As an experiment, I’m selling an electronic version of “For Want of a Nail” with the equivalent of DVD extras.

There are a couple of places where you can read the story for free, such as my website or the forthcoming Hugo voter’s packet.

The 99 cent version has a little more. It has the original draft of the story which is wildly different from the Hugo-nominated final version.  How different you ask? I kept two characters and part of one scene.  The plot and setting are totally different.

To demonstrate, here are the opening paragraphs.

Final version

With one hand, Rava adjusted the VR interface glasses where they bit into the bridge of her nose, while she kept her other hand buried in Cordelia’s innards. There was scant room to get the flexible shaft of a mono-lens and her hand through the access hatch in the AI’s chassis. From the next compartment, drums and laughter bled through the plastic walls of the ship, indicating her sister’s conception party was still in full swing.

With only a single camera attached, the interface glasses didn’t give Rava depth perception as she struggled to replug the transmitter cable. The chassis had not been designed to need repair. At all. It had been designed to last hundreds of years without an upgrade.

 

Original opening

With one hand, Rue adjusted the VR interface glasses where they bit into the bridge of her nose, while she kept her other hand buried in Cordelia’s innards. There was barely room to get the flexible shaft of a mono-lens and her hand through the access hatch in the probe. With only a single camera attached to them, the interface glasses didn’t give Rue depth perception as she tried to plug the transmitter cable back in. The probe had not been designed to need repair. At all. But if Rue couldn’t get the transmitter plugged back in, then when it was time to mount Cordelia’s chassis into the probe, the A.I. wouldn’t be able to beam updates of herself back to the ship.

That would be the same as a death sentence for the A.I., considering how close they were sending her to the event horizon. Cordelia was supposed to ride the ion-wind out, but damn, the possibilities for error were way too high.

There are also author notes about how I got from the original version to the final version, plus a copy of my initial brainstorming notes.

If these sort of bonus features interest you, they are available in the version at Smashwords.

• You know, figured silk handles completely differently than puppet skin when approached with slightly dull scissors. #
• I'm trying to decide if the idea of hand-sewing this dress is INSANE or a good learning experience. Or both. Or a form of procrastination. #

Would you like to see something cool? We’ve got the cover art for Glamour in Glass. It is really early to have this, but since Tor has given the okay, and it is gorgeous, I’ve get to show it to you.

You’ll notice that we’re moving to a photograph rather than historic art. The idea is that this will help catch a wider audience, which I think is likely.  In fact, Tor had looked at doing that for the paperback of Shades of Milk and Honey but finding a photo that fit the tone and period was hard.

So for Glamour in Glass, they brought in Larry Rostant, who specializes in photos of historic periods. He created this specifically for my book and I’m delighted by the little details in it.  I do recognize the fact that I’m geeking out over her kid gloves, of the correct length, is a sign of spending too much time in the Regency. But still! And that delicate fichu peeking out at the bodice’s neckline.  So, lovely.

It will be exciting to see what happens when the designer gets involved and adds the type.  I can’t wait. I so love books and the people who make them.

Meanwhile, I will tell you that on June 7th, when the paperback of Shades of Milk and Honey comes out, it will contain Chapter One of Glamour in Glass.

• Woot! Just saw the cover art for Glamour in Glass and love it. Thanks @IreneGallo & @2muchexposition! #shadesmh #

Dave Farland has these very cool conference calls through his Authors’ Advisory, where folks can call in and talk to an author. Tonight it is me!  At 8:45 EST, I’ll be talking about the Long and the Short of Fiction.  Or puppets! Or SFWA.  Ask away.

You can get instructions on how to call in via Farland’s Authors’ Advisory Conference Calls.

Hope to talk to you soon.

(P.S. Sorry for the short notice. I thought I had posted it already but had saved it as draft.)

Tennessee is trying to pass bill SB0049.  The “Don’t Say Gay” bill would prohibit speaking about homosexuality at middle schools and elementary schools, while talking about heterosexuality would be perfectly fin.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no public elementary or middle school shall provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality.

There’s a group of kids at my nephew’s high school trying to protest it. He and the other kids put together a website with information about the bill and why they think it ought to be stopped.  I’m very, very proud of him for jumping into this fight and standing up for the rights of others.  From the wesaygay.com website:

We say gay for the students who won’t be able to. This site is dedicated to fight against the Tennessee state bill SB0049 (Don’t say gay bill), which would make it a misdemeanor to talk about homosexuality in grades bellow 9th. That is an obvious insult to our first amendment rights to free speech as well as it is a major blow to those young people who are shunned by their own parents for being gay and soon will not be able to talk to their school about it.

Please, visit http://wesaygay.com, sign their petition and spread the word.

• Waiting to go in to watch the Hugo nominees announcement at Norwescon. Maxi's ballroom. #
• Ah technology. We can hear Eastercon! Very exciting. Although they are still having problems hearing us. #hugos #
• Congratulations to the Campbell nominees @saladinahmed @johncleaver @laurenbeukes Larry Correa & Lev Grossman! #
• Congrats @JohnPicacio on your #hugo nomination! #
• Yay @howardtayler for Schlock Mercenary's #hugo nomination! #
• My story "For Want of a Nail" from Sept 2010 Asimov's is a Hugo nominee! #
• Hurrah to @EricJamesStone for your #hugo nomination! #
• If you'd like to read “For Want of a Nail," it's available on my website.#hugos http://bit.ly/eacdHc #
• Congrats @2muchexposition! I'm so delighted for you! #
• We begin another game of #marygoround with me being delighted by all your well wishes. I caught the train thanks to @ShellyRaeClift. #
• I wish that the person who is hurling in the front of this car would go to the restroom to do so. #marygoround #
• I am being a complete wimp and asking Rob to pick me up at the train station, despite having a bike with me. #marygoround #
• Welcome to Portland. We have arrived on time. Have a drink! #marygoround #

Sorry there was such a big gap between the last chapter and this one. I had to do some back and forth to fix a structure thing and that always takes longer. Plus there was some traveling to build those pesky gods.

Anyway, I’ve just posted Chapter 18 for those of you reading along. And, um, I’m going to go ahead and apologize for what I’ve just done to you. You’ll know why when you read it. Sorry.

The teaser:

Standing behind the curtain, Walker’s heart thudded loud enough that he could hear it over the audience. They were still clapping for a magician who had performed an escape act in olio. Walker and Miss Parker had been doing this act for the past week and that didn’t seem to change a darn thing for him. Tonight they were headliners. His knees burned like he had a fever and his stomach felt like he had a bellyfull of live fish.

Walker shifted the padded canister in his hands, gripping it tightly to keep it from floating upward. Inside it was enameled, but he’d wrapped the exterior in padding and black velvet to make it quiet and hard to see.

I am very, very pleased to announce that my short story, “For Want of a Nail” is on the Hugo ballot this year. I got to sit in the crowd at Norwescon and watch the Hugo nominations be announced, live.  This was a lot of fun. Especially when my name went up on the screen with the story. Heavens!

The other short story nominees are:

‘‘Ponies”, Kij Johnson (Tor.com 11/17/10)
‘‘For Want of a Nail”, Mary Robinette Kowal (Asimov’s 9/10)
‘‘Amaryllis”, Carrie Vaughn (Lightspeed 6/10)
‘‘The Things”, Peter Watts (Clarkesworld 1/10)

This story originally appeared in the September  2010 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction. To celebrate, we’d like to offer you the story.

Edited to add: There is also an electronic version with bonus features, if you are interested. Details here.

Continue reading “For Want of a Nail” is a Hugo nominee!

• The director has posted photos and a bit about last night's rehearsal of @neilhimself's Odd and the Frost Giants. http://bit.ly/ej2p6Y #
• Looks like we arent't due in until 45 minutes late. Darn freight trains. #marygoround #
• And now the train is having electrical problems. We are stopped. #marygoround #
• The electrical problems have caused a computer problem that is affecting the engine. Rebooting the train hasn't worked. #marygoround #
• Since we are in Tukwilla which is closer to the Norwescon hotel, I have gotten off the train to spare the other passengers. #marygoround #
• I'm now biking to Norwescon. #marygoround #
• I have arrived at Norwescon. 21% uphill grade! 21%! Gasp. I only fell once. I think we all get drinks. #marygoround #

While Mary’s off in Seattle, I thought I’d offer up a little content from Houston  – a peek at Odd and the Frost Giants rehearsals as we approach our May 3 opening.  Or, more accurately,  a peek at a photo shoot we did for the Free Press Houston last night before working on the first half of the show.

Loki’s costume was the most finished, so we shot Loki/Odd stuff.  Odin and I took these photos as the professional photographer was setting up and doing his thing.

Conveniently, I’ve just added a post about Loki over on the Stages education blog – including my retelling of the story of how Asgard’s Wall was built and how Odin got his unusual steed.

We’ve missed Mary in rehearsal this week – it was so much fun working on puppets together last week.  But the cast continues to do great work.  I found myself last night giving notes directly to the bear.  He took them, too.  We’ve got massive technical rehearsals coming up on Sunday and Monday and then a slightly more relaxed few days of rehearsal while the show that makes up the other half of the rep previews and opens.  Then a little brush-up tech and dress and the first student groups arrive on May 3.

A reminder for those of you in the Houston area.  There are only 3 public performances – May 7, 14, and 21 at 2pm.  The rest of the shows are 10am weekday matinees for school groups and homeschoolers.  Tickets are on sale now at 713.527.0123 or on the Stages website.  If you’re interested in coming to a student matinee, contact Eva LaPorte at 713.527.0220 x223 or elaporte@stagestheatre.com
-Rob Kimbro, director of Odd and the Frost Giants

Time to play #marygoround again, although this trip doesn’t involve any flight.  I’m biking to the train station and taking Amtrak up to Seattle for Norwescon.

I look forward to seeing you there.

• I'm heading over to the Kennedy school with @KayKenyon for the @SFWA PNW Reading Series. (tonight at 7pm) #