This week begins an exciting online Black History Month Event. I’m proud to both remember and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King’s achievements and to open this awesome discussion on the State of Black Science Fiction 2012. This 7-week blog hop will feature some extraordinary authors who will share their feelings and estimations on Black speculative fiction. Did I mention that there will be giveaways?
Our first giveaway day will be Monday, February 6,2012. My blog readers will have multiple chances to participate and win prizes from me. You’ll receive:
- 7 chances to win by signing up once for my subscribers list or e-newsletter. My current subscribers automatically receive 7 chances to win.
- 3 chances to win by posting a comment on my weekly discussion.
- 2 chances to win by tweeting #blackscifi2012 with my twitter handle @AliciaMcCalla.
- 2 chances to win for posting comments on my FB home page.
What am I giving away? Two autographed copies of Breaking Free. I will keep track of the names of my participants and select two winners who will be announced on February 6th. What makes this fun is that you can hop over to another author’s blog and have a chance to win on their website as well. Woohoo!
Now, here’s the answer to this week’s question, “What is the State of Black Speculative Fiction?”
When I began to blog last year, I had a ton of emotions surrounding mainstream or traditional science fiction. Here’s my post on why I write this blog. On the one hand, I love science fiction but on the other, there has been a small, select group of authors who have Black protagonists and in TV/Movies most Black characters play subordinate or supporting roles. I have oftentimes asked why and invariably the response deals with sales numbers. It would appear that Blacks are disinterested in Black Speculative fiction.
It would appear. Since the launching of my blog, I have met a vibrant, caring, and concerned community of Black and other readers who are interested in multicultural/ethnic speculative fiction.
This community has an insatiable appetite for characters, plot lines, and stories that reflect their interests and lives. It has been amazing to visit the Afro futurism exhibit at the Harriet Tubman Museum in Macon, participate in OnyxCon, and Alien Encounters. In fact, through the Black Science Fiction Society, I have made some wonderful connections. What does this mean?
I’m shaking with anticipation! I sense a tremendous opportunity in 2012. With the changes in the publishing industry, there will be a shake-up in the foundation of mainstream or traditional science fiction. Black authors and those interested in writing multicultural science fiction, will have the opportunity to connect directly with readers and build strong communities. It brings me great pleasure to say that my outlook on the State of Black Science Fiction is good for the upcoming 2012 year. With pride and joy, I’ll be excited to see debut authors launching their careers and filling the appetite of readers who want to see characters that resemble them and their needs.
This online Black history month has ended but you can follow the blog hop below:
Day 1: What is the State of Black Sci-Fi 2012?
Day 2: Why I Love Teen Dystopian Sci-Fi?
Day 3: Why is it important to show race, class, minority politics, or ethnicity in SciFi?
Day 4: Giveaways and Upcoming Paranormal Romance from Alicia McCalla
Day 5: I heart Onyx Con!
Day 6: My Tribute to SF Icon Octavia Butler
Day 7: The Grand Finale with a New Short Story from Alicia McCalla
Check out the other members of this Online Black History Month Event:
L. M. Davis, Author--began her love affair with fantasy in the second grade. Her first novel, Interlopers: A Shifters Novel, was released in 2010, and the follow-up Posers: A Shifters Novel will be released this spring. For more information visit her blog http://shiftersseries.wordpress.com/ or her website www.shiftersnovelseries.com.
Milton Davis, Author– Milton Davis is owner/publisher of MVmedia, LLC . As an author he specializes in science fiction and fantasy and is the author of Meji Book One, Meji Book Two and Changa’s Safari. Visit him: http://www.mvmediaatl.com/Wagadu/ and www.wagadu.ning.com.
Margaret Fieland, Author-- lives and writes in the suburbs west of Boston, MA with her partner and five dogs. She is one of the Poetic Muselings. Their poetry anthology, Lifelines http://tinyurl.com/LifelinesPoetry/ is available from Amazon.com Her book, "Relocated," will be available from MuseItUp Publishing in July, 2012. The Angry Little Boy," will be published by 4RV publishing in early 2013. You may visit her website, http://www.margaretfieland.com.
Valjeanne Jeffers, Author -- is an editor and the author of the SF/fantasy novels: Immortal, Immortal II: The Time of Legend and Immortal III: Stealer of Souls. Her fourth and fifth novels: Immortal IV: Collision of Worlds and The Switch: Clockwork will be released this spring. Visit her at: http://valjeanne.wordpress.com and http://qandvaffordableediting.blogspot.com/
Alicia McCalla, Author- writes for both young adults and adults with her brand of multicultural science fiction, urban fantasy, and futurism. Her debut novel, Breaking Free will be available February 1, 2012. The Breaking Free theme song created by Asante McCalla is available for immediate download on itunes and Amazon. Visit her at: http://www.aliciamccalla.com
Carole McDonnell, Author--She writes Christian, speculative fiction, and multicultural stories. Her first novel is Wind Follower. Her short fiction has appeared in many anthologies and have been collected in an ebook, Spirit Fruit: Collected Speculative Fiction. Visit Carole: http://carolemcdonnell.blogspot.com/ or http://writersofcolorblogtour.blogspot.com/
Rasheedah Phillips,Author--is the creator of The AfroFuturist Affair in Philly. She plans to debut her first spec/sci-fic novel Recurrence Plot in Spring 2012. You may catch her ruminating from time to time on her blog, AstroMythoLosophy.com.
Nicole Sconiers, Author-is also a screenwriter living in the sunny jungle of L.A. She holds an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University Los Angeles, and she recently published Escape from Beckyville: Tales of Race, Hair and Rage. Visit her: http://nicolesconiers.com/index.html
Jarvis Sheffield, M.Ed. is owner & operator of TheDigitalBrothers.com, BlackScienceFictionSociety.com & BlackCommunityEntertainment.com. Visit him: http://www.blacksciencefictionsociety.com/profiles/blog/list?user=2stjwb1h216fd
