Tales of New Babbage, Volume 2

Sep
15

Greetings Babbagers!

First, my sincere apologies for being so absent in recent months. As happens with all of us, RL sometimes trumps our SL plans, but my heart remains in New Babbage.

But on with the show: today we're officially announcing Tales of New Babbage, Volume 2. 

As many of you will recall (and can see from the widget on the side of the BAR), Tales of New Babbage, Volume 1 - a collection of short stories written by Babbagers and about Babbage - was released in December of 2011 to rave reviews. A few copies from the initial hardcopy printing are still available at http://babbagefictionpress.com/.

The eBook for Volume One is now available!

CONCEPT

The idea is this: let’s assemble a collection of New Babbage-related short stories and publish them to the broader world in both paper and digital forms. Contributions can come from anyone (resident or otherwise), but must involve the city in some way (setting, character, history, etc.). We crowdfund (pre-sell, really) any publication charges, and promote it ourselves. Any proceeds in excess of costs go to the Tenk and the City's rainy day fund.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Anyone is welcome to submit a story (between 600 and 7,500 words). It doesn’t have to be a new one (although they would certainly be welcome), but it shouldn't be one that appeared in the last volume. [Note: please ask Canolli Capalini for guidance in submitting stories previously submitted to the Flash Fiction contest she runs every year.]

If your story is selected, you'll be asked to sign a brief copyright agreement that allows the piece to appear in the anthology. (You'll retain all other rights.) That document needs to be signed in your own name (avatar signatures aren't recognized by courts yet), but we promise to respect avatar autonomy.

Ceejay Writer has agreed to help review, select, and edit the stories that will appear in volume two (if you'd like to help, please contact her directly).  

The deadline for submissions is NOVEMBER 25, 2012.
Please send them to submissions@babbagefictionpress.com

If you have questions, please contact me at cleanslate@babbagefictionpress.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

61 comments

Garnet Psaltery's picture
Reply by Garnet Psaltery | Sat, 15 September - 10:10 am SLT

I am unable to purchase volume 1, much as I'd like to do so.  Google says my address in England is not valid  for delivery.  Is there a way in which I may pay someone to buy a copy and send it to me (obviously postage and packing will be included in the price)?

The Reporter's picture
Reply by The Reporter | Sun, 16 September - 4:31 pm SLT

Mr. Cleanslate,

  Most excellent and welcomed news from you, sir.  Welcome back to New Babbage.  We look forward to the publication of your second volume and would like to wish you every success in your endeavor!

Your Friends at Penny Gaff Publishing

Aeolus Cleanslate's picture
Reply by Aeolus Cleanslate | Sun, 16 September - 8:22 pm SLT

Thanks all. 

Due to popular demand, the deadline for submissions is now NOVEMBER 25, 2012. 

(But get your submissions in early, if you can! Ceejay and I want to to do as little copyediting during the holiday season as possible...)

Glaubrius Valeska's picture
Reply by Glaubrius Valeska | Sun, 16 September - 8:52 pm SLT

May we include illustrations, if not too extensive or complicated?

Mr Tenk's picture
Reply by Mr Tenk | Mon, 17 September - 4:46 am SLT

I brought this up, it is prohibitively expensive for print editions. maybe feasible for an e-version.

Phineas Frakture's picture
Reply by Phineas Frakture | Mon, 17 September - 3:55 am SLT

All right!   working as we speak!

Ceejay Writer's picture
Reply by Ceejay Writer | Mon, 17 September - 9:01 am SLT

I am very excited about the prospect of enjoying more stories from the talented writers of New Babbage! 

A reminder - we'd like to give consideration to the stories that were submitted for the Air Kraken Festival story contest.  No guarantee of inclusion BUT they will be in the pool to be reviewed.  If anyone who entered that does not want to have their story considered, just let me know!

I am always reachable at ceejay.writer@gmail com - my inworld time is very sporadic, and I am unable to rely on chat clients, so email really is preferable, and welcome. :)

Tepic Harlequin's picture
Reply by Tepic Harlequin | Mon, 17 September - 10:42 am SLT

Would love to have my Air Kraken story considered - do i have to submit it again, or is it already in the pool?

Mr. Arnold's picture
Reply by Mr. Arnold | Mon, 17 September - 11:05 am SLT

I guess I'll send in the improved versions soon then.

Ceejay Writer's picture
Reply by Ceejay Writer | Mon, 17 September - 10:48 am SLT

It's already in the pool, Tepic, thanks!  I have copies of all the stories submitted.

Aeolus Cleanslate's picture
Reply by Aeolus Cleanslate | Mon, 8 October - 10:26 am SLT

Just for the record - I'm working on a piece about the annual Rallye Parterre, an all-terrain road rally involving custom-made steamwagons, with entrants from all over the Steamlands and at least three teams from Babbage. It's held in the Fells every year.

Oh and a Halloween short story about the vicious murderer of streetwalkers we had in the streets two years ago - the one who was never caught. :)

What is everyone else working on?

Cyan Rayna's picture
Reply by Cyan Rayna | Mon, 8 October - 11:18 am SLT

I'm working on a story from Rayn's perspective (one of my alts which hopefully I can get through since it is in first person) and finish writing a messenger story I was going to add to one of the oiling festivals. Would be good to flex my skills again since I have been a bit out of it lately. 

Jimmy Branagh's picture
Reply by Jimmy Branagh | Mon, 8 October - 11:41 am SLT

I'm working on  a short about a social commentator with an extremely popular aether radio show, who has a problem with ... um,  bugs.

No, not at all like Bug Jack Barron.

I shall say no more.

Felisa Fargazer's picture
Reply by Felisa Fargazer | Mon, 8 October - 12:03 pm SLT

Felisa has something to share, if she can find a chronicler she trusts.  (i.e. if her typist can get off her lazy butt and write the darn thing down)

Arconus Arkright's picture
Reply by Arconus Arkright | Tue, 9 October - 12:30 am SLT

Mr. Arkright shall complain about the noise.

Garnet Psaltery's picture
Reply by Garnet Psaltery | Mon, 8 October - 1:28 pm SLT

I'm working on doing something, once I've had a cup of tea.

Phineas Frakture's picture
Reply by Phineas Frakture | Mon, 8 October - 1:45 pm SLT

"The Wiggyfish That Ate New Babbage"  already finished and submitted...a tale of culinary horror  :)

Mr Tenk's picture
Reply by Mr Tenk | Mon, 8 October - 2:12 pm SLT

something myrtil said to me once.

Avariel Falcon's picture
Reply by Avariel Falcon | Mon, 8 October - 2:21 pm SLT

*ponders a dark unicorn story*

Bookworm Hienrichs's picture
Reply by Bookworm Hienrichs | Fri, 9 November - 6:29 am SLT

Bump!  The deadline is fast approaching, folks, so get your stories written and submitted!

*takes her own advice and starts scribbling madly*

Glaubrius Valeska's picture
Reply by Glaubrius Valeska | Fri, 9 November - 7:45 am SLT

My submission has already been inflicted on the long suffering Mss CeeJay.

Mr Tenk's picture
Reply by Mr Tenk | Mon, 19 November - 10:08 am SLT

megabump! and wishing the deadline was coming at a less hectic time of the year!

Ceejay Writer's picture
Reply by Ceejay Writer | Mon, 19 November - 10:28 am SLT

Having the deadline come on the US Thanksgiving holiday weekend can be a blessing or a curse! I know I have a 4 day  weekend with low pressures... but it can be a VERY busy weekend for others.

Best of luck wrangling your muses, all!

Ceejay Writer's picture
Reply by Ceejay Writer | Wed, 21 November - 9:26 am SLT

I hope everyone is enjoying writing their stories! Or if submitted, are enjoying relaxing and grinning at those still writing!

I'd like to be sure every story submitted has made it safely down the pipeline.  Phineas, I haven't seen "The Wiggyfish That Ate New Babbage".  If you did truly submit it, could you please re-send it to me at ceejay.writer @ gmail.com?  A Word document is preferred but I can handle near anything. :)

I encourage any story submitters to pop me a quick email with your name and story title, and I will check the queue to be sure it's in place.  Please pass this message around to anyone you know that has been writing for Tales 2.  Thanks! 

 

Phineas Frakture's picture
Reply by Phineas Frakture | Wed, 21 November - 9:37 am SLT

here it comes

Ceejay Writer's picture
Reply by Ceejay Writer | Wed, 21 November - 9:41 am SLT

Story received, Phineas! And as soon as I am done rolling about on the floor and howling with laughter, I'll put it in our queue.  Thanks!

Aeolus Cleanslate's picture
Reply by Aeolus Cleanslate | Thu, 22 November - 8:07 pm SLT

Hey all! Ceejay and I are looking for a few more submissions to make up the total this year. Maybe you've got an old piece you could dust off and include? Maybe you've got time this weekend to put a short story together? Give it some thought - we're starting the editing and layout process now but there's still time.

Bookworm Hienrichs's picture
Reply by Bookworm Hienrichs | Thu, 22 November - 8:15 pm SLT

Mine's coming--I swear!

Jimmy Branagh's picture
Reply by Jimmy Branagh | Thu, 22 November - 9:31 pm SLT

I'm trying, I'm trying, but I write like old people *...  I write like old people *... well, I write slow, and my protagonist is not cooperating.

Jonathon Spires's picture
Reply by Jonathon Spires | Fri, 23 November - 2:03 am SLT

I sent a submission in tonight. Sometimes my emails don't go through, if you do not see it, please look in the spam trap, thanks.

Garnet Psaltery's picture
Reply by Garnet Psaltery | Thu, 22 November - 9:24 pm SLT

Deadlines always did galvanise me.  I promise to have something for you.

Ceejay Writer's picture
Reply by Ceejay Writer | Fri, 23 November - 10:59 am SLT

Jonathan, can you resend your story?  I didn't see it, and I checked the spamtrap, and the drain filter ,and that place in the couch cushions where all my quarters end up too!  Thanks! 

Jonathon Spires's picture
Reply by Jonathon Spires | Fri, 23 November - 11:29 am SLT

I hope this is not an imposition, but I have mailed it this time direct to you, to make sure if arrives, if you don't mind.

Ceejay Writer's picture
Reply by Ceejay Writer | Fri, 23 November - 11:33 am SLT

No imposition at all - I'd actually prefer stories get directly mailed to me! ceejay.writer @ gmail.com is monitored often! 

Stargirl Macbain's picture
Reply by Stargirl Macbain | Sat, 24 November - 9:35 pm SLT

I really wish I could have submitted! But with all the writing I'm doing for school I just can't switch modes to write for this!

Hopefully the next deadline will be off the semester schedule for me!

Ceejay Writer's picture
Reply by Ceejay Writer | Tue, 27 November - 10:03 am SLT

My thanks to all who submitted stories!  We have 20 exciting tales to share in Tales of New Babbage Volume Two!

Now the work begins.  We may be contacting some of the writers as we dig into formatting and editing in the coming days, to help fine tune the stories.

I really should stock up on vitamins, coffee and eyedrops!

Aeolus Cleanslate's picture
Reply by Aeolus Cleanslate | Thu, 29 November - 3:50 pm SLT

Hooray! Volume 2 is shaping up nicely! HUGE thanks and congratulations to all of you who submitted. Ceejay and Bookworm and I are huddled together doing logistics (thank the LORD for strong women...). They will both kill me for saying this, but if there are any last minute entries out there, we may be able to accommodate them if they arrive toute suite! *cringes*

For those of you who did submit, I need direct email addresses for you so I can send you the release forms.  Please send them to cleanslate@steamweavercompany.com as soon as you can.

We'll take pre-orders via Kickstarter shortly, to fund the hardcopy print run. Stay tuned!

Ceejay Writer's picture
Reply by Ceejay Writer | Fri, 30 November - 6:45 am SLT

For those of you that don't know what "toute suite" means, I can translate:  It means "NOW, Bucko, stop dawdling and fussing, give that sucker a title and SEND IT to the Submissions address in the initial post above and also to ceejay.writer @ gmail.com.  Not next week. NOW. JUMP!"

The French do pack a lot of meaning into a few words. :)

Jedburgh30 Dagger's picture
Reply by Jedburgh30 Dagger | Fri, 30 November - 10:13 am SLT

git'r done.

Phineas Frakture's picture
Reply by Phineas Frakture | Fri, 30 November - 3:01 pm SLT

Aeolus - the email keeps getting kicked back as undeliverable, but Ceejay has my email address if you need it

Garnet Psaltery's picture
Reply by Garnet Psaltery | Fri, 30 November - 4:43 pm SLT

My email also failed.  What are we doing wrong?

Cyan Rayna's picture
Reply by Cyan Rayna | Sat, 1 December - 8:07 am SLT

Mine did as well (and also found out that Apples "Mail" system didn't use the right e-mail to send it with anyway).

Ceejay has my e-mail as well.

Aeolus Cleanslate's picture
Reply by Aeolus Cleanslate | Sat, 1 December - 3:43 pm SLT

Weird! <cleanslate@babbagefictionpress.com> works for me (I just tested it again) - but please try <cleanslate@steamweavercompany.com> if you're having trouble reaching me.

Cyan Rayna's picture
Reply by Cyan Rayna | Sun, 2 December - 12:49 am SLT

Actually you told us to e-mail cleanslate @ steamweavercompany . com before. So maybe I will try babbagefictionpress one.

Aeolus Cleanslate's picture
Reply by Aeolus Cleanslate | Tue, 4 December - 10:15 pm SLT

Greetings everyone! The Kickstarter project for Volume Two is up and ready: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cleanslate/tales-of-new-babbage-vol-2

Thanks to Mr Mornington for lending us his video footage and his voice!

(If you do get a moment to help promote the project outside Babbage, please do so!)

Phineas Frakture's picture
Reply by Phineas Frakture | Wed, 5 December - 6:45 am SLT

Ordered my copy!  Is that the actual cover?  

Mr Tenk's picture
Reply by Mr Tenk | Thu, 6 December - 7:20 am SLT

half way to to printing goal as of this morning!

Ceejay Writer's picture
Reply by Ceejay Writer | Wed, 5 December - 2:36 pm SLT

*looks up from editing* So! Many! Words!  (and durn good ones, too!)

As Cleanslate mentioned in the initial post in this thread, "If your story is selected, you'll be asked to sign a brief copyright agreement that allows the piece to appear in the anthology. (You'll retain all other rights.) That document needs to be signed in your own name (avatar signatures aren't recognized by courts yet), but we promise to respect avatar autonomy."

We're nearing that stage. As I was gathering up all the author's email addresses, I realized I am missing a few.  LoPixie Artful, Tepic Harlequin, and Rhianon Jameson.  I encourage the hive-mind of Babbage to poke these talented writers if you see them, and ask them to drop me just a little "HELLO!" in email, identifying themselves (sometimetimes the email address doesn't clue me in; fatferret @ gmail could be Mister John Smith in Babbage, you know?)

Also, quick mention. Those of you that thought you got a release form already, but couldn't open it - toss it.  Cleanslate has no clue what that was, but he has not yet sent release forms out. I blame Bob. But I always blame Bob.


Aeolus Cleanslate's picture
Reply by Aeolus Cleanslate | Thu, 6 December - 3:26 pm SLT

UPDATE: releases went out Wednesday night to all email addresses I have. 

$307pledged of $500 goal (as of 5:30PM US EST). Let's blow the goal away and print 1000 copies...

*drinks*

Mr Tenk's picture
Reply by Mr Tenk | Thu, 6 December - 3:39 pm SLT

great. cleanslate is on the sauce again.

 

Mr. Arnold's picture
Reply by Mr. Arnold | Thu, 6 December - 7:33 pm SLT

I sent in my release form.  If it needs to be redone let me know.

Mr Tenk's picture
Reply by Mr Tenk | Tue, 11 December - 7:54 pm SLT

Funded!

Mr. Arnold's picture
Reply by Mr. Arnold | Tue, 11 December - 9:48 pm SLT

(We really need one of these.)

Bookworm Hienrichs's picture
Reply by Bookworm Hienrichs | Thu, 27 December - 10:28 am SLT

Bump! (Which is appropriate, as a couple of the stories are set there. *grin*)

7 days left to get in on the Kickstarter campaign!

Mr Tenk's picture
Reply by Mr Tenk | Thu, 27 December - 10:53 am SLT

tease.

Garnet Psaltery's picture
Reply by Garnet Psaltery | Thu, 27 December - 1:02 pm SLT

Oh by Cogly, I forgot to attach my scanner and get the release form done. Must .. do .. it .. tomorrow.

Bookworm Hienrichs's picture
Reply by Bookworm Hienrichs | Thu, 3 January - 8:16 am SLT

Bump!

13 hours to go!

Mr Tenk's picture
Reply by Mr Tenk | Tue, 29 January - 7:25 pm SLT

Just saw a crate of books being carried into Mr. Cleanslate's office. If you preordered, check your mail real soon.

Garnet Psaltery's picture
Reply by Garnet Psaltery | Wed, 30 January - 12:51 am SLT

Marvellous!

Phineas Frakture's picture
Reply by Phineas Frakture | Wed, 30 January - 5:47 am SLT

Sweet!

Mr Tenk's picture
Reply by Mr Tenk | Wed, 30 January - 6:31 am SLT

and if you don't want to wait, you can get the ePub version here

http://www.lulu.com/shop/citizens-of-new-babbage/tales-of-new-babbage-vo...