It’s November, and a big welcome to all of you whom I crossed paths with at World Fantasy in San Jose. I had a wonderful time, as always, and California continues to do its best to seduce me out to the Bay area. The food, the people, the sea—air and the wondrous sights—it’s certainly my favorite place in the United States to visit. If only they could get a little more snow.

We’re on our fourth straight month of updates, a fact which amazes me even more than you, dear reader. While I’ve not got as much good stuff lying around this month as last, I’ve still got at least one item about which I’m pretty chuffed.

And now the news:

Just two items, but they’re big. For fans of the Pathfinder rpg, I’ve been asked to contribute fiction to an upcoming series from Paizo, due out next year. I can’t say more, other than to say they’ve got some great talent lined up and I’m thrilled to be contributing to part of their saga. Keep tuning in for more information as I am allowed to release it.

And secondly, I recently received a copy of the cover art form my novella Hearts and Minds, coming in February from Samhain Publishing. They’ve been a dream to work with, and are putting their weight behind us SFR folks with a ton of faith, including a big ad campaign in the upcoming issues of Realms of Fantasy. So without further ado, here’s the cover:

For additional coolness, or to see the other covers in the series, you should check out the Exclusive Sneak-Peak article posted over at the Web’s premiere SFR site — The Galaxy Express.

Keeping up with Appearances:
That’s it – If you didn’t catch me at WFC, you’re out of luck until next year. It’s time for me to turn on the oven and start thinking about family, and huge Thanksgiving feasts, as well as the non-stop crazy of the winter holiday season. As I hammer out what my schedule for next year is likely to be, you’ll see it here first.

And October has come upon us once again; turning leaves and frost-laced wind signals the death of summer and the rise of the long, cold dark. Or something — I’m a winter-blooded person at heart, and October means but two things: Hallowe’en, and the return of Hockey Season! This year it also marks, incredibly, the third month in a row that I’ve remembered to update my news page. Everyone Cheer! Now if I can only remember to update my essays, too, we’ll have it made.

And now the news you love so much:

As a late-arriving surprise, my post-apocalyptic poem “After, Thoughts — a Pantoum” is available in this month’s issue of Apex Magazine. You can get your copy in several versions, including Dead-tree edition, a .PDF, or a version for those of you with a Kindle. Go, Enjoy!

Keeping up with Appearances:
I’m closing the year with a bang, certainly, with my last con-event for 2009 being this year’s World Fantasy Convention in San Jose, CA . It’s been a rough, long year, with too much time away from home, but it’s been worth it. See you there.

It’s September now; the leaves begin to turn, and a young man’s thoughts turn to . . . writing, I guess. I’ve got a few announcements, and a reiteration of my travel plans so let’s get started:

Firstly, I am pleased to announce that my short-story “A Loss for Words” will be appearing in the anthology Dark Faith, coming out from Apex next year. This is going to be a lovely anthology, featuring some quality stories from folks I respect, so I am thrilled to be part of the contents.

From our “So excited I squeak” office, I’m equally pleased to announce that my novella Hearts and Minds was picked up by Samhain. I’m very thrilled about this, both because it’s a story I’m right chuffed about and because Samhain are really the leading edge when it comes to digital / print publishing. They do romance very well-especially non-standard romances like SF, Fantasy and ParRom-and I’m really pleased to be part of the family. Hearts and Minds is slated to come out in February, so expect to hear a lot more about it by then.

Keeping up with Appearances:
In September, I’ll be visiting the Texas for the Game Developer’s Conference. It’s the biggest and best for folks who work in the video game industry, and I’m thrilled for the chance to attend.

Finally, I’ll be closing out the year with an All Hallow’s trip to San Jose, CA and this year’s World Fantasy Convention. That should bring a busy, but productive year to a close, at least conventions-wise. Soon it will be time to plan for next year — where does the time go?

August has burned its way across the Midwest, so I guess that makes it time for another of my sporadic updates. Let’s start by talking about one of my least favorite subjects—Me!

Lots of news on this front, folks so let’s see if I can get it all in here:

First, my essay “The Abominable Dr. Phibes: Darkness and the Corrupting Power of Revenge” will be appearing in the anthology Butcher Knives and Body Counts: Essays on the Formula, Frights, and Fun of the Slasher Film, coming soon from Dark Scribe Press.

Ever a fan of rigid-form poetry, my zombie-themed Rondeau “They Eat Our Brains” is available now for your reading pleasure in Coscom Entertainment’s Vicious Verses and Reanimated Rhymes. I’m on page 97. A collection of poems about the zombie apocalypse, this anthology makes a perfect gift for your favorite poet, zombie or zombie-poet.

Poetry’s been a good time lately, as my poem “Lachesis” will be in the September issue of New Myths magazine. I wrote this one on a challenge at Mo*Con, and I was thrilled to find a home that appreciated interspersing mythology, knitting and meditations on death in one poem.

I’ve also been hard at work on a few other projects, but unfortunately, they’re under contract, and I won’t be able to say anything until they’ve been made public knowledge. Rest assured, though, that when the time comes, I’ll be crowing loudly about them.

Keeping up with Appearances:
Only a few chances left to harass me in person—August 13–16, I’ll be celebrating Woodstock’s anniversary at the big geek love-in known as Gen Con, in Indianapolis IN. You’ll find me in the infamous Author’s Alley where I’ll be signing copies of New Ceres Nights as well as Sails and Sorcery.

In September, I’ll be visiting the Yellow Rose at the Heart of Texas for the Austin Game Developer’s Conference. It’s the biggest and best for folks who work in the video game industry, and I’m thrilled for the chance to attend.

Finally, I’ll be closing out the year with an All Hallow’s trip to San Jose, CA and this year’s World Fantasy Convention. I haven’t managed to log a reading slot, but rest assured that if I do, You’ll hear about here at some point (I’d say first, but we all know how bad I am about updating this thing.)

Still not dead. Still worse than ever about updating. It’s a new year, maybe I’ll be better at that, but don’t hold your breath.

I’m happy to announce that my story “Code Duello” will be included in the anthology New Ceres Nights due out in April from Twelfth Planet Press.  There’ll be a launch party at SwanCon in scenic (and very far away from me) Perth, Western Australia, but if you can’t make that you’ll still be able to find a copy at online retailers, or directly from the publisher.

What’s New Ceres Nights, you ask? It’s a anthology of stories set in a shared world where the future is our past, a place where science fiction collides head-on with the Belle Epoch. I’ll let the press release say the rest:

“New Ceres is precarious: its New Enlightenment constrains society as well as liberating old thoughts and literature and drinking customs. The planet plays interstellar politics to defend its independence and it recruits refugees from Old Earth and the conquered New Alliance planets to maintain some dangerous habits.”

I’ve seen the proofs and it’s lovely, plus, you know, me. Always a bonus in my book.

Keeping up with Appearances:
My public calendar just keeps getting more full – Interested parties can find me at Mo*Con IV from May 15-17 in scenic Indianapolis, IN. In August, I will return to Indy for another appearance in Gen Con’s infamous Author’s Alley where I’ll be signing copies of New Ceres Nights as well as Sails and Sorcery.  At the end of the year, I’ll be crossing the country to San Jose, and this year’s World Fantasy Convention, so if you happen to see me, be sure to say hello.

Kudos to Cool Kids
Congrats to Alice Henderson, whose novel Voracious is currently eating everyone in its path. Head to your Friendly Locally-Owned Bookstore and get Consumed.

Bravo as well for Lucian Soulban who has released the most recent addition to the Dragonlance Mythos with his novel Renegade Wizards. Go. Buy it. Now.

I suppose the most surprising news is that I am still alive. I didn’t disappear or in some other way make myself unable to post, other than the obvious ‘too busy to think about much of anything else.’ I apologize, dear reader, (on the offhand chance I have one left) and promise to make a better effort for it in the future.

Keeping up with Appearances:
I’ve got two big appearances this year, and they’re still on the up and coming list — interested readers, viewers, paparazzi and others can find me at GenCon in Indianapolis, IN. I’ll be signing copies of Sails and Sorcery in Author’s Alley, at the Fantasist Entertainment table. Also at GenCon, I’ll be sitting on a pair of panels “The Art of Terror and Fear” (Friday at 4 p.m.) will also feature my good friend Tim Waggoner, and promises to be terribly entertaining. And if you’re more into the practical-yet-esoteric side of the pen, you can catch me in the panel “Writing by Tarot” (Saturday 11 a.m.).

My other big public appearance this year is World Fantasy — this time in sunny and warm Calgary, Alberta (Canada for those South of the Border). Once again, I’ll be an easy guy to find — the knitting will make its required appearance. I’m already looking up yarn shops where I can add to my already-too-large stash. Because someday I might want a sweater knit entirely from Canadian sheep.

Kudos to Cool Kids
Special congratulations to the brilliant and talented Alice Henderson, whose novel Voracious was picked up by Jove / Penguin and will be released in February 2009. Pre-order it now!

Simon Wood, master of Mystery and climber extraordinaire saw the release of his new book recently. We all Fall Down is available from any reputable seller of dead-tree editions, so get out there and buy it.

Rich Dansky, game designer, writer and cad has a story in the new anthology from James Lowder Worlds of their Own. This has the bonus of being available at GenCon, so if you’ve come all that way to see me, you’d better be grabbing a copy of this for yourself!

Not much news on my own front, but big rounds of Kudos to several of my friends. Firstly, to Maurice Broaddus who is currently the featured author on Apex Online. Go read what the Sinister Minister has to say about pretty much everything.

Also – a big congratulations to Simon Wood, whose short story “My Father’s Secret” won the Anthony award for best short story at this year’s Bouchercon (the World Mystery Convention). Way to go, Simon. We’re proud of you.

Keeping up with Appearances:
The last chance to see me in 2007 is fast approaching. World Fantasy in Saratoga Springs, NY runs from November 1 through 4, and I will be in attendance. More importantly, you can do more than see me – you can actually hear me read. I will be reading “Return, My Heart, to the Sea” on Thursday, November 1st, at 5pm. I’ll be in Broadway 1, so be certain to stop in. (And bring your friends!)

As a bookend, the incredibly talented Melinda Thielbar will be reading her story – “Party at the End of the World” on the Sunday of the convention at 10am. If you’re there you’ll definitely want to catch her, she never disappoints.

In honor of Sails & Sorcery coming out this month, Heidi Ruby Miller has dedicated her August “Pick Six Interviews” to covering the authors whose names grace Sails’ table of contents. For those not familiar with the concept, she gives every author the same list of questions and they choose the six they want to answer. My interview posted Wednesday, 29 August, so go give her a look (and learn more about me!)

Just a couple of brief announcements today – back from GenCon where I did a signing for Sails and Sorcery. This anthology, featuring some amazing writers, is now available at Amazon and B&N.com, as well as the Fantasist Entertainment Web site.  It’s beautifully illustrated by the talented Julie Dillon.

In additional news, my short story “Brothers” is currently available on Pseudopod – the premiere horror fiction podcast.  This story’s been out of print for a while and one with which I’m rather pleased.  Go check it out!

Finally, a quick round of congratulations to Alice Henderson who recently won a Scribe award for her Buffy the Vampire Slayer novel, Portal through Time!  Way to go, Alice!

Keeping up with Appearances:
Only one place left to catch me this year – and that’s November’s World Fantasy Conference in Sunny Saratoga Springs, New York!  Look me up, I’ll be there!