You probably know that the Aurealis Awards have moved to Sydney. You might also know who the nominees are and that this year's round of awards will be presented on May 21 (details here). You might be coming--in which case, awesome! You don't need to read any further.

This post is for those on the fence.

Here's why you should be there.

Being a writer is a whole lot more than just words. It's about people and the connections between them. In this context, I like to bander one particular word around a lot: community. Oh, and celebration, which is a whole lot more than tossing back champagnes and scoffing pizza at two in the morning. Events like the Aurealis bash give writers a chance to celebrate the community that welcomes, guides and supports them (us) through what can, honestly, be a pretty shitty career path. They provide opportunities to bond, to form networks, and to share info. Cons do the same thing, but this is just one night. It's cheaper. Why wouldn't you go?

Besides, this is the night of the year on which we, the speculative fiction crowd of Australia, really truly frocks up. You know that cliche about fans wearing Star Trek costumes? Well, anyone who's been to an AA night knows just how stupid that is. We are one hot looking bunch. And the spotlight's on everyone, not just the nominees and winners. We bask in each other's brilliance.

I'm assuming that every Sydneysider who can physically make it has already bought a ticket and will be coming along. (I'll be there--I'll notice if you're not!) I understand that for everyone else it's a long way to go and money is tight. Just think seriously about it. I've lost count of the number of AA bashes I attended in Brisbane and elsewhere, sometimes in very lean times indeed, and I regard it as money well spent. An investment in my vocation--hell, even the ATO agrees with me on that.

Without you, celebrations like this aren't possible. Community isn't possible. So come along and clink glasses with your best mates and your worst enemies. We're all in the same boat, after all, and the journey is so much more enjoyable in good company.

Australians win more WOTF awards per entry than any other country. For real. That's something I learned just today. And you know what? I'm not surprised. We've been taking home the gongs for over twenty years now, and I've lost track of how many winners we've had all up. There were three this year alone. Three.

So what's our secret? Any guesses? I'm at a loss, but I reckon it's a bloody good thing.

(Userpic taken at a past award night. Note the hair: a long time in the past.)

Dave Cake and I are DJing at Swancon next weekend, as is our wont, and in response to the occasional criticism that I play the same old stuff over and over again (I take that as a compliment!) I've decided to liven things up by not playing songs I've played more than once before unless someone requests it. So no "Jesse's Girl", no "Block Rockin' Beats", no "Dancing Queen", no "Blue Monday"--unless you ask for it, in which case I'd be happy to fit it in somewhere (twist my rubber arm). This doesn't apply to Dave--in fact, we haven't even discussed it--but I'm looking forward to the challenge. Thinking out of the box, all that.

So what will I be playing instead? I don't know for sure, beyond the opening two or three songs. It depends on the night. Some classic Aussie rock, maybe, and I have a progressive house set that I could be talked into. Stick around and find out.

Here's my schedule for the rest of the year:

• SwanCon 36/Natcon 50 (April 21-25) 
• LA Times Festival of Books (April 30-May 1)
• Auckland Writers & Readers Festival (May 11-15)
• Sydney Writers' Festival (May 16-21)
• Aurealis Awards (May 21)
• Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts (May 26-June 5)
• World Fantasy Convention (October 27-30)

If you want to catch me at any of these events, check the sites for program details. I'm the Australian GOH of Swancon, an invited guest of LA, Auckland, Sydney and Hay, a possible presenter of an AA, and just hanging out at this stage at WFC. There will also be the odd signing and tour date outside those festivals, which I’ll try to update here.

Sadly, I won’t be at this year’s Writers of the Future bash because it clashes with both Sydney and Auckland. Congrats to all the winners--particularly, and rather parochially, the Australians (I’m told we have a couple this year). My apologies for not being able to be there to celebrate with you.

I'll also miss the Nebulas (clashes with Sydney), which is a shame as I was keen to attend at least one SFWA committee meeting while ORD. Can't be everywhere at once, I guess, but I still feel a little guilty about it.

If you're in Adelaide and want to catch up . . . July is looking good!

The nominations for the annual Scribe Award have been announced, and I'm very pleased to see Star Wars:The Force Unleashed II on the list. Presented by the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, the awards acknowledge excellence in the field of licensed tie-ins--novels based on TV, movies and games--and I'm absolutely chuffed to have one of my books nominated. It's the first time, and quite an honour. The results will be announced at a special ceremony at the San Diego Comic-Con in July.

This reminds me that there has been some good press recently for my Star Wars novels, so here are reviews and news that I've been remiss in posting.

The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance was voted one of the top ten best Star Wars novels of 2010 over at Village Gate. It's been described as "an outstanding addition to the Expanded Universe” (EUCantina) and “one of the most solidly entertaining Star Wars novels I’ve read” (Fantasy Book Review), with “space battles, lightsaber fights, chase scenes and lots of strange planets to visit, not to mention scheming Sith lords – everything you’d want out of a great Star Wars book” (Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin’). So that's awesome. 

The first Force Unleashed instalment continues to garner reviews: “This is a great book with lots of action and some interesting plot twists. I highly recommend it.” (Ezine@rticles) “[A] book that even manages to resonate on an emotional level with a belter of a finale”. (HorrorScope) And the sequel has been getting a bit of love too, apart from the Scribe nomination. “If you were a fan of The Force Unleashed, you'll definitely want to see where this next installment leads.” (SF Site) And Itchy Thumbs described it as “an enjoyable look at the early Rebel Alliance...altogether making for a worthwhile read”.

I'm making notes for a Star Wars short story this week (more later, I hope) so it's a great time to get good news on that front.
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If you're coming to Sydney for the Aurealis Awards bash, why not start the day a little earlier? I'll be talking with Peter Hollo about remixing as part of the Sydney Writers' Festival, which I'm attending as a guest (and very excited about it I am, too). Garth Nix and I will be larking about as well, here and there. Full program available here.

Received copies of ASIM 50--and it is a beauty! Contains my 8-word short story "The Rise, and Fall, of Neologopolis" and much, much more.

Got a free afternoon on Sunday the 27th? Join Richard Harland and I at the Adelaide Festival Centre Amphitheatre at 2.45 for half an hour of fun and frivolity and . . . actually, I don't know what we'll be doing, exactly. We'll make it up as we go along. But we'll have a good time, and I guarantee that you will too.

This is part of the awesome ComeOut Festival, a program for children, young people, and families. There are workshops and performances and all manner of excellent things. I'm also taking a five-day workshop for young writers with A. J. Mackinnon, one of the most entertaining writers and speakers you'll ever see. All in all, it's going to be a busy and brilliant week.

This is the first of several trailers for Troublestwisters, the the series Garth Nix and I have been working on for a while now. More to come!

Here's the blurb:

When their home mysteriously explodes around their ears, twins Jack and Jaide are sent to live in a place they have never heard of, to stay with a grandmother they have never met. Portland might seem like a quiet coastal town, but it soon becomes apparent that Grandma X is more than a little eccentric, and the strange things going on in the town are anything but ordinary.

Talking cats, swarms of cockroaches, a miniature tornado trashing their room—life is about to get a lot more interesting!