This is the first time I have had to update MSF&F in a number of weeks. Jo & I have been busy concentrating on The Roswell Literary Review. The new edition should be in the mail next week.

MSF&F has had over 20,000 visitors since Jo & I took over. We never expected it to become this big. It was an amateur effort, a labour of love.

There are those that do not realize that Jo & I are not full-time. Jo works two jobs, writes, and helps with the grandchildren. I have started a new business, have a child in university, and am now the only child my mother has left.  In essence, we have many other responsibilities.

Over the years, Jo & I have watched as many SF zines have disappeared. We have mourned each. The latest is Eternity On-Line. We have searched for the man who gave most of us our start, and only hope that this is a temporary loss.

We have weathered many storms, ill-health, death, loss, the end of relationships. We have, at times, considered leaving MSF&F. We have shied away from that decision. We shall continue, but this time on our terms.

There is something very daunting about coming in at 7 PM, after work and supper to open your email to over one hundred messages. Quite frankly, you want to shut it down again. We post guidelines, only to have writers decide that they do not like them, and ignore them. I find this distasteful.

I have been infected with a worm, had one computer crash because of it, and had my new computer act up. I was off-line for approximately two and a half weeks because I had to wait for Gorilla to go into my system files to delete the worm script. Gorilla has my old computer and my zips to try to reconstruct my files. He is convinced that many old files were being "eaten" without my knowledge.

What does this all mean? First I am announcing, with Jo’s consent, the demise of the Roswell Literary Review. We shall publish all the stories contracted, but no more. Second, MSF&F will continue as an amateur effort, but the rules have changed. Guidelines will be absolute. Gorilla has set up this computer to accept unknown emails in a certain manner. If it is not legitimate, it will be automatically deleted. Don’t ask me how, I am a cyber dummie.

There are those that will find the new rules distasteful. How many times have I written, "follow the guidelines," only to have a writer say, "well, editor so-n-so wants cut and paste." My new answer to that will be then submit to editor so-n-so.

To those who have curse me for pointing out misspelt words and grammar errors, or for not accepting your stories—go elsewhere. I don’t need the stress. And if you think that I am impressed by your assertions that you have been published, in print, by big name publications that accepted your work without any changes, you are wrong. If I can find three grammar errors in one hundred words—I know that’s a lie.

I would not discourage those who wish to be published from submitting. I have found many a pearl.  There are writers out there that I have ignored because my time was taken up unconstructively.

In conclusion, most want to move on, but the print world is even more demanding.  You might not have to conform if your name is King, but then, no one named King has submitted to me lately.  

Learn the rules.

From HWA member Garrett Peck:

I'm writing all the HWA members in Florida and Georgia to let you know about a big book signing event going on in St. Augustine, Florida-- the nation's oldest city. The event is a benefit for the Learn to Read Foundation and is being held on Saturday, September 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Ponce de Leon Mall. So far myself, Owl Goingback and Robert W. Walker have committed to attending.

There are several benefits in attending:

--Sell copies of your books.

--Meet fellow HWA members and party with us.

--Arrangements can be made for a Ghost Tour of St. Augustine after the event.

--Help the Learn to Read Foundation, which combats illiteracy.

I'd love to see us horror writers dominate the event, so if any of you are interested in attending you'll find a message from Kristine Howe, the event's director, below my signature. It has all the contact information you need. If you decide to join us, please let me know. And tell Kristine that Garrett sent you!

From: Kristine Howe <author2author@hotmail.com>

Here are the details I promised you:

Learn To Read Benefit
Saturday September 9th, 2000, 1-4 pm
Ponce De Leon Mall
2121 US I South
St. Augustine, FL 32084

20% of the proceeds will go to the Learn To Read Center

From Brian Freeman, Online Publicist for Douglas Clegg

Just a quick reminder -- Douglas Clegg's new free e-mail serial novel, Nightmare House, begins this Sunday!! To sign up, send a blank e-mail to: subscribe@douglasclegg.com 

To find out more about the Harrow haunting, go to: http://www.ehaunting.com/ 

There is a message board there, true ghost stories, etc, and you check out a virtual tour of the haunted house! You have to see the art work to believe it!

The Fiction Works inks Creative Alliance with Brick Price, owner of WonderWorks, Inc.

Oregon-based publisher agrees to act as a Content Provider for the owner of one of Hollywood¹s multimedia leaders

CORVALLIS, Oregon -- July 25, 2000 -- The Fiction Works, publishers of an extensive line of audiobooks, eBooks and print titles, today announced that they have reached a content provider agreement with Mr. Brick Price, owner of Canoga Park, California-based WonderWorks, Inc., one of the world’s leading special effects companies (http://www.wonderworksweb.com).

The Fiction Works will make its more than 200 fiction titles available to Mr. Price for potential movie and television property development.

Brick Price’s WonderWorks company has impressive film and television credits, including APOLLO 13, THE ABYSS, ARMAGEDDON, DEEP IMPACT, POWER RANGERS IN SPACE (TV), ERASER, 1966 OLYMPICS (Challenger full-sized shuttle display), MCA (Gnome Village), DISNEY (Indian in the Cupboard video release), JUMANJI (the Game), FROEBEL LAND (China Theme Park) and NEVERENDING STORY (TV), plus dozens of commercials.

The Fiction Works (http://www.fictionworks.com) has a large number of award-winning authors under contract.

This is difficult to do, I know how bad we need zines in the small press, but I'm closing Darkness Within. I hope everyone will understand. Those of you who have stories accepted for future issues, I won’t be publishing them. The current issue, #4, is the last. DW is now closed to submissions and subscriptions. Those who have ordered subscriptions will have your money returned to you. Once again, I'm very sorry. I've struggled along with this as long as I can. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT! It is greatly appreciated.

A Sad Announcement.

It is with deep regret that we have to announce that issue 10 of Enigmatic Tales in September 2000 will be the final issue. Enigmatic Variations, and Enigmatic Electronic are ceasing immediately.

This is entirely due to the withdrawal of support from Eastern Arts Board who consider, "the project was not viewed a priority in relation to other demands." Whether this is a reflection of their opinion of the independent press scene in the UK we can only offer conjecture.

As Eastern Arts Board constitutes more than 60% of our revenue we would be unable to continue our publishing schedule at the current standard. We are reluctant to reduce the quality, number, or variety of the publications we produce.

Since learning the news we have worked tirelessly to try to find alternative sources of funding but without success. Subscribers and all scheduled contributors will be contacted separately and refunds given where applicable, with the September mailing.

Words cannot accurately describe the sadness we feel as we make this announcement. It is a shattering experience to see our dreams, aspirations and sheer bloody hard work condemned in this way. If the talents and the books we have published over the past two years can be so easily dismissed then we must truly fear for the future of a UK independent scene.

An editorial in issue 10 will expand upon our appreciation and gratitude to the myriad writers, artists, fellow editors, readers and enthusiasts who have made our fabulous journey since March 1998 so enjoyable with their unceasing loyalty and shared talents.

We hope you will appreciate the pain that accompanies this reluctant announcement, and continue to offer your support and comradeship.

We will endeavour to try to resurrect an imprint in the future, and Enigmatic Press will be kept in a state of suspended animation. So keep in contact - our eyes are closed but we are resting, not dead.

I am a political junkies, so I watched some of the Republican Convention. I am appalled. The book-burning, censoring, holier-than-thou fascists are at it again. This time they have targeted the WWF, World Wrestling Federation. The controversy was over the appearance of one of their "stars," The Rock, at the convention.

As a member of the WEB community, I have been keenly aware of their efforts to impose their brand of censorship on the WEB. It has made me paranoid at times. But, enough is enough!

I say to you people: Go HOME! Take the televisions you have in every room out. We functioned with one television, and still do. If it is on, we are watching as a family. Better yet, open a book and read with your child, or listen to him relate the events of his day. Writing your congressman, and painting placards to carry in your marches for morality while you use the television or computer for a babysitter is the problem.

MSF&F is not accepting submissions until October, but when we do, we have decided to explore more adult themes. Oh, we’ll still have a lot of neo "golden age" stories, but we’ll never turn down a great story again because it contains adult material.

In conclusion, if you want to call a boycott against MSF&F, do so. You have the right. It is called, "Freedom of Speech." I support your rights under the Constitution of the United States. Just remember, calling a boycott is easy. If you want to impose the boycott, you will need to be there monitoring where your child surfs. As Shakespeare would say, "Ah, there’s the rub."

New News

I did get two stories up this week.  Sorry, no poetry, no reviews.

You see, the bad news is...My Gateway finally died, and the good news is...MY GATEWAY FINALLY DIED!!!!!  After two zip drives, two motherboards and processors, two start buttons, two hard drives, no sound, no scanner, and a hard drive that cranked like an old vitriolic, well you know the rest, it finally gave up the ghost.  And it wasn't three yet.

Unfortunately, until I find Gorilla (where are you?), I have lost my data.  What you say!  You didn't back up your data?  Well, yes I did.  On a 100MB zip.  An item no longer available, at least on the machines that I was drooling over.  But, have faith.  Gorilla will swing in here soon, dis my new machine (which is heavenly), tell me what I should have bought, proclaim that Office Max is where Gateway belongs, and have me in a state.  But until then--I think I'll scan some stories (instead of typing them), listen to a little Van Morrison's THEM (love his ORIGINAL rendition of Gloria), and maybe get Andee out of some hot water.

As my pard says...See ya between the pages...

Lots & Lots & Lots of News...

Catching up on all the happenings on the WEB is a difficult task, but here are some, and only some, of the highlights--

Patricia White's p-book, P.S. I've Taken a Lover, has entered in the Pulitzer—that's in Pulitzer Prize… Check out the entire story at Rendezvous Online. And what does the very modest Patricia White have to say? "I am truly pleased," says she. 

Ed note - Well, Pat, you're friends are opening Champagne and partying!!!! Truly deserved!

Jo Popek emailed me to let me know that her book, SOUND THE RAM'S HORN, has been nominated by the publisher, Bookmice, for The Frankfurt International eBook Awards which will be announced in October. Short thereafter, she emailed to say that The Fiction Works had nominated her book, The Adminstrator, also. The Adminstrator is also a finalist for an EPPIE. The EPPIES will be announced in August. Jo's reaction was a tad less controlled than Pat's: "I'm dancing naked on the lawn (and at my age, that ain't a pretty sight, folks. But I don't care.)" 

Ed note - Don't worry Jo—everyone will think it is part of the Roswell Festival Alien Review J !

I have oftened remarked to Jo that I appreciate a fine letter, and that one of the best letter writers I know is Bruce Larson. He writes that he was gratified to find himself listed in the Locus SF Index, 1999, for Southern Sun, which appeared in MSF&F. He writes further: "This brings me to a request. Well, I am a descendant of Swedes, not Norwegians nor Danes. [My mother is English, but that's a whole other story of love & war.] Thus, as a Swedish progeny, my name is LARSON, not LARSEN. I was listen in the Locus Index as Larsen, as I have been alternately named in Millennium. I sent an email with the correction, and a list of all other MSF&F and the others I've appeared in. I hope they amend their ways and begin listing electronic publications, soon. Please note, I was not profoundly offended by this misnomer. This is the first time I've mentioned it to you both fabulous noticers of talent. I did now want to clear that up for the future issues of MSF&F (of which I be in at least one, oh frabroscious day, calloo, callay!) and because my "fame" has now expanding (chortle). A fact due in large part to yourselves. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Yours,

Bruce S. Larson"

Ed Note - I am extremely mortified. After years and years of trying to impress upon the American public at large that I am of English descent not French; therefore my name is Diana (die-anna) and not Diane (dee-ahn), I have made a faux pas of enormous magnitude. I did marry a Canadian of French descent, which may have confused the issue. [And that is a whole other story of war & love. My very logical and practical self has been at odds with the fiery and ardent significant other for too many years.]

I shall correct the misnomer immediately.  Sincerest apologies!

We heard from Gene Strout also, who will also appear later this year in MSF&F. "Check out my latest on Beyond when you get a chance. Dorn has upgraded his copy editing process. He even highlighted a paragraph that represented an alien transmission. Enjoyed Matthew Howe's time travel story, GOING DOWN. That's my kind of s-f. Watch for my feghoot entry."

Ed note - Yes Gene, we surely shall. And AW has a great zine there! Everyone, check it out.

And from Nick Aires, our flash fiction laureate, sent us a note to let us know that he can be found all over the web these days! Hurrah! Says Nick, "Thank you for your kind words regarding my writing -- at times it does seem as though I am being published "everywhere" since in the last six months I've had pieces accepted by Pulp Eternity, Futures, Fantasy Folklore & Fairytales, Planet Relish, Dragonlaugh, Spellbound, Salivan, Word Wrangler, The Romantic Bower, The Ink Blotter, and Nefarious. I'll be sending MSF&F a Feghoot soon J "

Ed note - And we'll be waiting and watching for it.

 And a message from Robert Collins--His SURGARD Tales are under consideration for publication. 

 Ed note - Ain't we lucky to have purchase the rights to one of these fantastic fantasy tales!  Look for it this fall in MSF&F!

And from Michael Pendragon, editor of the Penny Dreadful, an announcement of a newsletter worthy of attention!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Greetings! Attached is the premiere issue of a Newsletter I threw together to keep everyone appraised of the progress of the various projects here at PENDRAGONIAN PUBLICATIONS.

Ed note - This was a WOW publication, I am including the opening paragraph of the newsletter, and the email address, so that anyone wishing to subscribe may contract Michael.

Finally SF Poetry comes of age! A PRESS RELEASE from the Science Fiction Poetry Association

Winners of the 2000 Rhysling Awards have been announced by the Science Fiction Poetry Association. The Science Fiction Poetry Association was founded in 1978 by Suzette Haden Elgin and annually bestows Rhysling Awards for the best Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror poem of the previous calendar year. There are two categories, Short Poem for poems 50 lines roles and Long Poem for poems longer than 50 lines. The 2000 Rhysling Chairperson was D.M.Rowles.

Rebecca Marjesdatter of St. Paul, Minnesota has been awarded the Rhysling Short Poem Award for her poem, Grimoire, first published by Tales of the Unanticipated. Geoffrey A. Landis of Berea, Ohio, has been awarded the Rhysling Long Poem Award for his poem, Christmas (when we all get time machines), first published by Asimov's Science Fiction magazine.

Rebecca Marjesdatter received a BA in Creative Writing from the College of St. Catherine, MN, where she studied with the novelist Jonis Agee. Marjesdatter also has a MLIS (Masters of Library & Information Science) from the same school. Her first genre publication was in Tales of the Unanticipated, published by the Minnesota Science Fiction Society. Marjesdatter belongs to the Lady Poetesses from Hell, a poetry performance group that reads at local genre conventions. She lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with her two cats, the minimum required of a writer, lesbian, and Dianic Wiccan. Her pen name honors Marjorie, her adoptive mother, who died of breast cancer in 1994.

Geoffrey A. Landis is a senior research scientist with the Ohio Aerospace Institute, working at the N.A.S.A. John Glenn Research Center. His work on the Pathfinder project involves understanding the effect of Martian dust on the solar energy reaching the surface of Mars, and learning how much dust deposits on the solar arrays. In addition to his work at NASA, Landis has published over fifty science fiction short stories, including Ripples in the Dirac Sea, which won the Nebula award for best short story in 1990, and A Walk in the Sun, which won the Hugo award in 1992. His work has been translated into fourteen languages. Dr. Landis lives in Berea, Ohio, along with his wife, Mary Turzillo, who is also a science fiction writer. More information can be found at his web page, http://www.sff.net/people/geoffrey.landis 

For information on membership in the Science Fiction Poetry Association, contact John Nichols, 6075 Bellevue Dr., North Olmsted OH 44070. E-mail:bejay@worldnet.att.net 

Good news! JoPop Publication's 1999 Flash Fiction booklet is now being used in workshops as an example of how to do flash fiction! We are offering the booklet at half-price for those who wish to incorporate it in a workshop. Included will be free sampler disk of a mini-webpage of MSF&F, some of Jo Popek's work and a free book from Bookmice for student incentives.

From Jeffrey A. Katt, Heycat Productions and the Sinister Element, a sad note:

Just found out that Fiction Writer just went out of business.  Bummer.

Ed note - I know Jeff.  I am still reeling under the closure of the ORPHIC CHRONICLE.

 

If you overland mail us, please send Kevin Costner. 
He can find us at:

Millennium Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine
JoPop Publications
PO Box 8118
Roswell, NM 88202-8118

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