http://aurealisawards.com/finalists2010.pdf

So bust out the Crayolas and colour me tickled pink, I’m a Finalist! How exciting, and somewhat humbling that my book has snuck in next to these other two amazing writers and their works:

HORROR Novel

After the World: Gravesend, Jason Fischer, Black House Comics
Death Most Definite, Trent Jamieson, Orbit (Hachette)
Madigan Mine, Kirstyn McDermott, Pan Macmillan

Oh Gravesend, you’re the little engine that could a huge congrats to everyone else who made this year’s shortlists. I don’t envy the work of the judges in any category, that’s one solid list.

Without further ado, the winners are:

And a bonus winner, because it’s just too awesome, and captures perfectly the true angst of zombie haiku composition:

Your zombielicious copies of “After the World: Gravesend” will be in the post shortly.  Congratulations!

ETA:  Because he’s a classy haiku-loving kind of guy, Peter M Ball has donated his prize back into the contest.  Here’s a poem that narrowly missed out on a spot in the top 3, which I’m now pleased to add to the winner’s circle.

To enter, simply compose a haiku – the only catch is it must be zombie or apocalypse themed.  Post your haiku in this comments thread (either at jasonfischer.com.au or on the LJ feed, it’s all good).  As long as you meet the 5-7-5 rule, I’m not too fussed if you mention a seasonal reference – though if you mention winter and brains, it will earn you bonus points

The best three haikus as judged by me will win themselves a copy of the book.  It’s that easy!  Contest closes one week from today (Thursday 19th August)

(PS sorry, Australian residents only for this competition – overseas postage is too painful)

Among other things, reviewer Simon Petrie says:

“Tamsyn’s strength of character is one of the novella’s strengths: in fact the characterisation, throughout, is marvellous, with at least a dozen of the townspeople emerging as fully three-dimensional, living, breathing characters during the course of the story.”

and

“Fischer’s portrayal of society’s shambling disintegration is disconcertingly plausible”.

The full review (and as usual, several awesome stories) can be read in the print copy, which can be purchased here: http://www.andromedaspaceways.com/issue-44/

I’ve been enjoying David Farland’s “Daily Kick In The Pants” series of emails, invaluable writing advice from a writer who was actually Stephanie Meyer’s mentor, a WOTF judge, and an author with an impressive back catalogue in his own right.  His invaluable writing advice can be accessed via this page: http://www.runelords.com/about/

Some of the things Mr Farland has spoken about are try/fail cycles, and actually giving your readers low levels of stress!  Yes, you heard me right.  When you are actually anxious about the fate of a character, that story just became a page-turner, and the author has successfully engaged you as a reader.  And then, with the correct resolution, everything is brought back to normal, and you’ll go away feeling relaxed and good about that story – and will be keen to buy anything else that author writes.

A simple formula for conflict that I’ve always remembered goes along these lines:

1) get your characters stuck up in a tree

2) throw rocks at them.

3) get them back down.

I tell you what, I’ve got my eye in today…pow!  Oh, sorry Tamsyn, didn’t mean to pop you in the face.  Hey, there’s no need to point that bow at me, I was just….TWANG!  Okay, thanks for the warning shot.  Promise I’ll cut you a break real soon :-) 

PS I’ve finally got my LiveJournal cross-post thing working!  Many thanks to fellow Clarionite Aidan Doyle for his IT intervention.