Laurel Anne Hill

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March 11, 2013 By Laurel Anne Hill

RadCon 2013: Hotter than Ever!

 
Steampunk Cool

 

      In February, I again attended RadCon in Pasco, Washington.  RadCon is an amazing gathering held at the Red Lion Hotel and organized by fans in the Tri-Cities area.  The con encourages local youth to join in the fun, which includes writing and art contests, creating costumes and just hanging around with friends.  This year, RadCon panel topics ranged from steampunk to string theory.  As usual, I was delighted to give several talks about writing beforehand at one of the local schools. 
 
During the con, my husband (NOT the guy in the photo) took plenty of photos which I have organized into a slide-show/video on YouTube:  RADCON2013:Hotter than Ever.  To view this cool collection of pictures set to music, go to: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHW10tVbvy0.

Happy viewing!

Laurel Anne Hill (http://www.laurelannehill.com)

 

  

                 

 

March 8, 2013 By Laurel Anne Hill

Surviving the Peace: Angola Faces Tough “Numbers”

What if one in every 334 people you knew was an amputee?  Not one in every 334 veterans or diabetics—but one in every 334 men, women and children from all backgrounds.  Furthermore, what if this tragedy occurred nationally and the factor causing the loss of limbs also contributed to the malnutrition of one in every three people?  Would you and your neighbors demand an investigation?  Email your congressperson or other governmental representative?  Call your lawyer?  Think about it.  What WOULD you do?  Unfortunately, if landmines caused the problem, you might not be able to do very much at all.

I recently received a copy of the latest MAG America Quarterly Review from Mines Advisory Group (MAG).  MAG is an international organization that saves lives and builds futures through the destruction of weapons in conflict-affected countries.  I extracted the following information about Angola from that quarterly review.

  • Angola’s civil war lasted 27 years and ended in 2002.  Today, landmines still contaminate all 18 provinces in the country.
  • Angola’s population exceeds 18 million.  The number of Angolan casualties due to landmine/explosive remnants of war is unknown.  Estimates, however, range from 23,000 to 80,000.  At one point, there was thought to be approximately one amputee per every 334 people in Angola.
  • Angola is an agrarian society, using the land for food, water and livelihoods.  Land contaminated with landmines is not safe for such usage.  Although Angola possesses a wealth of fertile land, only 3% of all arable land is currently being cultivated.  Thus, studies have illustrated that more Angolans have died from poor water, sanitation, disease and malnutrition than from direct injuries.
  • Sixty-eight percent of Angola’s population lives below the poverty line of $1.70 per day.  Twenty-eight percent live on less than $0.70 per day.
  • During the civil war, 500,000 Angolans sought refuge in other countries.  In June 2012, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ended refugee status for Angolans living in neighboring African countries.  In select provinces, the only land available to these returning refugees is contaminated with landmines and unexploded bombs.

MAG has worked in Angola since 1994, (1) deploying Mine Action teams to address the incredible need for clearance and, (2) employing local Community Liaison Teams (CLT) to teach their fellow Angolans about the danger that surrounds them and how to avoid it.  CLTs also gather vital information from the local population relating to the physical location of unexploded ordnance and suspected mine fields.

With so many refugees returning, the work of the CLTs will be more critical than ever.  From February to May, 2013, MAG America is running a $100,000 fundraising campaign for Angola.  The funds will be used to deploy a life-saving Community Liaison Team for five months.

You can make a difference.  To donate to this campaign, go to http://www.magamerica.org/ and click on the red “Donate Now” button.  In the comments section of the donation form, be sure to indicate that you want to donate to the $100,000 Campaign for Angola.  (Please note tht MAG has worked in over 35 countries and was a co-laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.)

And please watch the new documentary posted on the MAG site — Surviving the Peace: Angola.  The link can be accessed from the http://www.magamerica.org/ home page.

Warm wishes and stay safe,

Laurel Anne Hill
Author and Former Underground Storage Tank Operator
(http://www.laurelannehill.com)

March 5, 2013 By Laurel Anne Hill

San Mateo County Fair Writing Contests: For writers inside AND outside of California

SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR: 2013

Literary Arts entries will be accepted from writers inside AND outside of California.  Please note that our NEW DEADLINE for all literary contests is 7 pm on Monday, April 1, 2013.  When you fill out your entry form, ignore any reference to a later date.  The literary contest deadline really is April 1.  The deadline for other types of contests is after April 1. Late entries are not allowed for all literary divisions, NDNU scholarship and the book cover art contests. For a complete list of contest division rules and categories, go to:   https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/2013/literary_13.pdf

Enter and get published.

“CARRY THE LIGHT” – THE SAN MATEO COUNTY FAIR LITERARY ANTHOLOGY will be published by Sand Hill Review Press http://sandhillreviewpress.com.

Be part of this year’s literary anthology and you will be a published author in a 6” x 9” soft cover trade paperback that you can purchase at the fair as well as on Amazon.com! Special Note: In exchange for being published by Sand Hill Review Press in a soft cover trade paperback, entrants will authorize their work to be printed without compensation, and will retain all ownership rights. Writers are invited to participate in local promotions and book signings.

NOTE: If you do not wish to be included in this anthology, you must click the designated box on the online entry or choose to OPT OUT on the paper entry form. Entrants under the age of 18 must provide parental permission.

Theme: Carry the Light is the published anthology of short story, poetry, essay, and sponsored contest submissions. Themes range from free form poetry to science fiction short stories to personal essays, all of which tell a story. Do you have such a story to share?

Every entrant will have a minimum of one piece published; publisher will print as many multiple winners’ submissions as the 300 page format allows.

Note: We also offer a cover art contest for this anthology in the fine arts dept.

PREORDER NOW on the entry form available in the contest book or on our fair website to ensure your copy at the special promo price of $10.00 (DEADLINE is May 8, 2013) Only a limited number of anthology books will be for sale during the fair at this price.

Carry the Light will be available in June to purchase online at Amazon.com. See last year’s anthology book www.amazon.com/Carry-Light-Stories-Essays-County

There will be an Anthology Book Signing Event: day and time tba on www.sanmateocountyfair.com you do not need to purchase a book in order to attend.

 
CONTEST DIVISIONS
This is a partial list.  For a complete list go to https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/2013/literary_13.pdf.

 DIVISION 321 – DIGITAL MEDIA PODCAST CONTEST

AWARD OFFERED   1st Place $100 Rosette

Definition of Podcast: a prerecorded digital audio program similar to a radio broadcast. An entrant can record a reading of his/her story, poetry, or short play that can then be downloaded onto a computer, mp3 player, or smart phone.

RULES:

1. Submit podcasted audio stories/essays/plays/poetry/commentary in mp3 format, minimum length 10 minutes, maximum 20 minutes, no exceptions (approx. 1,000-2,500 words).

2. This 10-20 minute time includes any music played before and after the verbal presentation as well as sound effects used.

3. The author/podcaster must agree the work submitted is of his/her own creation, fits all of the above guidelines, and its content is not graphic or sexually explicit per San Mateo County Fair rules. Music and sound effects must be created by the author/podcaster, licensed from an online provider (such as Soundsnap, Sounddogs, partnersinrhyme, etc.), or available in the public domain.

4. Email your podcast link to literary@smeventcenter.com

CLASS:

  1. Digital Media Podcast

NOTE:

Award-winning author and podcaster Laurel Anne Hill will post submissions (per entrants’ permission) on her podcast site Welcome to My Bedroom Closet https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/welcome-to-my-bedroom-closet/id331538997 during the duration of the fair, giving entrants a publication credit and would make their pieces available on iTunes.  

 

DIVISION 322 – MEMOIR

AWARDS OFFERED

1st Place $50 Rosette
2nd Place $35 Rosette
3rd Place $20 Rosette

SPECIAL NOTE: Definition of a memoir from about.com : “A form of creative nonfiction recounting a specific experience(s) from his or her life,” shows how he or she was affected, and comes to an understanding or lesson learned.

THEME: Open to all topics such as childhood memories, travel, humor or food tales, spiritual journeys, career, parenting, etc. You can also choose the prior memoir contest theme “Light of my life: a mentor who showed me the way.”

RULES:

1. This first person narrative needs a cohesive beginning, middle and ending; and can include dialogue; but it should not read like a standard fiction piece or it will be moved to the short story division.

2. Memoir must NOT have been entered in a previous San Mateo County Fair Competition, whether it won or not.

3. The entry must be less than 1,500 words and must have a title.

CLASS:

1. Memoir

 
DIVISION 323 – PHILLIP’S WILD AFRICA

Sponsored by STEMdelivered.org

AWARD OFFERED

1st Place $250 Rosette

Special Competition for Tech Savy Writers

www.STEMdelivered.org is looking for a story based on Phillip’s Wild Africa primitive artwork that would lend itself to an e-book game. Be you a writer, or be you a graphic novelist, if you have an idea on how to bring Phillip’s animals to e-life please consider entering this competition. Think Madagascar meets South Park – it is all in the story!

Phillip’s Wild African predators and prey can be found on the www.STEMdelivered.org website and on our fair website at www.sanmateocountyfair.com/contests/departments/fine-arts-galleria

Jpeg’s and write-ups are available for each of the forty animals.

RULES:

1. Style of animals must remain the same.

2. Story must be G-Rated.

3. Entertaining with an educational slant.

4. Entrants must be 18 years of age by June 16, 2013.

 CLASS:
1. Phillip’s Wild Africa

The winning entry will be considered for publication through Rhizome Books. Inc.

 

DIVISION 324 – ADVENTURES IN SCIENCE

Sponsored by www.STEMdelivered.org

AWARDS OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

CLASS:

1. Fiction or Non-fiction stories should capture some aspect of the natural world: geology (volcanoes, earthquakes), weather (hurricanes, blizzards) or wildlife.

2. The story must be less than 2,000 words

3. The story must be titled

4. Stories must be appropriate for all ages to read  

 

 DIVISION 325 – “HEROES ARISE” SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY NOVEL CHAPTER

Sponsored by Laurel Anne Hill, author of Heroes Arise (KOMENAR PUBLISHING) www.laurelannehill.com

AWARDS OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

Eligibility: Submit chapter one (max 7,500 words) of your unpublished science fiction or fantasy novel (NO SYNOPSIS OR PROLOGUE). NOTE: anthology publisher may excerpt submissions longer than 4,000 words if page space is limited.

CLASS:

1. “Hero’s Arise” Science Fiction/Fantasy Novel Chapter

 

DIVISION 327 – “I’M DYING TO TELL YOU” MYSTERY NOVEL CHAPTER

Sponsored by Frank M. Kahren, author of Brand Loyalty and the Matt Rommel mysteries www.fmkahren.com

AWARDS OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

Theme: Great first chapters from talented unpublished, independently produced, and/or self-published mystery novelists.

Eligibility: Submit maximum 3,000 words of the first chapter of your unpublished mystery novel. All mystery sub-genres (cozy, hard boiled, soft boiled, noir, etc.) are welcome.

CLASS:

1. “I’m Dying To Tell You” Chapter

 

DIVISION 328 – THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE: NOVEL, MEMOIR, SHORT STORY, OR MONOLOGUE

Sponsored by writing coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan www.writingcoachTeresa.com
Author of Love Made of Hear (novel) and Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase in 22 Days (workbook)

AWARDS OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

This contest is to honor immigrants who triumph over stigmas and injustice. Your entry could be a firsthand account or a retelling of someone else’s experience. Please study your genre by re-reading your favorite author’s works.

Eligibility: Submit first 1,500 words of your unpublished novel, memoir, or biography (no synopsis or prologue please) or a <1,500 word unpublished short story, essay or monologue.

CLASS:

  1. Immigrant Experience

 

DIVISION 308 – THE GRAPHIC NOVEL

Sponsored by the Peninsula Arts Council www.peninsulaartscouncil.org

AWARD OFFERED

1st. Place $125 Rosette and a one year membership to the Peninsula Arts Council

Graphic novels have emerged as a growing segment of book publishing and powerfully attract and motivate more people to read. Graphic novels are books written and illustrated in the style of a comic book. They are “sequential art” consisting of text and a series of illustrations that tell a story.

Entries will be judged on quality of story content and artistic craft.

Eligibility: Amateur and professional graphic novelists should submit a copy of their graphic novel (not their original) for review. Note: anthology publisher cannot publish entry in its entirety; an excerpt will be chosen with a panel of black/white illustrations but author’s website will be referenced

Youth enter in Division 743. All information for youth entering The Graphic Novel is available in the Youth Exhibits Department.

CLASS:

1. Graphic Novel – adult age group

 

DIVISION 330 – POETRY

AWARD OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

RULES:

1. Maximum length 40 lines. Any style form or subject accepted. Do not choose a form that exceeds 40 lines. Please choose a subject somewhat appropriate for “all ages” reading.

2. Poem must NOT have been entered in a previous San Mateo County Fair Competition, whether it won or not.

3. Poem must have a title.

4. Exhibitors may enter a poem in the “free form” (meaning it follows no established poem format) or the “structured” (meaning it follows an established poem format) class. Some examples of “structured” form poems include the sonnet, villanelle, sestina, haiku, tanka, limerick, rondel, rondeau, pantoum, et cetera.

5. Exhibitors may not enter the same poem in more than one category or class.

CLASS:

1. Free form poem – Exhibitor 54 years old or younger
2. Senior free form poem – Exhibitor 55 years or older
3. Structured poem – Exhibitor 54 years old or younger
4. Senior structured poem – Exhibitor 55 years or older

 

DIVISION 331 – ESSAY

AWARD OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosette
3rd Place $25 Rosette

RULES:

1. Definition of an essay from Wikipedia: “An essay is usually a short piece of writing which is often written from an author’s personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author.”

2. The essay theme is “CARRY THE LIGHT: THE QUALITY OF ONE’S DREAM WILL DETERMINE ITS POWER.” Carry the Light also pertains to the individual becoming a beacon of light to others not by convincing them of their need to follow him/her, but rather, by showing them the way to manifest their own dreams.

3. Write an essay about anything pertaining to “Carry the Light,” such as stepping up in the community,
assisting others, or daring to dream about what you want to accomplish in this life. The essay may be
serious or lighthearted and may be in first, second, or third person. Nonfiction narrative accounts of personal experience or point of view are acceptable; some dialogue may be included if applicable, but no fiction is allowed in this category and should not read like a standard fiction piece or it will be moved to the short story division.

4. Essay must NOT have been entered in a previous San Mateo County Fair Competition, whether it won or not.

5. The essay must be less than 1,000 words and must have a title.

CLASS:

1. Essay – Exhibitor 54 years old or younger
2. Sr. Essay – Exhibitor 55 years or older

 

DIVISION 332 – SHORT STORY

AWARD OFFERED
1st Place $100 Rosette
2nd Place $50 Rosett
3rd Place $25 Rosette

RULES:

1. Stories should reflect the writer’s expertise and knowledge of the fiction genre. No narrative essays in this category.

2. NEW WORD COUNT LIMIT: The story must not exceed 2,500 words.

3. Stories must be entered in one of the following classes—General Fiction, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Mystery/Thriller, Western or Historical. Choose the class that best fits the story, but the judges may switch classes at his/her discretion. May be written in first person but must read as fiction, otherwise it will be moved to the essay division.

4. Exhibitors may not enter the same story in more than one category or class, except if you are also entering said short story in the California Writers Club Writer of the Year Contest. NOTE: an additional entry fee will apply.

5. Subject matter must be appropriate for “all ages” reading. No excessive violence, profanity, sexual nature, etc.

6. MULTIPLE CONTEST SUBMISSIONS: Work submitted to the Division 326 CWC Writer of the Year contest may also be submitted to this contest. NOTE: additional entry fees apply.

CLASS:

1. General Fiction—exhibitor 55 years old or younger
2. Senior General Fiction—exhibitor 55 years or older
3. Science Fiction/Fantasy—exhibitor 55 years old or younger
4. Senior Science Fiction/Fantasy—exhibitor 55 years or older
5. Mystery/Thriller—exhibitor 55 years old or younger
6. Senior Mystery/Thriller—exhibitor 55 years or older
7. Western—exhibitor 55 years old or younger
8. Senior Western—exhibitor 55 years or older
9. Historical—exhibitor 55 years old or younger                                                                     
10. Senior Historical—exhibitor 55 years or older

 

To Submit Entries

(for complete information, go to https://www.sanmateocountyfair.com/pdf/2013/literary_13.pdf )

 

1. FORMAT: ENTERING A LITERARY CONTEST IS A TWO-STEP PROCESS:

Step One: Submit each entry electronically in .doc or .docx form. NOTE: If you can’t email your entry it will not be excluded from the anthology; when you mail in your printed copies, include a note for the office to scan your work.

All contests are judged blind, but for publishing purposes, you must include YOUR NAME AND ENTRY TITLE on the subject line of each of your email submissions (one entry per email). Include all other contact information required by fair in the body of each email: author’s name, email address, home address, city, zip, home phone, day phone, title, first sentence or line, word count, division, and class.

EMAIL EACH ENTRY SEPARATELY TO literary@smeventcenter.com

 Step Two: You must also mail THREE (3) copies of each entry on 8-1/2″ x 11″ white paper TYPED, double- spaced, font point size may not be smaller than 12 pt with pages numbered (no staples, use paper clips); per judging rules, do not put entrant’s name on literary work.

Each of the 3 copies must have a 3″ x 5″ index card attached with the Author’s name, address, city, zip, home phone, day phone, email address, title, first sentence or line, word count, division, and class. Copies do not have to be mailed individually. Do not submit originals. NOTE: Entries over the designated word count limit will be disqualified.

MAIL PRINTED SUBMISSIONS TO:

San Mateo County Event Center/Literary contest submission
2495 S. Delaware Street, San Mateo, CA 94403
(650) 574-3247

AGE: NEW MIMIMUM AGE is now 16 (except for entrants who already submitted in prior years) All other underage submissions will be moved to the Youth Dept. Age for senior citizen class (55 and older). Age is determined by having had a birthday on or before April 1, 2013.

Cost: $10 per entry. No limit on number of entries.

 

January 27, 2013 By Laurel Anne Hill

Rewinding Clocks and Memories (by Laurel Anne Hill)

Made in the USA

 

I was a Luddite and proud.  No iPhones, iPads, Notebooks or Smartphones for me.  My cell phone was too ancient for texting.  I preferred Windows XP.  I’d bought a flat screen TV only after my twenty-year-old monster died.  And my bread-making machine consisted of two hands.  Was it any wonder I loved to write and read Steampunk?  Retro-futuristic stories full of steam engines and wind-up clocks?

So that’s why I finally did it: shot a guilty glance in the direction of my quartz alarm clock and decided to purchase a real old-fashioned wind-up model.  Today’s pathetic line of manual alarms were manufactured in China and best described with expletives.  For twenty years, I hadn’t owned a dependable wind-up clock.  Either it was time to shop via the Tardis, or log on to eBay.  I selected the latter option.

Within a week, the mailman delivered the clock of my dreams: a Westclox Baby Ben, built in the USA sometime between 1964 and 1980.  The timepiece was 3-1/4 inches tall, off-white in color with a shiny golden trim.  Just like the clock I’d purchased for my grandmother in 1974, the one that had stopped working years before her death in 1989 and reawakened for two minutes in 1991 when I was ill, depressed and crying.  I had kept my grandmother’s inoperative Baby Ben at the head of my bed since she’d passed away and now placed my “new” Baby Ben there, too.    

This morning my new Baby Ben awakened me at 6 am.  Right on schedule!  I remained curled up in my cozy bed for several more minutes, enjoying the gentle tick-tock of my mechanical friend.  Childhood memories of Mom’s two Baby Bens filled my mind.  When her clocks had grown old, she’d repaired them by unscrewing their backs and touching their inner workings.  Mom and clocks had shared an understanding.

I climbed out of bed and yawned.  Across the room, the battery-operated clock on my dresser appeared gloomy, like a half-inch of dust had settled overnight.  I loved this clock, too, a gift from my sister.  I mean, how could I not love a clock that looked like a steam locomotive—and sounded like one when the alarm went off?  I walked over to the steam train clock and patted its smokestack.  Make new friends but keep the old.  One is silver and the other’s gold.  The steam train clock seemed brighter now.  Guess clocks and I shared an understanding, too.

Maybe I wasn’t such a Luddite, after all.  More of a nostalgic gal with rewinding memories and a soft heart.

May all your happy memories rewind as needed,

Laurel Anne Hill (Author of “Heroes Arise”)
http://www.laurelannehill.com    

 

December 21, 2012 By Laurel Anne Hill

Year of the Water Snake: Laurel Anne Hill’s Holiday Message about 2013

    

 

Get ready to shelve the dragon and uncoil the serpent.  The Chinese Year of the Snake slithers into the 2013 waiting room.  As you can see, David and I are trying to get a grip on what sort of luck Snaky might bring.  All because we’ve “cashed in” our airline mileage and set a daunting travel itinerary for the next twelve months.  I sure hope Snaky will favor our plans.

So how did David and I make the big decision to travel to Washington State, Virginia, Oregon, Texas AND England in 2013?  Other than review the family checkbook balance and pray?  First of all, I consulted Dr. Fortune and Carma the Wise: residents of the talking fortune-telling calendar in my kitchen.

“Will our travel plans for 2013 work out?” I said to my calendar.  I pushed the Dr. Fortune answer-button.  “If that’s what you really want,” he replied, “but are you sure?”  Okay, I was setting an exhausting schedule for us, with plans to participate in six science fiction/fantasy conventions and also visit family members.  Still, I was sure this itinerary was what I wanted, even if it might mean moderating a panel on string theory, a subject known to fry my aging brain.  I awakened Carma the Wise.  “Your heart’s desires are manifesting as we speak,” she told me.  Well, at least my calendar was on my side.

Now it was time to research the twelve animal signs of the Chinese Zodiac—particularly the snake.  I sat down at my computer.  Also pertinent were the five elements (wood, fire, Earth, metal and water) believed to have both a generating and an overcoming influence on one another.  For example, wood generated fire, water generated wood, water overcame fire, and fire overcame metal.  This element system was way more complex than rock, scissors, paper.  One blog reported that 2013 would be the Year of the Water Snake, an event which occurred once every 60 years.  (For the math impaired: 12 Zodiac signs times 5 elements equals 60.)

The internet revealed a plethora of predictions for 2013, all based on what was favorable or not according to the Chinese Zodiac.  Being a scientist, I also checked predictions for 2012.  Which ones had come true and which hadn’t?  The predictions about government scandals and military leaders in 2012 sure proved right on the money.  The prediction that war in the Middle East would come to an end in 2012 appeared farther out than Pluto.  Win one, lose one.  I decided to bypass specific predictions and focus on what the signs and elements generally favored.

I reviewed the accuracy of favorability claims for 2012.  At the beginning of 2012, one blogger had decided the Year of the Water Dragon would favor bookstores and publishing.  I supposed that had happened.  More writers had self-published books and the economy may have forced more small bookstores to sell through Amazon (generating more sales than those stores otherwise would have made).  I couldn’t complain, though.  Four of my short stories had been published in anthologies this year, including one with a Chinese theme in “Shanghai Steam.”  As for the unfavorability side of 2012 matters, the Water Dragon was supposedly bad for firefighting and diplomats.  Alas, all too true.

I moved on to 2013.  A couple of websites and blogs predicted the Year of the Water Snake’s favorability for fishing, traveling and finance but not for new energy sources.  Looked like my travels—including the family annual fishing trip—could work out, but I’d better not substitute an energy drink for my traditional afternoon nap.

Overall, the internet sources I reviewed predicted 2013 would begin with many uncertainties but end up okay.  Of course, I have no real idea of what this means for David and me.  The predictions included nothing about prayers for wisdom and inner strength—prayers which tend to keep me going, particularly in trying times.  Monks and the clergy received favorability status for 2012.  But shouldn’t every year be favorable for faith?

May the holidays and the Year of the Water Snake prove favorable for you, what you believe in, and those you love.

Warm wishes,

Laurel and David

 

December 13, 2012 By Laurel Anne Hill

Put Some Steampunk in your Holidays with “SHANGHAI STEAM.”

“I’ve got Steam!”

Got steam?   How about clockwork and goggles?  Shanghai Steam, the recently released anthology from Absolute XPress, has all three and way, way more.  Qi powered machines and flying monks. Philosophical automatons and paper lantern revolutions.  Shanghai steam—a mashup of Chinese wuxia fantasy and steampunk—contains vengeance, whimsy, horror and the fantastic.  This collection of short stories is a mash up of Chinese wuxia fantasy and steampunk, and available through Amazon now.

 

Here’s what people are saying about Shanghai Steam:

“Shanghai Steam is one of those anthologies you think will be one thing, but is surprisingly more … and I mean that in a good way.  If you are expecting this to be a collection of simple oriental steampunk stories, then prepare yourself to be Shanghaied.”

Michael Knost, Bram Stoker Award-winner

“Just when we thought steampunk had run out of, well, steam, these daring editors have reinvigorated the whole genre.  A terrific collection of weird and wonderful tales.

Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of TRIGGERS

 

 

 

Shanghai Steam would make an amazing gift for a friend this holiday season.  I know, because I’ve read the book cover to cover.  And don’t forget to purchase a copy for yourself.  My contribution to the anthology, by the way, is “Moon-Flame Woman,” an exciting story about a Chinese woman disguised as a man.  The editors of the anthology (which contains the works of nineteen authors) are Ace Jordyn, Calvin D. Jim and Renee Bennett.

To view the book trailer, link to:  Shanghai Steam Book Trailer.

Warm wishes,

Laurel Anne Hill
(Award-Winning Author of Heroes Arise.)

Shanghai Steam Cover
"I've read Shanghai Steam, too!"

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