Creative Corner: December 2015 Edition

What are the "Creatives" up to, this month?
As noted in our Dec. 1 Special Edition, the early part of this month was a flurry of book-signings and art open-houses. 

Now available in Kindle edition!

Before we settle in for our long winter's nap, however, please note that it's not to late for some last-minute online shopping--or you could use all those Christmas Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other Gift Cards for yourself! Think of the possibilities!

Wm. Mark Simmons
Wm. Mark Simmons announces several bits of news about his popular Half/Life Chronicles Series. 

First, One Foot in the Grave, the first book in the series, is now available in Kindle format. This makes it possible to have all four books in the series in electronic format. It joins the other three already published in the series: #2 Dead on my Feet, #3 Habeas Corpses, and #4 Dead Easy. 

Simmons will deliver #5 in the series, Something Wiccan This Way Comes, or A Witch in Time, to BAEN Books by March, 2016.

These are the other current titles in the Half/Life Chronicles from BAEN.

Available since 12/1/15.

Simmons also offered advance notice: Endeavour Press will soon announce the reissue date of the complete Dreamland Chronicles as three separate titles: In the Net of Dreams, When Dreams Collide, and The Woman of His Dreams.

Holly Messinger
Holly Messinger will be signing copies of her new book, The Curse of Jacob Tracy January 16, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the Oak Park Barnes & Noble, 11323 W 95th Street, Overland Park, KS 66214.

Aaron Hollingsworth

Aaron Hollingsworth

Aaron Hollingsworth has announced that all of his books are now available in Premium Status on Smashwords, and they are all set up so that buyers set the price. Hollingsworth currently has four titles available through Smashwords: The Apothecary of Manuta, The Broken Bards of Paris, The Geohex of Wraith County, and The Bone Brick City.

Is Your List Complete? 
Since the return of Creative Corner, we've featured some great reading and art-viewing opportunities. Review all the announcements of the past four months at these links:
August 2015 - Hollingsworth, Furlong, Russell, Denton, Bentley, Clemens, Frank, J. Gephardt, and Satterfield.
September 2015 - Schmidt, Benchley, Wu, Esping, and Satterfield.
October 2015 - Mayo, Messinger, Burk, and Schmidt.
November 2015 - Schmidt, Bailey, Chambers, Bentley, Spangler, T. Gephardt, Messinger, and Pellicano.
Extra Edition, 12/1/15 - Messinger, Hollingsworth, Spangler, and Pellicano.

IMAGES: Many thanks to Amazon for the Simmons book cover art. The cover art for The Curse of Jacob Tracy was provided by Holly Messinger. The photo of Aaron Hollingsworth is from his LinkedIn profile.

KaCSFFS Meeting March 16, 2013

Of Little Green Men and other Matters

March is the Month of Mars

(Our President Diana Bailey contributed a meditation upon the month):

March is named for Mars, the Roman God
of War and for the planet Mars. That leads naturally to thinking about little green men from Mars and maybe even leprechauns. 

Now, I am not suggesting that leprechauns came from Mars or that they are an alien race or anything. But don't you think that celebrating all these little green men in March is more than a mere accident? I wonder what type of green card they carry with them. 

What: KaCSFFS Monthly Meeting

When: Saturday, March 16, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. (Board meets 5:30)

Where: The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111

Food Fit for Little Green Men and Friends?

Food theme for the Month: Show us what you should feed these little green men that may or may not be from Mars? Categories will be: 

Best Creative Dish

 Food that Best Fits the Theme (that is, Mars, Martians, or Leprechauns)

Best Green Food

Decision 2013 Looms!

We need additional self-nominations for the Executive Board.  As you may know, KaCSFFS Board Members must nominate themselves.  Currently we have the following self-nominations from February:

President: Cindy Norton (contingent upon Diana Bailey's self-nomination for Treasurer)

Treasurer: (none so far)

Secretary: (none so far)

Communications Officer: Jan S. Gephardt

ConQuesT Con Chair: Jesi Pershing

Balloting will be held online via Absentee Ballot, or in person at the April Meeting (dues-paid members may vote ONCE, by either means).

This is Membership Month!

Diana Bailey and Cindy Norton processed memberships at the February meeting.

If you have not paid your 2013 membership dues, your membership expires this month.  

If you allow your membership to expire, you will stop receiving information via the KAXFEN Yahoo Group, and you will no longer be eligible to vote on official KaCSFFS business questions, elections, etc.

You also will no longer continue to receive discounts with our cooperating merchants, just when we have gotten a new one!  See below!

Renew online (see PayPal button at right on this blog), or via cash or check (made payable to KaCSFFS) at the meeting.  Cindy and Diana, our Membership Mavens, will make sure you receive a laminated membership card when you pay your dues.

Return of a Popular Panel

Ken Keller and  associates will present a panel discussion of Kansas City's science fiction and fantasy authors.  There have been a lot of them, and the stories are often colorful.

Food Bank Items and Pet Food Coupons

We will also be doing the quarterly collection of canned and dry goods for food banks, along with a new pet food coupon exchange for some members who have four-legged furry family members.

Fund-Raiser for Jerry Gelb

Jerry Gelb was the Special Guest at ConQuesT a few years ago (2009).  You may remember his performances on blues harp at RoomCon on two occasions, as well.

We have learned that Jerry is in need of surgery to relieve pressure on his spine, which is causing random paralysis, among other issues. A fundraiser has been started to help him cover the expenses (and time off afterward). There will be a get well card to sign and a jar for donations. 

KaCSFFS Discounts Expand!

Sosa's 39th Street Diner is our newest source of discounts in midtown Kansas City! All card carrying KaCSFFS members in good standing need only show their membership card to receive  a 10% discount!

THANKS FOR THE IMAGES: We first used the beautiful image of Mars (titled "mars-planet-water-nasa") for the March 2011 meeting preview.  The webpage from which we retrieved it is no longer available, and neither TinEye nor a manual search revealed the original source.  It shall have to remain as mysterious as the Red Planet itself, at least for now.  The Ballot Box image is from the blog, “The Nev Filter." The photo of Diana and Cindy is by Jan S. Gephardt, and may be used without alteration for the price of a link back and attribution.  The Food Bank Graphic is from the New Haven Food Bank web page. The photo of the banner in front of Sosa's is from the Midtown KC Post.
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