What a Con*Cept! Nina Launches Outer Diverse in Montreal



Nina launches "Outer Diverse"

Last weekend I met old friends Toulouse and Vanessa in Montreal to attend Con*Cept 2011 at the Espresso Hotel and to launch my new book Outer Diverse, the first book of The Splintered Universe Trilogy  on October 15th, the same day as its world release by Starfire World Syndicate.

Con*Cept is Montreal's Annual Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention on October 14-16, 2011.

I met Vanessa and Toulouse in the hotel lobby. Toulouse—cool cat that he is—pointed out the espresso machine behind the front desk and winked. I ordered a double shot of the strong brew and watched Toulouse down his single shot (a lot for a small stuffed cat) in three major inhales. If he was a SIM he would have shivered with elation and uttered the SIM word for “Arriva!” What an auspicious start to Montreal’s annual science-fiction and fantasy convention!



Ira Nayman

The 3-day con was smallish in numbers but made up for it with a huge heart, lots of character (or is that characters?), and a good selection of panels and workshops, including a workshop on World Building by yours truly.

Marie Bilodeau

I shared an interesting panel on Politics in SF (From Avatar to Zardoz) with comedic author Ira Nayman, writer and critic Kathryn Cramer, and Mark Shainblum, SF/F and comic book writer. I didn’t see Toulouse in the audience; I think he lured Vanessa downstairs to the lobby for more espresso—the lush! I followed with a panel called “Characters or Real People” with the effervescent Violette Malan, author of The Shadowlands, and Nanowrimo wiz Rebecca Blain. We were the real characters. Both Vanessa and Toulouse managed to show up for the launch of my space adventure-thriller Outer Diverse, espresso cups in hand. Well, we were in the Espresso Hotel...


Vanessa in the Dealer's Room

Vanessa is a master jeweler; she created and launched a jewelry line specifically for Rhea Hawke, the bold space detective of the series. It was astonishing! The dealer’s room was abuzz with interest for the clean bold lines of the Rhea Hawke Collection. You can find it featured in her online shop on Etsy.


Mark Shainblum with Toulouse

My World Building workshop was well-attended by a diverse crowd that ranged from a young teenage girl writing a dystopian science fiction novel to a retired physicist writing an urban fantasy. I got out my tablet and magic pen and embarked on my interactive power point presentation. Everyone seemed to understand my ninonian scrawl and asked great questions. We covered a wide range of topics from first contact and achieving realism to integrating world with theme and premise.

Toulouse finds some friends

Eric Flint, author of the 1632 Alternate History Series, was the Guest of Honor. Eric comes by his alternate history works naturally: he graduated Phi Beta Kappa form the University of California in LA, majoring in history. Despite his academic credentials, Eric took on a varied working life including longshoreman, truck driver, steel worker, meatpacker, glassblower and machinist. I'm sure all those positions provided fertile ground for storytelling.

Alan Draven and Vanessa talk books

Interested in buying one of my books, Eric asked me which was my favorite. His question took me unawares and I had to think. Books are like children. At one time or another each is your favorite. Realizing that he was looking for some guidance, I pointed out my environmental thriller Darwin’s Paradox. He ended up buying its prequel, Angel of Chaos. Funny that…

The con offered the regular meal of obligatory Doctor Who Panel, Klingons and Star Trek crew on shore leave, masquerade and dance, film and filking and—of course—never-ending room parties. Because this was Montreal—and Vanessa’s first time there—we dove into the city each night for a taste of Montreal culture and fine dining. Toulouse directed us first to an Italian restaurant on Cresent Street. The ambience was in perfect keeping with the con: the spatious restaurant offered a steampunkish-retro-industrial environs. We enjoyed an authentic Italian meal under high ceilings, surrounded by brick walls and one entire wall dedicated—like a tall bookshelf—to storing wine. Another night we strolled into Old Montreal and found several cafés to dine and drink (see Toulouse’s post).



Karen Dales and Toulouse

As with all good cons, Con*Cept provided a venue to meet old friends and make new ones. The only thing missing was a decent bar (but then again there were those room parties and all of Montreal!) I visited with the vivacious and award-winning author and wizard storyteller Marie Bilodeau.

Marie was there with her newest space fantasy adventure Destiny’s Blood, short-listed for the Aurora. Go, Marie! I also visited with Claire Eamers, who just published her story in Tesseracts Fifteen.



Nina signing Outer Diverse

Some new faces for me included the con-hopping Karen Dales, award-winning author of the paranormal series The Chosen Chronicles (see you at AdAstra, Karen!) I had the fortune of sharing a panel with the witty and elegant Violette Malan, author of The Mirror Prince—she’s such a snappy dresser! Then there was Ira Nayman (the witty superhero with vim, vigor and a few other things that I’m still trying to figure out…). And Mark Shainblum, the debonair and charming SF&F writer and comic book writer, who gave Toulouse some good advice about wearing black. I also met Alan Draven, fresh from comic con with his newest book, Fractured Time.

The dealer’s room was a cornucopia of fine jewelry, steampunk accessories, books, games and strange looking people. I felt at home.

Merci to Cathy Palmer-Lister, Marc Nadeau, Howard Picaizen, Rene Walling and all the other convention volunteers who made Con*Cept a friendly, warm and fun event.


p.s. Just looking at the pictures ... for a cat who spent a lot of time down in the lobby drinking free espressos, Toulouse sure got around! Way to go, Toulouse!

OUTER DIVERSE is currently available at Amazon (Canada, UK and USA), Borders, Barnes & Noble, Chapters and other quality bookstores near you.

GO BUY, GO READ, COME TELL ME...

Nina Gets a Look at Outer Diverse

The universe is a very large place... But if you live in the Outer Diverse, like Galactic Guardian Rhea Hawke, it's even bigger... a lot bigger than she thinks, even... A lot bigger than I think...

I want to share my joy with you today...

I got my first look at Outer Diverse today when my publisher couriered me the proof. It arrived late this morning.

The door bell rang at 11 am and the courier handed me a package. I opened it and stared. The book was beautiful! I knew what it looked like; I'd been confering with the cover illustrator and designer, Costi Gurgu, for months. But I was still unprepared for the real thing. The raw power of the image and how it sat in my hands, soft and sleek and rich with colour.

For a writer, there's nothing quite like it -- seeing your book in its complete form for the first time, the tactile experience of seeing the fruits of your labor of love distilled into this wonderful package. It was a sensual delight that I embraced wholeheartedly. Like giving birth. It really is a lot like giving birth.



I should know. I've published five books. And given birth too. The similarities are, well, pretty similar... hehe... In every case, I felt an overwhelming sense of miraculous accomplishment with the help of very respected and competent individuals, not to say the least a divine hand. I still remember how, after laboring for many hours to deliver my son, I was overcome by such pure joy at seeing him revealed to me for the first time that I wanted 10 more just like him right then and there. As I looked upon the book cradled in my hands I felt the same kind of joy.

A writer writes because she has to. This lovely book in my hands was my reward.


Outer Diverse launches October 15th on Amazon, at Con*Cept and book stores near you. Outer Diverse will be carried by Bakka Phoenix Science Fiction Books in Toronto.

Nina Munteanu is an ecologist and internationally published author of novels, short stories and essays. She coaches writers and teaches writing at George Brown College and the University of Toronto. For more about Nina’s coaching & workshops visit www.ninamunteanu.me. Visit www.ninamunteanu.ca for more about her writing.

Canadian Writers: Call for Submissions for Short Prose Contest

If you're a Canadian writer and you haven't yet published, this contest offered by the Writer's Union of Canada might be for you! It offers a substantial prize of $2,500. Check it out, details below:

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS for the 19th Annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers

$2,500 PRIZE

The Writers’ Union of Canada is pleased to announce that submissions are being accepted until November 3, 2011 for the 19th Annual Short Prose Competition for Developing Writers. The winning entry will be the best Canadian work of up to 2,500 words in the English language, fiction or non-fiction, written by an unpublished author.

PRIZE $2,500 for the winning entry, and the entries of the winner and finalists will be submitted to three Canadian magazines.

JURY Writers Kevin Chong, Anne Emery, and Sylvia Fraser will serve as the jury.

ELIGIBILITY This competition is open to all Canadian citizens and landed immigrants who have not had a book published by a commercial or university press in any genre and who do not currently have a contract with a book publisher. Original and unpublished (English language) fiction or non-fiction is eligible.

HOW TO SUBMIT ENTRIES: · Entries should be typed, double-spaced, in a clear twelve-point font, and the pages numbered on 8.5 x 11 paper, not stapled. · Submissions will be accepted in hardcopy only. · Include a separate cover letter with title of story, full name, address, phone number, email address, word count, and number of pages of entry. · Please type the name of entrant and the title of entry on each numbered page. This is not a blind competition. · Make cheque or money order payable to The Writers' Union of Canada. Multiple entries can be submitted together and fees can be added and paid with one cheque or money order, $29 per entry. · Entries must be postmarked by November 3, 2011 to be eligible. ·

Mail entries to: SPC Competition, The Writers’ Union of Canada, 90 Richmond Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, ON M5C 1P1. Results will be posted at www.writersunion.ca in February 2012. Manuscripts will not be returned.

There ya go. Good luck!

Outer Diverse by Nina Munteanu

My latest book, Outer Diverse, is coming out this fall and we are launching it at Con*Cept in Montreal in October and Hal-Con in Halifax in November.

I'm really excited about this book. It's the first of the Splintered Universe Trilogy. Here's a bit about it:

…Splintered Events, Single Destiny…
…An entire spiritual sect is inexplicably wiped out by Eclipse, the largest crime syndicate in the galaxy…
…Glitter Dust, a new seductive but dangerous contraband narcotic of mysterious origin and sold on the slipstream, is used by certain spiritual fanatics to travel to another dimension and “experience God”…
…An elite Eclipse assassin, known simply as the Rose, is entrusted with an eclectic hit list of prominent galactic citizens, including spiritual leaders, information pirates and dust traffickers…
…One of the Rose’s targets, an eccentric priest, prophesies the Suntelia Aeon, a catastrophic End of Age, triggered by the joining of twin souls…


Galactic Guardian, Rhea Hawke, fears that this dire resurgence of an ancient prophesy may be fulfilled at last. She suspects that these latest moves by Eclipse are linked to the return of the cruel extra-galactic Vos. The Vos invaded thirty years ago and would have destroyed Earth if not for the intervention of a benevolent but arrogant alien race, the Eosians, who have now claimed Earth for themselves as their price.

This is going to be Rhea’s hardest case yet—particularly since she’s been taken off the case and fired by her Eosian boss for her most recent in a legacy of bungled missions. And Eclipse is gunning for her.

Rhea’s desperate race to expose their plan before the galaxy falls again to the cruel Vos catapults her on a journey to the far reaches of the galaxy, where she will discover the shattering truth about duel twin worlds and her ultimate role in preserving or destroying them both.

Outer Diverse is scheduled for release October 15th 2011 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders and other quality bookstores near you.

Nina Munteanu is an ecologist and internationally published author of novels, short stories and essays. She coaches writers and teaches writing at George Brown College and the University of Toronto. For more about Nina’s coaching & workshops visit www.ninamunteanu.me. Visitwww.ninamunteanu.ca for more about her writing.

Celebrating the Bitch: Thelma & Louise

Twenty years ago Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis drove off a cliff into movie lore in Thelma & Louise. This “ground-breaking female buddy movie cum road-trip, crime spree and chase flick … deals with rape, a fatal shooting and sexual awakening, all to a country-rock soundtrack,” says Linda Diebel of the Toronto Star in her recent tribute to this Ridley Scott motion picture and its Academy Award-winning screenwriter Callie Khouri. Thelma & Louise hit many firsts for women. It was one of the first movies to portray women using violence as an alternative form of action; it was the first to effectively show the raw power of women locked in friendship; and the first to depict a passionate choice for liberty in death vs. a compromised life.

From introducing Brad Pitt as a sex symbol to portraying women as independent and powerful, Thelma & Louise still resonates with a visceral message two decades after their iconic leap into the Grand Canyon. The ending, in which the pair lock hands and sail over the canyon in Louise’s 1966 T-bird convertible, remains controversial even now.