Open Thread!

Started this morning frustrated over things totally out of my control, and Boomer jumped into my lap, headbutted me, and leaned against my chest, purring like a large, furry performance vehicle.

Friends and family are all well and fine, but nobody ever really loves you like a fur-companion.
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Meanwhile, as I force myself back to work, I note that we have a bunch of new people who snuck in while I was distracted. Hello, New People! Kitchen's open 24/7, the bar's thataway, the jacuzzi's out back, and mind the alligators, the boys sometimes forget to feed them. Feel free to step up and introduce yourselves.

And in honor of New People, and because I haven't done it in a while, today's an Open Thread Day. Ask anything you'd like, on any topic -- but keep it to PG-13, please!

good news, no news, and bad news....

First, the bad news: As is already known to the Internet, Realms of Fantasy is being shuttered. Sad day for those of us who read short fantasy fiction (and the staff there too, natch). And so much for the submission I had there. *sighs* I don't think this is Doom, but it's not good news, obviously. Is short fiction dying, or is it moving to another format (electronic) entirely? The discussion rages on. Me, I'm still not ready to call for last rites for the short story. We'll see.


However, in the good news category, I came home to a box of mass market editions of CURSE THE DARK. Yay! So for your amusement, edification, and shopping needs, I give you LAG's release schedule for the first half of 2009:

*January: nothing.
*February: still nothing. Buy other peoples' books.
*March: the mass market release of CURSE THE DARK and BRING IT ON Pre-order 'em now! (seriously: pre-order them now. Bookstores are standing by. And you'll get a sneak peek at Blood From Stone, too!)
*April: the trade edition of Midnight Cravings, the novella anthology containing Anna Leonard's "Dreamcatcher," first time in paper form!
*May: Blood From Stone. Book 6 in the Retrievers series, and a whole new chapter in their lives... This one's PB-riffic!
*June: TBA


Under 'No news': I did not come to the end of Part II -- I am close, but said hellwithit and went downtown for Puppy Time and dinner, instead. Tomorrow is another workday. Tonight, I have to do some invoicing and bill-paying...

However, I am amused to note:

1. I have my hero riding hard all day -- at a steady walk, broken by an occasional trot, and stopping when it's too dark to see the road.

2. I actually know how a sea-serpent would eat someone.