Steven Mills

BURNING STONES:  a science fiction novel by Steven Mills.  In a world already desolated by an avian influenza, paramedic Alex Gauthier's 21-year-old daughter, Gemma, afflicted by the so-called Lucy virus, is devolving--turning into a proto human--while forest fires besiege the valley where they live.  When Gemma asks Alex to kill her--perform a mercy killing--when she is no longer human, he finds himself making a promise he doesn't want to keep.  At the other end of the valley, Veronica "Ronnie" Sapriken, the only remaining RCMP officer, is struggling to keep the peace in a disintegrating town while the rest of the world is falling apart, only to discover that someone has been trafficking in devolving kids.  Locked away in a FEMA camp outside Spokane, Sage Van Peldt, whose husband and children were among the first to be infected with the strange virus, plans escape back to the valley of her childhood, not knowing whether she will survive the trip, or what she will find once she gets there.    BURNING STONES is the harrowing story of devolution, and of making choices no one wants to make.

 


Links:  Writing and Writers

 

  • I'm a member of SF Canada, the National Association for Speculative Fiction Professionals in Canada.  SF Canada's amazing website, maintained by the talented Ed Willet, is a door/wormhole/magic gateway into Canada's SF world, with info about the latest events, awards, the SF writing and publishing world, and, of course, the shenanigans of members!  The new logo, which you see to the right, was designed by the amazing Dale L. Sproule.
  • I'm also a member of The Federation of BC Writers,  an organization that "advocates policies that enhance the literary arts in BC."  The Fed strives "to raise the visibility of writers and gain public recognition of the contribution that writers offer to BC’s and Canada’s cultural identity" and in addition it "offers a variety of programs and services to its members including professional development, competitions, public reading opportunities, and more," including the great Fed magazine, WordWorks, which is now online.  
  • My very first rejection letter came from Dale L. Sproule, then co-editor with Sally McBride of TransVersions Magazine, back in 1996.  The rejection was detailed and quite an ego-boo for a knee-knocking-teeth-chattering rookie, so when I found out that Dale and Sally were going to be co-teaching a workshop on SF at the first-ever Victoria School of Writing, an apocalypse couldn't keep me away.  I had the time of my life!  Two years later, when the Kootenay School of the Arts offered an Electronic Mentoring course (critiquing stories via email), Verna Relkoff (the course coordinator) was more than happy to approach Sally and Dale as Electronic Mentors.  They midwived "Chasing the Dragon" and "Jubilee" and hand-held me through two stories that ended up in the Do-Not-Resuscitate drawer.  They thumbs-upped my writing, all-the-while stretching me in the arenas of structure, pacing, characterization and world-building, for which I am eternally grateful. 
  • When I discovered Peter Watts' short story, "A Niche,"  in the brilliant Tesseracts 3, I thought, Finally, someone out there is writing thoughtful, smart, searing SF again.  Wait, though, it only gets better.  He went on to write a novel, Starfish, based on "A Niche," and confirmed this belief. The sequel, Maelstrom, cranked everything Watts was doing up another notch (as if Starfish wasn't frenetic enough!).  Then came Behemoth!  What William Gibson did with Neuromancer in '84, Watts has beaten tenfold with The Rifters Trilogy.  His work is brilliant, evocative and hypnotic, with a style that is, in the same moment, freakishly keen and gloriously kinetic.    Don't miss this ride!  And look for his latest novel, Blindsight, released in Oct 2006, and nominated for both a Hugo and the John W. Campbell Awards.  Watts has reached new heights with Blindsight.  It's the best SF novel I've read in years!
  • I've been a fan of  Ursula K. Le Guin's writing for as long as I can remember.  Truly, I think a Nobel prize for Literature is in order for Ms. Le Guin.
  • In October  2003 I attended the Surrey International Writers' Conference, a little hesitantly, I might add, having heard stories from writers overwhelmed by the presence of high-powered agents and editors and big-name authors.  I went anyway, buoyed up by Holly Phillips and Jena Snyder from On Spec magazine.  I had the best time, met some fabulous people, and learned a ton of extremely valuable information, both about writing and about the business of being a writer.  Highlights of the conference for me were Donald Maass's workshops (Outlining and Endless Ideas), Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Katherine Rusch's workshops, Kill the Writer in the Garrett Myth, and the workshop on Pitching Your Book, led by a tag-team of four literary agents.  
  • Speculations is a useful SF market resource, with interesting essays on writing and publishing SF, plus the always entertaining "Ask Bwana" (Mike Resnick answers readers' questions).  Another amazing SF market resource is Ralan's Webstravaganza, packed full of current market info and reams of information for writers.  And don't forget about Spicy Green Iguana.
  • Canadian SF writer, Robert J. Sawyer maintains a great website.  I first came across Sawyer through his column in On Spec, "On Writing," which I found tremendously helpful.  He has made these articles, as well as other great information about writing, publishing, and self-promotion available on his website.  
  • Tom Wayman is a Canadian poet, essayist, and editor.  For the longest time my claim to fame was that I lived beside him.  Then I moved.  Tom pioneered the intriguing field of work poetry in Canada.  He was my first-year instructor at KSA, and a champion of the cause -- that writers should be paid  (gasp!) for their work.  Rush out and buy his latest collection of poetry, My Father's Cup, which was shortlisted for the 2003 Governor General's Award for Poetry.

 

Links:  Blogs

  • LindaLeeCrosfield.jpg (32129 bytes)Linda Crosfield is a talented poet and fiction writer living in Castlegar, BC.  She maintains a blog called Purple Mountain Poetry.  

 

Links:  Other Great Sites

  • Andrew Mills Photography is my brother's website displaying his amazing talent.  If you live in southwestern Ontario and are planning a wedding, he's the photographer of your dreams. In addition, he shoots award-winning nature and animal pics.
  • One of my absolute favorite indy bookstores is Jennie's Garden in Winlaw, BC.  Jennie Ash hand selects each book for her amazing and eclectic collection, with special care to include books by local writers. Christine and I have spent many wonderful hours in Jennie's store over the years.  Don't miss this gem, nestled in downtown Winlaw, the true centre of the universe.
  • As a kid my favorite newspaper comic strip was Peanuts.  I remember many a rainy Saturday sitting in the basement of my parents' house in Prince George pulling the small Fawcett Crest paperback Peanuts books off the shelves and laughing myself silly at the expressions on Snoopy's face.  In fact, I find him even funnier now.  And Christmas wasn't really Christmas until I had watched A Charlie Brown Christmas on TV -- the music of the Vince Guaraldi Trio, Linus' lovely recitation of Luke's version of the birth of Jesus, and that wacky dancing by the Peanuts gang on the stage.  Check out the Official Peanuts Website at www.snoopy.com. 

  • Peter Hill, one of my co-workers with the Ambulance Service in Nelson, and his wife, Peggy DeVries, run a delightful B & B they call the Blue Heron Beach House, so if you're looking for a holiday-slash-writing-retreat situated on the lovely shores of Kootenay Lake only minutes from scenic Nelson, give Peter and Peggy a call.  Their contact information is on their website.

Back to Top

 

"By now you must have guessed:  I come from another planet.  But I will never say to you, Take me to your leaders....Instead I will say, take me to your trees.  Take me to your breakfasts, your sunsets, your bad dreams, your shoes, your nouns.  Take me to your fingers; take me to your deaths.  These are worth it.  These are what I have come for."  from "Homelanding" by Margaret Atwood.