For fans of Tales of the Tai-Pan Universe

typographer @ 08:05 am: News for October
Bowling Party and Writer's Night this coming Saturday!

Join us at Robin Hood Lanes (9801 Edmonds Way, Edmonds, WA) at 2pm Saturday, October 17 until 5pm for some silly fun throwing a ball down a lane attempting to knock over pins. Then adjourn with us to David, Kristin, and Ieva's house nearby for our usual Writer's Night.

( More details and other news behind the cut... )

typographer @ 08:52 am: News for September
There is no Writer's Night this month, as some of us are attending Rain Furrest, and everyone is a bit swamped. If you happen to be attending Rain Furrest and desperately need a Writer's Night-ish fix, why not attend Gene's panel on how to write a good opening line, at 6pm on Saturday at Rain Furrest?

( More news behind the cut... )

miko2 @ 07:44 pm: Artist's APA Deadline -- September 14th
Don't forget that the deadline for submissions for the September 2009 Tai-Pan Artist's APA is supposed to be August 31st!

This may be the time to point out that I don't have any submissions yet -- that I can remember (I'm typing this from Gene and Mike's place while the Tai-Pan Corporate Board meeting is going on -- which I'm not really a part of).

Anyway, it's safe to say that some people may have forgotten. So let's just say that I'll accept submissions through September 14th.

typographer @ 08:29 am: News for August
Things have been a bit crazed at Tai-Pan central for the last twelve months. But things are still happening, even though we’ve been doing a poor job of keeping the news coming.

The Annual Barbecue is this coming Saturday, August 15, beginning at 2pm hosted by Katie, Amy, and Edd in West Seattle. In addition to the usual grilling of various proteins, a potluck, and the annual Monster Croquet Game, we will also have a Writer’s Night in the evening (assuming any of us can still read after a day of being massacred in Monster Croquet). E-mail Gene (editor{at}taipanproject{dot}org) for address, directions, et al.

( More news behind the cut... )

miko2 @ 07:58 pm: Tai-Pan Artist's APA Deadline
Since the January APA wasn't assembled until February and then accidentally didn't get mailed until a few weeks afterward, the deadline for the May APA kind of sneaked up on me (and most people, I think). I didn't send out any reminders and consequently, I hadn't received any submissions. At least, until today. I did receive two submissions today, but that would still make for a remarkably thin issue.

Luckily I don't normally assemble the APA the day after the deadline in any case, so I am officially extending the deadline for this month's APA to Saturday May 23rd. And see, I'm even announcing it! That gives you three weeks to assemble something if you are still planning to have something in for the May APA.

May 23rd! Three weeks! And the APA will be mailed most likely in early June.

Mark

typographer @ 09:06 am: Club Meeting: 4pm Saturday at NorWesCon
The annual NorWesCon meeting of the members, friends, and interested parties to the Tai-Pan Literary and Arts Project is confirmed for a start time of 4pm Saturday, in room 410 (in the tower).

At least one of us will to a reading. There will be snacks and refreshments. Mostly it's a chance to chat about the project, whether you're a reader, contributor, or just want to know what these furs in space is all about.

We hope to see you there!

typographer @ 03:36 pm: Tai-Pan at NorWesCon
For those attending the Northwest Science Fiction Convention:

Our fan table is located near where we were last time, in the hall leading from the hotel lobby to registration. Most days someone from the Editorial Board will be sitting at the table ready to answer your questions, renew your subscription, sell you some issues (jam-packed with the best anthropomorphic art and fiction in known space!) or just chat.

If nothing else, stop and play with the toys (yes, there are toys!).

I haven't confirmed with my co-conspirators about the Club Meeting yet, but it is tentatively scheduled for Saturday beginning at 4pm. Look for posters at the usual places, or check back here once we've verified and registered.

If you're at NorWesCon, we hope you stop by and say 'hello!'

kehf @ 05:39 am: Ursa Major Awards
Nominations for the 2008 Awards will close 28 February 2009 (one week from today).

If you are interested in nominating, go to the nominations page at the Ursa Major Awards site to register your nominees:

You may choose up to five nominees for each category:

Best Anthropomorphic Motion Picture
Best Anthropomorphic Dramatic Series
Best Anthropomorphic Novel
Best Anthropomorphic Short Fiction
Best Anthropomorphic Other Literary Work
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Book
Best Anthropomorphic Comic Strip
Best Anthropomorphic Fanzine
Best Anthropomorphic Published Illustration
Best Anthropomorphic Game

The Ursa Major Awards site strongly encourages folks to get their friends to register and nominate, since this is a people's award. The more people who nominate their favorite anthropomorphic art and fiction the more diverse the nominees will be. What fine works did you find in 2008 that you would like to see nominated?

Tags: ursa major awards

miko2 @ 01:45 pm: APA Deadline
I know I should have posted this a while ago... but theoretically the APA deadline is December 31st 2008, end of the year.

Practically speaking, I think I have 2 submissions and I haven't drawn anything yet myself, so I will very likely accept submissions that are a week or so late.

Then again, if you're about to be snowed in like those of us in the Seattle area are (or you're already snowed in), maybe it's a good time to draw something. ^_^

typographer @ 12:25 pm: Holiday Party Canceled
The Tai-Pan Holiday Party has been canceled due to the impending snow and wind storm. Not long after we made this decision, a FedEx truck got stuck on the only road leading in to and out of the neighborhood where our hosts live, blocking the narrow road. And word is a tow truck may not get to it today.

Our hosts would like to reschedule a Winter Get-together after the holiday. We will send out the details as soon as we can.

typographer @ 11:53 pm: News for October
October Writer's Night is this Saturday, October 18, at Gene & Michael's in Ballard. E-mail Gene at editor {at} taipanproject.org for directions.

Writer’s Night is hosted the third Saturday of every month by members of the project in the Seattle region. The primary goal of Writer’s Night is to give contributors a forum for getting critique and commentary on stories, character plots, or other things they have written. Writer’s Night is also an ideal time to chat with other members of the project, and maybe even cook up some interesting plots for your characters. And there’s always good food. If you are going to be in the area on the third Saturday of a month and would like to drop in, send an e-mail to info@taipanproject.org to get the location and directions.

Dinner will be probably be Michael's Homemade Chicken Soup, as it has been especially requested. There may be a more exotic desert than usual, as well (not to mention Gene's patented Julia Child imitation; some of you know what that means, the rest will have to show up and see!).

November Writer's Night will be November 15 at Gene & Michael's.

December Writer's Night and Holiday Party will be December 20 at Edd & Amy's.

( Issue shipped and other news behind the cut! )

typographer @ 02:18 pm: News for September
September Writer's Night is tonight, Saturday, September 20, at Gene & Michael's place in Ballard. E-mail Gene at editor {at} taipanproject.org for directions. I apologize that this reminder is so late--this has been a monumentally busy week (more on that below).

Writer’s Night is hosted the third Saturday of every month by members of the project in the Seattle region. The primary goal of Writer’s Night is to give contributors a forum for getting critique and commentary on stories, character plots, or other things they have written. Writer’s Night is also an ideal time to chat with other members of the project, and maybe even cook up some interesting plots for your characters. And there’s always good food. If you are going to be in the area on the third Saturday of a month and would like to drop in, send an e-mail to info@taipanproject.org to get the location and directions.

Dinner will be Michael's No Onion Meatloaf. We usually aim to eat around 6:30 and start reading at 7pm.

October Writer's Night will be October 18 at Gene & Michael's.

November Writer's Night will be November 15 at Gene & Michael's.

( Issue 45 sent to press and other news behind this cut )

Tags: new issue, writer's night

typographer @ 08:32 pm: Artist's APA deadline only two days away!
The deadline for the September issue of the Artist's APA is only two days away! Contributors need to have their submissions in to Mark (miko2 by August 31st, 2008. Now is the time to draw something! You're not doing anything right now are you? Why not stop right now and sketch for ten minutes?

Remember, the artist's challenge for this issue is to draw a picture that fills half a page top to bottom -- basically something that could replace one column of text in the fanzine.

I just e-mailed my submission to Mark moments ago. If I, the worst artist in the project, could get a submission in, then so can you!

typographer @ 05:56 pm: News for August
August Writer's Night is this Saturday, August 16, at Jeff & Jeri Lynn's place in Everett. E-mail Jeri Lynn at webmistress{at}taipanproject.org for address, directions, and so forth.

Dinner will be potluck. Bring some food to share. We usually aim to eat around 6:30 and start reading at 7pm.

September Writer's Night will be September 20 at Gene & Michael's.

October Writer's Night will be October 18 at Gene & Michael's.

Writer’s Night is hosted the third Saturday of every month by members of the project in the Seattle region. The primary goal of Writer’s Night is to give contributors a forum for getting critique and commentary on stories, character plots, or other things they have written. Writer’s Night is also an ideal time to chat with other members of the project, and maybe even cook up some interesting plots for your characters. And there’s always good food. If you are going to be in the area on the third Saturday of a month and would like to drop in, send an e-mail to info@taipanproject.org to get the location and directions.

( Upcoming issues and other news behind this cut )

miko2 @ 08:19 pm: Artist's APA Deadline Looms!
The deadline for the September issue of the Artist's APA is only a little over a month away! Contributor need to have their submissions in to Mark Davis by August 31st, 2008. Now is the time to draw something! You're not doing anything right now are you? Just surfing the web, checking out Live Journal? Why not stop right now and sketch for ten minutes?

Remember, our artist's challenge for this issue is to draw a picture that fills half a page top to bottom -- basically something that could replace one column of text. At least I think that was my challenge, wasn't it? Oh, nobody ever pays attention to our challenges anyway, so just draw something!

typographer @ 01:05 pm: May Writer's Night
I'm really late with the reminder. Tonight is Writer's Night, hosted at Gene & Michael's in Ballard.

Since it is May and the beginning of salmon season, I'm serving salmon. This year's fish is Wild Alaskan Keta, frozen at sea. But because the weather is unseasonably hot in Seattle, I'm not cooking it in the usual way, to try to keep the house a little cool. The cooking started in the morning while temperatures weren't too bad, yet. The salmon and accompanying side dishes will all be cold serve.

We hope you can come to Writer's Night. Have a nice dinner, then hear some stories, discuss the stories, perhaps join in some plot brainstorming.

miko2 @ 03:14 pm: APA Update
Here's an update on the May Issue of the Tai-Pan Artist's APA (Issue 3).

I have received submissions from:

James L. Brandt
Sky Oxford
Chuck Melville
Kristin E.H. Fontaine
S.C. Emmons
Keith Johnson
Andrew Laverdie
Mark Allen Davis
Jeffrey Cornish
Brombear


This is really good -- that's 10 submissions, everyone from issue 2 plus Keith and Sky. In fact, we only have 13 contributors total. (I won't mention the names of those who aren't in this issue, but their initials are Gene, Dina, and Gary). ^_^ So we'll be well represented this issue.

I am currently scanning in artwork and getting ready to print. My plan is to finish assembling APA #3 by this coming Saturday so that I can hand it off to Gene. That would allow us to get it in the mail the following week, plenty of time for it to arrive before the end of May!

miko2 @ 04:35 pm: Whale Watch
I've made our reservation for the Whale Watch trip this coming Sunday April 6, 2008 (a week from tomorrow). I probably should have called before now but anyway, we're booked.

The place: Deep Sea Charters, Westport, WA

The boat: Blue Eyes

The time: 11:30 AM. The boat leaves at Noon, so they want us there by 11:30 AM. That's later than I was told before, so we don't have to leave quite as early.

Length of tour: Three hours.

Deserted Islands: None nearby.

Stormy weather: Who knows? This is the Northwest after all. It's been raining, snowing, and giving us bright sunshine all in the same day lately.

Cost: $20.00 for adults. $10.00 for kids, I think? I forget exactly. ( I mean what kids cost -- adults are $20.00 each for a 12 person group for sure.)

Booked for: I said 12 people including 2 kids. We'll see. I really don't know who all is going for sure yet.

Number of cars going down: I have no idea. I can drive there, assuming my clutch gets fixed on Monday as promised. I believe eddvick was thinking of coming, with Lady K at least (and may pick up chuckmelville); I think dolphinchatter can come; I think typographer and miertam are planning to come; I believe dehd was planning to come with Valentine (at the very least). Others are possible. See: people's schedules, finances, current work status, and current state of health. I do hope we manage to get to a dozen though, since that's what I predicted, and I think the cost could be more if we're a smaller group. ^_^

We haven't done a trip like this in... probably ten years, at least? It should be fun!

typographer @ 08:30 am: NorWesCon and other news
NorWesCon is this weekend, March 20-23 (starting today!). We have a fan table this year, so look for us at one of the tables in the halls throughout the day. Besides the latest issue of the 'zine, we'll have a few other surprises at the table.

As mentioned before, we are honored to learn that Tales of the Tai--Pan Universe has been nominated in the fanzine category, while "Putting the Universe Back Together," a story we published by Chuck Melville, has also been nominated in the short story category. Many other fine works of art and literature have made the ballot. Please take some time to check them out (http://www.ursamajorawards.org/Voting.htm), follow the links on the ballot to those fine publications, and vote!

Writer's Night and NorWesCon

April Writer's Night will be Saturday, April 19, at Gene and Michael's in north Seattle. E-mail Gene at editor {at} taipanproject {dot} org for the address and directions.

May Writer's Night will be Saturday, May 17, at a location to be announced.

June Writer's Night will be Saturday, June 21, at Matt & Sheryl's in Puyallup.

Writer's Night is hosted the third Saturday of every month in the Seattle area. You do not have to be a contributing member, or even a writer, to attend. You do not have to read a Tai-Pan story to participate. Anyone who is willing to listen to the stories read, and give constructive feedback, is welcome to attend.

If you are going to be in the area on the third Saturday of a month and would like to drop in, send an e-mail to info {at} taipanproject {dot} org to get the location and directions.

( Ursa Major Awards, APA deadline, and other news )

miko2 @ 11:32 am: Tai-Pan Whale Watch
Sunday April 6th is the day we picked out for a possible trip to Westport, WA for a grey whale watch boat tour. This comes a couple of weeks after Norwescon and not too late in the whale watching season, and a Sunday was deemed best since some people work on Saturday.

This morning I called Deep Sea Charters and they can arrange a whale watching trip for that Sunday morning at 11:00 AM. The cost would be $20.00 per person for about a dozen people (my rough guess as to how many people we wiill have). We could meet up somewhere (at Gene and Mike's place for example) and carpool down to Westport. I assume we'd want to leave about 2 1/2 to 3 hours early? That would be 8:00 AM or 8:30 AM.

I need to find out who is planning to come so I can call back and make the reservation. If you're coming to Writer's Night tonight we can discuss it there, or you can contact me via e-mail or post here.

WHAT: WHALE WATCHING TRIP TO WESTPORT

WHEN: APRIL 6, 2008, 11 AM (LEAVING SEATTLE ABOUT 8-8:30 AM)

HOW MUCH: 20.00 PER PERSON

CONTACT: MARK DAVIS OR GENE BRESHEARS IF YOU PLAN TO GO