Do you love the genre of steampunk? Your steampunk design could be featured in a  roller window blind in the UK. Direct Blinds seeks design submissions from readers around the world for an image to be printed on a window blind.

Follow this link to submit, entries must be received by December 3rd.  Science fiction authors Ian Macleod and James P. Blaylock will judge the contest. The winner will get a £250 cash prize and their design will be featured in a window blind.

Here’s more about the contest: “Do you dream of the days when airships ruled the skies, gentlemen duelled with steam-assisted rayguns, and a waxed moustache was considered the very apex of fashion? Then Direct Blinds wants to hear from you. Steampunk is the theme – so whether it’s a smoggy cityscape, a clockwork contraption, a dirigible battle or something altogether more fanciful, we want to see what you can do … Entries will be judged by acclaimed science fiction authors , who will select 20 of the best to be displayed in an online gallery. It’s then opened up to a public vote to decide the overall winner.”

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Random House has released writer guidelines for four digital imprints, seeking submissions from romance, new adult, mystery, thriller, science fiction, fantasy and horror writers.

Follow these individual imprint links to submit your manuscript: Loveswept (romance & women’s fiction), Alibi (mystery & suspense), Hydra (sci-fi, fantasy & horror), Flirt (new adult). There is no official word count, but the editors are looking for both shorter submissions that range between 15,000 and 30,000 words and longer works that range between 40,000 and 60,000 words. Here’s more from the publisher:

You may present any manuscript in which you control exclusive copyright.  We are open to previously-published manuscripts as long as the submitting author now controls all electronic and print publishing rights.  Please submit the entire query form at the link below.  If we are interested in considering your full manuscript, you will be contacted with further submission instructions.  We make every effort to respond to submission inquiries within 2-4 weeks after submission of the submission query form; please do not resubmit previously submitted queries, as this may create delays.

 

When the iPad debuted in 2010, Star Trek The Next Generation‘s LeVar Burton wasn’t as surprised by the device as others. After all, characters on his show and the original series were beaming each other up, video chatting and using touch devices way before Apple.

“As a fan of science fiction, I’m not surprised because I recognize that science fiction literature tends to ask us what I believe to be are two of the most powerful words in language in combination: what if,” Burton said in our final Media Beat interview.

“I believe there was some kid who watched those original episodes of Star Trek… That kid grew up, became an engineer, a designer of product, and is responsible for a piece of technology in the flip cell phone that’s more prevalent now than toasters,” he continued. “You look at Bluetooth ear devices, Star Trek. You look at Flip cell phones, Star Trek. Devices, seeing devices for the blind inspired by Geordi‘s visor? Science fiction literature and pop culture really is a main conduit for how we invent our future reality.”

Yeah, Google Glass does look a little like this.

Part 1: LeVar Burton: By not focusing on reading, “We’re sacrificing our kids”
Part 2: LeVar Burton on the Future of Reading Rainbow & Printed Books

Tor.com and Barnes & Noble will create a monthly list of recommendations for science fiction and fantasy readers.

Barnes & Noble buyer Jim Killen will curate the list. The inaugural edition will focus on the opening volumes of popular fantasy series. Some of the titles that will be spotlighted include The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan, Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson and Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie.

What would you like to see on this list? Tor.com’s Irene Gallo had this statement in the announcement: “We are very excited about this new series. We’re constantly reminded of how engaged our readers are, and we can’t wait to see the conversations sparked by these knowledgeably-curated lists from our colleagues at B&N.”

Rosetta Books will host The Galaxy Project writing contest for science fiction novellas or novelettes. Entries must be received before September 2nd.

The digital publisher is running this contest to launch The Galaxy Project, a collection eBook reprints from the classic science fiction magazine Galaxy.

Here’s more from the release: “The winning writer will be guaranteed e-book publication as part of The Galaxy Project collection, a set of the top novellas that appeared originally in Galaxy, and will also receive a $1,000 advance against royalties of 50% of net receipts to 2,500 copies and 60% of net receipts thereafter for world English digital rights. The contest is open now and the submission deadline is Friday, September 2, 2011.”

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New York Times writer Ginia Bellafante reviewed HBO’s Game of Thrones with this controversial sentence: “Game of Thrones is boy fiction patronizingly turned out to reach the population’s other half.” Fans responded to her review with a flurry of tweets, emails, and comments.

Bellafante wrote a blog post to address the controversy, but judging by the mood of the Twittersphere, it doesn’t seem to have appeased the wounded parties. The video embedded above features a preview of episode two.

Some readers thought the reviewer had not actually watched the show or read a quick synopsis of the series’ source material, George R.R. Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire. Some found the review to be dismissive, condescending, or an attack on female fantasy and science-fiction readers. Below, we’ve listed some of the tweets.

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How often can you meet authors who write about outer space, werewolves, dystopian societies, fairies, and reincarnation in the same event?

The Breathless Reads tour featured Beth Revis, Andrea Cremer, Ally Condie, Brenna Yovanoff, and Kirsten Miller.

We caught up with the five authors for advice on writing, getting published, and more. Highlights from the interview follows below.

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Kirkus Reviews has launched the Kirkus Book Blogger Network, a collection of literary reporters covering everything from mystery books to gardening books.

Here’s more about the program: “We’ve already added bloggers in romance (Smart Bitches, Trashy Books) and Young Adult categories (Bookshelves of Doom, YA or STFU, and The YaYaYas), and now we’re expanding our blogs section to include smart, well-informed bloggers to contribute to our ongoing discussion about books. Today, we’re pleased to announce that several new bloggers are partnering with Kirkus, including The Rap Sheet (Mysteries/Thrillers); SF Signal (Science Fiction/Fantasy), Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (Children’s) and Garden Rant (gardening).”

Last week on the Morning Media Menu, Mediabistro Startups co-editor Devon Glenn interviewed Kirkus Reviews editor Perry Crowe about the new program. Follow this MP3 link to listen.

Above, we’ve embedded a trailer for an upcoming adaptation of Philip K. Dick‘s strange novel, Radio Free Albemuth. The cast includes pop star Alanis Morissette and Boardwalk Empire‘s Shea Whigham.

What do you think about the trailer? Writer, director and producer John Alan Simon helms the indie project. The film already has a Facebook page and a Twitter account.

Here’s more from Quiet Earth: “Based on the novel by Philip K. Dick, Radio Free Albemuth follows the awakening of record store owner, Nicholas Brady, through visions communicated from a satellite of unknown origins (though probably VALIS). Under guidance from his visions, Nick rises up against the world’s fascist government masquerading as the United States of America.” (Via io9)

John Scalzi‘s Old Man’s War will be adapted by The Perfect Storm director, Wolfgang Petersen. According to Deadline,  David Self will write the script and produce for the science fiction adaptation.

Scalzi discussed the news on his blog: “The movie that is eventually made of Old Man’s War will be an adaptation of the book — not the book itself. The filmmakers are going to have to make changes…I wanted filmmakers I felt could best adapt what I wrote.”

Scalzi is a two-time Hugo Award-winning writer. After releasing Old Man’s War (2005), he followed up with three sequels: The Ghost Brigades (2006), The Last Colony (2007), and Zoe’s Tale (2008).