Among my take-aways from the recent World Fantasy Convention in San Jose is this excellent fantasy and science fiction story collection from San Francisco publisher Night Shade Books. Not only is the publisher more-or-less local, there are also a few Northern California authors featured among the 15 stories in the anthology.

Karen Joy Fowler (Santa Cruz/Davis) gives us “The Pelican Bar”, about a very difficult path to learning responsibility.

Ellen Klages (San Francisco) wrote “A Practical Girl”, a really sweet story where history, mathematics, and magic intersect.

Finally, Peter S. Beagle (Davis), provided “Sleight of Hand”, a story where there’s (so he says) no magic, but wishes can come true with a little prestedigitation.

I reviewed these stories and the rest of the collection on my personal blog.

Malinda Lo is one of a few local authors at the World Fantasy Convention in San Jose.

The World Fantasy Convention coming to San Jose could have been an opportunity to meet authors from around the world; but since this is the “hyper-local” Metblogs, I used it instead to meet a few local fantasy authors.

San Francisco-based Malinda Lo has just published her first novel, Ash. It’s a lesbian retelling of the Cinderella story, aimed at young adult readers. Malinda told me that having successfully published this novel, she’s been able to quit her day job and make writing her full-time job. She now has a second novel in the works, due out in spring of 2011. Malinda will be back in the South Bay next week for the Friends of the Los Gatos Public Library Friday Forum. The event is Friday, November 6, starting at 6:30 in the Town Council Chambers at 110 E. Main St. in Los Gatos.

North Bay-based Ann Wilkes has published several short stories, and recently released a short novel, Awesome Lavratt, a humorous story of galactic conquest. I also met Healdsburg writer Camille Picott, who just published a story for elementary-school kids, Raggedy Chan, with illustrations by Joey Manfre. The book is published by Picott’s own recently-launced publishing venture, Pixiu Press, and comes with an associated teaching curriculum.

Also from Healdsburg, the writing couple of Michael Shea (a two-time World Fantasy Award winner) and Lynn Cesar were there with a limitted edition of Michael’s anthology, Copping Squid, featuring Lovecraftian fantastic horrors. A “trade” edition is due out shortly. Michael has been writing since the 1970’s, and his stories have appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and have bene collected in various “Best of the Year” anthologies. Michael’s next novel, The Extra, set in a horrific near-future Hollywood, is due out in January. Lynn’s novel Apricot Brandy is marketed as romance, but mixes in elements of horror and fantasy, as it brings the Mayan gods to life in Northern California.

The 2009 World Fantasy Convention celebrates Edgar Allen Poe's bicentennial.

The 2009 World Fantasy Convention kicked off today at the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San Jose.

This isn’t the kind of fantasy convention where you can dress up like a hobbit or chase your friends around with a styrofoam pole-axe. It’s more a gathering of industry insiders, like authors, artists, and publishers, getting together to talk shop. In fact, if you haven’t already bought a (pricey) membership in the convention, you won’t even get in the door.

For those insiders, though, the convention holds 3 and a half days of panel discussions, presentations, and readings about the craft of making fantasy, as well as an art show and a dealer’s room. On Sunday afternoon, they’ll award the World Fantasy Awards for the best novel, best artist, and so on, in the field of fantastic literature (a list of nominees is found here).

Public events associated with the convention are few, but there will be over a dozen authors will be available for signings at Borderland Books in SF on Monday, November 2, at 6:30 pm.

"Luann"

Open the San Jose Mercury News Thursday morning and go straight to the comics.

Greg Evans has created a special “Luann” about “Books For Treats“.

10/29/09
San Jose Mercury New
Comics – “Luann”

Mackenzie Phillips

It was the opening night of Cinequest-19 where I spotted Mackenzie Phillips (American Graffiti, One Day at a Time) at the California Theatre. I told her that it was nice to see her. To which she replied, “Nice to be seen.” I asked, “Did she had something to share with San Jose Metblogs?” Yes, she told me about her tell-all book that should be out in the spring. It took a bit longer than spring, but her controversial memoir “High on Arrival” is now out. Mackenzie is making the talk show rounds and, this evening she will be on with Larry King @ 6:00 PM.

Yes, I enjoy the films of Cinequest, but part of the lure is meeting the producers, directors, actors, TV and movie stars. I’m looking forward to Cinequest Film Festival 20 next February.

Jane Alexander was determined to solve her aunt Gertrude McCabe’s (1983) murder in San Jose. Jane’s investigation coupled with her insistence that authorities stay on the case helped to bring the accused to justice. Alexander’s tenacity gained much attention which led to the book “Citizen Jane”, and to a Hallmark Channel Original Movie.

“Citizen Jane”
September 12
9 PM Hallmark Channel (Comcast 66 or 185)
Ally Sheedy, Meat Loaf, Sean Patrick Flanery – (TV-PG,V), 2009

Citizens Against Homicide

Citizen Jane the book

Citizen Jane the movie site

I was disappointed that there were no location shots filmed in San Jose.

Although the fake SJPD building in the movie was better looking than the real deal.

"Give Brain Candy. Feed Kids' Minds, Not Their Cavities."

With the sight of fallen brownish yellow leaves on the lawn, the next step will be the sound of the doorbell and shouts of Trick-or-Treat.

Rebecca Morgan is one Willow Glen resident who believes Halloween is the perfect opportunity to encourage reading. So much so that she began the Willow Glen based program “Books For Treats“.

Rebecca can’t pull this off all by herself. She needs our help:

* Wed., Oct. 28 — pick up 2 pallets of books from our storage area near Spartan Stadium and deliver them to the Diabetes Society, 3rd floor, Garden Theater. You’ll need a truck and a few people who can lift boxes of books onto hand trucks. There’s an elevator in the Garden Theater. (Great project for the Boy Scouts!)

* Thurs., Oct. 29 10-noon — Sort books into reading levels. (Wear comfortable clothes.) Diabetes Society, 3rd floor, Garden Theater. This is always fun as you get to see great children’s books and get to know other volunteers.

* Fri., Oct. 30, 9:00-noon, 1:30-4:30 — Lincoln Ave. Garden Theater portico. Set up and staff Books For Treats tables during Lincoln Ave. trick-or-treating. We’ll be giving books from 10:00-12:00 for pre-school children, and 2:00-4:00 for grades K-6, until books are gone. We need to set up tables, banners, and books from 9:00-10, then at the end of the day we need to clean up and pack up. We have been told Council member Pierluigi Oliverio will help us pass out books. This is always a wonderful experience, seeing the kids’ (and their parents’) faces light up when they get a book!

More:

* If you have sources of gently read children’s books, especially from baby through second grade, please contact them and see if they will donate. Email Rebecca directly for a drop-off point near Minnesota and Newport.

* You can buy gently read children’s books at the Oct. 24 Friends of the Willow Glen Library book sale.

* Make a monetary contribution to support her web hosting, bookmark printing, etc.

See Books For Treats for all the details.

Note: Check back here (SJMB) on the 29th of October for exciting news!

Apparently Barbara, CALL ME SENATOR, Boxer has written a second book called Blind Trust.

I hadn’t realized that there was a first book, or that she could even write.

For what it’s worth she is scheduled to appear in San Jose for a book signing.

Get well dressed up and be at the Barnes & Noble bookstore…
3600 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose
1 PM – Saturday the 15th

“CALL ME SENATOR”

“Sen. Barbara Boxer accused of racism…”

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

“Well Dressed”

After my last post on Willow Glen Books, I was disappointed this past weekend, when I was walking on Lincoln Ave, to see Willow Glen Books was finally closed. The doors were shut, the sign on the facade had been taken down, and the interior fixtures were stripped down to a dusty carpet. I figured the announced buyer for the business just hadn’t come through. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that Silicon Valley Business Journal reported today that the deal might not be totally dead. Apparently the buyer, Roland A. Vierra, wasn’t able to get financing to buy the business before the former owner went out of business. But, Vierra is now saying he hasn’t given up hope. He’s still seeking a loan to buy the building and the business so that he can re-open Willow Glen Books. With some luck, San Jose will soon have an independent general book-dealer again.

Stacy Perman author of In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-The-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules will discuss her new book this Tuesday at Books Inc in Mountain View.

In 1948, Southern Californians Harry and Esther Snyder founded In-N-Out Burger with the vision of providing top quality food and service. The privately owned company to this day continues to put customers and employees first.

It is a story about a family, who created a profitable company, striving for quality without cutting corners, treating and paying employees well, about word of mouth marketing, along with some of the personal difficulties the family endured.

Books Inc.
301 Castro Street, Mountain View
650-428-1234

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
7:30 pm

Free