The Parsec Short Story Contest is now closed to submissions. We received 189 stories. We’ll be sending the top eight on to the judges for consideration. Prizes are $200, $100 and $50 for the top three stories. Good luck to all submitters!
Mary Soon Lee was the Poet of the Week at Songs of Eretz Poetry Review and they published six of her poems online. One of the poems is from “The Sign of the Dragon,” Mary’s epic fantasy poetry sequence and may be read here. Another poem from that sequence appeared in Uppagus and may be read here: Pigeon. Two other poems from the sequence were printed (actually printed on paper, not online) in Tales of the Talisman. Mary has an antiquated website at http://www.marysoonlee.com.
Parsec member Jamie Lackey had four short stories published in March.
- “Her Mother’s Book” in Mad Scientist Journal
- “To Go on Two Feet” in Swords and Sorcery Magazine
- “The Mutable Sky” in The Colored Lens
- “The Sour Thread of Doubt” in The Sockdolager
Mary Soon Lee’s fantasy poem “Training: Horse” is online in Mirror Dance. She has also had a third poem nominated for the 2015 Rhysling Award, and has had poems published in the past month in the Cold Mountain Review, Mobius: The Journal of Social Change, and Songs of Eretz Poetry Review. She has an antiquated website at http://www.marysoonlee.com.
Yearly Alpha scholarship drive is on now! Tamora Pierce video on YouTube: Tamora Pierce’s video. Alpha works at raising money year-round for deserving students, but today is the last day of the publicized drive. Get in now to help reach the $5,000 goal.
Writing Workshop: Joshua Bellin
Joshua David Bellin has been writing novels since the age of eight (though the first few were admittedly very, very short). A native of Pittsburgh, Josh received his B.A. from Wesleyan University and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He currently teaches at La Roche College. His debut novel, the YA science fiction adventure Survival Colony 9, was published last year, and will be followed soon by a sequel, Skaldi City. Books will be available for purchase after the workshop at the book signing event in Doherty Hall 2315 at 3:00 pm.
*Parsec, Inc. is a Pittsburgh non-profit, charitable organization seeking to promote literacy through the enjoyment of science fiction, fantasy and horror. A $10 tax-deductible donation to Parsec is suggested for workshop participants. No money will be collected in person at the door. If you wish to make a tax-deductible donation separately through PayPal, send it to parsec.nonprofit@gmail.com, or you may mail a contribution to: Parsec, PO Box 3681, Pittsburgh PA 15230-3681.
Lecture: Kristin Cashore
Kristin Cashore grew up in the northeast Pennsylvania countryside. She received a bachelor’s degree from Williams College and a master’s from the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Simmons College, and she has worked as a dog runner, a packer in a candy factory, an editorial assistant, a legal assistant, and a freelance writer. She has called many places home (including Sydney, New York City, Boston, London, Austin, and Jacksonville, Florida), and currently lives in the Boston area. Cashore wrote the New York Times bestsellers Graceling, Fire, and most recently, Bitterblue, all of which have been named ALA Best Books for Young Adults. The books are world travelers, published in over thirty languages.
Early registration is now open for our local SF/F/H conference, Confluence, to be held July 24-26, 2015 at the Four Points by Sheraton Pittsburgh North. This year’s Guest of Honor is Joan Slonczewski and the Featured Filk Guest is Brooke Abbey.
Young adult author Alaya Dawn Johnson will join Ellen Kushner, Delia Sherman and Tamora Pierce as guest authors at Alpha 2015 this summer.
Henry Tjernlund’s science fiction screenplay Small Blue was the 3rd highest reviewed feature script on Zoetrope.com for November 2014.
Parsec Board Member Bonnie Bogovich will be premiering Super Smash Opera at MAGFest.