2016 Aurealis Awards Shortlist.

Yes, it's out and it's lovely to see so many of the books I enjoyed in 2016 are shortlisted.

The complete list is here and the award winners will be announced during Swancon in Perth at Easter.

And now I'm off to get hold of some of the books I missed last year.

Swancon

If you have followed this blog for some years you'll know about Swancon. This is a speculative fiction convention run under the auspices of WASFF (the Western Australian Science Fiction Foundation) in Perth. It's usually held over the Easter long weekend and has taken place since 1976 making it the longest running convention of its kind in Australia. Swancon is for anyone interested in science fiction and fantasy, whether they are writers, readers or gamers. It's not something I want to miss - but sometimes real life gets in the way as it did this year. Pisces has been sick and since I can't drive at the moment due to my knee problems - and to be honest I didn't really want to abandon him in his misery while I swanned around (sorry, couldn't resist the pun) - I couldn't get there. I was not a happy little camper.

But all is not lost. My friend, author, editor and reviewer, Satima Flavell, did go and has blogged about her experience here. She obviously had a great time and, if you are interested in things speculative, as a writer, reader or a gamer, and are likely to be in Perth at Easter next year I do recommend Swancon. It's a great way to catch up with folk with similar interests. The website for Swancon 42 is here if you'd like to check it out.

A-Z Blogging Challenge - Conventioning

Or should that be conventioneering? Probably neither. What prompted this flight of fancy is it's Easter and that means Swancon. Never heard of it? Then let me inform you.

Swancon runs for the four days of the Easter long weekend and is the annual convention of WASFF - the Western Australian Science Fiction Foundation - a busy time for those of us in Western Australia interested in speculative matters especially those who write and/or read speculative fiction. Conventions are run all over the world and range from small local affairs - one I was involved in running was only one day - to worldcons which run for five days or longer and bring in people from all over the world. They all, though, aim at promoting speculative fiction and give an opportunity for authors, readers and gamers to get together and share ideas and interests. Some are more focussed on costumes or gaming while Swancon has writing panels, a gaming stream and a well thought out children's program - but they all celebrate speculative fiction whether written, in games or from television and movies.

This year Swancon is forty which is quite an achievement for a con in a relatively isolated part of the world - have a look at a map and you'll see Perth probably deserves its reputation as the most isolated capital city in the world. Its Guests of Honour include multi award winning American author, John Scalzi and best selling Australian author, Kylie Chan.

Another convention I really like is Conflux in Canberra. Its focus is very much on writing and I get there as often as I can. Relatively small, it's friendly and gives me an opportunity to catch up with other writers on the east coast.

These are only two of a number of conventions in Australia. Much as I'd love to go to them all distance (and the inevitable cost of travelling) stops me.

But Swancon is on here now. Want to guess where I'm going to be tomorrow?

Tin Ducks Awards

Yet another award list. The Tin Ducks are annual Western Australian awards for achievements in SF presented at the annual Perth SwanCon . It's always good to see those in the SF field being acknowledged and all the more when it's friends and people whose work I personally admire as it is this year.

The link to the award winners and the short list is here and I'm delighted that it includes three of my fellow Egoboo WA members - Joanna Fay, Satima Flavell and Sarah Parker.

Congratulations to all winners and finalists.