Seems like every time I want to go see an author read, the weather acts up. Last time it was in December, and I was pumped up about seeing Greg Frost read and discuss his new novel (an adaptation of the Bluebeard myth, not to be confused with the Blackbeard myth). What happened? Major ice storm. Power out for 4 days. No fun, no sir.

Now tonight, local SF author John Kessel is hosting James Morrow, a name you may recall from my list of writers to emulate, and it's bordering on sleet and freezing rain outside. What's the deal? Maybe it's Thursday nights that are bad -- just a few weeks ago we had to cancel our writers' group due to inclement weather. What is this -- Iowa? Sheesh. Enough with the ice already!

But the reading should be fun -- Elizabeth is going, and we're meeting up with fellow writer Jason Lundberg beforehand, and we may go to a get-together at John Kessel's house afterwards. It'll be like one of the Clarion readings/parties from days of yore (well, minus the dramatic reading of "Eye of Argon" by Gardner Dozois).

Speaking of writing, I'm way jealous about the latest group of writers going out to the Oregon Coast Writers Workshop for the next 2 weeks! I know at least 1/3 of the people going there -- Jay, Melissa, Leslie, and Jennifer, and there's probably a couple more I'm forgetting. Take notes, folks, and let me know how it goes. And check out some of the photos at the Workshop website -- see yours truly in all my brainfried glory! I had a great time there, and it was worth every bit o' cash -- Dean and Kris are great hosts and teachers, even if the DID let Gardner read out loud to us...

Did some more "research" for a story I'm working on with a certain Mr. van Eekhout, and it's getting pretty interesting. I don't want to say too much about it other than the story itself is going to ROCK. Literally...

Another thing I don't want to say too much about is my idea for a one-shot 'zine antho. More details are taking shape, and I actually have a page set up detailing those, um, details... Email me if you'd like a link to this top-secret page, if you dare...

Another topic I don't want to say too much about is a piece of wonderful artwork that's going to play a big part in my website redesign in the next month or so... But enough about that. Just -- thanks, Janet! Nice work!

Finally, I have to admit, I'll be glad for the weekend. I got a bit overwhelmed this week, as work picked up for me and I felt like I had a million fiction projects I wanted to do. I decided yesterday morning to finish up the play version of "Unplugged" and leave it in rough draft for a while, until I finish up the Blackbeard novel, which has been put off so many times I feel like I owe the manuscript an apology, and work on the collaboration with GVE on the side. I realized I was trying to do too much last night when I sat down to start reading Elizabeth Hand's novel and I kept falling asleep -- I've been running myself ragged. And the novel isn't boring either -- it's quite good. Looking forward to reading more of it. Maybe this weekend...

Now Playing:
"So Much for the Afterglow," Everclear

Now Reading:
Waking the Moon, Elizabeth Hand

Stories out to Publishers:
20

Yesterday's Words:
700

Words for '03:
32,500