Jennifer Brozek

My latest Apex blog: Gravestone Stories 3: F.A.T.A.L. with the Five Pointed Star http://goo.gl/fb/wOyEu

With Hugo nominations closing in about a week, here's my last reminder that I am eligible for the Short Form Editor Hugo award and who else I'm recommending. http://jennifer-brozek.livejournal.com/159091.html

My new column over at Apex is up: Gravestone Stories.

This year for Apex, I wanted to write a column that was not aimed at authors or prospective authors. I wanted to write something for readers that authors could also use. Actually, that's not true. I wanted to write something specifically for readers to enjoy. As it turns out, authors can certainly use what I write about in Gravestone Stories as part of their research or to hang plots on.

I love graveyards and cemeteries. I always have. There are stories in the stone and peace in the air. Jeff took me to a cemetery to see Rucker's Tomb—something of a legend around here—and I found so much more to see and an amazing sense of history of the Everett (Washington) area. I just knew I wanted to do more research into what I found there.

I wasn't sure that Jason would go for it when I pitched the idea but was very pleased at his "That sounds neat!" response. It is neat and I'm really happy to be working on this project. Also, I'm really happy to be working on it with Amber for the pictures. She is a consummate photographer and a hoot to be around. This won't be the only project I work on with her this year.

It is over at the Apex Book Company blog - http://www.apexbookcompany.com/blogs/blog/4806522-making-of-an-anthology-part-9-after-the-anthology-manuscript-is-turned-in

Making of an Anthology, Part 7: The Value of Proofers:
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/blogs/blog/4218582-making-of-an-anthology-part-7-the-value-of-proofers

Leeloo ended up at the vet with an eye problem and that killed my weekend somewhat. Though, I did get some treasure hunting in.

Other than that, I've been focused on "pays the bills" work. I'm front loading that this month to help pay the vet bill while waiting for the pet insurance to kick in. Also, while stalled on the Battletech webseries, I'm working on a couple of short stories based in my weird west Mowry series.

When it comes to being stalled in one writing project, your best bet is to work on the next one until you can get the issue resolved.

GenCon, as usual, was amazing. It really was. Some 37,000 people came through the convention and I got to see a lot of them from my place in the Writer's Symposium and in the Dealer's Hall. I had a good, if stressful time of it.

Travel
Travel was interesting. On the way there, we couldn't have had a smoother time of it. On the way home, I was cursed with Mary Robinette Kowal's travel karma from hell. The way home ended up with us being up for about 33 hours with 27 hours of those hours spent in airports or in the air.

I mean, our plane was diverted to Nashville because we didn't have enough fuel. This was amusing because AirTran just got bought by Southwest and we were the first AirTran plane to land at Nashville. There were a lot of curious Southwest workers peeking into the plane.

All I can say is that I'm glad the bad travel karma happened after the convention.

Booth
I had my booth in Author's Avenue. I sold 90 of the 124 books, gave away 30 books to charity, contests and last day sales. It was a good time. I like the new set up for Author's Avenue in the middle of the Dealer's Hall. We got a lot of exposure and decent sales. I have to admit, it's nice to have a table to retreat behind with all of those people at the convention. It was extra awesome because Lily and Jeff worked the booth with me.

Writer's Symposium
All my panels were early morning panels – 8am and 9am. Which is 5am and 6am my time. But I made it and I'd like to think I was coherent. It's nice to see writers come back again and again with intelligent questions.

ENnies
So, this was the big deal for me. I didn't realize just how stressful it was to be at a convention where you are up for an award. Now I know. I almost didn't go to the ceremony. But, I did because, dammit, I wanted to be there if I won. And, guess what, I did win! I won the silver ENnie for the best electronic book for Shanghai Vampocalypse, published by Savage Mojo. This is the RPG industry's equivalent of the Golden Globe awards.

I know I squeezed the heck out of Jeff's hand and he says I shrieked when Shanghai was announced. I can neither confirm or deny this. Heck, I can't even remember the applause as more than a rush of noise. This was my thought process: OMG, I won! I WON! OMG. Ok. Ok. Don't trip going up the stairs. Don't fall. Don't faint. Read your speech. Slow down, dammit! OMG. Wait for Aaron. Ok. Ok. Don't fall. There's Jeff! One stair at a time. Ok. OMG, I won!

That was it.

Here's my speech; short and simple: "I want to thank Martin Klimes and all of the people at Savage Mojo for their work on Shanghai Vampocalypse. In particular, Alan Bundock for his statting expertise and my artists, Aaron Acevedo and Jason Engle. Also, I want to thank my husband, Jeff, who, as a gamer, a geek and an engineer, is the perfect sounding board. Finally, I want to thank Ryan Macklin for making me write this acceptance speech."

I really didn't think I was going to win but I did and it was awesome.

Future Projects
You know how I said before that August always brought changes? Well, this August is crazier than normal. Because of the ENnie (coupled with last year's win of the Origins award), I immediately was offered a number of big writing tie-in projects. These are the kinds of projects I have been working towards for years. Suddenly, just when I was shifting my career to editing/publishing with a little bit of writing, I am now back to lots of writing with a little bit of editing and no publishing.

I had to have a long talk with Apex about Black Room Publications and step back and managing editor. I will not have time in the next year. At all. I'm still with Apex, but I'll be back to assistant editor, conventions and the like. They are really happy for me.

As for the tie-in projects, they are fabulous and wonderful and exciting (and a little bit intimidating). I will announce them as contracts are signed and permission for public knowledge is given.

August 1st is my personal New Year's Day. Has been since I moved to Washington. Something big and life changing always seems to happen to me around August. So, I've just embraced the 1st as my New Year's Day and the month of August as a month of change. This year is no exception.

I've accepted the position of managing editor of Black Room Publications. This is the special projects division of the award winning Apex Publications company. What does this entail? An awful lot. What does it entail in specific? I don't know. I do know that after all of the congratulations comes the hard work. Black Room Publications is mine and I'm responsible for it all. From the acquisitions of new projects to seeing through the projects already under contract to marketing to slush.

Obviously, I can't do this alone. And I won't. I just don't know who is doing what yet.

I do know I've been moving towards this for a while. I've been with Apex Publications for 2.5 years. First as a slush reader. Then as an assistant editor (read: editing and other duties as assigned). Now this. This is what I needed to continue to grow. I get to learn a lot more about the business side of things: the budget, unit pricing, marketing costs, and other such painful, real details that all small press companies deal with.

What will Black Room publish? Well, I've got some ideas on that but I still have to run them by the head honcho. So, for now, I'm going to finish out the current contracts. In a way, Black Room Publications is stepping in for Apex Publications while Apex Publications works on leveling up with its national distributions.

For right now, I'm not accepting submissions. The website is just a splash page until I'm able to digest more of this huge piece of pie I've been given. I do know I'm excited beyond all believe and just a tiny bit intimidated. I can't wait to see what is going to come of it. It will be awesome and terrifying and that's exactly what I want.

Apex Publications has announced that it is now accepting novel submissions here: http://www.apexbookcompany.com/2011/07/apex-publications-accepting-novel-submissions/

Our novel submission guidelines are here:
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/submissions/

The best way to sell a book through Apex Publications is to be very aware of our current library.

I has it.

I think I'm doing pretty well on the main project on the table right now. I'm 15,000 words in a 25,000 word (or so) novella. It's moving along smoother than I thought it would. As it turns out, I outlined it into 5 acts and a coda. I say coda because it is part of the story, just after the main story is done. It ties up a loose end and isn't an epilogue.

I'm also mentally outlining my next Apex Blog post on anthologies. But really, I'm mostly focused on the novella. I do have a little bit going on the side with my new darling of a novel idea but I really can't get too deep into that. I have an RPG supplement and a web series to get through first. I'm thinking about them on the side, too.

I think I'll need another 2 weeks to finish writing and clean up the novella before it can go out to readers. I'm feeling good about this.

Norwescon was really good for me. We had excellent sales at the Apex table. I made it to all my panels and spent a lot of time with friends. I don't currently have the con-crud but I am exhausted. I was not as careful as I should have been on keeping up with eating. Especially on Sunday. I had too little sleep and too much caffeine. By the time I realized I had messed up, I almost fainted. Then, when I went into the hotel restaurant for their poached eggs and corn beef hash, I almost burst into tears because it was after breakfast and I did not have the coherency to make another choice.

Note to self: Remember to bring protein bars to conventions.

The parties at the convention were a good place to catch up with people I only see at cons and to meet new people but I spent a lot more time at barcon this year because it was smaller and quieter in the grand scheme of things. Talked a lot, gave advice as requested and had some good industry talk with other people.

In particular, I had an excellent talk with Jay Lake, who, despite some of the heavy things on his mind, was still very willing to give of himself, offer his advice and to talk about a forthcoming cool thing that he and I will be working on. I sincerely appreciate is blunt opinions, experience and offer of help.

As productivity goes, I got nothing done at the con. No writing or reading. I don't feel as guilty about this as I probably should but that's OK. I will be focused going forward.

Shout out recommendation – Square is invaluable for the small business person. We made more than 50% of our sales because we could accept credit cards.

Things are going well.

I'm finishing up edits on BEAST WITHIN 2 for Graveside Tales.

I've started my novella THE LADY OF SEEKING IN THE CITY OF WAITING for Dark Quest Books.

I have started a new column on the Apex Blog called "The Making of an Anthology" which debuts on Monday the 28th and goes deep into my personal process on how I create an anthology from invitations all the way through turning in a final manuscript and afterwards.

Still reading slush for The Edge of Propinquity.

And I think I'm just about caught up with things. For now.

In April I will start from the edits on SPACE TRAMPS for Flying Pen Press, finish the rough of the novella, and start a new personal project with an artist friend of mine. Also, the HUMAN TALES anthology is officially out in April from Dark Quest Books.