, right? Oh, wait, "The House Beyond Your Sky," which some of you will remember from the workshop as well as its appearance at Strange Horizons, will be included in Dozois's YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, VOL. 24. And in Horton's SCIENCE FICTION: THE BEST OF THE YEAR, 2007. And in Strahan's THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY OF THE YEAR, VOL. 1. Should we even mention that it was also shortlisted for a British Science Fiction Association Award? (You can see the whole list at http://www.bsfa.co.uk/index.cfm/section.shortlist2006) His other story was "A Siege of Cranes," published in TWENTY EPICS, edited by Moles and Groppi. It's being reprinted in Datlow, Link, and Grant's YEAR'S BEST FANTASY & HORROR, VOL. 20. And in Horton's BEST FANTASY OF THE YEAR, 2007. AND also in Strahan's THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY OF THE YEAR, VOL. 1. Even Ben is pleasantly stunned.

Sonya M. Sipes sold her flash piece "Sitting Fee" to AlienSkin for their June/July 2007 issue.

Rachel Swirsky saw her poem "Disparate Parts" in the latest issue of Sybil's Garage. She also has a silly flash piece appearing in Spacesuits and Sixguns, with her story "How the World Became Quiet: A Post-Human Creation Myth" forthcoming in Electric Velocipede and her poem "Inside Her Heart" forthcoming in Ideomancer

Mikal Trimm (OWW member 2001 - 2004) had three stories appear recently in The Town Drunk: "Cable and the Possible God," "Cable and the Sword of Destiny," and "Cable and the High Seas."

Jaime Voss, aka Jaime Lee Moyer, saw her poem "Farewell" in the latest issue of Sybil's Garage.

Wade White's story "The Assassin's Gentleman" sold to Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine. He thanks "Annita B, Travis Blair, Eric Bresin, Rae Carson, Michael Keyton, M. Thomas, Ruth Williams, and Eli Zaren, none of whom may actually remember ever commenting on it since it was so long ago (like, two years or something; the story spent a year on the shelf, which just goes to show you shouldn't leave stories sitting on the shelf for a year, I guess." He was also the writer for a short film that screened in Toronto at Bloor Cinema as part of the Toronto Film Challenge Festival.

March 2007

Ilona Gordon, writing as Ilona Andrews, will see her first novel MAGIC BITES, published by Ace, available in stores March 27. Ilona says, "Thank you once again to everyone who believed in the manuscript and offered their advice, critique, and support: Charles Coleman Finlay, Ellen Key Harris-Braun, Jenni Smith-Gaynor, Hannah Wolf Bowen, Jeff Stanley, Larry Payne, Nora Fleischer, Mark Jones, Del Whetter, Steve Orr, A. Wheat, Betty Foreman, Catherine Emery, Elizabeth Hull, Susan Curnow, Richard C. Rogers, Aaron Brown, David Emanuel, Jodi Meadows, Christiana Ellis, Kyri Freeman, Elizabeth Bear, and Mary Davis. Without you, the manuscript would not have made it into print. I owe you more than I can express."

Angela Boord's story "Evergreen" was chosen for BEST NEW ROMANTIC FANTASY, edited by Paula Guran.

Amanda Downum's story "Smoke & Mirrors" was chosen for BEST NEW ROMANTIC FANTASY, edited by Paula Guran.

Mark Fewell sold his story "Return Of The Troll-slayer" to Sorcerous Signals.

Way Jeng, who was part of the OWW group at Clarion in 2006, has his second and third pro sales, with "Second Banana" sold to Baen's Universe and "Time Tells All" to Realms of Fantasy.

Sandra McDonald's "The Mountains of Key West" was chosen for BEST NEW ROMANTIC FANTASY, edited by Paula Guran.

Bill McKinley is pleased to tell us that issue 27 of Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine includes his short story "The Return of the Queen," which the workshop helped him polish in 2005.

Joshua Palmatier's first novel, THE SKEWED THRONE, is one of the four finalists for the Baltimore Science Fiction Society's Compton Crook/Stephen Tall Memorial Award for best first novel of 2006.

Sarah Prineas's "Jane: A Story of Manners, Magic, and Romance" was chosen for BEST NEW ROMANTIC FANTASY, edited by Paula Guran. (Is anyone else starting to notice a pattern here?) She also sold the German rights for her forthcoming trilogy in an auction to Bertlesman, with a release date in 2009 just like her American editions. This follows the sale of world Dutch rights, in a pre-empt, to Gottmer (Netherlands), Danish language rights, in an auction, to Borgen (Denmark), and world Spanish rights, in a pre-empt, to Random House Mondadori (Spain, with divisions in Mexico plus South America). Can you say "Wow?"

David Reagan sold his story "One Choice, No Decisions" to Renard's Menagerie. He sends "thanks to the folks who critted it in November of 2004: Wade White, Gregory Clifford, Maria Zannini, Daniel Sackinger, and Zvi Zaks."

February 2007

In February 2007 Rackstraw Press published GLORIFYING TERRORISM, an anthology of sf short stories written in protest of the United Kingdom's Terrorism Act. The book boasts some familiar OWW names in the table of contents: Kathryn Allen, Vylar Kaftan, and Rachel Swirsky. Some other writers in the anthology include Marie Brennan, Hal Duncan, Gwyneth Jones, Ken MacLeod, Charlie Stross, Jo Walton, Ian Watson, and others. You can check it out at Rackstraw Press.

Leah Bobet's story "Three Days and Nights in Lord Darkdrake's Hall," which was once known as "The Evil Story (tm)" for all the grief it gave her to write, was published in Strange Horizons.

Johne Cooke reports his first paid sale. "The Reconstructed Man," Cooke's riff on Bester's famous similarly-titled novel, appears in the new Christian sci-fi ezine, Wayfarer's Journal.

Aliette de Bodard sold a flash piece "Weepers and Ragers" to Abyss and Apex for their 3rd Quarter 2007 issue. Also, her short story "Autumn's Country" has been picked up by Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine for their 30th issue in June 2007. She's happy to have such a strong start to the year, and says that "although neither piece went through OWW, I received thoughtful and very helpful criticism from OWWers Linda Steele and Marshall Payne."

Casey Fiesler sold her short story "Answer Me This" to The Town Drunk. We translated "It's my first sale of an OWW-critted piece!" to "Thanks to everyone on OWW who critted it for me!"

The zombicorns go pro! Long-time OWWer and everyone's favorite professional copyeditor (well, my favorite, for what that's worth--your humble newsletter editor), Deanna Hoak made her first pro sale, and did it with her _Strange Horizons_ April Fool's Day zombie unicorn story "The Robidermist's Steed." Look for it in SFWA-qualifying market Dark Wisdom.

Anna Kashina has another German-language novel sale! She sold THE FIRST SWORD to German publisher Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag. She told the mailing list that "they are treating it like a big epic fantasy project and hope to sell it back to the American publishers eventually, and I am very excited about it. This one definitely would never have happened without OWW, because a lot of this novel was edited and rewritten at the workshop and had been posted more than once. Thanks to all of you who reviewed many raw versions of this novel over the past 6 years and to all of you OWWers for help and support!"

Heidi Kneale sold her short story "Eyes of the Swan" to CROSSROADS: A CHRISTIAN ANTHOLOGY of Australian authors. She tells us that "this story was reviewed on the Workshop waaaaay waaaaaay back when it was still Del Rey. I think it was one of the first few pieces I'd posted. I can't remember everyone who reviewed it, but Jennifer DeGuzman was one of them. Still, thanks to you all."

Celia Marsh sold "Firing the Dead" to Fantasy.

Former member Dean McMillen, writing as Dean Chalmers, emailed us to say that his novel THE KEY OF OBERKION, early chapters of which were workshopped on OWW, has been published by StoneGarden (http://www.stonegarden.net/), a print-on-demand publisher. He says, " I'd like to thank all those helpful people on OWW who gave me feedback on the early chapters and helped me to find the right voice for the story."

Darren Moore sold "The Most Daunting Task of All" to FANTASTICAL VISIONS V. He thanks everybody who reviewed it when it was on the workshop a long, long time ago.

Catherine Morrison sold "The Glass Children" to Fantasy.

Camille Picott's collection "Nanobytes: A Collection of Speculative Flash Fiction" is available for free download on her website at http://www.camillepicott.com. Each of the stories is accompanied by anillustration from graphic artist Joey Manfre. And her flash story "Mr. Stump" was accepted for publication by Bewildering Stories. It was critiqued by F.R.R. Mallory of OWW.

Chelsea Polk sold "Kether Station" to Baen's Universe. Chelsea tells us that "this story was workshopped on OWW in, I think, 2004. I remember that Charlie Finlay helped me a lot by using the story to teach me about pacing, Kat Allen provided both grammar picks and an insight about the structure of the characters that made it make sense, Elizabeth Bear knew just where the extraneous stuff was and helped me keep exposure to the cool points of the setting without losing the direction of the story, and Mike Farrell had a point about electronic hardware that kept me from looking like a doof. The windows on the space station are entirely my doing, and not his fault at all."

Kaori Praschak wants to say thanks to Matthew Herreshoff, Kevin Miller, Barbara Gordon, and Calie Voorhis for helping with her science fiction story "Fixer Uppers" last year. Coyote Wild has just taken it for an upcoming issue.

John Schoffstall sold his flash story "She's a Flight Risk" to Raven Electrick, scheduled to go live 10/26/2007. He sends "special thanks to Raymond Walshe, Eric Bresin, Ruth Nestvold, Kenneth Rapp, Mur Lafferty, and David Reagan, who critted this story when it was on OWW."

From EC to ToC in record time! Debbie Smith reports that "The Charnel House" sold to Stephen Jones for his SUMMER CHILLS anthology due out in May. Debbie writes: "I'd like to thank all the people who critiqued the story, as well as Jeanne Cavelos for her great comments."

Amber van Dyk sold a super literary barely fantasy euthanasia short based on misheard Fixmer/McCarthy lyrics to Fantasy. Kinda makes you want to go out and subscribe, just so you don't miss it.

Jeremy Yoder reports his second pro -- and second media tie-in -- short-story sale. "Reborn" will appear in the anthology STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS 10. Which is pretty darn cool. He says "thanks to everyone who's ever critted me. It's all helpful." Then, more honestly, he adds, "Well, actually about 84% of it's helpful." The trick is always picking out the right 84%.

January 2007

Rae Dawn Carson sold "Fugue," the story that shall not be known as "Crazy Dungeon Dude, " to Weird Tales. Rae writes: "This piece was workshopped as 'Painted Songs" and was a victim...er...beneficiary of the Great Crit Marathon of 2005. So, HUGE thanks to all 15 of you who reviewed it, particularly to PJ Thompson, Charlie Finlay, Michael Merriam, Jodi Meadows, Holly McDowell, Jaime Voss, Jeremy Yoder, and Aaron Brown."

Elizabeth Ann Ensley's story "Shadow Play" will appear in THE PARASITORIUM II: PARASITIC SANDS, and her story "Crow's Feat" will appear in Free Fall in February, 2007.

Mark Fewell sold his story "Fading" to the webzine Written Word.

Charles Coleman Finlay sold "The Minutemen's Witch" to Fantasy & Science Fiction. He thanks Rae Carson, chance morrison, and Amber van Dyk for their help on it, and says, "Yes, Amber, it was the egg. It was all the egg."

Bill Freedman sold his short story "Intentions" to the HOLY HORRORS anthology, paying pro rates and due out in autumn, 2007. Bill writes: "OWW made this possible because it introduced me to fellow Long Island writers Wendy Delmater and Eric Bresin. The three of us founded a crit group that has been meeting monthly for more than two years now. Eric, Wendy and our partners were instrumental in providing the feedback to bring 'Intentions' up to a publishable level."

Patty Jansen's short story "Bigger Fish" will be part of the FANTASTIC WONDER STORIES anthology that will be launched at Swancon during Easter weekend. Patty sends "thanks to OWW members Satima Flavell, Karen Kobylarz, Kevin Miller, Stelios Touchtidis, Melissa Bowden, Greg Byrne and Zvi Zaks for reviewing. Some of you good friends said this could never be published, which made me all the more determined to show that it could."

Heidi Kneale e-mailed us with a sale and a problem. "Am I getting cynical, forgetful in my old age or simply coming to terms that I regularly sell stuff, but I forgot to mention that I sold a slipstream/fantasy story called 'A Little Help' to Unbelieveable Stories a few weeks ago. Forgive me for forgetting about the occasional story or article (hmmm... did I forget one of those too?), but if you ever find me forgetting to mention a book sale, please give me the reaming I deserve." She didn't forget the article. "Where's the Sci-Fi" is being presented on the Academic Track of the "Life, the Universe & Everything" Science Fiction and Fantasy Symposium at Brigham Young University. You can download it here.

Michael Merriam sold his short story "Over the Bridge" to The Harrow. Michael would like to thank the workshop members John Schoffstall, Sam Butler, Juliet Nordeen, Chris Russo, and Wendy Bartlett for their work on this story so long ago.

Camille Mulan sold her flash story "Terrorists: The Next Generation," in which radioactive gophers defend their homeland from pesky humans, to Alien Skin. She tells us this is a "happy way to start the new year! Though this wasn't workshopped through OWW, F.R.R. Mallory of OWW did provide me with some valuable feedback."

Sarah Prineas sold three YA fantasy books to Melanie Donovan at HarperCollins for a good, no, make that "freaking amazing" deal. Hardcover publication of the first book, currently called MAGIC THIEF, will be in winter 2009 (so as not to compete with He Who Shall Not Be Named), with paperback publication a year later on publication of the second hardcover, and so on. Sarah gives credit to OWW: "Without the OWW, I never would have taken writing seriously or taken myself as a writer seriously."

Karen Swanberg's novella, "Memory of Touch," is up at Abyss and Apex Karen tells us: "I received an amazing amount of help from OWW members and others: Pen Hardy and the DROWWZoo Focus Group, William Freedman, Wendy S. Delmater, Bonnie Freeman, Melinda Goodin, chance m, Suzann Dodd, and from the long-dead s-ent yagoo group: R.M. Koske and Starr. As well as Terry and my wonderful face-to-face writers group."

E-BOOKS FROM THE WORKSHOP
During the year Del Rey Books partnered with us on this workshop, we had two Gallery e-book competitions in which the Editors' Choice novels for a six-month period competed against each other to become the "peoples' choice" and get an offer for e-book publication from Del Rey.

Winners of the first Gallery competition: Sheaves by Kate Bachus (SF) and Stone Maiden by Ann Aguirre (fantasy)

Winners of the second Gallery competition: Tainted Garden by Jeff Stanley (SF) and Thagoth by Michael McClung (fantasy)

OUR CRITERIA
How we chose the listings and categories above

All of the writers featured here are members of the Online Writing Workshop for SF & F (or its predecessor, the Del Rey Online Writing Workshop). We include sales and publications by workshop members (noting if the works were workshopped here, in whole or in part), current members' awards and honors, and anything else we think belongs in the Hall of Fame.

We will emphasize SF&F publications, since that's the focus of the workshop, even though we know some of our members are accomplishing other things outside the genre.

While we try to include things fairly, final determination of all Hall of Fame entries belongs to the workshop administration. We do our best to verify all information and links, but if we get anything wrong--or if we haven't included your sale or publication--please e-mail us.

Links: we try to provide links to more information on the publications whenever possible. In the case of book publication, we often link to Amazon, since it is an accepted source of information, but we are not an Amazon associate and aren't earning any percentage from these links. If you are the author and would like us to link to a personal or publisher site instead, just tell us which one. We have no deal with the magazines we link to for short stories, either. The only people who benefit from this feature of our site are our members and the venues that publish them.

NEWS? LET US KNOW

Sold something recently? Have something currently in print that we haven't announced yet? Won an award? Garnered any other honors? Tell us about it! Send your news (including URLs if any) to support@sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com and, if appropriate, we'll include it in the Hall of Fame and/or the next workshop newsletter. The Hall of Fame is updated monthly when the newsletter is published, and often in between.