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This coming weekend, I am the gaming GoH at LepreCon. I’m looking forward to the convention. I’ve never been in Arizona before. Everyone promises me I’m going to be hot. I believe them. If you’re at LepreCon, be sure to say hello and ask for my Convention Story Card.
Fri 10a-11a, Ventanas: Opening Ceremonies
Fri 3p-4p, Suite C: Meet Jennifer Brozek
Fri 4p-5p, Suite E: Industry Talk: Tabletop vs. Video games
Fri 8p-9p, Suite C: Writing for Licensed Properties
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Sat 10a-11a, Suite C: Help, I’m Stuck!
Sat 11a-1130a, Suite E: Autographing
Sat 8p-9p, Suite C: Freelance Illustrator: Making It
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Sun 12p-4p, Goblin Table: Big Demons in Little China
Sun 6p-7p, Ventanas: Closing Ceremonies
If you are going to Origins Game Fair, I will be there as a panelist or in the Library section of the Dealers Room. Come by and say hello.
Thursday 2pm, C223
Freelancing 101
What does it mean to make a living as a freelance writer or editor? Our panelists tell you how it’s done.
Bryan Young, Josh Vogt, John Helfers, Jennifer Brozek, Aaron Rosenberg
Thursday 4pm, C223
The Novel and You
So you’ve written a few (or a few hundred) short stories. A novel should be easy, right? Wrong! It’s a whole different skill set. Our panelists discuss writing a novel from inception to completion.
John Helfers, Josh Vogt, Tracy Chowdhury, Jennifer Brozek, Gregory A. Wilson
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Friday 2pm, C223
Writing for RPGs
What goes into writing a campaign or an entire game setting? These authors have traveled that road and can show you the map. 90 minutes.
Aaron Rosenberg, Jennifer Brozek, Josh Vogt, Richard C. White, Donald J. Bingle
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Saturday 4pm, C222
Ask the Editor
Do you have questions about writing, editing, or submitting your work? Now is your chance to ask an editor anything that’s on your mind.
Jennifer Brozek
Saturday 5pm, C222
Consult on My Query
Jennifer Brozek
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Sunday 12pm
Anthology Creation Workshop
How do editors make an anthology? Award-winning editor and author Jennifer Brozek walks you through the process from idea generation to finished product.
Jennifer Brozek, John Helfers
This weekend begins a five week stretch of off-and-on travel. It is the heart of convention season for me and why I pushed so hard to get the rough draft of NEVER LET ME DIE done.
So, where is Jennifer through the end of June?
For most of this, I’ll be traveling alone and the Husband will have charge of the house and the kitties (who will become angry balls of fur at my disappearances). For the one time the Husband will be with me, I’ve got a house/cat sitter lined up (the cats love the sitter, he bribes them with treats).
I’m looking forward to each of these events. I’m hanging out with Katie Cord and Tim Long at Crypticon. Origins is one of my favorite conventions ever. I’m reading at the University Bookstore with Kristi Charish, a super keen author and podcaster. Yay weddings! It’s always fun to go to a friend’s wedding where you will know almost everyone. I’m very excited about LepreCon because my PA, Sarah, will be there with me.
All this means that my life is going to be insane. Because, while I’m doing all this, I’ll be editing two novels and two novellas for myself and for AIP.
It’s going to be crazy but fun.
It’s been an amazing couple of weeks. Really amazing.
Awards: I’ve been nominated for two different Scribe Awards. One for best tie-in short story. One for best tie-in YA novel.
Conventions: I’ve been named one of Gen Con’s Industry Insider Featured Presenters. I’m really excited about this.
Election: I’ve been voted in as one of the new Directors-at-Large for SFWA along with Matthew Johnson. I will take office on July 1, 2015.
Interview: I’ve been interviewed by Katie Teller, focusing on my Dark Quest Books anthologies.
Review: Thomas Gondolfi of Scifimonkeys.com reviewed CALLER UNKNOWN and gave it an “Unexpected A-“. He had some interesting points to make.
I’m deep in the throes of writing NEVER LET ME DIE, Melissa Allen #3, so I’m not checking Twitter or Facebook right now. However, lots has happened. Here’s a Bubble & Squeek for you.
Award: I was nominated for a Hugo Award. This is both exciting and terrifying.
Convention: I’ve been added to OrcaCon’s Special Guest lineup. I’m also on their kickstarter with a custom game of Katanas & Trenchcoats for you and four of your friends.
Interview: I was interviewed by Douglas Hawk for his 7 Questions series. Want to know what my workspace looks like?
Publication Release: DocWagon 19 is out the door! Get it here: Amazon | BattleShop | DriveThruRPG
Recommendation: Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix is one of the best, messed up horror books I’ve read in a long time. I will never look at a large home store the same ever again.
Recommendation: Science STYLE – Taylor Swift Acapella Parody. I just really liked this video.
Review: Goodreads review of Chimera Incarnate.
Review: Goodreads review of DocWagon 19.
Sale: I sold The Last Days of the Salton Academy to Ragnarok Publications! Yay!
This Norwescon was pretty intense and event-filled. The biggest thing that happened was the Hugo Award nomination short list announcement. I have been nominated for Best Editor, Short Form. I’m simultaneously thrilled beyond words and terrified. I know a whole lot more people will be looking at me now, trying to figure out who I am, what I do, and what I’ve done.
I once wrote about working in the publishing industry was to be an obscure celebrity. When people find out, they get very excited. The stars in some people’s eyes is really amazing to see.
To be an editor is to be a stealth troubleshooter, designer, and artist all at once—specifically to make someone else look awesome. I’ve worked hard in the last five years, putting out 14 anthologies, being an assistant editor for Apex Publications, being the editor in chief of Apocalypse Ink Productions, and doing the thousand myriad jobs one does in the publishing business. I am currently editing a charity anthology as well as an open call for flash fiction for Evil Girlfriend Media.
In 2014, I had 4 anthologies released. I am proud of all of them. The first is pure science fiction, the second is steampunk fantasy, the third is a non-fiction anthology from women about games and the gaming industry, and the last is traditional fantasy-military.
Below are the other 10 anthologies I edited since 2009, including my award winning anthology, Grants Pass.
Since the announcement, several people have asked me if they can vote. The answer is “yes, but…” Yes, but you need to be at least a supporting member of Sasquan / Worldcon 2015. This is a minimum of $40. However, if you do become a member in time to vote (by the end of July 2015), you will receive the Hugo packet which will have a whole of books and stories from the nominees in other categories so you can make an informed choice. The Hugo packet will include examples of my editing work.
I want to thank everyone who has contacted me with cheers, support, and well wishes. I’m tickled pink that authors I’ve edited are happy about the nomination. Every congratulations message means the world to me. More than you can know. I do feel a little bit like the “home town girl does good” and I don’t want to let anyone down.
There you have it. I’ve been nominated and I’m thrilled. If you have any questions about my work, please let me know.
Here is my Norwescon 2015 schedule. If I am not in one of these places, I’m probably at my booth in Authors Avenue just outside the Dealers Room. Come say hello. I’m happy to chat as time and customers permit. Don’t forget to ask for my Convention Story Card.
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Outlines
Thu 8:00pm-9:00pm – Evergreen 3&4
Jennifer Brozek (M), G. David Nordley, Dean Wells, Kevin Radthorne, Jude-Marie Green, Suzanne Brahm, Anne Groell
Horror Cage Match: Short Story vs. Novel
Thu 9:00pm-10:00pm – Cascade 9
Morgue Anne (M), Kate Jonez, Nathan Crowder, Jennifer Brozek
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Worldbuilding 101
Fri 12:00pm-1:00pm – Evergreen 1&2
Brenda Carre (M), Pat MacEwen, Simon R Green, Grant Riddell, Django Wexler, Jennifer Brozek
Writing About the Military
Fri 4:00pm-5:00pm – Cascade 7&8
Russell Ervin (M), Bart Kemper, S. A. Bolich, Jennifer Brozek, Joseph Malik, Elliott Kay
Are Optimistic SF Stories Gone Forever?
Fri 5:00pm-6:00pm – Cascade 10
Alex C. Renwick (M), Brenda Cooper, Nancy Kress, Jennifer Brozek, Mir Plemmons
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SFWA Meeting
Sat 10:00am-11:00am
Your Anti-Procrastination First Aid Kit
Sat 1:00pm-2:00pm – Evergreen 1&2
Nina Post (M), Jennifer Brozek, Stephanie Herman, Kevin Scott, Harold Gross, Gregory A. Wilson
Autograph Session 1
Sat 2:00pm-3:00pm – Grand 2
Dennis R. Upkins, Cat Rambo, Kate Jonez, Patrick Swenson, Brenda Cooper, Carol Berg, Cymbric Early-Smith, Bijhan Valibeigi, Dean Wells, G. David Nordley, Jennifer Brozek, John Cramer, Jude-Marie Green, Keffy R. M. Kehrli, Kurt Cagle, Lee Moyer, Nancy Kress, Rob Carlos, Simon R Green, Stephen L. Gillett, Wolfgang Baur, Morgue Anne, Jack Skillingstead
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Worth the Dues?
Sun 11:00am-12:00pm – Cascade 7&8
Cat Rambo (M), Annie Bellet, Pat MacEwen, Peter Dennis Pautz, Jennifer Brozek
RustyCon was interesting in the fact that I felt like I was the living embodiment of balanced karma. If something bad happened, something good happened, too. And, vice versa. Here’s a bunch of good things that happened:
You get to figure out what the karmic balance to all that goodness was.
I’m almost done editing NEVER LET ME LEAVE. I have edits for CHIMERA INCARNATE waiting for me and I just heard from my editor that edits for Melissa Allen #1, NEVER LET ME SLEEP will drop in February. This gives me enough time to finish my Mech short story and start one of the other two short stories on contract. While I do everything else, of course.
Busy-busy as usual but still happy.
I will be at RustyCon this weekend. Come by and see me. No shyness around me
Fri Jan 16 5:00:pm | Fri Jan 16 6:00:pm | Promoting Yourself- because it isn’t just about the writing |
Orcas B | Writing skill is subjective, but good self-promotion can bring success. Social media is one stepping stone, but so is networking, conventions, retreats, workshops, forums, and professional organizations. Which will give you the best return for your time, and what if you’re not naturally outgoing? | |
A. Maire Dinsmore Alaina Ewing Jennifer Brozek Timothy W. Long | ||
Fri Jan 16 6:00:pm | Fri Jan 16 6:30:pm | Jennifer Brozak Reading |
Mercer B | A reading by Jennifer Brozak | |
Jennifer Brozek | ||
6-11 pm APOCALYPSE GIRL DREAMING Release Party and Evil Girlfriend Media Open House.
You do not need to be a member of the convention to come. A bunch of authors will be reading. There will be food and drink. But no alcohol.
Sat Jan 17 1:00:pm | Sat Jan 17 2:00:pm | Writing for Computer Games |
Emerald E | How to create compelling characters, worlds, and stories for computer games, and how to write dialog that players will want to read before they head out on their quest to retrieve 10 Bear Bums. | |
Janine A. Southard Jennifer Brozek Will McDermott | ||
Sat Jan 17 2:00:pm | Sat Jan 17 3:00:pm | Craft vs Business |
Orcas B | With the introduction of Indie publishing, self publishing, and POD, writers tend to talk more about the business side of publishing rather than the craft of writing. How should we fix that. | |
Bruce Taylor Janine A. Southard Jennifer Brozek John Lovett | ||
Sun Jan 18 11:00:am | Sun Jan 18 12:00:pm | Independent Publishing |
Orcas B | Independent publishing has taken off, especially with the recent rise of the hybrid-author, who is willing to sell work traditionally but not afraid to self-publish and promote. From ebooks to POD, which stories benefit from independent publishing and how do you get them ready? Bring your questions about editing, Kickstarter, cover art, sales price, and marketing. | |
Dustin Gross Elizabeth Guizzetti Jennifer Brozek Thomas Gondolfi | ||
Sun Jan 18 12:00:pm | Sun Jan 18 1:00:pm | How and Where do I Get Published? |
Orcas B | You want a publisher, and they need your content. Great! But how do you find the right market, track your submissions, offer reprints, get into best-ofs, and generally advance your career to the next rung? From beginners to experienced authors, everyone needs somewhere to go. Or does self-publishing change all that? | |
Chad Brink Jennifer Brozek John Lovett Rebecca Birch | ||
Everyone likes metrics for the end of the year. Here’s some of what I did in 2014. This is why I like keeping track of everything I do. It makes me realize that I am productive and that I did accomplish a lot. Sometimes, this is a hard thing for an author to understand.
Number of days worked on freelancer stuff: 361 / 365 (284 days, answered pub industry email.) I really need to change this. Take one full day a week off or something. No wonder I had moments of feeling burned out.
New fiction words written: 230,800 (doesn’t count emails, blogs, etc…) In the form of 12 short stories, 1 novella, 1 RPG sourcebook, 2 novels.
Edited: 3 anthologies, 2 novel, 3 novellas.
Conventions attended: 8
Sold in 2014: 5 short stories, 2 novellas, first 3 books of the Melissa Allen series. (3 short stories still waiting on an answer.)
Published in 2014:
6 short stories, 1 novelette
1 RPG supplement
2 novels
4 anthologies
Jennifer Brozek is a multi-talented, award-winning author, editor, and media tie-in writer. She is the author of Never Let Me Sleep and The Last Days of Salton Academy, both of which were nominated for the Bram Stoker Award. Her YA tie-in novels, BattleTech: The Nellus Academy Incident and Shadowrun: Auditions, have both won Scribe Awards. Her editing work has earned her nominations for the British Fantasy Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and multiple Hugo Awards. She won the Australian Shadows Award for the Grants Pass anthology, co-edited with Amanda Pillar. Jennifer’s short form work has appeared in Apex Publications, Uncanny Magazine, Daily Science Fiction, and in anthologies set in the worlds of Valdemar, Shadowrun, V-Wars, Masters of Orion, Well World, and Predator.
Jennifer has been a full-time freelance author and editor for over seventeen years, and she has never been happier. She keeps a tight schedule on her writing and editing projects and somehow manages to find time to teach writing classes and volunteer for several professional writing organizations such as SFWA, HWA, and IAMTW. She shares her husband, Jeff, with several cats and often uses him as a sounding board for her story ideas. Visit Jennifer’s worlds at jenniferbrozek.com or her social media accounts on LinkTree.
