All posts by Jason Fischer

Melbourne Supanova

Life has been a bit flat out here at Fisch Industries, hence the lack of updates. The weekend before last I was fortunate enough to get an author spot in the Dymock’s stand at the Melbourne Supanova. I was there signing copies of my new book “Quiver”, meeting new readers and rubbing shoulders with the other authors. Had an absolute ball, met some great folks and saw just about every configuration of cosplay it’s possible to see. Amazing how much effort con-goers went to with their outfits – it’s all I can do to roll out of bed and get dressed.

Anyway, a picture speaks a thousand words. So have several 🙂

In the thick of it – selling books left, right and centre.

Unwittingly, con-goers run the gauntlet of desperate authors….

One happy author, posing with a GIANT poster of his book.

The Black House Comics crew – top bunch of folks!

Another Quiver Review

Hey folks! I’m hoping to do a quick write-up of my Supanova experience soon, but in the meantime, here’s a new review of Quiver. Reviewer OzNoir writes:

“…QUIVER encapsulates many of the tried and true formulas common to survival horror; the building of fortifications, scavenging, zombie (or coffin-dodger) hoards and their migration, the fall of Government and the rise of independent parties, but the most important component of this zombie post apocalyptic concoction is the humans themselves who are commonly more inhumane than the walking dead. Fischer goes to great lengths to portray a dead world whose living souls are rotten and more menacing than those who threaten to end mans existence.”

The rest of the review can be read here:

http://justaguythatlikes2read.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/review-quiver-by-jason-fischer.html

New Review of “Quiver” from Scaryminds

Scaryminds do love them some Aussie horror, and it was great to see them do a lengthy review of my first novel, “Quiver”. It was not without moments of tough love, but all’s fair in the world of reviewing. Having reviewed for many years before writing in earnest, I have nothing but love for anyone who’d take the time to read my work and express an opinion about it.

“The book is a big read that should have a few people squirming as the gore hits the page, but Fischer never drops his narrative edge from first page to last page. A solid example of decent writing in a ghetto sub genre Quiver kept my attention, and more importantly didn’t bounce me off the page, as the journey went increasingly more surreal.”

The rest of the review can be found here: http://www.scaryminds.com/reviews/2013/book161.php

Check out the rest of the Scaryminds site while you’re visiting, these folks are nothing if not prolific when it comes to following and covering the releases in local genre fiction.

Australian Shadows Awards 2012

Hot on the heels of the Aurealis shortlists, the results are now out for the 2012 Australian Shadows Awards shortlists.

http://www.australianhorror.com/index.php?view=325

Be still, my rotten undead heart, but my story “Pigroot Flat” has made the grade! I join several talented folks as a finalist in the Short Fiction category. There are some great results here, and added points to the AHWA for putting on a great online awards ceremony (and for milking the suspense just shy of a lynch mob breaking out). Well done to everybody involved in Aussie horror fiction and everyone fortunate enough to nab a finalist berth…and now for three weeks of being on tenterhooks.

A Very Nice Feeling

So, I’ve been doing this writing thing for most of my life, but I got serious about it almost 10 years ago now. I’ve been selling my fiction since about 2006, and have seen my scribbling appear in various anthologies, magazines and websites. I’ve been to group book signings, seen my work appear in collections on bookstore shelves, but it never felt *legitimate*. To my mind, these weren’t my books, they were books I had some work published in.

Many’s the time I’ve walked into a bookstore and looked at the spot where, one day, my books were going to appear. The (many) moments I had doubt about what I was doing, I’d stand there, and make a promise to myself to never give up.

Today, a novel appeared in that spot, with my name on the cover. Let’s call that a good beginning 🙂

New Guest Blog-Post over at Wednesday Writers

Today, I’ve had the pleasure of guest-blogging over at David McDonald’s site for the “Wednesday Writers” feature. I’m currently mentoring David via the Australian Horror Writers Association, and it was most kind of my talented mentee to give me an opportunity to talk about “Quiver”, how it came about, and the fix-up/mosaic novels that inspired me to put it together. 

http://www.davidmcdonaldspage.com/2013/03/wednesday-writers-jason-fischer/

 

Couple more things

Over at On Fiction Writing, I’ve been interviewed for the infamous Rack! Check it out via this link:

http://onfictionwriting.com/rack/Jason-Fischer/62/

And I’ve just sold a collaboration with author Martin Livings to good old Antipodean SF! “Art, Ink” will be appearing in issue #180, and it feels great to return to the place that bought my first ever story. Ion’s a legend, and all those undead camels, brutal Jesusmen, killer kangaroos and such? It’s basically all his fault for encouraging me 🙂

Author Appearances in April – FischFest 2013

While not exactly starving and moping in a garret, there are sometimes big stretches of time where I don’t get to conventions or other cool Writery Things. This year, I attempt to mitigate this by taking two interstate trips with a couple of weeks of each other.

First up, I’m going to be at Melbourne Supanova this year. Dymocks have kindly asked me to sign copies of my new novel “Quiver” at their signing table, which is pretty cool. I’m a Supanova virgin so very excited to see what mainstream conventions have to offer. At the very least, I want to high-five the Hoff, and get Barbara Eden from I Dream of Jeannie to say a swear word.

Secondly, I’m going to be at Conflux in Canberra. Not only will this see the official launch of Quiver, but I’m on a swag of panels, catching up with a tonne of most excellent people, and generally having a great time.

My Conflux itinerary is as follows (and note, they haven’t nailed exact times down so this could change):

Friday:

Zombie Panel

Ticonderoga Author spot,

Saturday:

“Quiver” book launch at morning tea time

Geeks Are Cool (after the book launch).

Sunday:

Australian Landscapes

 

If you’re going along to any of these things, make sure to say hello! April’s going to be manic and boonta and all things good.