Hey all -- happy Monday! I'm slogging away at work, but took a break to check out the SF Reader site, where they've posted my story, "Remainders," which will hereafter be known as my "prize-winning story." :)

They put the stories up in record time, barely a week after they accepted 'em, and I'm pleased as heck. Of course, I haven't had time to re-read the story, so I'm hoping they didn't have any problems with posting it (they had the electronic file already). Now I just have to sit back and wait for that check...

I'm really tempted to use my prize $ to buy a hardcover 1st-edition of Glen David Gold's Carter Beats the Devil and get Gold to sign it on Thursday when he comes to local bookstore Quail Ridge Books. But that would go against my ban on buying books. What do you think -- is it okay to bend that rule in an instance where a story has earned me the money to buy a book? ;)

Part of the problem, of course, isn't just financial, but the backlog of Books to Be Read waiting for me on my bookshelves. At least three dozen, if not more...

Also, I started work on the Blackbeard romance this morning, after getting lots of good ideas for it this weekend. I'm reworking the opening chapters, and my work can be found on the updated Heart's Revenge Excerpt page. Woo-hoo!

And hey, I just found out that my last two story reprints have been posted at Fictionwise! You can now read "Riverrun Alley," a tale about winter, aliens, and parties; and "The Disillusionist," a story set in the past about a performer who does terrible magic tricks and likes to get people to tell the whole truth (and nothing but). Enjoy!

As an added bonus, Elizabeth and I got to ride to work together today, thanks to the snow and ice we got last night. This has been the weirdest winter for sloppy weather. And this area is totally not equipped for anything more than a heavy rain... But we had a good time sliding around Durham on the way to Elizabeth's work. And going into work an hour later is always nice too! Later.