Philippa Ballantine - Author

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

Podosphere

Ready for the Boom

Most of my readers will know by now that this year began very badly for Tee Morris. He is now facing raising his daughter, affecitonately known as SonicBoom by himself after the death of her mother.

Many donated to the ChipIn fund which helped with the immediate expenses surrounding Natalie’s death, and even left a portion over to begin a trust fund. However, as those of you with kids know, raising them is not cheap – let alone sending them to college!

So I thought ‘hey maybe I’ll auction off a few things I have here’ (Mainly the Weather Child original manuscript) – and it kinda snowballed from there. The Boom Effect auction is now hitting 70 auction lots, and I know there are more to come.

People have done some amazing craft projects, donated rare and beautiful things, and been very creative with what services they are offering.

I just want to highlight a couple of things for writers and podcasters since I presume that is who reads this blog most.

Writers

Podcasters

And those are just a tiny sample of the amazing things people are donating to help Sonic Boom into the future. Check out the lots here.

The auction will be hosted by Podcasting’s Rich Sigfrit at 10am EST 27th February 2010 live on ustream.

If you’re a podcaster- the promo for the event is here.

You can also find us on Facebook as an event, follow us on twitter or subscribe to the RSS feed as more auctions are still being added.

This is a great way for us to come together as a community. We’re going to give a little girl options, and one day she’s going to look back and be amazed at what the podcasting/social media community did.

And how much fun we had doing it. 🙂

Litopia and the nemesis

Last week I had the honour of being one of the panel on Litopia After Dark. Hanging with the wonderful folks and talking writing was a lot of fun. I was a little nervous, but the panel made me feel at home very quickly.

Peter and Litopia do a great deal for the writing community- and their After Dark show is one I look forward to every week. I was so glad to be asked.  The best thing was I got the panel to give me their evil nemesis laugh- all except Peter. So there is something to go back for.

So have a listen to Word Wars for Fun and Profit

Visionaries

Podioracket has been doing great work to promote and help podiobook authors. How Heather, Rhonda and the gang do it all I don’t know.

So when I was invited to be part of their first Anthology series I was very flattered. This series aims to expose listeners to a range of authors work, but rather than making people listen to a whole novel, these are short stories that will hopefully wet the appetite- sort of an amuse bouche for podcast novelists.

The series starts dropping on February 12th and will go for 16 weeks. My story is one from Erotica a la Carte, so it is on the saucy side, but it is also one of my favourite short stories, Measureless to Man.

There will also be a supporting series of Blogtalk radio inteviews. Further information is here.

Together we are mighty

This year has not started how it was meant to. My dear friend, collaborator and colleague has found himself with the prospect of raising his child without her mother.

I know Tee wanted to keep this a private matter, but word hit twitter within hours and now the genie cannot get back in the bottle.

So here it is. The sharp end of life. The bit no one expects or wants.

I know that the wheels grind slowly on this and Tee and his young child are looking at significant bills after the death of his wife Natalie. So I have started this ChipIn account. Money will be going to Tee Morris’ paypal to first of all pay off these bills which loom and then into an account for his little girl.

I have gone on and on about community again and again. Tee has given selflessly to my podcasts and many, many others. He is the originator of podcast audio fiction. The first. A founder of Podiobooks.com and a writer of many books on social media.

Tee doesn’t know I am doing this, but cast on distant shores this is the least I can do. I hope you can spare a few dollars for someone who has bought joy to so many. Every little bit helps.

Goodbye 2009 and welcome in 2010

2009 – what a mixed bag of nuts you were.

A bunch of personal stuff was dealt with and sorted- which needed to happen. However there were a number of writing and podcasting successes that made up for all that.

The highlight has to be the two-book deal with Ace. As I have mentioned in various interviews on pod, I never really imagined it would happen. I knew my lovely agent Laurie McLean of Larsen Pomada was confident, but I am a ‘believe it when I see it’ type of person. So when Laurie pulled together a deal for Geist, and got a second book in there I was both ecstatic and pleasantly surprised.

With the economy being bad all around, the publishing industry is not keen on multi book deals for unproved authors. I am very proud of Geist, but I know that I will have to work my ass off to get it launched into the world at the end of this year… Tally ho!

The second book, which I started and nearly have finished, Spectre proved to be more difficult beast to deal with. It is my first real sequel and I discovered how much more difficult that is. However I know with a decent amount of editing the continuing adventures of Sorcha, Raed and Merrick will come out just fine.

2009 also saw the completion of my first real collaboration (one other failed completely and nearly put me off them altogether a few years back). I had a blast writing with Tee and it gave me renewed confidence that I could play well with others. Laurie has the 1st in the series of Books and Braun in her hands, and I really have all my digits crossed that it will sell. I love the world, and I love the characters.

Writing wise the other highlight was attending World Fantasy Con in San Jose. I got a glimpse into the world of publishing. It wasn’t so much about writing, but about the business. Having this taster has prepared me a little for the year to come.

Podcasting wise, 2009 was a good one.

I’ve worked in a variety of voice projects for other people. This has been a wonderful thing, which I get quite a buzz out of: feels like I am representing New Zealand out there. To be involved in so many podcasts is a real blessing and joy.

UPDATE; Oh yes, and as Tee Morris pointed out, Chasing the Bard: the podiobook won a Sir Julius Vogel Award. (In my defence I am writing this away from my desk, where the shiny, pretty award sits and looks back at me)

Erotica a la carte was a great deal of fun, and for a project I started as an experiment, continues on into 2010. I got some guest ‘chefs’ into the kitchen and it proved to be even more fun when shared. It was also short-listed for the best anthology at the Parsecs. Quite an honour for a podcast that had been on for only six months at that point!

Weather Child, the book that New York publishing said no American would be interested in reading, turned out quite the success in the podosphere. I got a real buzz out of how much people enjoyed it. I hope to get some movement in NYC on Weather Child once I have given it a good through editing.

Digital Magic was launched along with Dan Sawyer and Chris Lester’s projects; Free Will and Metamor City Season 2. I couldn’t ask for two more talented people to enjoy cross-promotion with. Mixing the voices into this project is a joy. And a two week schedule is one I feel I can keep up with as I go forward into 2010.

First things to do will be finishing the last edits on Geist, tidying and polishing Spectre and handing over the reins of Erotica a la Carte to another round of guest chefs.

Later on I am looking forward to the release of Geist in the American Fall, Balticon in May and WorldCon in Melbourne in September. It feels like a full dance card, but this is the year to make strides, put up or shut up… all of that.

I want to thank my listeners and readers, both those that have provided feedback and those that have stayed quietly appreciative. You’ve all made a difference in this one author’s life and I hope to bring you more creations n 2010 that might make a difference in your own lives.

This coming year will be filled with plenty of challenges and choices. My hopes are that it is a satisfying, happy and productive. I wish the same for you and yours.