Okay, I've finished the content for Chimeric Machines, barring a few revision tweaks based on feedback from first readers. But my goal was to have the content essentially set before Mo*Con, and I'm on target.

After I get back from the con, I have to start hitting the Spellbent sequels ... Book 2 will be due January 15, 2009, and Book 3 will be due August 15, 2009. That's 7 months for each, which should be enough time, but I best not dilly-dally.

But the back-to-back novel deadlines also means that I won't be doing short fiction unless I'm invited to submit someplace.

In other news, my allergies are going berserk. I've done the Claritin vs. Zyrtec test, and Claritin has come out ahead, largely because Zyrtec knocks me the heck out. If I wanted to sleep all day, I'd just take Benadryl (cheap!). So, functionality FTW!

Okay, so a few of you know that CGP has agreed to publish my next collection, which will be mainly poetry with a few bits of prose. Two different titles/covers have been proposed, and neither I nor the publisher can decide on which fits the project best.

So, if you're the sort who might pick up a book of poetry, which of the following appeals to you most?

( Cover graphics and poll behind cut )

Edit: please don't base your decision in any way on the fonts -- those can be changed right up until the book goes to press. We're trying to decide which title to use and, more important, which piece of art to buy.

But of course if you have an opinion on fonts, I'll be happy to hear them and pass them along to the production person. Thanks!

Greatest Uncommon Denominator Magazine is posting interviews with various contributors. My poem "Subtlety" is in their new issue, and they posted my interview last night.

In other news, we've been 5 days without decent heat since our ancient furnace died. We've been making do with space heaters, old wool sweaters and cats that huddle around us looking worried. But salvation just arrived in the form of a repairman with a nice shiny new furnace which, according to various reviews, should be much more energy-efficient and quieter and probably even has a secret button that transforms it into Rubimus Prime, a backrub-giving autobot.

I haven't been this happy to see a piece of machinery in a long time. I probably won't be writing any love poetry to the new furnace or anything, but you never know with me.

... my sonnet "Uncanny Valley Girl" is up at Raven Electrick.

Weird Tales is picking up "Home for the Holidays", and Star*Line is taking "Babel's Children".

(Still haven't sold That Poem. But I just realized haven't sent it anywhere in a half a year. Funny how stuff stays unsold if it stays in the bottom of your hard drive, innit? People just don't show up at your door waving a $20 bill saying "I heard you done writ some a' them poems. Think ah wanna learn me some verses I can recite t' tha guys on lunchbreak. Gimmie two!" Silly world.)

I just found out I sold my poem "Subtlety" to Greatest Uncommon Denominator Magazine.

In other news, I'm off to InConJunction today -- I hope to see some of you there!

My narrative sestina "Flyboy" is up at Strange Horizons.

(If you aren't familiar with sestinas, Wikipedia has a decent explanation.)

Beyond Centauri will be running my poem "The Evil Overlord's Lament" in their January 2008 issue.

I found out last night that Strange Horizons is buying my sestina "Flyboy".

It was great seeing everybody at the WHC! We had a wonderful, productive time.

Unfortunately, Gary and I both caught some kind of crud either at the con or on the plane -- my voice keeps going out and I wasn't worth much more than sleeping yesterday.

In better news, Poe Little Thing is buying my poem "Loop: Girl With Black Eye". It should run in their fall issue.

Strange Horizons just posted my poem "Sympathy".