Marvel’s New “Create Your Own” Feature Bans “Alternative Lifestyles” and “Social Issues”
When Marvel asked writers to submit comics under their new Create Your Own feature, it almost became easier to list what you could write about, rather than what you couldn’t. In a bid to launch the new platform, which allows fans to create original comic strips using Marvel characters and stock background illustrations, users were given an exhaustive list of what they couldn’t write about in the programme. And in a long list of prohibited themes, plots and characters – including “noises related to external bodily functions”, “bare midriffs” and “double entendres” laid one dynamite point of controversy – any … Read more
CALL: The Dark Magazine Seeks Horror and Dark Fantasy
The Dark magazine is a monthly online magazine devoted to horror, dark fantasy, and experimental fiction that frightens. They pay 3¢/word for first world rights on original fiction up to 6,000 words. They’re open to submissions year-round. Read the full post on Dale Cameron Lowry’s blog for writers.
Submission Call: Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores seeks scifi & fantasy, pays 6¢/word, due Dec. 21–28
Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores holds for reading periods a year to consider unsolicited submissions, and we are coming up on the next one. They want “science fiction, fantasy, myth, legend, fairy tales, and eldritch.” Pays 6¢/word. Read the full post on Dale Cameron Lowry’s blog for writers.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Granite Peak Holiday, by Mark C. Wade
MLR Press author Mark C. Wade has a new MM paranormal holiday book out: When Ross takes a cross-country holiday road trip, his travel companion turns out to be more than expected. Ross is inexplicably drawn to Byron. When it turns out they are from the same place on the other side of the country, Ross suspects something strange is going on. Why does Byron have so much holiday cheer? Why do weird things always happen when he’s around? And most importantly, will they really attempt to climb a mountain in the middle of winter? Shifting through the Snow #10 … Read more
FOR READERS: Group Authors
FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Denise Dechene: I’ve seen talk about authors who group together and write under one name. How do you feel about this? Of course, this can manifest in several ways – a ghost writer who helps someone tell their story. A famous writer, now deceased, whose world is carried on by other authors. Or a pair or team of writers who has their own special rhythm. Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat
Body Diversity in Comics
A San Francisco-based comic book artist is building a following with his diverse range of cartoon characters. DJ Kirkland, 31, was born and raised in North Carolina but has been living in the San Francisco Bay Area for the past six years. ‘I knew I wanted to be a professional comic book artist and illustrator when I was around 8 years old,’ he tells GSN. ‘I was watching Sailor Moon and I pointed to the television and I said “I want to do that!” At the time, I think my mother thought that by “that”, it meant be a beautiful … Read more
ANNOUNCEMENT: No Place Like Home, by Erik Schubach
QSFer Erik Schubach has a new FF retelling of the Wizard of Oz: Wicked has never been so good! Parker and Ella-Marie find themselves cut off from the group of Avatars heading to hide in Perchta’s Garden. Instead they find themselves flung into a fantastical land, facing a powerful witch who claims to be Dorothy of Oz. The women offer their help to free Oz of the demon scourge that threatens the magical lands and people there. Alliances can be tricky when your new powerful ally swings between the extremes of good and evil with only a moment’s notice. Amazon … Read more
Refill the Topics Bucket
It’s that time again. We need to refill the topics bucket. Please list your topics like this: FOR WRITERS: This is my topic idea FOR READERS: This is my topic idea FOR BOTH: This is my topic idea Topics that have been done to death: —What inspires your writing —What’s on your TBR list? What we’d love to see: —More topics about horror, paranormal and fantasy (tho of course sci fi is great too) —More topics about letters in the queer alphabet beyond the G/MM, tho we still want those too —More silly and interesting topics Please post them in … Read more
Heartbreaking Tribute from Mark Hamill to Carrie Fisher
Hamill took to Twitter and Instagram on Wednesday (27 December) to pay a tribute to his late Star Wars co-star, Carrie Fisher. Fisher passed away a year ago today at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack. Her mother, Debbie Reynolds, died a day later at 84. Hamill, who plays twin brother Luke to Fisher’s Leia in the Star Wars franchise, shared the screen with her for the last time in the recent installment, The Last Jedi. In his posts, Hamill shared photos of him and Fisher, as well as fanart of Fisher with her beloved dog Gary. … Read more