‘All Your Base’: Tobias Buckell

Back in Banned Book week, I asked creatives to take on SF quotes from movies/tv/games/books in their own style. First up: Tobias Buckell, who’s Kickstarting his novel Apocalypse Ocean. Tobias’s take will likely resonate with most of you reading this.

“We take hiccups and make art and culture and laughter out of it…”

Apple vs. Amazon, or the Foodie vs. the Big Gulp

Today the world was formally introduced to the Kindle Fire tablet. Amazon said: “There are two types of companies: those that work hard to charge customers more, and those that work hard to charge customers less.”

I’d argue the Fire is more about Amazon vs. every-android-tablet-out-there (especially B&N’s nook), but the world wants something to call an iPad-killer. Fine, let’s go with it: between these two contenders the fight isn’t overpriced vs. undercut… it’s quality vs. quantity. If Apple’s got a deserved rep for being a snob, than Amazon’s the most annoying Wal-Mart greeter ever.

TALK SHOW: Doug Smith

Doug Smith: one of Canada’s most prolific writers of short, speculative fiction, has 100+ story sales in two dozen languages worldwide, including InterZone, Amazing Stories & Baen’s Universe.

We talk about markets for fiction, ebook creation (& luckybatbooks), a short film based on one of his stories & more. His new collection Chimerascope is a 2011 finalist for the juried Sunburst award & fan-voted Aurora award.   mp3 download

TALK SHOW: Kristine Kathryn Rusch

I had a great talk with Kris Rusch-traditional & e-pub writer in sf, fantasy, romance, mystery, well-known for her ‘Business Rusch’ blog. mp3 download

Kristine Kathryn Rusch is the award-winning mystery, romance, science fiction & fantasy writer behind many novels under various names and been published in 14 countries & 13 languages. Pyr published her Diving into the Wreck, in November 2009 & she is actively publishing her backlist online.

TALK SHOW: Tobias Buckell

A talk on the long view for publishing, a new funding model, mac-geeking & writing process with author Tobias Buckell. mp3 download

Originally hailing from the Caribbean and now making his home in Ohio, Tobias has published 6 books and almost 50 short stories.He is a Clarion graduate, Writers of The Future winner, and Campbell Award for Best New SF Writer Finalist.

Pablo Defendini on eBook Cover Design

  Today designer, producer and printmaker Pablo Defendini gives us some insight into the first impression all books make: the cover. Stay tuned for my audio interview with Pablo later this week.

A good ebook cover is simply a well-designed cover, period. The difference is in the elements that make up that great design.