May’s newsletter includes one last programming proposal reminder, programming chat announcement, and exciting fantasy book news.

Congratulations to Kristin, our Dark Triumph giveaway winner!

Programming Proposal Deadline: Friday, May 10, 2013!
The deadline for submitting your proposal is just 9 days away. We hope that you’ll consider participating as a presenter—we truly value the contributions of attendees. If you’re hesitating, remember that you have until October to finish your paper or presentation, polish your panel, refine your workshop, firm up your roundtable discussion questions, or add the finishing touches to your afternoon class.

Where to Get More Information:
The programming section of the Sirens website
This is where we go over our requirements for programming, and where you can find the submissions system to provide us with your proposal.

The archive section of the Sirens website
For all of your questions about whether something has ever been presented before.

The Sirens LiveJournal programming tag
For a series of informal posts on how to put together a proposal.

(programming at sirensconference.org)
Email us for more specific questions or for clarification.

Where to Find Collaborators:
This brainstorming post
The Sirens Chat LiveJournal
Facebook
Sirens message boards

Programming Deadline Chat
Join Sirens staff for our last programming chat! Get last-minute feedback from others, ask questions, or just hang out to be a cheerleader and talk about books.

Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Time: 9 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. Pacific), lasting about two hours
Location: http://www.sirensconference.org/chat/

Remember, you won’t need any special software or a login; the page will turn into a chat room during the chat time. (You will need to refresh the page if it isn’t in chat mode when you arrive.)

What We’re Excited About This Month:

Fantasy Cafe devoted all of their April posts to women in SF/F, and we couldn’t pick a favorite.

SF Signal asks about favorite women genre writers.

The National Post reviews Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson.

Hodder & Stoughton acquires Nnedi Okorafor’s science fiction novel Lagoon in a three-book deal.

The sequel to Marie Brennan’s A Natural History of Dragons has a title.

Juliet E. McKenna talks about talks about visibility for women writers on Fantasy Cafe.

Reliance Entertainment to develop a movie of Kristin Cashore’s Graceling.

Kate Elliott’s Cold Steel gets a (slightly spoilery) starred review from Publishers Weekly (out in June).

Book Release Dates:

A Cup of Smoke: stories and poems by Rachel Manija Brown is out now.

Doll Bones by Holly Black is out May 7.

The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison is out on May 14; see the book trailer here.

Sold for Endless Rue by Madeleine E. Robins is also out on May 14.

Faerie After by Janni Lee Simner is out May 28.

Handbook for Dragon Slayers by Merrie Haskell is also out May 28.

We love receiving interesting fantasy links and book news to share—and we can’t read the entire internet, so your contributions are appreciated! Send links and information, yours or news you’ve seen, to (help at sirensconference.org).

Questions? You can comment here or write to us at (help at sirensconference.org).