Philippa Ballantine - Author

Award-winning Author of fantasy, science fiction, and steampunk

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Money, money, money…

OK.. so here’s the deal. I am dipping my toe in the world of professional writing. I have reduced my hours at the library, and have one whole day a week to write. This means I have to make up the money I am not making in the corporate world in the free lance work. I am hoping this will be by selling a novel, but I am not going to count on that. So I have to explore other income streams.

 

My novels will still be free podiobooks, I am committed to that, but I was considering offering my novellette Magic and Gaslight as an audio download for the princely sum of $5. I’d love to hear what you think. It would probably operate on the honour system. You donate by PayPal and I send you to a link. I’d love to hear what you guys think- is that too pricey? Not pricey enough? I’m just starting out and would love some input.

 

Someone also suggested I could write a column. Though for who I again have no idea. If you have a suggestion or a need for a kiwi perspective on social media, podcasting or life then email me pip@pjballantine.net. Heck any suggestions about ways to make money writing would be great. Regardless I will be doing my 8 hours behind the computer, writing.

And that I find very, very exciting….

I bet you think this song is about you…

Thank you all! I have been informed and accepted nominations for Chasing the Bard (in Fan Production) and Digital Magic (for Best Novel) for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards. This is New Zealand’s version of the Hugo’s and I am so pleased to be nominated. In fact twice is even better! The awards are designed by Weta Workshop and are presented at the  Annual Science Fiction Convention, to be held in June in Auckland. (Conscription).

Now it is up to the judges, but you all responded wonderfully. So fingers crossed the 2009 is the year I get some awards on that mantle.

Now…. about those Parsec Awards…

Message in a bottle

I find myself short of New Zealand accents for Weather Child, my next novel set in my country. The sad fact is I know more American podcasters, than NZers.

So here’s my plea; if you have decent recording equipment, an actor’s soul and the inclination, I could use some help. Please send me an mp3 sample of you reading the one of the following to pip at pjballantine.com. The parts are not large, but would add to this first example of podcast fiction set in NZ and you could be used for more than one part.

 

The part I want you to record is in bold– but I wanted you to have context.

For Men

“You shall not!” Royal roared, throwing back his chair, “Keep your foul magic ridden self away from it. Let her rest in peace!”

“Don’t tell me then, I’ll find out from Olive.”

“You’re not to see your sister either,” his father spat. “She’s to keep away from you—or be disinherited just the same.”

 

For Women

 

She shook herself, “You’re right. But they don’t seem…. happy. Actually perhaps you can help me with something Jacky.”

“Anything but money,” he smiled, leaning back in his chair, and played distractedly with his pack of smokes.

“There was this young man.”

“Not surprising..”

“Oh stop,” Olive downed the last of her tea, and leaned forward in her chair, “Harry Belton— Awakened just like you, but.. well not taking it so well. When he was lucid he was quite lovely, but lately we’d had to restrain him in bed. The Seraphim gave him terrible nightmares. But when I went in this morning he’d gone.”

 

Pussy cat, pussy cat where have you been?

 

For sixteen years I had my writer’s cat. She was named Sherazad, a teller of stories. She saw me through men, crisis, seven different homes, and triumph. Today she is gone. I took her catnip from the garden, and held her and told her thank you for all those years. And she purred and licked my nose as she always did. Then within a moment, her eyes focused on somewhere else and she slipped through the Veil and was gone.

No more loud meowing for her food, no more dead animals bought inside, no more fussy eating.

But also no more snuggling on my lap, purring. No more tussels with tinsel at Christmas time. No more hiding in the cupboards I left open. No more snuggles on the bedcovers when the rest of the world seemed cold. 

She fought off the attack of one car, and lived a good seven more years. But she didn’t survive a second mauling. This way, though it hurts was better than a slow decline. I got to hold her in my arms, and she was happy. Because her idea of contentment was not about place- it was about me. Anywhere I was, she wanted to be. We could have been anywhere, and as long as I was there, she was content.

If you read Digital Magic Shaz is in there; the writer’s cat who has to see the dawn. So she has her moment with the Fey.

It was a little life, but it was a happy one. Goodbye dear heart. You were a character that made my life brighter and I will miss you terribly. Maybe we will find each other on the other side of the Veil.

The wind beneath my wings

Nominations open 1st December for the 2009 Sir Julius Vogel Awards. They are New Zealand’s Hugo Awards- but prettier. And yes, I would love to have one on my shelf. So here’s the deal. Email after 1st December sjv_awards@sffanz.sf.org.nz to let the committee know that you think Chasing the Bard is worthy of a shot at Best Fan Production and/or Digital Magic is worthy of a nod for Best Novel. They need my contact details which of course are pip@pjballantine.net

Thanks

Hey big spender….

Christmas is approaching, and I have a new box of books. So if you want to give some Fey magic to your loved ones (or yourself) then have I got a deal for you….

Well actually I have some books. For the princely sum of $US24.95 each (inc postage anywhere on our fair globe) each, you can have your own copy of Chasing the Bard or Digital Magic (or both)- signed by me! Yes… one day these may be worth selling for a princely sum on ebay.

Just email me at pip at pjballantine dot com with the details of how many, how you wanted it signed (personalised or just vanilla signature) and where to mail it. I’ll send you my PayPal details and Fey goodness will be on its way.

I only have limited copies and they do make very pretty gifts all the way from New Zealand.