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The Oldest Living Creature on Earth?

Chinese scientists say they have discovered a nearly 5-foot-long Giant Salamander in a cave in southwestern China which may be close to 200 years old, which would make it the oldest living creature on Earth (besting a tortoise, which is said to be 183). The creature, a species which is critically endangered, was transferred to a facility for observation. It’s unclear what affect removal from its natural habitat may have on its health, but our guess is not great. By Andy Towle – Full Story at Towleroad.com

Announcement: Relentless, by Cheyenne Meadows

Relentless

QSFer Cheyenne Meadows has a new paranormal book out: Jaguar shifter and sniper extraordinaire, Jag, is tasked with his most difficult and dangerous mission to date—take out the man responsible for his spotter and husband’s violent death. Again. Sonar, an ocelot shifter, is assigned as the new spotter to the surly and scowling feline alpha. He’s impressed with Jag’s skills but sees more beneath the surface: a grief-stricken and furious man on a trail of vengeance. Together Sonar and Jag face perils and challenges that test their skills, resolve, and the budding feelings they have for each other. As the … Read more

Me Me Monday

Me Me Monday

Welcome to ME ME MONDAY at our FB discussion group – your chance to pop in and tell us about your latest success. Have a new book or short story coming out? Let us know. Just sell something? Let us know so we can cheer you on. HOW IT WORKS: I’ll pin this topic to the top of our FB discussion page for the day. –Please post your announcement as a separate post, so I can also share it over to our FB page (as opposed to this discussion group). –If you want, send me your book announcement info at … Read more

News: Stunning Photo of Pluto

Pluto

This ethereal scene captured by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft tells yet another story of Pluto’s diversity of geological and compositional features—this time in an enhanced color image of the north polar area. Long canyons run vertically across the polar area—part of the informally named Lowell Regio, named for Percival Lowell, who founded Lowell Observatory and initiated the search that led to Pluto’s discovery. Full Story at Joe.My.God

Announcement: Paternity Ward, by Abraham Steele

Paternity Ward

QSFer Abraham Steele has a new paranormal book out: Newly in charge of his pack’s paternity ward, Eli cares about nothing more than his patients. The omega midwife would do anything to keep them safe and healthy. When an unexpected alpha arrives, Eli is appalled. Magnus is mean, he’s rude… and it’s clear that he’s the omega’s mate. Eli can’t stop himself from craving Magnus’s hard body and rough touch. But even as the gentle young shifter allows him access to his body, he won’t give him his heart. The brash alpha has never needed an omega’s respect before. For … Read more

For Readers: Supporting Diverse Fiction

Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer ‘Nathan Smith: As readers, what is our role is supporting diverse fiction, and a more diverse publishing industry? Do we have one? Can we influence it? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat

For Writers: Magic and Sexual Orientation

gay mage magic

Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Elizabeth Barrette: How magic relates to sexual orientation — because just as there have been traditions that paired male and female, there have been a few that favored homosexuality instead. I’m gonna run with this a little, and suggest that we talk about how the two can be intertwined in our writing. We’ve all read the “he’s part of the magical bloodline” stories. And I’m sure there are already authors out there who are intertwining the two. So my questions today: Which stories have you read where magic is rooted in or connected to … Read more

Announcement: Appearances, by TM Smith

Appearances

QSFer TM Smith has a new sci fi book out: Appearances can be deceiving. Raven and Tanis are trying very hard to merge their vastly different lifestyles, but Tanis issues with his own past could prove to be more than their fragile relationship can handle. Is their love for each other strong enough to weather the oncoming storm? Aiya and Sawyer have fought hard to be together in a world where Opposite relationships are generally forbidden. Yet, they are still forced to keep their relationship a secret while they are outside the walls of House Gaeland. Everyone assumes that the … Read more

Star Wars to Get LGBTIQ Characters

JJ Abrahms

The director behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens has told The Daily Beast that there will indeed be openly gay characters zapping through the galaxy far, far away — in relatively near franchise installments. Making the rounds at a pre-Oscars event at his Bad Robot HB in LA, J.J. Abrams said it’s time that the Star Wars universe becomes more inclusive, referencing the LGBTQ community, and thankfully making no mention of Jar-Jar Binks: “To me, the fun of Star Wars is the glory of possibility,” he said. “So it seems insanely narrow-minded and counterintuitive to say there wouldn’t be a … Read more

Kris Jacen from MLR Press Joins Us For an Interview

Kris Jacen

We are excited to have the executive editor for MLR Press, Kris Jacen, with us for an interview about the new collection Storming Love: Meteor Strike, a five book series by five different authors, including some QSF folks. Kris will also answer our questions about what MLR is looking for in submissions, and what they might be planning in the near future. Join us on the QSF FB discussion group. Angel and I will moderate the interview, and will open it for questions near the end. https://www.facebook.com/groups/qsfdiscussions/