There are things that we always hope for but don’t really expect to happen in our careers. One of mine was to be nominated (and hopefully win) the Prix Aurora.

In case you don’t know what a Prix Aurora is, it is a national speculative fiction award in Canada. This is the 30th year for the Auroras and, this year, they have included a new category specifically for YA fiction.

Mik Murdoch has been shortlisted in the YA fiction category for this award.

I’m not sure if words can truly express how I feel about this honour. This is one of those things that is a BIG DEAL that I never really expected to experience. I use the word “thrilled” a lot when I talk about the things that are happening with my first book, and while I think it might be getting tiring for people to hear from me, it really is the most appropriate one. This adventure has been a thrill-ride from the beginning to right now and it doesn’t show any reason to be letting up.

I am humbled and grateful.

The winning of the award is by no means a given. I’m up against some heavy-hitters. Names you would recognize (ahem, Cory Doctorow, Kelley Armstrong) should lend some weight to the importance and sheer level of awesomeness Mik being on the ballet means.

So what next?

Well, on May 6th, voting opens. Voting is available to all registered Canadian members of The Canadian Science Fiction & Fantasy Association. Yes, I’m sorry to say that eliminates all non-Canadians from the voting (I did mention it was a National Canadian award, right?) however, there is something you non-Canadians can do to help – more on that at the end.

Voting packages will be sent out to all registered members. That should include excerpts (or complete versions) of the nominated works. If you are Canadian, you are eligible to vote. You just have to register and pay your $10 membership fee. I believe you can do this here: http://www.prixaurorawards.ca/Membership//.

Obviously, I cannot encourage you strongly enough to vote for Mik Murdoch and all of the other worthy nominees (note: the other nominees in my category are also worthy, I just want you to vote for me). If you are a member and feel that Mik deserves to win, please take the time cast that  ballot.

So, what would winning mean to me? Well, besides the obvious validation of all my work (which being shortlisted has already done, btw), I’m hoping it will translate into more sales and a much wider awareness of the book. Nothing is better for an author than to know that people are reading and enjoying their books (money is nice too, don’t get me wrong).

Now, how everyone can help out whether you can vote or not – please take a few moments next time you are at your public library and ask if they have a copy of Mik Murdoch, Boy Superhero. Tell the librarians that you would like them to add it to their collection so you and all of the young people you know can read it. There are plenty of reviews out there to help convince them. If you want to purchase a copy (electronic, paper or audio), that’s good too.

Thank you and wish me luck.

Tags: award, ballet, Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association, irreverent muse, Michell Plested, mik murdoch boy superhero, mike plested, prix aurora, vote

What do you say when you have nothing to say at all? Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious, of course! (for those of you unfamiliar with Mary Poppins, the Disney Classic, that is where the reference comes from).

Honestly, with everything that has been going on lately, I’m having difficulty focusing on one thing long enough to get anything done. I’m sure you have all been through similar times in your life.

So, let me just give you an update on what I’ve been up to on the writing and podcasting front, instead.

The BIG news is, my co-editor Jeff Hite and I have put our anthology,A Method to the Madness: A Guide to the Super Evilto bed. We are expecting layout to be complete by the end of March. That is a huge weight off both of shoulders. We wanted to deliver something spectacular to our Publisher. I hope we have accomplished that.

Get Published continues with episode 102 coming out soon. Action Pack Podcast will resume in February (sorry, we had to take January off) with episode 10. That means I’m still writing Boyscouts of the Apocalypse. That is going slower than I would like simply because I am being pulled in a number of directions. Ah well.

My co-contributor and I have started to submit Jack Kane and the Statue of Liberty to publishers for consideration. In case you are wondering, Jack Kane is a YA Steampunk Superhero mashup that JR Murdock and I wrote together. It’s a really fun story that I hope will be picked up for publication soon.

I am also FINALLY getting back to writing the next Mik Murdoch book, tentatively titled: Mik Murdoch and the Power Within. I actually really love this title because it plays on several levels within the story I’m writing. Sorry, but you will just have to wait like everyone else to see the finished product.

There are several short story projects that I want to do as well, but, unfortunately, they will have to wait their turn for my attention.

Have a great week!

Tags: 5 rivers, a guide to the super evil, a method to the madness, a method to the madness: a guide to the super evil, action pack podcast, boy superhero, boyscouts of the apocalypse, five rivers, irreverent muse, jack kane, Jack Kane and the Statue of Liberty, jeff hite, jeffrey hite, jr murdoch, michael plested, Michell Plested, mik murdoch, mike plested