Welcome to The Scroll Chamber!
I chose this name for my domain, because I wrote about a building
called The Scroll Chamber in "Seabird", my first fantasy novel. My apologies
to those of you who came here in hopes of information about the
role-playing 'scroll chamber'.
Look to the left side of the screen to find the topics at this site.
"Babylon 5" is pretty much my favorite television series of all time. For most of its five year run, I wrote analyses of the individual episodes. I've had the pleasure of meeting Joe and several B5 actors at conferences. And I'm delighted to report that the show is now out on DVD.
My other passions include filking, art, and speculative literature. Put simply, filk is the music of the fantasy/SF community. My earlier works of art were ink drawings and acrylic paintings, some of which were displayed in SF conference art shows. Now I use computer graphics software.
I've been reading speculative fiction since I was in college (first, Tolkien). I began writing it, in my daydreams, when I was in my last year of elementary school. Writing is my passion.
If you would like to know more about me, check out the 'Author
Introduction' below. Otherwise, please take a look at this site's individual pages.
Thanks for stopping by!
SherryT
My story Winter's Season was recently published in the F/SF Anthology.
Winter's Season is a pagan fantasy. I wrote it as a way of saying that humans creating God (or the gods) in their own image is not a good idea and could result in disaster. You can purchase the F/SF Anthology at Amazon.com. Click on the bookcover to go there. Read an excerpt from Winter's Season. |
I retired in May 2000, after 35 years at the University of Delaware. I live in Delaware, but don't think of myself as a Delawarean. Actually, I would probably leave if I could just find the exit door. I'd love to live in Ocean City, New Jersey. Given the cost of property at the shore, that will never happen.
Reading and Writing
I concocted my first SF/fantasy story when I was a preteen, inspired
by the Poul Anderson 'Time Patrol' stories and by Walter Farley's 'The
Island Stallion Races'.
I love all the fiction works by the Inklings, especially Charles
Williams. I also like Barbara Hambly, C. J. Cherryh, Tony Hillerman, Nick
Pollotta, Greg Bear, Harlan Ellison, Joe Straczynski's horror novels,
Diana Wynne Jones, Douglas Adams and Anne McCaffrey (in no particular
order).
Aside from "The Lord of the Rings" (first read in the first U.S.
edition), my most re-read books are: Grimwood's "Replay" and Charles
Williams' "Descent into Hell", "The Greater Trumps", "War in Heaven" and "All
Hallow's Eve".
I began writing "Seabird" approximately 20 years ago because I was
convinced at the time that I had run out of fantasy I wanted to read, and
because I felt that "The Chronicles of Narnia" ought to have a companion
series for young adults.
The original draft of "Seabird" came close to being published nineteen
years ago. It got as far as a requested re-write which was then
rejected for length. While I was in the process of sending out the manuscript
to various potential publishers, I wrote a sequel to the novel and then
began a sequel to the sequel. None of these have ever been published,
partially because I stopped sending out submissions about 18 years ago.
"Seabird" sat on a dusty shelf for nearly two decades, during which
time I took several writing courses, participated in SF convention writing
workshops and wrote about a dozen fantasy, horror and SF short stories.
Now that I'm retired, my focus is learning more about writing, while
revising "Seabird" according to the suggestions of a prospective
editor. My fantasy short story, 'Winter's Season' has been accepted for
publication in CyberPulp's "F/SF" anthology. The editor is David Bain and
the revised publication date is February 2004. Printed copies of the
anthology will be available. Other stories are in transit to and from
various publishers.
My Online Life
There's something besides life in front of a computer screen?
But seriously, when I'm not writing, revising, or else critting other people's manuscripts, I read and contribute to several online e-mail groups (mostly about writing or books). I belong to three writers' groups:
OWW (Online Writing Workshop for SF, Fantasy and Horror) 2001 to the present.
Critters (on-line workshop/critique group for serious writers of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror"). August 1998 to 2000, and February 2002 to present.
Written Remains (The Written Remains Writers' Group & Workshop. This one is real live people, and is based in Delaware.) April 2003 to present.
I also belong to:
The Mythopoeic Society and The Coinherence Mailing List (for students of the writings of Charles Williams).
I subscribe to the New Yo