Conflux 8

We are pleased to announce the availability of Progress Report 2.

Download and enjoy to find out more about what’s happening this year at Conflux.

Gillian Polack will be presenting another workshop this year on Friday afternoon 2 October 2009.  She has suggested several ideas for this year’s presentation – but asks what Conflux members might like?  So over to you – you can comment on this blog or write to Chair@conflux.org.au  by 17th July 2009.   If you would like to know more about Gillian – see her web page http://www.trivium.net/gillianpolack/

Thank you!

We are pleased to announce that this year’s Conflux Virtual Mini-Con will be held on Sunday 3oth August 2009.  The program (like most programs it is a moving feast – so note that things might change) is:

9am to 9.30am – Welcome, introduction and Conflux generally.

9.30 to 10.30am Liz Argall

10.30 to 11.30am Gillian Polack

11.30 to 12.30pm Richard Harland

12.30 to 1.30pm Jim Minz (10.30pm Saturday US time)

1.30 to 2.30pm Maxine McArthur

2.30 to 3.30pm Bruce R Gillespie

3.30 to 4.30pm Cat Sparks

4.30 to 5pm – Closure Gillian Polack and Stuart Herring

Of course, there will be other interesting forum.  We do hope that you will join us!

It’s come to my attention that some people have sent in workshop bookings and not having heard anything, are assuming that it’s okay. It’s not – workshop bookings are being taken by The Programmer and she is replying immediately she reads them, so if you haven’t heard, you aren’t booked. Email workshops@conflux.org.au to book, or you might miss out. Go to www.conflux.org.au/2008/workshops.shtml for more info about the various workshops available.

1) The Conflux Virtual Mini-con is still up for people to read – go to www.conflux.org.au/forum and check out the fun that you may have missed. You can post questions if you like, but understand that not all the guests will recieve notification if you do so and therefore may not answer.

2) This Saturday night we’re holding a fundraising dinner for Conflux. For $12 you’ll get three courses – nibbles and soup for starters, then casseroles, followed by apple pie and icecream for desert. It’s at 6pm at St John’s Church hall in Reid (that’s in Canberra). To book call 62918009 (we need bookings for catering purposes). All the money is going towards the convention. Hope to see a whole lot of you there. 

3) The workshops are now open for bookings. Go to www.conflux.org.au/2008/workshops.shmtl and check out what you want to do, then email workshops@conflux.org.au to make a booking. Two of the workshops will cost extra on top of your membership, the rest are free for members. Spaces are limited, so make sure you get in early.

4) Look out for panel announcements soon. We’re close to developing a list of panels that we’ll then try to match to panellists. If you know you’ll be attending Conflux and want to be on a panel but haven’t sent in a membership form yet, email programme@conflux.org.au and let us know.

This month’s round up was compiled by members of the Conflux Committee (conflux.org.au), under the guidance of the wonderful Gillian Polack.

Parallel Importing

Justine Larbalestier leads us into the biggest issue of the month – parallel imports of books. She also comments on the writing life.
See also Talking Squid for comments.

The Great Goosle Controversy

Reviews of Margo Lanagan’s The Goosle and their accuracy and/or niceness were an important topic this month. For instance, here’s Paul Abbamondi, over at MyLifeComics. Here’s one of several thoughts by Margo on the subject.

Ben Payne gets into the debate on Margo Lanagan’s The Goosle

Gen Con Oz

Marianne de Pierres reports on Gen Con Oz.

Stephen has been to Gencon Oz “the best four days in gaming”. He spoke on several panels during the convention.

Aurealis Awards

Ben Payne shares his thoughts on the changes to the Aurealis Awards as does Ben Peek (who is definitely not the same person as Ben Payne) Then in response to some lively discussion, Ben Peek talks about the value of the AAs and their role in supporting small press More on the Aurealis Awards, based on a review of them by an English critic, first Ben Peek then Ben Payne.

Jonathan Strahan blogged about the rule changes for the Aurealis Awards.

Alisa Krasnostein also weighed in on the Aurealis Awards rule changes here, here and here:

The writing life

Sharyn Lilley blogged about anonymity and mood swings during writing.

Ben Payne talked about the controversy surrounding the lack of women in Jonathan Strahan’s Eclipse Two .

Ben Payne talked about the need for affirmative action in publishing.

Tehani Wessely finds a cartoon that makes a good point about reviewing.

Simon Haynes challenges the idea of starting the story with a bang.
Glenda Larke on the effect on authors of Amazon’s new plans. Amazon sanctions against authors…

Cat Sparks posted a photographic self-portrait of a semi-clad writer seated at a typewriter.

Jenny Fallon on new novels that are set in a new world, or that use the same world as in previous novels.

VoyagerOnline interviews Jack Dann.

Traci Harding completes a series on how to finish a manuscript.

Jennifer Fallon is inspired.

Justine Larbalestier writes on rejection She also covers “Bad Writing Days”

Daikaiju

Robert Hood gives us his thoughts about the essentials of Daikaiju. And for those into large Japanese monsters this is definitely the place to be because Mr. Hood is prolific on the subject.

Horror

Robert Hood did an interview on his Undead Backbrain website with James Doig about two horror anthologies that Doig has recently published. The two anthologies contain horror short stories by Australian authors from the late nineteenth century to the early twentieth century.

Children’s teeth – yikes! Enough to put your teeth on edge! No wonder The Tooth Fairy in Pratchett’s books was so creepy. Bet most people didn’t know Kaaron keeps … a box of little teeth at her house.

Interview with Tehani Wessely
More in Mark Deniz’ interview series this month.

Conflux Convention in Canberra 3-6 October 2008
Nicole has been busy with the Conflux program and the Virtual Minicon. Her blog has many interesting details about the program and an outline for the Conflux Virtual Minicon.

Sean Williams also anticipates the Conflux Virtual Minicon.

Gillian Polack provided updatery on Conflux and on food:

on the Conflux banquet;
on the Conflux minicon;
on short story writing and also and judging.

Conflux 5 programmer, Nicole R Murphy, has started making lists of possible panel ideas. If there’s anything you’d like to see discussed at this year’s Conflux convention, particularly relating to the themes of Dreaming and The Roaring 20s, email programme@conflux.org.au

Work has begun on preparing the program for Conflux 5. Currently, we’re finalising the 13 workshops we will be offering, and then it will be getting the Virtual Mini-con together. But if you’ve got any ideas for panels or things that you think would add to the overal ambience and fit in with our major theme of Dreaming and our minor theme of the Roaring 20s in New York, then email programme@conflux.org.au

As a heads up, the overall look of the convention will be something like this:

Friday: nine workshops, three at a time, taking place at 9am, 12pm and 3pm, followed by opening ceremony around 7.30pm and a cocktail party. Dealers room will be open during this day, and art show possibly as well. All of this at the hotel

Saturday: three streams of panels, a stream of author readings and kaffee klatches, creative corner in the art show with some artists working there, mass book signing in the late afternoon, Prohibition era New York dinner in the evening.

Sunday: again, three streams of panels, a stream of author readings and kaffee klatches, creative corner in the art show, in the evening there will be a speak easy for some low key entertainment.

Monday: in the morning panels and author readings and kaffee klatches, in the afternoon workshops and closing ceremony and dead dog party.

While nothing’s set in stone, I’d be surprised if it varies from that too wildly. So let us know your thoughts. programme@conflux.org.au

Here are the various blogs where you’ll find people’s views of Conflux 4. And some photos too.

Blogs
Nicole Murphy
Gillian Polack: 1, 2, 3, 4, Banquet
Russell Kirkpatrick: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Errantry, Rachel, Cat Sparx, K. S. Nikakis, Keri Arthur, Rob Hood, David Cake, Emma, Amanda Pillar, Phil Berrie, Karen Miller, Chris Barnes, Ross Temple

Photos
Cat Sparx -Photos of most of the con
Trudi Canavan – Photos from the Banquet

This weekend, the Conflux organising committee will be having a debrief on Conflux 4, and we’ll begin planning for Conflux 5, which is being chaired by Karen Herkes. If you’ve got any thoughts about Conflux 5 – things we must do, things we must avoid – email chair@conflux.org.au. Also, if you’re interested in being involved with the organisation of Conflux 5, email the same. The meeting will be Sunday at 1pm so you’re welcome to get the address and come along.

Nicole R Murphy

President, Conflux Incorporated