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Tales of New Babbage, Volume 2

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

 

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61 Comments

  1. Garnet Psaltery Garnet Psaltery September 15, 2012

    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)?

  2. The Reporter The Reporter September 16, 2012

    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

  3. Aeolus Cleanslate Aeolus Cleanslate September 17, 2012

    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…)

  4. Glaubrius Valeska Glaubrius Valeska September 17, 2012

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

    • Mr Tenk Mr Tenk September 17, 2012

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

  5. Phineas Frakture Phineas Frakture September 17, 2012

    All right!   working as we speak!

  6. Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer September 17, 2012

    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 Tepic Harlequin September 17, 2012

      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 Mr. Arnold September 17, 2012

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

  7. Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer September 17, 2012

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

  8. Aeolus Cleanslate Aeolus Cleanslate October 8, 2012

    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 Cyan Rayna October 8, 2012

      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 Jimmy Branagh October 8, 2012

      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 Felisa Fargazer October 8, 2012

      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 Arconus Arkright October 9, 2012

      Mr. Arkright shall complain about the noise.

  9. Garnet Psaltery Garnet Psaltery October 8, 2012

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

  10. Phineas Frakture Phineas Frakture October 8, 2012

    “The Wiggyfish That Ate New Babbage”  already finished and submitted…a tale of culinary horror  :)

  11. Mr Tenk Mr Tenk October 8, 2012

    something myrtil said to me once.

  12. Avariel Falcon Avariel Falcon October 8, 2012
    *ponders a dark unicorn story*
  13. Bookworm Hienrichs Bookworm Hienrichs November 9, 2012

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

    *takes her own advice and starts scribbling madly*

    • Glaubrius Valeska Glaubrius Valeska November 9, 2012

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

  14. Mr Tenk Mr Tenk November 19, 2012

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

  15. Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer November 19, 2012

    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!

  16. Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer November 21, 2012

    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! 

     

  17. Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer November 21, 2012

    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!

  18. Aeolus Cleanslate Aeolus Cleanslate November 23, 2012

    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 Bookworm Hienrichs November 23, 2012

      Mine’s coming–I swear!

    • Jimmy Branagh Jimmy Branagh November 23, 2012

      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 Jonathon Spires November 23, 2012

      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.

  19. Garnet Psaltery Garnet Psaltery November 23, 2012

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

  20. Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer November 23, 2012

    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 Jonathon Spires November 23, 2012

      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 Ceejay Writer November 23, 2012

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

  21. Stargirl Macbain Stargirl Macbain November 25, 2012

    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!

  22. Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer November 27, 2012

    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!

  23. Aeolus Cleanslate Aeolus Cleanslate November 29, 2012

    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 Ceejay Writer November 30, 2012

      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. :)

  24. Phineas Frakture Phineas Frakture November 30, 2012

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

    • Garnet Psaltery Garnet Psaltery November 30, 2012

      My email also failed.  What are we doing wrong?

    • Cyan Rayna Cyan Rayna December 1, 2012

      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 Aeolus Cleanslate December 1, 2012

      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 Cyan Rayna December 2, 2012

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

    • Phineas Frakture Phineas Frakture December 5, 2012

      Ordered my copy!  Is that the actual cover?  

    • Mr Tenk Mr Tenk December 6, 2012

      half way to to printing goal as of this morning!

  25. Ceejay Writer Ceejay Writer December 5, 2012

    *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 Aeolus Cleanslate December 6, 2012

      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 Mr Tenk December 6, 2012

        great. cleanslate is on the sauce again.

         

      • Mr. Arnold Mr. Arnold December 7, 2012

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

    • Mr. Arnold Mr. Arnold December 12, 2012

      (We really need one of these.)

  26. Garnet Psaltery Garnet Psaltery December 27, 2012

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

  27. Mr Tenk Mr Tenk January 30, 2013

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

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