Author Archive

Aydrea Walden Named SFWA Nebula Awards® Toastmaster

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA, Inc.) is pleased to announce that Aydrea Walden has been named the Toastmaster for the 55th annual Nebula Awards® on May 30th, 2020 in an online ceremony.

Walden has written for the series Yin Yang Yo! and created, written, and starred in the Webby-nominated series Black Girl in a Big Dress. She has worked in the animation department on the films The Croods, Home, and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Walden also performs, appearing in her one-woman show, The Oreo Experience: A Total Whitey Trapped in a Black Chick’s Body, the short film Sci-Fi 60, and an episode of The Mandalorian.

The Nebula Awards will be presented during the 2020 Nebula Conference Online during a live-streamed ceremony at 8 pm Eastern on May 30th. The conference, which will run from May 29th-31st, includes panels, solo presentations, conference mentorships, workshops, forums, chats, and virtual room parties (including a dance party hosted by John Scalzi). A portion of the funds raised for the conference will go to assist SFWA members financially affected by COVID-19.

The Nebula Awards, presented annually, recognize the best works of science fiction and fantasy published in the United States as selected by members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The first Nebula Awards were presented in 1966.

The Nebula Awards include four fiction awards, a game writing award, the Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation, and the Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction. SFWA also administers the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award, the Kevin O’Donnell, Jr. Service to SFWA Award, and the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award.

Announcing the Transformation of the 2020 Nebula Conference and COVID-19 Relief

SFWA’s 2020 Nebula Conference is transforming into an entirely virtual conference, which will be live and interactive from May 29th-31st. Our goal is to create the essence of the Nebula Conference, even though the form has changed. Our vision is for attendees to feel elevated through the content, enjoy a sense of community with their peers, and have an opportunity for celebration.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the board of SFWA feels that holding an in-person event this May would be irresponsible.

The Nebula Conference will include panels, solo presentations, conference mentorships, workshops, forums, chats, and virtual room parties (including a dance party hosted by John Scalzi). A portion of the funds we raise will go to assist SFWA members financially affected by COVID-19.

And, of course, the Nebula Awards ceremony will stream live at 8 pm Eastern on May 30th.

On March 31st, we’ll have a demonstration of the online Nebula Conference here. We are very excited by this platform because it will allow us to do online classes and host virtual book tours for our members going forward.

The online conference registration will be $150, which includes three days of online panels with real-time interaction, an annual subscription to archived content, and a one-year subscription to the Bulletin. People who have already registered will have the option to defer to the L.A. conference in 2021, donate to help with COVID-19 assistance, or receive a full refund.

Registration will open to the public on March 31st.

Beginning in April, the board will be offering grants of up to $1,000 for SFWA members financially affected by COVID-19.

If you would like to donate now to help with SFWA sponsored COVID-19 relief, visit https://www.sfwa.org/donate and select “Where The Need Is Greatest,” which the board can redirect to our relief efforts.

Thank you for your patience as we finish transforming the conference.

Mary Robinette Kowal
President, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

Nebula 2020 – Elevation, Connection, Celebration

An Update Regarding the SFWA Nebula Conference

Dear Members and Nebula Conference Attendees,

Last night, California announced that it was extending its shelter-in-place measures across the entire state. With the Nebula Conference scheduled to take place in Los Angeles at the end of May, we have been anticipating that move and working towards a positive solution which we had planned to announce on March 31st. I would like to keep to that timeline as it will enable us to complete some final details for what we believe will be a great conference. I would appreciate your patience until then.

Though the circumstances are distressing, the alterations that we are making to prioritize the health and safety of our attendees have offered us some exciting opportunities to make the Nebula Conference more accessible and inclusive. I know you may have questions about refunds and your hotel reservations. Please do not make any changes until we share with you our plan on March 31st, which will allow us to expand the range of options that you will have.

I look forward to speaking with you on March 31st.

Mary Robinette Kowal
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

Kevin O’Donnell, Jr. Service to SFWA Award To Be Presented to Julia Rios

Kevin O’Donnell, Jr. Service to SFWA Award To Be Presented to Julia Rios

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA, Inc.) is pleased to announce that the Kevin O’Donnell, Jr. Service Award will be presented to Julia Rios at the 55th Annual SFWA Nebula Awards.

The Kevin O’Donnell, Jr. Service to SFWA Award recognizes a member of SFWA who best exemplifies the ideal of service to his or her fellow members.  O’Donnell won the Service Award in 2005 and other recipients have included Lee Martindale, Bud Sparhawk, Jim Fiscus, and Vonda N. McIntyre. The award will be presented at the SFWA Nebula Conference in Woodland Hills, CA, May 28th-31st, 2020.

Rios has established and overseen the SFWA Mentoring Initiative, an all-volunteer service provided free of charge, which aims to connect emerging writers to each other and to established pros with the objective of providing community, sharing knowledge, and offering networking opportunities. Rios is a writer, editor, podcaster, and narrator who has won the Hugo, Aurealis, and Ditmar Awards. They have cohosted the podcasts The Skiffy and Fanty Show and This is Why We’re Like This.

SFWA President Mary Robinette Kowal has said about Rios, “One of the most effective pieces of outreach and education that SFWA currently has is our mentorship program. Julia Rios’s work to match mentors and mentees has been the backbone of that program. More importantly, they set up robust processes so that the program is not person dependent and has room for growth.”

The Nebula Awards will be presented during the annual SFWA Nebula Conference, which will run from May 28th – 31st and feature a series of seminars and panel discussions on the craft and business of writing, SFWA’s annual business meeting, and receptions. On May 31st, a mass autograph session will take place at Warner Center Marriott Woodland Hills and is open to the public.

The Nebula Awards, presented annually, recognize the best works of science fiction and fantasy published in the United States as selected by members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The first Nebula Awards were presented in 1966.

The Nebula Awards include four fiction awards, a game writing award, the Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation, and the Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction. SFWA also administers the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award, the Kevin O’Donnell, Jr. Service to SFWA Award, and the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award.

A Message from SFWA Regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What is SFWA doing about the Nebula conference in response to COVID-19?

At the moment, SFWA is planning to hold the conference with adjustments to reduce the risks of spreading the virus. The SFWA Board and the Nebula Conference events team are talking about this evolving situation daily including the possibility that things may shift enough that we need to cancel the in-person event. We will continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments.

The Nebulas are 80 days away and every day brings us a better understanding of what’s happening with COVID-19.

Our challenge is that the hotel will not allow us to cancel the event without paying penalties unless it is “illegal or impossible” to host it. Similarly, they will not offer us any refunds. This limits our choices. With that said, the board’s priority in decision-making still remains with the health and safety of our attendees and by extension their families.

Our team has been discussing a variety of what-if scenarios and how to make the conference as safe as possible. We want to take time to do this right and think that we have the time to do that. We know that you need to make plans as well. We are not going to do any price-hikes between now and the conference to reduce the pressure on you to make a decision. 

Look for an email from SFWA by mid-April with the details of the revised Nebula Conference. Thank you for your patience while we replan.

The Board of Directors
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

SFWA Announces 2020 Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award

March 10th, 2020

Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award To Be Presented to John Picacio and David Gaughran

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA, Inc.) is pleased to announce that the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award will be presented to John Picacio and David Gaughran at the 55th Annual SFWA Nebula Awards.

The Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award is given by SFWA for distinguished contributions to the science fiction and fantasy community. Picacio and Gaughran join the ranks of previous Solstice Award winners, including Octavia E. Butler, James Tiptree, Jr., and Carl Sagan. The award will be presented at the SFWA Nebula Conference in Woodland Hills, CA, May 28th-31st, 2020.

John Picacio

John Picacio is an award winning artist whose work can be seen on many science fiction and fantasy novels. He has produced art for the Loteria Grande cards series, a re-imagineering of the classic Mexican game of chance, which is published by his imprint Lone Boy. In 2018, upon realizing he was the first Mexicanx creator to be honored as a WorldconGuest of Honor, Picacio founded the Mexicanx initiative to help open up Worldcon, and eventually other science fiction and fantasy events, to other Mexicanx professionals and fans. Picacio has been named a recipient of the Solstice Award for his efforts to make science fiction more accessible to underrepresented creators and fans.

SFWA President Mary Robinette Kowal has noted about Picacio, “The work that John Picacio has done with the Mexicanx Initiative started as an effort for one conference and has had ripple effects through the field of science-fiction and fantasy. His on-going outreach is encouraging new voices to enter the community making SFF more vibrant than ever.”

David Gaughran

David Gaughran is the author of several historical fantasies

which he successfully self-published. He took his experience with marketing his work and began to share it with other authors, publishing a number of marketing books which are targeted at the self-published and independent authors. He has also used his skills to create giant marketing campaigns for several authors and has run workshops, written blogs, and otherwise helped other self-published authors to achieve success.

SFWA President Mary Robinette Kowal has noted about Gaughran, “David Gaughran has been doing yeoman’s work for years, alerting indie writers about predatory schemes and warning them about changes in independent publishing. His work makes the science-fiction and fantasy landscape safer for writers.”

The Nebula Awards will be presented during the annual SFWA Nebula Conference, which will run from May 28th– 31stand feature a series of seminars and panel discussions on the craft and business of writing, SFWA’s annual business meeting, and receptions. On May 31st, a mass autograph session will take place at Warner Center Marriott Woodland Hills and is open to the public.

The Nebula Awards, presented annually, recognize the best works of science fiction and fantasy published in the United States as selected by members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The first Nebula Awards were presented in 1966.

The Nebula Awards include four fiction awards, a game writing award, the Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation, and the Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction. SFWA also administers the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award, the Kevin O’Donnell, Jr. Service to SFWA Award, and the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award.

Important News Regarding Our Hotel Block

The Nebula Conference is growing! The SFWA room block at the Warner Center Marriott Woodland Hills has already filled to capacity twice. Fortunately, we have negotiated with the hotel to expand it and rooms are currently available. If you would like a reservation, please make one at your earliest convenience as we cannot guarantee that we will be able to expand the block a third time.

Please do not cancel a Marriott reservation through the website. Instead, write to Steven Silver at events@sfwa.org.

Reserve your room here.

Hotel:

Warner Center Marriott Woodland Hills
21850 Oxnard St
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
Phone: (818) 887-4800

159.00 USD per night plus tax. In room internet included.

For questions about the Nebula Conference or for assistance with your hotel reservation, contact SFWA’s Events Team at events@sfwa.org.

The SFWA Book Depot and Mass-Autographing Instructions

Hello!

Thank you so much for registering to attend the 2020 SFWA Nebula Conference! We are getting everything ready for your arrival in just over 90 days from now. As we prepare, we wanted to give you an update on two important programs that SFWA will again be offering on site and how you can participate.

The SFWA Book Depot

This year at the SFWA Nebula Conference, we are bringing back the successful SFWA Book Depot. We will order hardcovers, paperbacks, and more, from Ingram, along with handling consignment sales for all attending members who sign up before our deadline of April 15th. However, please be advised that our budget for wholesale orders from Ingram is limited, and for this reason, we will only be able to order small quantities of titles that are returnable at full discount.

We will also be offering a consignment arrangement again. This option is particularly helpful for stocking indies, out-of-print or out-of-stock titles, or titles that are not readily available from Ingram with the terms listed above. SFWA’s consignment commission is 20% per copy sold, which helps offset our credit card processing fees and administrative expenses.

If you are interested in providing books on consignment in our Book Depot, you can sign up here:

Please note that for consignment sales, you are responsible for dropping off your books at the start of the event and picking them up before the close of the event. We cannot accept shipments of any consignment books. You must arrange to bring them with you or make other arrangements to get them to the hotel on your own.

For both the Ingram orders and consignment, we absolutely must have your information by the April 15th deadline or we will not be able to accommodate you. On-site sign-ups will not be accepted. If you are interested in participating in either or have questions please email Sean Wallace at sean.wallace@sfwa.org as soon as possible!

Mass Autographing

We would also like to remind you that the annual SFWA Mass Autographing will be on Sunday, May 31st, 2020 from 11AM – 1PM this year. If you have indicated your intention to participate but find that your plans have changed, please let the events team know as soon as possible. Space is limited this year, and we’d like to make room for as many attendees as we can. Thank you! You can reach the SFWA Events Team at events@sfwa.org.

We look forward to seeing you at the SFWA Nebula Conference!

Sincerely,

The SFWA Events Team