Look what was waiting in my inbox this afternoon:

Dear Jason:

It’s my pleasure to inform you that, based on your writing and your financial need, you have been selected to receive a $1000 merit scholarship in creative writing for the 2004-2005 academic year. The scholarship is funded by an anonymous donor to the creative writing program who wants to help deserving students at the graduate level.

The funds should be credited to you through the NCSU Office of Financial Aid by next semester. Please let me know if you have any questions on the award.

Congratulations, and I look forward to working with you on your fiction in the semesters to come.

Sincerely,
John Kessel
Director of Creative Writing

I'm still in shock. My writing actually got me a thousand-dollar scholarship. Wow.

Anonymous donor, wherever you are, I owe you a big wet sloppy kiss on the lips.

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Now Reading:
City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff VanderMeer

Stories Out to Publishers:
2

Books Read This Year:
54

Zines/Fiction Mags Read This Year:
35