Silently and Very Fast, the WSFA Press book by Capclave 2011 GOH Catherynne M. Valente, is on the Locus Recommended Reading List. They also list three of her other books — Deathless, The Folded World, and The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making — plus two stories. Copies of Silently and Very Fast are still available at WSFA Press!

Capclave will be at Boskone, the Boston SF convention in February. Visit our table to buy Capclave memberships and say hello to our dodos (the puppets, not our volunteers!).  If you like GoH John Scalzi at Boskone, you’ll love him at Capclave!

The Washington Science Fiction Association [www.wsfa.org] has established a literary award to honor the work done by small presses in promoting and preserving science fiction. The award, WSFA Small Press Award, now in its sixth year, is given annually for short fiction works (17,500 words or fewer) of imaginative literature (e.g., science fiction, fantasy, horror, speculative fiction or like literature) published by a small press in the previous calendar year. Nominations close April 1st.

Stories may be nominated by SF authors and small press publishers. Details of the nomination process and contact information can be found at www.wsfasmallpressaward.org.

If you have any question email: admin (at) wsfasmallpressaward (dot) org.

WSFA members and friends will be staffing a Capclave fan table at the convention. Stop by to say hello and find out about our annual convention in the Washington, D.C. area.

This year the Nebula Awards Weekend sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) is being held in at the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut N.W., Washington D.C.

On Friday night (May 20th), the public is invited to a book signing held at the hotel from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. You do not have to be a member of SFWA or the convention to attend this signing.

For a full list of the authors who will be signing their books, check the website.

Mythpunk: An Interview with Catherynne M. Valente By JoSelle Vanderhooft

Since its coining in 2006 by author Catherynne M. Valente, the term “mythpunk” has been used among an ever-growing number of fantasy readers to describe speculative fiction and poetry that melds elements of myths, folk tales, and fairy tales with postmodern literary techniques and, quite often, feminist and multicultural perspectives. In this first of our four part series about mythpunk literature’s history and future, Strange Horizons sat down with Valente to discuss what inspired her to call this movement mythpunk, her favorite mythpunk authors, and mythpunk’s relationship to the works of J. R. R. Tolkien.

Read the full interview on Strange Horizon’s website.

New Zealand speculative fiction author Philippa Ballantine is visiting the Baltimore area and will be reading from her popular fantasy novel Geist at the Baltimore Science Fiction Society on January 8, 2011 at 8:00pm. She will also share news about her upcoming steampunk novel Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences and her multiple podcasting projects.

Come celebrate the 48th anniversary of the Founding of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society at the formal meeting following the reading. This free event is at the BSFS Building located at 3310 East Baltimore Street.

Directions http://www.bsfs.org/bsfsdrct.htm
Info by email dale (at) bsfs (dot) org or day of event call 410-563-2737.

What: WSFA Theater Trip – A Wrinkle in Time

When: Sunday, December 19, 2010 2:30 PM

Where: Round House Theatre Bethesda
4545 East-West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
240-644-1100
More information: http://www.roundhousetheatre.org/performance/a-wrinkle-in-time/

Round House Theatre presents the stage adaptation of Madeleine L’Engle’s Newbery Award-winning young adult novel A Wrinkle in Time. Written in 1962, this sci-fi classic has remained a staple of juvenile fiction to this day. It is the story of the Murry children, who, with the help of supernatural beings, travel through space and time to rescue their father and to fight the darkness that is attempting to take over the universe.

John Glore’s delightful, wildly theatrical adaptation brings this acclaimed story magically to life.

This date also has a special post-performance discussion with the cast.

At A Wrinkle in Time, kids are $10 Monday thru Friday, $15 Saturday and Sunday — call 240.644.1100 for tickets. This specially discounted price is available for all patrons age 30 and under.

NOTE: You need to purchase you’re own ticket. Then join us in enjoying the show.

Ticket prices range
ORCHESTR * $55.00
SIDEORCH * $35.00
SIDEBALC * $25.00

In addition, there are special discount tickets at
http://www.goldstar.com/events/bethesda-md/a-wrinkle-in-time.html

Last night at Capclave’s Award Ceremony, the winner of the WSFA Small Press Award for 2010 (for works published in 2009) was announced.

And the winner is:
“Siren Beat” by Tansy Rayner Roberts, published in Twelfth Planet, edited by Alisa Krasnostein (October 2009)

Alisa Krasnostein accepted the award for Tansy Rayner Roberts.

Also present at the ceremony were:
Kevin Lauderdale, author of “James and the Dark Grimoire” published in Cthulhu Unbound, and Scott H. Andrews, editor of Beneath Ceaseless Skies, which published “The Pirate Captain’s Daughter” by Yoon Ha Lee.

All of the stories were excellent works. Congratulations to Tansy Rayner Roberts for her story and to Alisa Krasnostein for publishing it.

Capclave is Washington DC’s annual science fiction and fantasy convention. Learn more about it on our website: Capclave.org. Our guests of honor are: Connie Willis, Ann VanderMeer and Jeff VanderMeer.

The convention which will be held at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville, Executive Meeting Center,
1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852, starts on Friday and if you are not already a member you can purchase a membership at Capclave. There are day rates and special rates for active military and students with valid IDs.

Hope to see you there.