|
Science Fiction Is A Big Part
Of My Life
Me and my first science fiction toy -- three cute space chicks
and their very own starship command center in a bright yellow
carrying case. |
My love of science fiction goes waaay back.
I'm not sure which came first -- watching classic Star Trek in
its original run (yep, I'm that old) or playing with the "Little
Kiddles in Space" dolls and playset my grandmother gave me
for Christmas. From that point on, there was no turning back.
Star Wars, Asimov, Bradbury, Clark, Heinlein...
But I grew up in the South, where science
fiction was considered unnatural, and being a fan was considered
weird. My classmates gave me hell because I thought that we might
one day live in a world with wireless telephones, pocket computers,
a global information network, robots on Mars, genetically altered
food, clones, and planets beyond our solar system. Heck, I'm even
living science fiction today -- my arthritis treatment is a human-mouse
hybrid protein manufactured with recombinant technology. And I
work in cyberspace.
When I moved to Kansas City, I discovered that Midwestern
fans are numerous and rabid.... I'm a member of a number of genre-releated
organizations and convention planning committees, including:
I used to be involved in several others, including:
- Science Fiction and Fantasy
Hall of Fame, founded in 1996 by the Kansas City Science Fiction
and Fantasy Society and the J. Wayne and Elsie M. Gunn Center
for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas
I was a founding board member and the last treasurer before
it was turned over to The
Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle.
- ConQuest, a SF convention
in Kansas City. (Various planning committee and volunteer roles
1995-2006, with an occasional year off here and there.)
- SFWA's Nebula Weekend 2002
(Planning Committee)
- World Horror Con 2003 (Programming
Chair)
- WorldCon 2006 in Kansas City
Bid / MidAmericon (Committee Member)
Artist. I've been immersed in art and
photography all my life. I enjoy photographing historic cemeteries.
I also do science fiction and fantasy art using digital and traditional
media. You can see my art in a number of convention art shows around
the country, or visit my gallery. My work includes the art for the
following:
Writer. I've been writing since I was
a kid and have been rejected by all the best magazines, including
my very first rejection from Asmiov's at the age of 12. I've
published non-fiction in Science Fiction Chronicle. I finally
earned my first professional fiction credits with
- "Curious George Visits The Solar J
Diner" a short story published in Houston, We've Got
Bubbas, a Bubbas of the Apocalypse anthology (Yard
Dog Press 2007)
-
"Burying Bubber's
Box" a short story published in Flush Fiction
(Yard
Dog Press 2005)
- "Dining Made Simple" a short-short
story published under the name "Allison Stein Best"
in Horrors: 365 Scary Stories (Barnes & Noble, 1998)
- I also have a short story, "Sleepless
Nights" posted online at Noblefusion.
Editor. I've edited a couple of 'zines
and a small press anthology
- E-scape: The Digital Journal of Speculative
Fiction (1998-1999)
- Manifest Destiny: KC's SF/F/H Connection
(1994-1996)
- Dark Dixie Anthology #1 (Marrietta
Publishing, 1996) I still have a few copies left, by the way.
Send me money and I'll send you a copy.
Fan.
Midwest fans may remember me as the "Weird Tales" girl
and "Vampira" in the infamous "Bimbos of the Bookcovers"
renegade masquerade troupe, "Scarlett O'Hella at the 1997 ConQuesT
and Archon masquerades, and as hostess of "Alli's Roadkill
Café" at ConQuesT 26, 27, and 28. And yes, I'm still
entirely too perky for that time of con. You can find more photos
of me being a fan in the MidAmerican
Fan Archives. |
