October 28th, 2014 at 3:41 pm
The 1st Friday meeting of the Washington Science Fiction Association (WSFA) normally held in Virginia is canceled — so do NOT show up on November 7th.
Most of the members in the club are attending and/or working on the World Fantasy Convention which will be held in Crystal City, Virginia that same weekend. So, the club voted to cancel the meeting.
We hope you will join us for our regular 3rd Friday meeting on November 21st in Greenbelt, Maryland. Be sure to check our Events Calendar for our schedule of meetings and special events of interest to fans of science fiction and fantasy.
October 15th, 2014 at 2:26 pm
The 2014 winner of the WSFA Small Press Award is Alex Shvartsman for his story, “Explaining Cthulhu to Grandma”, published in Orson Scott Card’s InterGalactic Medicine Show, edited by Edmund R. Schubert (Hatrack Publishing, April 2013).
The winner was announced during a short awards ceremony at this year’s Capclave.
The award committee will begin accepting submission for it’s 2015 contest (for stories published for the first time in 2014) on January 1st, 2015. Check the WSFA Small Press Award website for details.
September 8th, 2014 at 1:24 pm
The Washington Science Fiction Association is pleased to announce the
finalists for the 2012 WSFA Small Press Award for Short Fiction:
“Acts of Chivalry” by Sean McMullen, published in Tales of Australia: Great Southern Land, edited by Stephen C. Ormsby and Ellen Mae Franklin (Satalyte Publishing, December 2013).
“Bits” by Naomi Kritzer, published in Clarkesworld Magazine, edited by Neil Clarke (October 2013).
“Explaining Cthulhu to Grandma” by Alex Shvartsman, published in Orson Scott Card’s InterGalactic Medicine Show, edited by Edmund R. Schubert (Hatrack Publishing, April 2013).
“Like a Bat Out of Hell” by Jonathan Shipley, published in After Death, edited by Eric C. Guignard (Dark Moon Books, April 2013).
“Morning Star” by DK Mok, published in One Small Step, an anthology of discoveries, edited by Tehani Wessely (FableCroft Publishing, May 2013).
“Set Your Face Towards the Darkness” by David McDonald, published in Tales of Australia: Great Southern Land, edited by Stephen C. Ormsby and Ellen Mae Franklin (Satalyte Publishing, December 2013).
“The Traditional” by Maria Dahvana Headley, published in Lightspeed, edited by John Joseph Adams (May 2013).
“Trap-weed” by Gemma Files, published in Clockwork Phoenix 4, edited by Mike Allen (Mythic Delirium Books, July 2013)
The award honors the efforts of small press publishers in providing
a critical venue for short fiction in the area of speculative fiction. The award showcases the best original short fiction published by small presses in the previous year (2013). An unusual feature of the selection process is that all voting is done with the identity of the author (and publisher) hidden so that the final choice is based solely on the quality of the story.
The winner is chosen by the members of the Washington Science Fiction
Association (www.wsfa.org) and will be presented at their annual
convention, Capclave (www.capclave.org), held this year on October
10-12th in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
September 5th, 2014 at 12:01 pm
First Friday September 5, 2014
Meeting called to order at 9:15 by Bob MacIntosh.
President had nothing to report, VP had nothing to report.
Treasurer reported we had money and that the year ove year increase was significant and no doubt due to the money from Capclave memberships and book pre-sales. There had not been a quorum at the previous meeting. Trustees had nothing to report.
Capclave present needs volunteers for next month.
Capclave Future will have Alastair Reynolds and Gordon Van Gelder at GOHs and needs volunteers to help run his convention.
Capclave Far Future had nothing to report.
WSFA Press reported that the book should be ready the middle of September.
WSFA Small Press Award Committee read the list of finalists.
The social media guru noted that she would be tweeting more stuff now that it was only one month until Capclave.
Click the link for the full text of the September/October 2014 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the September 5th, 19th 2014 / October 3rd, 17th 2014 meetings.
WSFA Journal September-October 2014
Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes
July 1st, 2014 at 12:01 am
WSFA JOURNAL JULY-AUGUST 2014
First Friday July
The secretary was not at the first Friday meeting, which was briefly held at the BBQ party thrown by John Pomeranz and Kathi Overton at the Fabulous Bungalow. No minutes were taken and no serious business was conducted.
Meeting (July 4th, 2014) held at the Fabulous Bungalow.
Meeting called to order at 3:05 PM.
Reading of the minutes was waived.
Treasurer reports a balance of .
Capclave Present: Gifts in the form of glass ornaments have been ordered for the GoHs; what they look like will be a surprise. The convention book is on the verge of going to press.
Capclave Future: Nothing new to report.
Capclave Far Future: The hunt for a GoH continues.
Click the link for the full text of the July/August 2014 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the July 4th, 18th 2014 / August 1st, 15th 2014 meetings.
WSFA Journal July-August 2014
Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes
May 2nd, 2014 at 12:01 pm
FIRST FRIDAY MAY 5-2-2014
Meeting called to order at 21:18.
Officer reports:
Minutes read and accepted as read unanimously.
Treasurer – we have lots of money.
We currently have 43 members
Trustees: we will have an election meeting after the meeting.
Entertivities: Ravencon was last weekend, Balticon is at the end of MaySunday is Star Wars Day, we will have a WSFA dinner Friday night at Balticon. Tom Doyle will be reading at 3rd friday. Arlington Central Library is having its semi-annual sale
WSFA Press – book is proceeding nicely.
Capclave 2014 – currently 140 pre-reg
Capclave 2015, nothing new to report.
WSFA Small Press Award – 84 stories submitted
Click the link for the full text of the May/June 2014 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the May 2nd, 16th 2014 / June 6th, 20th 2014 meetings.
WSFA Journal May-June 2014
Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes
March 7th, 2014 at 12:01 pm
3/7/14 Prez Barry presiding. Sam L taking notes. Called this sucker to order at 21:22 hours. And we have order, sort of. Sam L. read minutes. Capclave starts on the 10th. Mark says celebrates Lief Erickson day the day before Columbus day. Officers have nothing to report. Trustees have most of the slate, a few slots open. See Bob or Brian. Only have until first meeting in April to complete the slate. You want a position, you talk to me. Bill said Cathy in process of putting Journal together.
Click the link for the full text of the March/April 2014 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the March 7th, 21st 2014 / April 4th, 18th 2014 meetings.
WSFA Journal March-April 2014
Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes
January 13th, 2014 at 9:10 pm
The Washington Science Fiction Association has established a literary award to honor the work done by small presses in promoting and preserving science fiction. The award, now in its eighth 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.
Stories may be nominated by SF authors, small press publishers, and members of WSFA. Details of the nomination process and contact information can be found at www.wsfasmallpressaward.org click on Rules.
Deadline for nominations is April 5, 2014. If you have any question email: admin (at) wsfasmallpressaward (dot) org.
January 3rd, 2014 at 12:01 am
WSFA Journal November-December 2013
Meeting brought to order at 9:18pm
Committee reports:
Treasurer reported that WSFA had approximately $??,??? and the Capclave surplus was at $???? with a couple invoices outstanding for advertisements. Also, the transfer to M&T bank is almost complete and there will be three accounts: WSFA; Capclave; and WSFA Press for better tracking of funds. Trustees had no report. Capclave past noted that there were lots of new people and we filled the parking lot. Capclave present said things were going great. Capclave future is closing in on a hotel. Committee to Actually Discuss SF will discuss F&SF and next meeting will discuss Galaxy’s Edge from Arc Manor. Entertivities noted that Myke Cole will be at the LoC and that there was a 5th Friday in January. Also noted BSFS on Feb. 1st was doing an author release party.
No old Business.
New Business: There is a 5th Friday in January.
Click the link for the full text of the January/February 2014 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the January 3rd, 17th 2014 / February 7th, 21st 2014 meetings.
WSFA Journal January-February 2014
Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes
November 12th, 2013 at 12:38 am
Hey Folks, the new Synthetic Voices podcast is up for October’s stories. You can find it here:
http://scienceismagic.com/?p=1591
Come spend an evening discussing science fiction, fantasy, and horror!
November 25th, 7:30pm-10:00pm at La Madeleine, 7607 Old Georgetown Road Bethesda, MD 20814.
We’ll be discussing the 6 “Top Picks” from the Synthetic Voices podcast, plus anything else that comes up in the mix (other podcasts, favorite/recent audiobooks). Also, learn about other activities of the Washington Science Fiction Association (with which we are affiliated).
If you’re new, we recommend listening to at least 3 or 4 stories from the list, just so you’ll be able to contribute something. 🙂
If you’re interested, you can just show up, but might I suggest RSVPing on Facebook?
https://www.facebook.com/events/175086026029017/
