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Worldbuilding Week Day One: Languages

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Worldbuilding Week

Welcome to the second annual Worldbuilding Week at QSF. We’ll talk about all aspects of building a world for your story, including languages; alien/magical races; history and timelines; culture and politics; sex, marriage and reproduction; and tools and techniques. It should be a lot of fun. Today we’re talking about languages, and Loren Rhoads will be our moderator. Here’s Loren’s take: One of the things I love about the Star Wars universe is the diversity of species in the background characters. Unfortunately, beyond Chewbacca, Admiral Ackbar, and Nien Nunb, few aliens who are good guys speak. When I wrote my … Read more

Could Torchwood Return to TV?

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Barrowman - Torchwood

John Barrowman is working on getting Torchwood back on screen. During a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, the Doctor Who and Arrow star revealed he was in talks to get the series back – and not just in the form of reruns. ‘I have a phone conversation on Monday to see how we can get it back on television,’ the Glasgow-born actor said. Over the past, he’s repeatedly hinted at Torchwood coming back to the small screen, but in much vaguer terms. But during the SDCC announcement, Barrowman made it clear he was serious, saying he wouldn’t comment if he … Read more

Announcement: Two Sides of a Coin, by Meraki P. Lyhne

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Two Sides of a Coin

QSFer Meraki P. Lyhne has a new MM Paranormal book out: Having never failed anyone’s expectations to him, Alex finds it difficult to deal with having lost a valuable artifact, lied to Pritchard, and falsified a report to Mr. Henry. A whole new life in the States lies ahead of him. But Alex doesn’t like changes. The only things that keep him somewhat grounded are the calloused hands of the sadist, Dominic, and the support of the young demigod, Kaleb. He had never expected Pritchard to keep their secret, but he did, and the stay in Philadelphia turns out very … Read more

Me Me Monday!

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Welcome to M3: ME ME MONDAY at our FB discussion group – your chance to pop in and tell us about your latest success. Have a new book or short story coming out? Let us know. Just sell something? Let us know so we can cheer you on. HOW IT WORKS: I’ll pin this topic to the top of our FB discussion page for the day. –Please post your announcement as a separate post, so I can also share it over to our FB page (as opposed to this discussion group). –If you want, send me your book announcement info … Read more

Announcement: Mysteries of the Moon Men Deep Inside, by Madeira Desouza

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QSFer Madeira Desouza has a new sci fi book out: Hundreds of years from today in an alternate future there is a ruthless agency that manipulates time. They make sure yesterday turns out the way the agency leaders want. A top-secret base inside the moon sends young gay men on time travel missions to Earth. These agents change the past by using sexual tactics to gain power and control over the behaviors and actions of men. Buy Links Amazon Excerpt Yesterday I was lost and I died. Today I am alive again. I accept the truth about foregone tomorrows and … Read more

For Writers: Tackling Difficult Events

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Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Hank T. Cannon: After 911, fiction took the tragedy and ran with it, acting as therapy, and release for the populace. Do you see your work as a conduit for helping people cope during times of anti-LGBTQIA duress, or do you not feel comfortable confronting those elements in the work? Note: Hank suggested this topic right after the Pulse shooting, but suggested that we wait a bit to tackle it. Join the chat

Writer Speaks Out on Making Sulu Gay

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Sulu

One of the writers of Star Trek Beyond and Hollywood mainstay Bryan Fuller has said writing the character of Sulu as gay was key to better ‘representation’. In Star Trek Beyond, Sulu – played by John Cho – has a same-sex partner with whom he is raising a daughter. Fuller, who is gay and married, said at the Star Trek 50th anniversary panel: ‘I think the bigger picture is that we need gay representation. ‘And the fact that they embraced that idea and made John Cho’s portrayal as Sulu a gay man was a lovely move of inclusivity. With the … Read more

Ayres & Graces: Queer Author Ryan Vance

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Writing and getting published is hard for every writer, but queer writers face unique challenges in the publishing industry. Ryan Vance, editor of the e-zine The Queen’s Head and The Island Review, is here today to discuss some of the challenges he’s faced as a gay man in the writing community. What challenges have you personally faced as a queer writer? I’m queer. It informs my experience of the world, and the stories I go on to tell, and those stories have as much worth as any pre-existing norm I might have unintentionally adopted. It’s worth stating from the outset … Read more

Creator of Steven Universe Comes Out as Bi

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Steven Universe

Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar just gave an amazing speech when coming out as bisexual at Comic-Con in San Diego. To eventual rapturous applause, Sugar came out after a question from a fan on why Steven Universe touches on LGBT+ issues so often. Sugar comes out, simply saying: “Well, in large part it’s based on my experience as a bisexual woman,” but then she goes on to say a whole lot more. Discussing the importance of speaking to kids about LGBT+ issues, Sugar says not seeing oneself reflected in the stories we are told “changes who you are”. She ends … Read more

Announcement: Honeymoon, by Jenn Burke & Kelly Jensen

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Honeymoon

QSFers Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen have a new MM sci fi book out: Zander can’t quite believe a galactic emergency didn’t interrupt their wedding. Felix can’t quite believe he’s married. One thing is for sure, though, these guys need a holiday! So they book a cruise aboard the drift ship Biswas. There is no death or dismemberment in this story. No hull breaches, no marauding aliens. This is Zed and Felix, though, so not everything is going to go according to plan. Honeymoon is available to read now for free! Buy Links (Free) MOBI (Amazon) | EPUB | PDF … Read more