Natcon Fun & The Sir Julius Vogel Awards
The "plot hole" panel
It’s taken some time, but here it is at last—the report on my Day 2 at UnCONventional, the national Science Fiction Fantasy convention, and the Sir Julius Vogel Awards for excellence in science fiction, fantasy and horror
I started Day 2 by checking in with my partner, Andrew, on the “Plot Holes” panel, chaired by Russell Kirkpatrick, where they were discussing, well, holes, in the plots of movies and books—with some enthusiastic input from the audience. Clearly this was a subject that sparked interest and debate, but the overall feeling of both panel and audience seemed to be that readers would generally overlook plot holes so long as the flow of the story remained unbroken.
"Promoting Your Book"
Then it was on to the “Promoting Your Book” panel with Trudi Canavan, Stephen Minchin of Steam Press and Grace Bridges of Splashdown Books where the discussion focused on the efficacy of social media and there was general agreement that a website or blog was essential. Trudi stressed the importance of having all essential information on a website/blog for ease of access for other writers, booksellers and readers, while Grace also emphasised that the most important thing for a writer to do was to write the next book. All the panelists underlined the importance of differentiating between the public and the personal when using social media for promotion.
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Signing...
The afternoon was given over to book signing and readings, where the pictures probably speak a thousand words… But in terms of the reading I read from “The Gathering of the Lost”: from the chapters “Across the River” and “The Wolfpack” as well as the section that brings in my “Tuckerization” character from the launch of “The Heir of Night”—Jan Butterworth.
And the evening, of course, was all about the Sir Julius Vogel Awards—with some wonderful success for friends and fellow authors from SpecFicNZ. The awards are given for excellence in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror written or produced by New Zealanders or those resident in New Zealand. The full list of winners will appear on the Sir Julius Vogel Award website in due course but here are some of the awards made last night:
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Mary Victoria
Best Novel: “Samiha’s Song” (Book Two, Chronicles of the Tree) by Mary Victoria
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Lee Murray
Best Novel — Youth: “Battle of the Birds” by Lee Murray
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Best Novella: “Steam Girl” by Dylan Horrocks
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Best Short Story: “Frankie and The Netball Clone” by Alicia Ponder
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L-R: Kevin Berry, Trudi Canavan, Lee Murray, Mary Victoria, Alicia Ponder
Best Collected Work: “Tales for Canterbury” edited by Cassie Hart & Anna Caro, Random Static
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Simon Litten & GoH Trudi Canavan
Best Professional Artwork: The book jacket of “Oracle’s Fire” (Book Three, Chronicles of the Tree) by Frank Victoria.
Best Dramatic Presentation: “The Almighty Johnsons” TV series
Best New Talent: KD Berry
Services to Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror: Ripley Patton
Best Fan Writing: Simon Litten
It sounds like an amazing convention, Helen! Everyone I’ve heard talk about it seems to have had an incredible time.
And huge congratulations to all the winners! It’s wonderful to see so many deserving people get recognition!
Wen, it was a lot of fun and I particularly enjoyed seeing so many fellow I have gotten to know over recent years doing well in the Sir Julius Vogel Awards. 🙂
It was fabulous, Helen! A real treat. Great panels, great discussions… 🙂
I should do a proper recap today, too. Do you mind if I steal photos?
Purloin at will, my dear.:) Was lovely to catch up with you again as well as seeing “Samiha’s Song” deservedly take “Best Novel.” I hope to post more photos tomorrow as well.
Thank you so much, Helen… it was indeed a joy to catch up. 🙂
I’ve finally coughed up a con report, posted on my blog and also the Voyager site. I’m surprised I remember even that much… Con brain is in evidence!
I shall check both out…and when I get home again, send you all the photos.:) And there will be more on the blog tomorrow…
Helen,
Thank you for this round-up (and for taking a half-way decent photo of me). It was a pleasure to finally meet you (and Andrew) at NatCon after a couple of years of faceless emailing. I did not win this award on my own: it is the culmination of the combined efforts of many lovely people who have supported and encouraged me, and in spite of some rather embarassing first attempts. But your first nomination of my short story ‘Consumed’ at last year’s awards was a turning point, because before that I didn’t really believe in myself. And here was a real writer – one who didn’t know me from Adam – saying, ‘yes, actually you’re not half bad.’ Pretty inspiring. Anyway, you’re the writer I want to be. One day. Hopefully. Okay, stopping now before I break into song…Lee
Lee–it was lovely to meet you in person, too! And thank you so much for your comment. To know that another writer feels I have really helped them—for me, that is the ultimate accolade. We all serve the ‘gods of story’ and getting the stories out there is what it’s all about. I really enjoyed ‘Consumed’ and am thrilled that “Battle of the Birds” received recognition through the Sir JVA “Best Book–Youth” award.
Helen,
Any chance I could ask you to email me the file of this half-way decent photo of me, please? I have snipped it for my fb page, but my support team are working on the local press here in Tauranga (growing the prestige of the award), and I expect they might want an ‘on-the-night’ shot. Also, where your nomination was a turning point for me, It looks as if Beaulah Pragg is going to be Celine’s inspiration. I am certain we are going to see some wonderful stories from Beaulah in the future. Celine hasn’t given up on Chemistry, but right now I can hear her working on the iPad composing the theme tune for Beaulah’s ‘The Silverhawk’ (and NCEA Level 3 composition). I notice she hasn’t rushed to write the soundtrack for any of MY stories…
Lee, I will gladly send you all the photos of you, Piper & the rest of your as soon as I get home again, which as per my reply to Mary, I hope will be tomorrow. 🙂 So glad Celine is loving Beulah’s book: composing theme music is definitely a compliment!