After a quiet month on the book front due to protests and elections, I’m back into it! Below are several upcoming Wellington book events I’m going to be at – featuring climate fiction, science fiction poetry, writers from Matairangi / Mt Victoria, and the launch of two new speculative fiction books.
Also, for the writers among us, I have included several calls for submissions. The first, the anthology “Ko Aotearoa Tātou | We Are New Zealand”, closes 31 October, so don’t delay in checking it out!
Events
Tuesday 29 October: Write, Hear in Mt Victoria, 6.30-8pm, Quaker Meeting House, 7 Moncrieff St: https://www.facebook.com/events/467749827145434/
“On Tuesday 29 October the Mt Victoria Hub is hosting an evening showcase of local writers’ work. Join our wordsmith residents from 6.30pm for a wine reception followed by a panel where we will hear from some of our writers themselves talking about their work. All are welcome.”
I’m looking forward to taking part in this event.
“It’s the 10th anniversary of Voyagers: Science Fiction Poetry from New Zealand, the groundbreaking anthology of New Zealand speculative (science fiction, fantasy and horror) poetry, edited by Mark Pirie and Tim Jones and published in 2009.
What’s changed in speculative poetry in Aotearoa since then? What’s stayed the same?
Hear poets represented in Voyagers read their poems from the anthology – and hear new work by Wellington speculative poets. Let us know in the comments if you’d like to read at the event!
Join us to celebrate 10 years of Voyagers.”
Thursday 31 October: Paper Road Press’s Halloween Double Book Launch, 5.30-7.30pm, VicBooks Pipitea, 27 Lambton Quay: https://www.facebook.com/events/505091606719099/
“Join Paper Road Press at Vic Books Pipitea this Halloween to celebrate the publication of two fantastic new books:
FROM A SHADOW GRAVE, by Andi C. Buchanan
YEAR’S BEST AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY: Volume I, edited by Marie Hodgkinson”
Tim says: These books both sound great and I am looking forwards to buying them.
Saturday 9 November: CliFi Panel, 7.15-8.00pm, Theosophical Society, 19 Marion St, Wellington
The climate crisis is rapidly worsening – and writers are responding. Climate fiction is a feature of the Verb Wellington Festival – and I’m happy to say I’m on one of the panels about climate change and writing: https://www.verbwellington.nz/festival-2019/litcrawl-clifi
“We’re living amid a crisis of near apocalyptic proportions. Tim Jones (Where We Land), Nicola Easthope (Working the Tang), Maru Nihohino (Metia Interactive) and Jeff Murray (Melt) talk with writer Arihia Latham about how environmental catastrophe influences their creative lives.”
45 minutes and right to the point, as part of LitCrawl, the seed from which the Verb Wellington Festival has grown.
Calls for Submissions
Here are some submission opportunities I recommend. The deadline for the first one is 31 October, so you have less than two weeks left to submit:
Submissions close 31 October 2019: “Ko Aotearoa Tātou | We Are New Zealand”, edited by Michelle Elvy, Paula Morris and James Norcliffe (anthology of original work)
“The editors seek submissions in fiction and nonfiction, poetry and visual art. Submissions are open through 31 October 2019. Please read the description and send your submission to: wearenzanthology[at]gmail[dot]com”
Full details of this important anthology are at https://wearenewzealand.org/
Submissions close at stated dates: Flash Frontier, the magazine for short-short stories (generally 250 words or less). Check out the individual submission deadlines here: https://www.flash-frontier.com/submissions/.
Submissions close 28 February 2020: “Black Dogs, Black Tales” anthology, edited by Tabatha Wood (mainly original work, but with some space for reprints)
“Many writers and creatives are plagued by depression and anxiety, often referred to as ‘The Black Dog.’ Ironically, it is during these dark days that our furry friends become our strongest supporters.
I’m working with a fantastic team to put together a horror/dark fiction anthology with a strong, canine theme where all sales go towards supporting mental health and suicide prevention charity: The Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.” – Tabatha Wood.
Full submission guidelines for this speculative fiction anthology are here: http://tabathawood.com/open-call-for-submissions-black-dogs-black-tales/
Submissions close 1 March 2020: Year’s Best Aotearoa Science Fiction and Fantasy, Volume 2, edited by Marie Hodgkinson (reprint anthology)
“Editor Marie Hodgkinson is now seeking submissions to the second volume of the YEAR’S BEST AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY anthology.
Marie is looking for short stories (less than 10,000 words) from all genres and subgenres of science fiction and fantasy, by authors from Aotearoa New Zealand, and which were first published in 2019.”
Full guidelines: https://paperroadpress.co.nz/years-best/
