Sir Julius Vogel Award Nominations - 2014

http://www.freyarobertson.com
http://www.amazon.com/Freya-Robertson/e/B00D68NDF2

http://www.samjcharlton.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BDE4ET0

http://www.hellcatseries.com/
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/376635
http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Day-Hell-Hellcat-ebook/dp/B00GO3HIYI/
http://www.amazon.com.au/Cold-Day-Hell-Hellcat-Series-ebook/dp/B00GO3HIYI

http://www.rage.net.nz
https://www.amazon.com/author/richard.parry
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EBNA0MU/ref=cm_sw_su_dp

http://www.harpercollins.com.au/books/Crystal-Venom-Steve-Wheeler/?isbn=9780730496472
http://www.oakenbookcase.com/2013/09/30/review-crystal-venom-steve-wheeler/

http://www.steampress.co.nz/wind.html

http://childrensbookshop.circlesoft.net/products/770822-TalismanofVim-9780473263010
https://www.facebook.com/chroniclesofwick?ref=stream

http://cahargreaves.blogspot.co.nz/2013/09/wings-fangs-and-shadows-subscribe-now.html

http://dan.rabarts.com/fiction/waking-the-taniwha/

http://dan.rabarts.com/fiction/all-that-glitters/

(Nominations are numbered because otherwise
the text of the descriptions of each nominee may
make it hard to determine where each entry begins
and ends -- the number has no other significance).

“Presidential Address”
Novazine

“ Broderick Wells”
Novazine

“Thursday Tangents”

The tangents that are eligible for nomination for the 2014 award are numbers 84 to 119. However not all the articles within that range are eligible. Tangents 89, 90, 95, 96 and 114 do not concern themselves with SF/Fantasy/Horror and are not eligible for consideration.

From 29/11/2012 until 5/9/13 Alan Robson and Jane Lindskold collaborated on a series of dialogues known as the Thursday Tangents which (with occasional forays into other areas) attempted to define various aspects of SF, Fantasy and Horror. Along the way they speculated about mythological, literary and scientific influences on the genres. Partly this was an attempt to define the terms that govern the genres, partly it was a genuine effort to understand the formative influences that created the genres and partly it was an attempt to create a definitive reading list. At the very least, these dialogues are a valuable insight into how the spectrum of Fantasy, SF and Horror came to be and how it can be viewed. And at the very most, they are a starting point for speculation and discussion. As such, they deserve to be recognised.

So I would like to nominate these dialogues for a Sir Julius Vogel Award for best Fan Writing (2013).

http://www.tyke.net.nz/tangents.htm

“ Presidental Sweet” / “DuhVice”
Phoenixine

“The Witch of Angmar”

Contributions in Novazine

(Nominations are numbered because otherwise
the text of the descriptions of each nominee may
make it hard to determine where each entry begins
and ends -- the number has no other significance).

For publication of over a dozen short stories in the past 3 years for professional and semi-professional payment, for editing and producing the charity horror anthology Baby Teeth - Bite-sized Tales of Terror to benefit Duffy Books in Homes, and for producing fiction narrations for a range of speculative fiction podcasts and for the Baby Teeth audiobook.

Year of First Release 2011 (1 story publication), 2012 (2 story publications), 2013 (10 story publications), 2014 (3 stories scheduled for publication so far)

Dan’s work has appeared in a number of publications, including Paper Road Press, Ticonderoga Publications, Beneath Ceaselss Skies, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, Random Static, Dragon Moon Press, Aurealis Magazine, Wily Writers Audible Fiction, and more (see http://dan.rabarts.com/fiction/)

Talisman of Vim was launched in December 2013 when the author was 16 years old. Edited by publishers Makaro Press and published under their imprint Submarine books. It has nearly sold out its print run of 150 books receiving very enthusiastic responses from readers, young and old alike, including the staff at the Children's Bookshop in Kilbirnie and Rona Gallery & Bookshop in Eastbourne where it has been for sale. 'An exciting book that I have been recommending to teenage fantasy readers.' Joanna Ponder, Rona Gallery.

Blurb: When Leigelord Michael Marquesse steals the legendary Talisman of Vim, an artefact of immense unexplored power, an epic chase across the city of Valmort begins. Pursued by a mysterious hooded figure and a coterie of elite assassins, Michael discovers the Tomes of Creation, a demon unleashed and a jewel that transcends the confines of space.

Feedback by some readers:

"As a fan of fantasy novels from way back I was wondering how The Talisman of Vim would stack up against my favourites. Well, I'm pleased to say that it's way up there! It was full of suspense, easy to read and I loved Robert's way with the English language, his choice of words, a couple of which I had to look up in the dictionary to see if they really existed or were fun words made up by the author. Robert certainly has the skill of being able to paint a vivid picture for the reader using a few perfectly chosen words. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series". (Kay, adult reader)

" I give it an F..... for fantastic!" (Keiran 13 yrs old)
He describes things well and build up the characters well.I will remember the book because it is very original. I like the way he mixes modern technology with medieval magicy stuff.The book was extremely humorous and the jokes encouraged me to read on......the book was epic!!!! (Jacob, 10 yrs old)

Facebook page: Talisman of Vim

To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to nominate Angela Oliver for the category of Best New Talent. Oliver broke into professional writing with the self-publication of her children's animal fantasy, Aroha's Great Adventure in 2011. This tale of a plucky little weka's journey across the Alps is also illustrated by Oliver.

She followed up this debut with A Midsummer Knight's Quest in 2012 and in 2013 she published the first volume of her epic animal fantasy, Lemur's Saga. Fellowship of the Ringtails is described as 'Game of Thrones with lemurs' and its sequel, A Tale of Two Scions, is due to be released next year. Both works are accompanied by author illustrations.

Oliver has made a significant contribution to New Zealand fantasy with her distinctive animal fantasies (all available for purchase on Amazon through CreateSpace), which are comparable to Philip Temple's Kea series, Brian Jacques's Redwall, and Richard Adams's Watership Down. Aroha's Grand Adventure is a fun and educational tribute to New Zealand flora and fauna as it takes readers on a journey across the modern-day South Island with its weka protagonist. A Midsummer Knight's Quest is less specifically placed in the world and focuses instead on developing relationships between traditional fantasy figures like goblins and brownies, and their animal and human friends and enemies. Fellowship of the Ringtails is an adult novel and this high fantasy, set in Madagascar and starring lemur characters, is well-researched and carefully imagined.

Angela Oliver Bibliography

I am nominating Rachel L. Stedman for the Sir Julius Vogel award in the category of Best New Talent.

Ms Stedman is an up-and-coming talent who writes fantasy with a good dose of reality in it. I think this is a very important feature because I know I have stopped reading a book because it had become too far-fetched.

The other two positives is that she sources her characters from all over the world, along with their magic, so it is rather international in flavour. While set in the traditional European fantasy setting, it also steps outside it in a seamless fusion. The other thing is that her characters are well-adjusted, and getting on with the adventure at hand, making the primary reason for her work an entertaining fantasy read for an YA audience, but also good for a more grown-up audiences too.

Ms Stedman was the very deserving winner of the 2012 Tessa Duder award. This award is for "the author of a work of fiction for young adults aged 13 and above. The writer, who must be a New Zealand resident, must not have had a trade book for children or young adults previously published, nor have one in the process of publication". The winning manuscript was published in 2013 by HarperCollins New Zealand as A Necklace of Souls, a YA book I enjoyed reading.

While many people would have been involved in this over the years that it took streampunk in NZ and the steampunk artwork in Oamaru to evolve to what it is today, their contribution is the most well-known across NZ due to the steampunk conventions that are now occurring across New Zealand. The conventions along with the festivals, exhibitions and fashion parades have done a lot to highlight the steampunk movement in New Zealand, and Oamaru in particular.

There have been a few genre authors from overseas who have visited New Zealand and Oamaru in particular, who have noted the steampunk attractions on their public websites. Included on this list is Walter Jon Williams who visited NZ in 2012.

And Jay Lake who visited here in 2013

Oamaru is even mentioned in the Lonely Planet Travel Guide and the AA magazine for its steampunk attractions. Lonely Planet and the AA are not genre publications, so it is a strong indication that Oamaru is now well-known as the steampunk capital of NZ.

Why Oamaru as the Steampunk Capital of NZ? According to the Steampunk NZ website here is the short history with the most important snippet here:

"Anything can be influenced by Steampunk. Literature, art, music, film, fashion, technology, invention, war, jewellery, sculpture and transport. This exhibition, “Steampunk: tomorrow as it used to be”, brings a flavour of the the steampunk culture to Oamaru. Here, we celebrate our Victorian heritage every year. With authentic architecture, an original harbour and  a core of committed enthusiasts, it is a natural backdrop for this genre. We have in our community a large number of incredibly creative and talented people, some of whom have contributed to this, the first, Steampunk exhibition".

(Nominations are numbered because otherwise
the text of the descriptions of each nominee may
make it hard to determine where each entry begins
and ends -- the number has no other significance).

Helen has reached out to make sure that Australasian writers are seen by the rest of the world. She has used her blog and her space in SF Signal and her presence at events to inform the world and has done it with grace and good humour. Unlike many writers, she doesn’t just focus on new work or known authors, but gives space to writers who otherwise would not be seen and for work that is beginning to go unnoticed. This is just one of the ways in which she supports SF, fantasy and horror. She has done this despite being affected by the Christchurch earthquakes. It has made a big difference to a number of people in the field, particularly in this time of publishing uncertainty.

I nominate the publishers HarperCollins NZ for its services to science fiction, fantasy and horror in New Zealand.

HarperCollins has supported the Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand since 2009 by making available books for review and through its own publicity for the Sir Julius Vogel awards.

HarperCollins NZ has acted as the conduit to enable the international publication of books celebrating and detailing the development of films made in New Zealand by Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, and the films of Sir Peter Jackson.

HarperCollins NZ has also been a strong supporter of New Zealand authors, publishing the likes of David Hair, Russell Kirkpatrick and Mary Victoria (to name but a few).