The Okal Rel Universe in evolution and in the world.

 

Yeah!! Hugs and kisses to Brian and Justyn at Hades Publications! We have lift off for all three ORU anthologies on the Absolute XPress site. The next two are being written as I type (see http://www.okalrel.org/wanted for details) with an ETA of Xmas 2009. Then I will start recruiting for Sixth: an Okal Rel Universe Legacy Anthology. Justyn is the one who re-jigged the titles to make them look better on a cover. I'm getting used to it. It's clear. One, two, three, etc. Three down, seven to go in the anthologies series of companion volumes to the saga. Meanwhile, I've passed the half-way mark (50,000 words) for Part 7: Healer's Sword of the saga series.

Once all anthologies are available in print form again (ETA mid May), I'll start with my two favorite bookstores in PG for stocking them: the UNBC book store and Books and Company. UNBC book store in the person of the wonderful Sandra Wray has already asked when they'll be available because they are down to the last few of the Windstorm editions. Sandra will be retiring this month! I will miss her. But she sooo deserves to enjoy her retirement.

Labels: Absolute XPress, Jennifer Sparling, John Preet, Okal Rel Anthology 3, Okal Rel Universe Anthology 1, Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2, Virginia O'Dine

posted by Lynda at 07:52   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 

• Sandra Fitzpatrick has tracked down John Preet to get him to sign a first edition copy of Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2 for collector Peter Halasz.


• Adds and drops for authoriship in next two anthologies were updated, today, on http://www.okalrel.org/wanted


• I finished the first draft of Part 6: Avim's Oath last night, and Jennifer Lott has agreed to do a proofing pass for me once I've finished second draft corrections. Reading it to the family Saturday mornings after crepes has convinced me to simplify the Golden Demish stew of titles and history a little, among other things. Many thanks to the beta testers!


• Sent books to Charlie Harmon for dispensing at the next conference on her busy schedule. Thank you Charlie!


• Craig Bowlsby read Pretenders and gave me some interesting feedback. To paraphrase, he was surprised by how quickly Amel accepted the envoy role and stepped into a dangerous relationship with Ev'rel to shore up the new status quo behind the scenes. I'm going to blame Amel's 'female' emotional aspect for that one, and his history of abuse which made it feel like 'his' role to step into. But you are right, Craig, it wasn't a good move for Amel! Some of Amel's behavior in the early books are based on my crisis centre days and how difficult it was to stop abuse victims assuming the role they were good at in order to support a dysfunctional situtation. But Amel-lovers may be pleased to know that his slow, Demish process of maturation begins to flower in Part 6: Avim's Oath -- at the price of him starting to have trouble getting all the warm fuzzy feelings to keep working for him.


• Mel F. gave us cartoon valentines with ORU themes. :-) Chatted with Mel and Tegan about possible skit/costumes for Bridges presentation.


• Chatted with Krysia A. about her story ideas for Anth 4 featuring the inter-cultural fiasco that resulted in her character Victoria, who appeared in Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2.
  
• Hal Friesen is working on a Nestor story for one of the upcoming anthologies


• Christina Rundle has delivered a complete first draft of her story for Anth 5. Congrats!


• Keeping up with my column in The Northern Log, called "Thoughts from another universe". Feb one was on personal rituals. Got in my submission for March edition.


• Absolute X-Press has a launch planned and I'm hoping this means print copies of the ORU Legacies books by Bridges, at UNBC, in June.

Labels: Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2

posted by Lynda at 09:15   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 

Labels: Book Launch, David Lott, Freeblades Fencing Club, Krysia, Mel, Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2, Paul Strickland, Prince George Public Library, Stephen St. Laurent, Tegan

posted by Lynda at 09:20   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 

Labels: Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2, Rita McInnis, teacher

posted by Lynda at 08:11   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 


Last but not least, click the picture for a link to a page of picture taken by my husband David Lott at the Prince George launch for Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2, Jan 29 2008. He didn't put up all the shots he took! So I've added this one from the set, here, to feature Stephen St. Laurent and Michelle Cry-Whiting who spiced up the proceedings with their media presence. Big thank-you, as well, to Citizen reporter Paul Strickland for coming out. Betsy Trumpener put in an appearance with family as a member of the audience. I was also delighted to have fellow SF author Nathalie Mallet in the audience.


Big thank you, as well, to the readers: Krysia Anderson (who did a great job of reading from her story "Ladylike" in the 2nd Anthology), Paul Strickland (who read the Horth as a child at Amel's genotyping reception scene from Righteous Anger), Hal Friesen (who read from his forthcoming story for the 3rd anthology featuring a run in with Di Mon), and Gareth of the UNBC Fencing Club (who read the lead up to the fight in the arena on SanHome from Righteous Anger).


In costume for the event, we had Mel and Kailey as Di Mon and Ranar, and Tegan as a Golden Demish princess. I wore my red velvet cloak which I think of as Vretla Vrel's "dress up" attire for Demish receptions. On the table at the back of the roome, for show and tell, we had samples of braid worked in thread which a few members of the audience had fun playing with after the main event. I am in the debt of helpers Angela, Tegan, Mel and Kailey for helping with set up. And, of course, my husband David Lott too the pictures and helped with nearly everything from picking up treats to driving us to the event. Angela Lott made me the little sign behind the chocolates which read "Do not eat if you are Vrellish". Mel Farrow created the braid worn by herself (as Di Mon) and by Tegan (as a Demish princess). The chart explaining which colors went with which house was also created by Mel for the event. Art for the third anthology, by Richard Bartrop, was on display as a poster. I also gave away a commemorative postcard, to readers and others doing presentations, which featured the 3rd anthology artwork. Also on display was the ORU plaque given to me for Xmas by Lisa O. After the readings and costume presentations we had a fencing demonstration by the UNBC Freeblades Fencing Club, MC'd by their president Gareth Hopkins.

Much thanks to all participants and attendees! And if you weren't there this time, plan to do something for the next launch (Book #3: Pretenders in the fall) or to come out and see what other people come up with.

Labels: Book Launch, Gareth Hopkins, Hal Friesen, Krysia, Mel, Michelle Cyr-Whiting, Nathalie Mallet, Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2, Paul Strickland, Righteous Anger, Stephen St. Laurent

posted by Lynda at 06:46   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 



Much thanks to Opinion 250 reporter Michelle Cyr-Whiting for her article, on Opinion 250, about the launch for Okal Rel Univese Anthology 2 at the PG Public Library Jan 29, 2008. I particular appreciate the chats she had with participants and the quotes from anthology contributors Krysia Anderson (anthology 2) and Hal Friesen (anthology 3).

Labels: Book Launch, Hal Friesen, Krysia, Michelle Cyr-Whiting, Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2, Opinion 250

posted by Lynda at 00:09   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 

The PG Citizen covered of the book launch of the Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2 at the PG Public Library on Jan 29, 2008. I suspect the author was Paul Strickland since he was the reporter who attended, and also read. Thank you Paul! An extract from the article is repeated below.

People read from their favourite passages in the new anthology and in Williams's associated novel, Righteous Anger. Then members of the UNBC Freeblades Fencing Club, led by president Gareth Hopkins, demonstrated various fencing techniques because these figure prominently in disputes between characters in key chapters of Righteous Anger. During a brief talk, Hopkins outlined the history of fencing as a sport.

Labels: fencing, Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2, Paul Strickland, PG Public Library

posted by Lynda at 00:00   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post

 
So much to report about the launch at the Sentry Box in Calgary Nov 10, I haven't been able to figure out where to start, so picked my best group shot of the event. At the front are myself, Sandra Fitzpatrick and Randy McCharles on the panel. John Preet was up there too, but took this shot. I stayed with my publisher Brian Hades who came out to the event, as well. I have pictures of Brian and other interesting members of the audience, which I will dole out here and on the ORU website. It was grand. Much thanks to the Sentry Box (wish it was in Prince George, what a store!) and to Sandra, John and Randy for the big parts they played in making it happen. John Preet is editor of the 2nd anthology. Authors Randy McCharles and Sandra Fitzpatrick appear in it.

Labels: anthology, Brian Hades, John Preet, Okal Rel Universe Anthology 2, Randy McCharles, Righteous Anger, Sandra Fitzpatrick, Sentry Box

posted by Lynda at 08:07   0 comments permalink comment? e-mail lynda@okalrel.org 0 comments links to this post