I just got my check in the mail from Walking Bones Magazine for my story "How to Light a Cigar," which was published in their November issue. (I probably would have gotten it earlier, but there was a change-of-address snafu when I graduated from Western.) I'm on my way out to the bank right now...I've been so hard up for money lately that I've been having trouble footing the bill for basic necessities like single-malt scotch and hand-rolled Montesinos, much less extra cash left over for anything fun.

Still, I've been thinking about photocopying the check before I cash it. However token the amount, as the very first bit of money I've ever received from writing (the DKA check might still be another few weeks coming), it feels pretty amazing.