My 2 Cents on:
The SFWA and Selfpublishing

I do not often get involved in SFWA politics. In fact, you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming to a SFWA meeting. The last one I attended, you had to pay to get out and the organization raised several thousand dollars in twenty minutes.

In the past forty-odd years that I have been a member of SFWA (including a short period when I let my membership lapse) I have generally avoided SFWA elections.

My 2 Cents on:
Science Fiction

Let me say this, in my own clumsy way.

I haven't been reading a lot of science fiction lately, and I've skipped a lot of movies too. And it finally hit me after seeing Cloud Atlas what was bothering me.

I grew up in an age when science fiction movies were about vision and courage. Things To Come was about humanity triumphing over ignorance and leaping into space. Destination Moon and Conquest for Space were vivid predictions of what was possible.

Lots of zombies - A chainsaw sword
Helldriver

First:  "Everything is mine for the taking."
Second: "The infected still have human rights."
Third: "They show a predilection to attack and devour people."

More:
"Damn, more blood; kind of slippery."
"Zombie World welcomes you."
"If she's still alive, there's only one place she'd be … The zombie bar."

Three Shadows
by Cyril Pedrosa

Writing "this is a story about love and devotion" would make some you yawn and turn away. Mentioning phrases such as "readiness to sacrifice", "parental love" or "death of a child" make some refuse the book with a certain scare. Calling it a "supernatural adventure" would fit, but only in some small way.

In his graphic novel Cyril Pedrosa deal with a subject that is to some extent unmentionable, and tries to find ways to adress a subject one would love to avoid.

... Richard Lindberg ...
... on writing about Chicago, History and Serial killers

It is fascinating to read a book or bits of stories by Richard - you get more than you expect.

With passion and great expertise he writes about historical facts, people and fates.  His book "Heartland - Serial Killers" was particulary interesting ... telling the story of two emigrants from Europe, male and female, whose deeds are an intriguing picture of the gaslight-era in the USA.