I know some of you are interested in breaking into the publishing field so I thought I’d post this job opening. Here’s the link https://www.ultirecruit.com/hol1002/JobBoard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*7E31C6861D96AFA1

Tor Books, an imprint of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, is a New York-based publisher of hardcover and paperback books, founded in 1980 and committed (although not limited) to Science Fiction and Fantasy literature. Between our extensive hardcover and trade-soft cover line, our Orb backlist program, and our stronghold in mass-market paperback, we annually publish what is arguably the largest and most diverse line of SF and fantasy ever produced by a single English-language publisher. Books from Tor have won every major award in the SF and fantasy fields, and for the last fifteen years in a row we have been named Best Publisher in the Locus Poll, the largest consumer poll in SF. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Position Description:

Assisting two editors principally in science fiction and fantasy. Reading and editing manuscripts, jointly with a more senior editor initially, and tracking them through production, marketing, publicity, etc. Keeping track of complex scheduling. Some business travel.

Major Responsibilities:

* Filing, phone, email
* Copywriting
* Editorial work on mss
* Writing metadata
* Interacting with writers and agents

Required Skills / Knowledge:
* General knowledge of the science fiction and fantasy field
* Computer skills, including MS Word, excel. Experience with Title Management and Cognos a plus.
* Copy-writing skills, catalog copy, etc.
* In-house publishing experience, in interacting with the various departments in a publishing operation.

Experience Needed:

* 2 years in an editorial assistant position in book publishing or equivalent
* Extensive reading in science fiction; additional reading in fantasy a plus.

Educational Background Required:

* Some college; post-grad work a plus

So I’m currently in this strange place of having finished Ashes after living with it for two straight years. There will be some revisions, my editor will have some comments, copy editors and cold readers will suggest their changes, too, but the mountain has been summited. However, I am quickly finding ways to fill the void. In addition to getting in a short run in Central Park, I’m working on my next book.

Truthfully, it feels like the cosmic equivalent of pb&j right now. I get to tweak and revise Ashes of a Black Frost until it’s the best I can make it in order to give Konowa and the lads the best send off possible while at the same time starting to build a whole new world. If I believed in the concept of deities, I’d be one right now…vis a vis my manuscripts that is 🙂

Oh, and did I mention I went for a run in Central Park?

It. Was. Bliss. And so far, no excruciating pain. Now my challenge will be to rein in the horses so I don’t run too far, too fast and re-injure myself.

I am pleased, relieved, ecstatic, catatonic, overwhelmed, and a little dizzy as I officially tell one and all that I have just completed the third and final installment of the Iron Elves trilogy. The manuscript will shortly be winging its way to my editor and I will be collapsed in a semi-vegetative state in front of the TV with a big grin on my face as a I watch the Oscars while muttering over and over “I finished Ashes of a Black Frost.”

As far as I know, the pub date in North America is September 20, 2011. Should that change I’ll let you know, but as of now we are go for launch this fall.

Cheers!

Chris

I think you’ll like it.

So as most of you know, my day job is editor of military history and current affairs and conflict titles for Stackpole Books. A new book out is one called War Shots and focuses on US Marine combat photographers in WWII. There’s a lot of neat stuff in the book, but one of the most amazing is that footage shot by cameraman Norm Hatch was used in a documentary about the fighting on Tarawa which ended up winning an Oscar in 1944! Anyway, you can see a little for yourself including some of the combat footage here: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/lifestyles/2011/feb/21/2/bills-back-porch-wwii-video-01155-vi-24634/

In other news, I can’t actually show you yet, but holy smokes, the cover for Ashes of a Black Frost is out of this world. There was a rough draft showing some spears that got out on the web, but that was just a red herring. The real McCoy is coming soon, and it’s a killer.