urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:seanan_mcguire The Journal of Seanan McGuire Seanan McGuire 2010-07-27T14:44:54Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:seanan_mcguire:257086 2010-07-27T14:44:54Z 2010-07-27T14:44:54Z The "Old Spice" theme. I am home from the San Diego International Comic Convention, where a fantastic, if exhausting, time was had by all. I'm still doing my post-con administrative cleanup (rendered more exciting by the fact that I have another convention this weekend, which makes the cycles for certain things much tighter than is the norm). This batch of cleanup is about awards and suchlike.<br /><br />First up, as a quick reminder, voting for the Hugo and Campbell Awards closes at <b>midnight, Pacific Time, on July 31st</b>. So that means you have, effectively, until midnight on Saturday to vote. Details are here:<br /><br /><a href='http://www.aussiecon4.org.au/index.php?page=66'>http://www.aussiecon4.org.au/index.php?page=66</a><br /><br />This includes a full list of the nominees in their various categories. Remember that you must be either a supporting or attending member of <a href="http://www.aussiecon4.org.au/">AussieCon 4</a> to vote; supporting memberships are still available. Details on how to purchase a supporting membership are at the convention's website; they cost $50 a person.<br /><br />It really is an honor to be nominated, and I'm still a little stunned over here. I also really want to receive a tiara in the Kingdom of Poison and Flame, for then I will truly be a Halloweentown Princess.<br /><br />In a related, if not identical, vein, I will now quote NPR:<br /><br />"Last month when we asked the NPR audience to submit nominations for a list of the 100 most pulse-quickening, suspenseful novels ever written, you came through with some 600 titles. It was a fascinating, if unwieldy, collection.<br /><br />"Now, with your input, a panel of thriller writers and critics has whittled that list down to a manageable 182 novels. That roster, which we now offer for final voting, draws from every known thriller sub-genre&mdash;techno, espionage, crime, medical, psychological, horror, legal, supernatural and more."<br /><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128518102">Here is a link to the full story, including the list of 182 novels being considered for the top 100.</a><br /><br />Winners will be announced August 2nd. Please spread the word? In conclusion, I leave you with this delightful message from <span class="ljuser i-ljuser i-ljuser-type-P " data-ljuser="autographedcat" lj:user="autographedcat" ><a href="http://autographedcat.livejournal.com/profile" target="_self" class="i-ljuser-profile" ><img class="i-ljuser-userhead" src="http://l-stat.livejournal.net/img/userinfo_v8.svg?v=17080?v=158.1" /></a><a href="http://autographedcat.livejournal.com/" class="i-ljuser-username" target="_self" ><b>autographedcat</b></a></span>...which, if I make the list, I will arrange to have recorded in MP3 form for your enjoyment:<br /><br />"Hello, readers. Look at your book. Now back to me. Now back at your book. Now back to <i>me</i>. Sadly, you aren't me, but if you stopped reading trashy airport novels and switched to <i>Feed</i> by Mira Grant, you could be well-read like me.<br /><br />"Look down, back up, where are you? You're on the beach with the person you could be as well read as. What's in your hand? Back to me. I have it; it's an epidemiology textbook with an explanation of the science behind the Kellis-Amberlee virus. Look again, the textbook is now a DVD of the future <i>Rosemary and Rue</i> movie. Anything is possible when you read <i>Feed</i> by Mira Grant.<br /><br />"I'm on a velociraptor."