Van Nuys, California
2-19-99
NEWSFLASH!
Okay, really. Sometimes I feel like this place is just a gossip grapevine.... So-and-so this and so-and-so that.... Chit-chat! Chatter! Hey -- you like that, don't you? You like juicy gossip? Hehehe... I guess that makes me, like, Mom Magpie. *grin*
Okay....
First -- some great news, late in the day! There I was in IRC chat, blabbing with the regulars, when I suddenly get this e-mail from Steve Algieri, editor of Pulp Eternity, saying that he is buying my story "Swans" for the magazine! Steve has the amazing knack of buying my world's favorite stories! This one is a rewritten fairytale -- a dark romantic retelling of the six swans fairy tale.
A great congratulations also to Ron Collins on his impressive sale to Quantum SF, to Paula Fleming on her sale to E-Scape, to Mary Soon Lee for winning the "Best of Soft SF Contest," and to anyone else who made sales recently!
I must admit I just read Chiara's India journal finally, last weekend, and it is a true achievement! A subtle rich travelogue, worthy of publication in a travel magazine. I highly recommend it. It slammed India into me like a deep odd window into the nether side of the world.
I'd like to bring to your attention Linda Dunn's very important discussion of SFWA's definition of small press and how it affects publication in the SFF Net anthology as qualification for SFWA membership. Check it out, and think.... What's small press anyway? Let's change our definitions here, folks. It's about time.
Warm welcome to Douglas Shumaker to the Not-A-Webring! Another marvelous writer's journal. And as for the fact that the NAW is growing, well, I'd say, we'll just keep going while we can, assimilating all journals in our path like the JournalBorg.... Really. Okay, not, maybe not really. But for now, just enjoy this abundance, folks! :-)
In some not-so good news, best of luck to Tippi N. Blevins and Lisa Silverthorne who are having a severe run of bad luck (and if you're wondering, yes, Lisa's journal is not just on hold, but her ISP lost her whole webpage due to a crash!). {{{HUGS!}}} and hang in there, both of you! I know luck is about to change for the better! It always does, since the pendulum swings both ways.
2-13-99
NEWSFLASH!
What a week! Well, good things just keep on piling.... First, Jim Bailey, and now Diana Rowland has sold to THE AGE OF REASON anthology! Two great friends, two first sales -- I am reeling!
And then, major good things come to me from the internet -- last night I got an e-mail from a long-lost childhood friend, Cathy Thompson, with whom I had lost touch. Turns out, she found me though the web! I am stunned with happiness! Cathy was one of the catalysts that had started me writing in the first place, is a marvelously talented writer herself, and I owe her a whole lot emotionally.... Hi, Cathy, I know you're reading this! *waves like crazy!*
I want to mention that I have been following Linda J. Dunn's journal entries, and am impressed with her wonderful insights about the writing life, most lately the "hat check girl" metaphor....
Also, Steve Leigh made me snarf my tea as I was reading about one stubborn male's adventures in electrical wiring. :-)
Last but not least, a great big welcome to poet and writer Neile Graham, our latest Not-A-Webring member! Great to assimilate yah, Neile!
2-10-99
NEWSFLASH!
Today is a truly wonderful day, because a good friend, Jim Bailey has just made his first sale ever, and to a great market -- THE AGE OF REASON anthology!!! I am so psyched for dear Jimbo, that I am reliving the day I made my own first sale! Jim gets to share the TOC with me, Lisa Silverthorne, and a number of other amazing writers! What a blessed day!!!
And talking about joy, have you people seen Diana Rowland recently? She is beautiful! Take a look at her Disney World trip pictures with Kent Brewster, and you'll see how she shines!
Happy belated birthday to Erin Cashier Denton!
My hearfelt bear hugs to Lisa Silverthorne for losing her beloved cat Tele. :(
On the home front here, I've received a friendly personal rejection from Gardner Dozois at Asimov's. No prob.... *grin*
That's about it.... :-) I cannot seem to wipe the smile off my face thinking of Jim's first sale! At last, James A. Bailey has landed on the Literary Map(TM), and in a big way! A dream come true indeed!
2-5-99
NEWSFLASH!
My oh my, the NAW writin' possee gang's agrowin'! Welcome Paula L. Fleming to the fold! :-)
Erin Cashier Denton had a great food-related rant the other day, to which I heartily say "Amen!" and just one other thing -- Erin, babe, let's go out to dinner together! I'll show you eating! My plate will be empty and clean as a whistle! *grin*
As for me -- wonderful news!!! I just heard from Kurt Roth that he is buying my near future story "Rossia Moya" about the fate of Russia, for THE AGE OF REASON, the second annual SFF Net anthology!
This story is the most personal and best thing I have written yet. I wrote it specifically for this market. And I am even more happy to share it with everyone, because I want as many people as possible to find out what is going on in Russia, and where it may be heading in this coming millennium.
The fact that I am happy is an understatement. This is the most important sale of my life. :-)
A perfectly happy day! :-)
2-2-99
NEWSFLASH!
A sweet hello to February....
Yesterday I got my contributor and subscription copies of Talebones, Issue #14, with my story "Mount Dragon," illustrated by Bob Hobbs (not Wolf Read as I had originally thought). The illustration is absolutely perfect! :-)
In the same issue is a beautiful poem by Tippi N. Blevins, "Ancestor," and stories by Amy Sterling Casil, Syne Mitchell, and some other great folks! I urge everyone to get a copy, or better yet, subscribe! :-)
In other news, inspired by some mad god of hope, I decided to buy a house. I had tried before, about 7 years ago, but then I didn't have such a good income, and a crappy debt ratio. Well, this time it will happen. I already pay the rent equivalent of a large mortgage on this rental house. And, I have to move anyway, to be closer to my warehouse job which had moved this past November, and I refuse to move to yet another rental. I have excellent (almost perfect) credit (any lender who doesn't trust me is nuts), a good income, and the only thing that sucks (still) is my debt ratio. However, I will find a way!
And if I own a house, it will be easier to pay off my other debts too, so, in many ways, it's just a Better Thing (TM).
You may have noticed by now that although I may be crazy, I am also an optimist.