by Jason Fischer | Aug 15, 2020 | Uncategorized
I recently gave an interview with John Goodwin from Writers of the Future, where we spoke about the workshop I went to (ten years ago now, best week ever!) and he was kind enough to let me promote my new Spectrum Writing organisation.
These folks are all about paying it forward and it’s a pleasure to return the favour – below is my interview and a stack of resources for those interested in entering the Contest. It’s brilliant, get amongst it!
https://soundcloud.com/writersofthefuture/64-jason-fischer-mentors-creative-people-on-the-autism-spectrum
Writers of the Future Resources:
Contest Rules
Volume 26 Awards Ceremony (my winning year)
by Jason Fischer | Mar 6, 2020 | Uncategorized
I have some very exciting news – I’ve just signed a three-book deal with Outland Entertainment to publish my “Papa Lucy and the Boneman” fantasy series. Huge thanks to Jeremy Mohler, Gwen Nix and everyone at Outland, and eternal gratitude to my wonderful agent Angel Belsey from Emily Sweet Associates.
We’re also developing a role-playing game based in this setting, and my playtesters (discerning gamers forced to hear my puns on a fortnightly basis) seem to be enjoying the draft which bodes well! I’m looking forward to unleashing this beast on the world. I’m going for a Dark Sun meets Weird West feel, with a stack of character classes, races, and game mechanics involving cannabalism amongst other things…
More news as it all comes together – tonight I am one happy author 🙂
(original illustration from Aurealis #42 by Adam Katsaros)
ABOUT PAPA LUCY AND THE BONEMAN
Set in a world of scavengers and hard folk, “Papa Lucy and the Boneman” is the tale of a centuries-old family feud. In their quest to become gods, two immortal brothers put the savage world of Now into jeopardy. Only a fallen knight-errant dares to defy Papa Lucy. Armed only with an ancient gun and a forbidden knowledge, Lanyard Everett confronts a world-killer – and himself.
This setting started off in a series of short stories that I published in Aurealis magazine, and after many years of compiling background notes on the world and the characters, I realised that I had an epic fantasy novel on my hands. Back in 2011 I received a grant from Arts SA to produce the first draft of what would become “Papa Lucy and the Boneman”, which I wrote during a 6 month sabbatical from my day job. I beat this novel into shape over a number of years, and now it is finally ready to hit the world.
by Jason Fischer | Nov 26, 2019 | Uncategorized
Hi folks! Been a long time since I posted updates on this thing. I’m usually found lurking on the Book of Face and can’t commit to blogging like I used to. It’s been a helluva year at Fisch Industries, with all sorts of cool goings on. Time for a quick round up!
SNAFU
Got a story into this bad boy and I’m very much excited. Have been a fan of the series (some of which became episodes of Tim Miller’s Love, Death and Robots) and consider this a bucket list moment. “Of Meat and Man” coming soon!
Argonautica Launch
Together with ink-scribe and fellow Jason, we launched our new collaborative small-press Argonautica Press a few weeks back. Jason Franks has a write-up over at the Argonautica website here: https://argonauticapress.com/?p=2123&fbclid=IwAR2MCPdlPPPtYrslgC7eNc1dSsT47S8TmL1jelZwS5707VfFIP46OyzNk-Q
Twas magnificent. Best of all, we had a skellington for Ray Harryhausen reasons (because Jason and the Argonauts)
I made many humerus jokes on the night. Living my best life!
Spectrum Writing
So I’ve launched into a new and very exciting venture with my wife Kate. We’ve started a service called Spectrum Writing which is aimed at teaching professional writing skills to people on the Autism Spectrum. It’s a subject dear to my heart, particularly as I’m the dad to an amazing young man with Autism, as well as having it myself. I came to this realisation later in life, and who knows how much further my writing would be by now if I’d had writing lessons tailored to my condition?
I’ve been working with writers on the Autism Spectrum for a while now, both mentoring and in my workshops, and these folks blow my minds with their mad imagination skills. I’m determined to help other awesome minds follow their writing dreams, and so it was time to get organised. This would NEVER have happened without the amazing Kate Fischer, who is not only a smoking hot bird, but a force to be reckoned with!
Go to Hell, Volume 2 of the Tamsyn Webb Chronicles
As of last night, I hit a milestone in my draft of the sequel to Quiver, one which I cannot speak of – a cliffhanger so epic that I dare not speak of it! Needless to say, I’ve just rolled into the third act with my sleeves rolled up and a mad look in my eye. It is time to finish this bad boy.
Most of all, family
This time last year I became the dad to my darling baby daughter, who just had her first birthday. I fall in love a little more everyday with this hilarious trouble-maker! Kids are just the best. My older boy is thriving with a wonderful teacher and a very joyful, busy life. At the centre of all this is a wonderful lady with the patience of Buddha in the body of a hot chick. I am rich beyond measure!
by Jason Fischer | Jul 5, 2019 | Uncategorized
The latest issue of Dimension 6 has just landed, and it contains my newest short story “Posse Comitatus”. Editor Keith Stevenson sums up my story better than anyone ever could:
“It was the perfect crowd control mechanism right up until it wasn’t.”
Follow this link and get amongst it – each issue of Dimension 6 is free to read and is awesome:
https://coeurdelion.com.au/dimension6/
by Jason Fischer | Jun 30, 2019 | Uncategorized
I’ve got some great writing workshops coming up over the next few months – I do my best to make these fun and hands-on, and I promise you, you’ve never done writing workshops like mine! The Tolkien workshop promises to be a blast, and the Teen Writers Group goes from strength to strength – this term Writers SA has doubled the number of sessions just to try and meet demand. If you or someone you know is a budding young writer, come and join in the fun!
with Jason Fischer
Join Jason Fischer for a deep-dive into Tolkien’s fantasy works, exploring his wide influence on fantasy storytelling. Participants will also get an overview of the future of genre writing as it finally wriggles loose from Tolkien’s long shadow. Second breakfast is not provided.
Price: General Admission A$180.00
Date: September 28, 2019 
Register
Learning outcomes:
- A Hard Hobbit to Break – How the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings came to be – the background to the world’s most well-known fantasy works
- The Long Shadow – How Tolkien’s legacy continues to affect the fantastic genres today, in works such as Game of Thrones, Dungeons and Dragons, and even the Marvel cinematic universe
- Tolkien ‘Bout My Generation – How modern fantasy writing is starting to escape from the pseudo-Eurocentric mold, and why works modelled on Tolkien’s writing still hold enormous sway in the publishing world
- The Orcs are Germans – The reflection of Tolkien’s era informed the creation of Middle-Earth – in place of World War 1, a new set of issues is informing today’s fantasy writing
- If You Like It, Then You Should Have Put a Ring In It – Workshop includes a brainstorming session to reinvent the fantasy genre – in what ways can Tolkien’s all-encompassing vision be flipped or reinvented?
with Jason Fischer
This Teen Writers Club is designed for teens 12–14 years old, however the suggested age range is a guide only and if you have any queries, please contact info@writerssa.org.au. Group two is designed for young people aged 15–17years old.
Term 3 dates: Saturdays, July 20th to Sept 21st, 10:30 am – midday.
Price: General Admission A$200.00
Date: July 20, 2019
Register
with Jason Fischer
This Teen Writers Club is designed for teens 15–17 years old, however the suggested age range is a guide only and if you have any queries, please contact info@writerssa.org.au. Group One is designed for young people aged 12–14 years old.
Term 3 dates: Saturdays, July 20th to Sept 21st, 12:30 to 2:00pm
Price: General Admission A$200.00
Date: July 20, 2019
Register
by Jason Fischer | May 29, 2019 | Uncategorized
I have been very neglectful of the old Fisch-Blog – real life has hit me in the form of a six-month old baby Fischer girl, who is all things amazing. Those little humans sure take everything over though!
So a quick update of some cool writing stuff. I’ve had a few new short stories accepted for publication in the past few months, here’s some more info:
“Mission Critical” is a new anthology coming out from champion editor Jonathan Strahan, which features a story I co-wrote with the amazing Sean Williams, titled “Mutata Superesse”. This is a book about when things go wrong in space, and boy howdy, do they go wrong! Monsters and freaks and flying teeth, oh my! Was 10/10 fun to write.
More info here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Mission-Critical/Jonathan-Strahan/9781781085806
When I was asked to submit a story to “War of the Worlds: Battleground Australia”, I fell over myself to write the most madcap thing I could think of. I give the world “Riding the Snails”, a far-future post-occupation piece, set in the country that was once called Australia, in a language now illegal to speak. There’s only one thing worse than death at the hands of the invaders, and that is to be sent to ride the snails…
Finally, I have a piece coming up in the next issue of Dimension 6, more to be revealed… 🙂
On the Argonautica front, the release of the new edition of Quiver is getting closer, and work is continuing on Volume 2 “Go to Hell”. Busy Fisch is busy 🙂
Stay classy!
Fisch.
