Author Archives: Peter Darbyshire
On Spec loses its Canada Council funding
This is a hard blow for the Canadian genre scene. On Spec, Canada’s leading sci-fi and fantasy magazine, has been denied funding by the Canada Council. The Canada Council said the jury assessing On Spec’s application called the quality of writing low and added there were production problems, including copy editing, layout and proofreading. So the jury really didn’t like it.
Well played, Apple, well played
My screensaver was this just before my computer crashed and had to be re-imaged.
The Dead Hamlets has a cover
I finally handed in the edits for my new book, The Dead Hamlets, and ChiZine rewarded me with a shiny new cover!
The Dead Hamlets is the second book in the Cross series, following The Mona Lisa Sacrifice. For those of you unfamiliar with my genre work, the Cross books follow the misadventures of Cross, the soul who woke up in Christ’s body after the resurrection. He’s got all of Christ’s powers but none of his sensibilities. He’s also got some strange friends and even stranger enemies.
But the beard is where I keep my deleted scenes
Yesterday I was going to post a photo of myself with my editing beard. It’s like a playoff beard, only wilder — I think all the caffeine makes it go crazy. But then I walked into a tailor’s to get measurements for a suit for a friend’s wedding. The tailor looked at my beard and said, “Sorry, can’t help you.”
So I went home and decided maybe I shouldn’t post that pic, after all. Then I shaved.
With any luck, I will be finishing the edits today. Then I’ll try that measurement thing again.
Suit size is always the same as your age, isn’t it?
I’ve been editing editing editing The Dead Hamlets, the sequel to my first Cross book, The Mona Lisa Sacrifice. The edits are almost done, which is nice. I can’t wait to get this one out there into the world.
Plus, I have to finish soon because I have to leave for a friend’s wedding. He messaged me the other day asking my suit size and I said I would have to get back to him. I haven’t worn a suit in years, so I have no idea what my size is now.
Then I realized that the fact I haven’t worn a suit in years means I’ve been living life in the right way. I sure hope I can keep it up. Weddings and funerals, that’s what suits are for. And maybe trials.
And with that, back to the editing!
I’d Never Been Shot for Real Before
I’ve published a new story, I’d Never Been Shot for Real Before. It’s a black comedy that takes readers through a post-9/11 world of sex clubs, bankruptcy cubicle farms and guns that definitely go off. It may or may not check in with the narrator of Please, depending on your perspective and desire.
The things an editor teaches you
For the last few days I’ve been working on the edits for The Dead Hamlets, the second book in the Cross series. This is the first time I’ve had the same editor for two books in a row (cheers for Kelsi Morris), and it’s been a real learning experience for me. A real learning experience in that it points out all my weaknesses as a writer.
A preacher preaching to the converted
You can blame Nick Cave and his Vancouver show for the fact I didn’t get any writing done yesterday. But you can probably thank him for all the inspiration over the past years and the years to come.
Here’s a video from the show. You can see me in the audience if you want to play Where’s Waldo.
It’s the Canada Day Independence Day Price Apocalypse!
My publisher ChiZine is having a price blowout on ebooks in celebration of Canada Day and Independence Day. They’ve dropped prices on most of their ebooks to 99 cents July 1-4, including my book The Mona Lisa Sacrifice. If you haven’t read Mona Lisa yet, now’s your chance!
Help the needy for free (while funds last)
Hey all, I just wanted to take the time to give an endorsement to Kiva. If you haven’t heard of it, Kiva is a nonprofit organization that helps people around the world through microfinancing. You can set up a loan fund for as little as $25 and help out the needy. I set up an account a little while ago and so far I’ve helped a woman in the Philippines with her furniture business, a woman in Samoa with her textiles business and a man in Paraguay with his law school tuition. All with the same $25.
Kiva is running a promotion right now where members can invite friends to join and both will get a free $25 bonus to their accounts to loan out. So if you click the link and join, you can get a free $25 to loan someone (while the bonus funds last). Give it a shot if you want to help someone out.
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