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.

The WSFA May 6th, 2011 meeting began at 9:16 when Steve walked in, making quorum. Veep Sam S. presided. Treasurer Steve reported that our finances are ahead of the federal government. We don’t have to vote to raise our debt limit. He has emailed the treasurer’s report. Paid Carrie Vaughn and both artists. Cat Valente was paid six weeks ago. Activity includes paying the artists for the book covers, and paying Carrie Vaughn.

Click the link for the full text of the June-August 2011 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the May 6, 20 / June 3, 17 / July 1, 15 2011 meetings.

WSFA Journal June-August 2011

Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes

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.

March 4, 2011-First Friday,Vice-President Sam S. presided. “It’s 9:15 or close enough, call to order. Our valiant president is home with a bug. No one figured out who took minutes at the last meeting, probably Barry. Ernest moved we accept the minutes as not read. Passed. Is there a quorum? Bring out the Crystal Pepsi (which has been a member in the past ) Steve read the treasury amount. His new computer demands html in smallest font.

Click the link for the full text of the April/May 2011 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the March 4, 18 / April 1,15 2011 meetings.

WSFA Journal April/May 2011

Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes

The First Friday meeting in January (1/7/2011) was the first meeting in 2011. Treasurer Steve collected dues. 15 people paid dues so we could have a meeting, which Judy called to order at 9:20. First Friday meeting, first meeting in 2011. Happy new year everyone. One of the new people from last meeting, Fran, came back. Welcome to the madness. The president reported Steve had said we only had four paid members so people need to pay dues; she is delighted that situation has been remedied. VP is in Greece. Sam L. said the celebrated WSFA Journal takes anything but current American politics and sports scores. So everyone gave out sports scores for Sam to ignore. Candy asked the club not to burn her house down.

Click the link for the full text of the February 2011 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the January 7, 21 2011 meetings.

WSFA Journal February 2011

Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes

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.

According to a national study, Washington D.C is America’s most literate city. It is followed by Seattle, Minneapolis, and Atlanta. Boston, once considered the hub of American literary culture, was only ranked 12th. The study looked at six key indicators of literacy: newspaper circulation, number of bookstores, library resources, periodical publishing resources, educational attainment, and Internet resources. DC was 17th in bookstores by population, 15th in libraries, and seventh in education level. But we are first in newspaper circulation, magazines, and Internet resources. So every WSFAn who subscribes to a DC paper or magazine (or looks on the paper’s site online) or bought a book in D.C. contributed to the victory. However, all the measures have been in decline in recent years, especially book-buying and newspaper circulation, so a city with D.C.’s 2010 showing would have been rated at only seventh in 2004. In 2003 there were almost nine bookstores per 10,000 people nationwide, in 2010 just under six. The study was conducted by the Center for Public Policy and Social Research at Central Connecticut State University.

Click the link for the full text of the January 2011 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the December 3, 17 2010 meetings.

WSFA Journal January 2011

Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes

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

The October 1st First Friday meeting was called to order at 9:19. Someone said today is 38 in binary.

There was no quorum. Sam Lubell read the last minutes. Sam S asked, “Are we solvent?” Steve answered, “You have a background in chemistry. If not part of the solution, you are part of the precipitate.” Treasurer’s report is in the print version: Steve emailed saying, ‘I filed reports with Virginia (on time) and Maryland (late) to bring us up to date with all our State stuff. John Pomeranz is working on getting things straightened out with the Feds — the long-awaited amnesty has come around, and will end on October 15th, so it has to get done by then.” Specific details are in the print version. Don’t owe anything other than paper.

Click the link for the full text of the November-December 2010 WSFA Journal, including the Minutes of the October 1, 15 / November 5, 19 2010 meetings.

WSFA Journal November-December 2010

Note: Publication date is set to the date of the Journal, rather than the date posted, for indexing purposes