Verity!

While there are tons of things I still want to say about Chicks Unravel Time I have to break the holiday-induced blog silence by introducing a brand new project:  Verity!  A Doctor Who Podcast where a rotating cast of six women, from across the globe, talk all things Doctor Who.

Anyone who has met me has heard me discuss (okay, RANT) about the lack of women in the Doctor Who podcast world. Not that they are completely absent, but they are definitely scattered thin on the ground and their numbers are definitely not representative of fandom as a whole. Thanks to a little twitter-instigating by Michael D. Thomas back in October, I took the plunge and got the band together:

Erika Ensign - All-around geek girl who is a favorite guest of many podcasts. She is also our technical guru who handles all the fiddly bits that make the rest of us cringe.
Katrina Griffiths - She of the late, lamented "Bridging the Rift" podcast and current co-host of the "Across the Planet" podcast.
L.M. Myles - My darling Chicks Unravel Time co-editor and contributor to the Big Finish Doctor Who anthologies.
Lynne M. Thomas - multi-Hugo award winner, co-editor of Chicks Dig Time Lords, Whedonistas and Chicks Dig Comics as well as moderator of the SF Squeecast, editor of Apex Magazine and Super Librarian during the day.
Tansy Raynor Roberts - co-host of the Hugo nominated Galactic Suburbia, author of the Creature Court Fantasy trilogy and Love and Romanpunk. She is also a contributor to the Doctor Her blog.

These are all very cool women who I not only respect for their intelligence, wit and accomplishments, but women that I genuinely like and would gladly miss any panel or guest at a con in order to hang out and share drinks and laughter. In fact, this is the vibe we are going for - that smart conversation about something you love that you wish could go on forever.

Not that this will be a podcast filled entirely with love and puppies. We have OPINIONS and very often they are at odds with each other. But don't you think that's more interesting?  I know I do.

We've put a lot of time and thought into the podcast, from our name - inspired by the fabulous Verity Lambert, founding producer of Doctor Who; to our logo - created by Canadian high school student Eleanor Davitt; to our website - while still a work in progress, will feature all sorts of interesting supplemental materials; to, finally, our format.  We are counting down to the 50th anniversary with a retrospective of every Doctor's era, featuring an episode that we feel is representative of that particular Doctor's run. This will certainly be the source of much debate and I can't wait.  We will also be discussing new eps as they air as well as touching on elements of Doctor Who that don't often see the spotlight - from fabulous women in Doctor Who and redeeming ill-used companions to discussing costuming, Doctor Who tat and Big Finish.  All with a feminist eye.

You can download our teaser ep which introduces Verity! or our "weekend waffle" (Episode 0) in which we discuss our introduction to Doctor Who and our goals for the podcast at iTunes or from our website.  There is also a fun Verity! interview with Erika, Liz, Lynne and myself on Episode 342 of Radio Free Skaro. Our first official episode, in which we discuss the Christmas episode drops today, January 2. 

I am so excited about this project.  We love podcasts and we particularly love Doctor Who podcasts.  Verity! will add another, long overdue, voice to the mix.  I think Ms. Lambert would approve.

You can subscribe to us at iTunes (Doctor Who: Verity Podcast), like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.  And of course, subscribe to our Website to keep up with all the cool, extra bits.

Chicks Unravel Time Prize Package Winner

Congratulations to David K44, the winner of the Chicks Unravel Time Prize Package.  David - email me at dstanish@gmail.com and I'll get this out to you on Monday.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who entered.  And stay tuned - my lovely co-editor L.M. Myles is hosting another give-away next week.  Details to follow!

Countdown!

We are only days away from the publication of Chicks Unravel Time and all sorts of fantastic things are happening - including a give-away!

But first, there are several events scheduled which, if you are in the Boston, Chicago or New York area you won't want to miss.

On November 17 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. join contributors K. Tempest Bradford, Jennifer Pelland and our fantastic cover artist Katy Shuttleworth at Annies Book Stop of Worcester for an afternoon event that includes a roundtable discussion, readings and a few surprises.

The weekend of November 23 sees the Chicks Unravel Time crew at Chicago TARDIS.  I'll be there with my lovely co-editor L.M. Myles as well as contributors Lynne M. Thomas, Liz Barr, cover artist Katy Shuttleworth and our Mad Norwegian publishing team of Lars and Christa Pearson.  There will be a panel as well as book signing.  As cool as this all is, follow the link and see the other amazing guests attending that weekend!

Finally, on November 28 join us for a complete evening of Doctor Who at a Reading Event at The Churchill hosted by the Doctor Who New York group.  Once again, both Liz and I will be in attendance along with K. Tempest Bradford and a few special guests. This is a bonus event featuring not only Chicks Unravel Time but also Mad Norwegian Press's aHistory and Outside In, a new essay collection in which both Liz and I both have essays along with Andrew Cartmel, David Howe and 156 other contributors.

Now for the giveaway!  To celebrate the release of the book we are giving away a complete prize package.  Along with a copy of Chicks Unravel Time the winner will receive the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Planner:

And the totally adorable (and incredibly useful!) Doctor Who Sticky Notes:

Just leave a comment here or at the Chicks Unravel Time Facebook Page to be eligible!  Winners will be announced Friday, November 16 at noon EST.  Good luck!!

Geek Girl Artist

Mad Norwegian Press is offering a special pre-order deal on their "Geek Girl Chronicles".  This four volume set, schedule to be released in  November, includes Chicks Dig Time Lords, Whedonistas, Chicks Dig Comics and the forthcoming Chicks Unravel Time. What ties these books together - other than their sheer awesomeness?  The amazing cover artist Katy Shuttleworth. 

Katy is a talented animator (my children were a bit starstruck to learn she worked on the PBS Emmy-award winning series "Word Girl") who puts an incredible amount of time and detail into her illustrations. Her groundbreaking cover for Chicks Dig Time Lords featured a now-beloved character which she and the editors dubbed "Verity" after Doctor Who founding producer Verity Lambert.  We were thrilled when she agreed to do the cover art for Chicks Unravel Time and brought Verity out to play once more.

The best part of a Katy Shuttleworth cover is decoding the symbols and fannish bits of triva she slips into every piece, in fact it's almost become a tradition for fans to pick out these clever visuals.   (I fully anticipate the "Media Art: Analyzing the work of Katy Shuttleworth" at a future convention!) For example, on the cover of Whedonistas there were visual references to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, Angel as well as Mutant Enemy, Joss Whedon's production company.  For Chicks Unravel Time, Verity is still wearing her Rose Tyler wrist warmers and iconic fourth Doctor scarf first seen on the cover of Chicks Dig Time Lords, but given the nature of this book she is unraveling the scarf, yard by yard*. This visual alone is what sold both Liz and myself on this version of the cover.  Katy took the iconic and, with a clever twist, referenced both the title and mission of the book. As someone with absolutely zero artistic talent or vision, I am amazed that someone managed, with a few brush strokes, to capture the very thing that 34 writers chase down with thousands of words. 

To say that we are Katy Shuttleworth fangirls may be a slight understatement. Now, if we can just convince someone to make these covers into posters!


*There are a few other fannish nods as well but I'll leave them for you to discover!

Chicks Unravel Time - Table of Contents!

I love when an anthology's full Table of Contents is published.  Not only do you get to see, for the first time, the framing structure of a book, but also the veil is finally pulled back and you get to see all the writers in a collection.

I couldn't be more excited about Chicks Unravel Time's TOC.  We have an absolutely stunning group of essayists - they are smart, funny and fierce.  You will laugh, ponder, nod your head in agreement and, in some cases, vehemently disagree with their critiques of Doctor Who.  And that is just how it should be. If a Table of Contents is the spine of the book, its contributors are its heart and this book's heart is true.

From the Mad Norwegian Press Website

Chicks Unravel Time Table of Contents

Introduction

Regeneration - Shaping the Road Ahead by Barbara Hambly

The Doctor’s Balls by Diana Gabaldon

A Dance With Drashigs by Emma Nichols

No Competition by Una McCormack

Identity Crisis by L.M. Myles

The Still Point by Anna Bratton

For the Love of Tom by Sarah Lotz

Donna Noble Saves the Universe by Martha Wells

I’m From the TARDIS, and I’m Here to Help You:

Barbara Wright and the Limits of Intervention by Joan Frances Turner

I, Robot, You Sarah Jane: Sexual Politics in Robot by Kaite Welsh

Between Now and Now by Juliet E. McKenna

What Would Romana Do? by Lara J. Scott

The Women We Don’t See by K. Tempest Bradford

The Ultimate Sixth by Tansy Rayner Roberts

Maids and Masters: The Distribution of Power

in Doctor Who Series Three by Courtney Stoker

Robots, Orientalism and Yellowface: Minorities

in the Fourteenth Season of Doctor Who by Aliette de Bodard

David Tennant’s Bum by Laura Mead

Superficial Depth?: Spirituality in Season Eleven by Caroline Symcox

The Problem With Peri by Jennifer Pelland

All of Gallifrey’s a Stage: The Doctor in Adolescence by Teresa Jusino

All the Way Out to the Stars by Iona Sharma

Build High for Happiness! by Lynne M. Thomas

Nimons are Forever by Liz Barr

Ace Through the Looking Glass by Elisabeth Bolton-Gabrielsen

Hey, You Got Science in My Fiction! by Laura McCullough

Seven to Doomsday: The Non-Domestication  of Earthbound Doctor Who in Season Seven

  by Mags Halliday

The Sound’s the Star by Emily Kausalik

Ace Through the Looking Glass by Elisabeth Bolton-Gabrielsen

Hey, You Got Science in My Fiction! by Laura McCullough

Seven to Doomsday: The Non-Domestication

of Earthbound Doctor Who in Season Seven by Mags Halliday

The Sound’s the Star by Emily Kausalik

Harking Back and Moving On by Jenni Hughes

Anything Goes by Deborah Stanish

How the Cold War Killed the Fifth Doctor by Erica McGillivray

Waiting for the Doctor: The Women of Series Five by Seanan McGuire

Timing Malfunction: Television Movie + the BBC

Eighth Doctor Novels = A Respectable Series by Kelly Hale

Guten Tag, Hitler by Rachel Swirsky

Reversing Polarities: The Doctor, the Master and False Binaries in Season Eight

  by Amal El-Mohtar

While some of these essays may appear irreverent (where else can you find an anthology with essay titles referencing BOTH the Doctor's balls and David Tennant's bum?) they are sharp, concise and fresh critiques on all of Doctor Who.  I can't wait to see it in print!

Autumn

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird

I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

George Eliot

Autumn is finally here and good riddance to summer.  Although I'm sure we'll be on the receiving end of a few more summer-like scorchers before we get dragged into the delicious gloom. I always feel cheated when I turn the calendar to September and the weather doesn't immediately comply with crisp mornings, apple-scented afternoons and shivery nights.  But after a summer of busy, sometimes frustrating, activity, I'll take autumn on whatever terms it's offering.

On the writing front, Chicks Unravel Time is being prepped for the printer for its November release.  After going over the final PDF file of the manuscript, and reading a fantastic email from my co-editor, I've fallen in love with the book all over again.  Anyone who has ever worked on a long writing project knows the "sloggy middle" and "the bit where you never want to see this book again" but that is only temporary and gets pushed aside when it's all polished and pretty and the heart of the thing is opened for everyone to see.

I'm also very pleased to be a part of Outside In edited by Robert Smith?

If you are a Doctor Who fan I can almost guarantee you know someone in this book. While I think Robert is absolutely insane for working with 160 writers I have to admire his chutzpah and his vision. But mostly his chutzpah. ;-)  I'm really looking forward to reading all the contributions. (My perspective was on "The Claws of Axos" - Jo Grant's knickers, Bill Filer's sideburns and delicious Master snark - j'adore!)  Also noteworthy - this is the first book from the fledgling ATB Publishing. I wish them all the success with this and future projects!

As always, autumn feels like a new beginning. I can't wait for what comes next.

Chicks Unravel Time

I am so very, very pleased to finally, OFFICIALLY, announce that the amazing anthology for Mad Norwegian Press that has consumed me for the past year is available for pre-order:

Chicks Unravel Time: Women Journey Through Every Season of Doctor Who

From Amazon: 

The sister book to the 2011 Hugo Award-winning Chicks Dig Time Lords...

In Chicks Unravel Time, editors Deborah Stanish (Whedonistas) and L.M. Myles bring together a host of award-winning female writers, media professionals and scientists to examine each season of new and classicDoctor Who from their unique perspectives.

Diana Gabaldon discusses how Jamie McCrimmon inspired her best-selling Outlander series, and Barbara Hambly (Benjamin January Mysteries) examines the delicate balance of rebooting a TV show. Seanan McGuire (Toby Daye series) reveals the power and pain of waiting in Series 5, and Una McCormack (The King's Dragon) argues that Sylvester McCoy's final year of Doctor Who is the show's best season ever.

Other contributors include Juliet E. McKenna (Einarrin series), Tansy Rayner Roberts (Power and Majesty), Sarah Lotz (The Mall), Martha Wells (The Cloud Roads), Joan Frances Turner (Dust), Rachel Swirsky ("Fields of Gold") and Aliette de Bodard (Obsidian and Blood series).

This project has been massive - working with 34 writers we took on each season of Doctor Who, including the Television Movie and the year of specials.  These essays will make you think, make you laugh and may make you look at Doctor Who in ways that you never imagined.

In addition to the writers listed above, we have an absolutely fantastic group of women in this anthology and I can't wait to release the full table of contents. 

It's been a long journey but I think the results are worth it. ;-)