The Prozac has utterly curtailed the dizzy/woozy Effexor withdrawal effects, which is fantastic. Although I’m still feeling a wee bit short tempered. Still, even that is improving. I didn’t have the burning desire this morning to strangle the Barnes & Nobles information desk employee when he kept pointing me to the Poetry section (where I’d just spent 45-minutes fruitlessly looking for the book I wanted) and telling me that everything was organized by author (duh). Nor did I feel the need to get out my stabby pen when he said he couldn’t help me after I explained that I didn’t know the name of the author (editor actually). And I didn’t even feel murderous when he informed me that their computers could only do searches by title and author name, although I know that any book searching software worth two copper plugs can do a subject search. However, I will admit to feelings of exasperation when I had to ask him twice to do a simple subject search. Nevertheless, it was fleeting exasperation that dissipated once he found what I was looking for upon conducting the requested subject search, as I knew he would. It’s not like I pulled out an uzi and started mowing down hapless bookstore patrons.
Y’know, I simply like bookstores (and libraries). I spent several hours just wandering up and down the aisles, browsing. I think I spent a whole half an hour poking around in the reference section alone. Yep, I’m a bibliophile.
I do find it distressing that I didn’t see a single SF/F magazine in their newsstand section–not an Asimov’s, Analog, F&SF, or Realms of Fantasy anywhere. I’m telling myself it’s because they sold out and are due for the next issues, not because they’ve decided to simply stop carrying any.
I like denial.
Writing Stuff
Did I mention how much my Apex Digest editor, Jason Sizemore, rawketh? It bears repeating. He saw my “where’s my money?” post yesterday and immediately emailed me to let me know both my contrib. copies and payment for “Oranges, Lemons, and Thou Beside Me” will be going out this week. Yay! And he’s the featured writer (along with Apex co-editor Athena Workman) over at the Wicked Karnival message board. So go ask him something. (I think you need to register to post a question, but how painless is that?)
I also got a note from my Aberrant Dreams editor, Ernie Saylor, letting me know that I’m in today’s Slip of the Pen (their webcomic). I’ve never been immortalized by a comic strip before. Hee!
Published:
– My appreciation of “Hell Notes” by M.K. Hobson (bricoleur) (published 2/9/2005 in SCI FICTION) as part of David Schwartz’s (snurri) ED SF project.
Received:
– Confirmation from Futurismic (after I queried them) that they’re still considering a story of mine they’ve had since mid-October. I’m very relieved that the Internet beasties didn’t eat my submission and knocking on wood that the tale passes final muster.
Did you go to the Barnes & Noble up on Northpoint? The spec-fic mags are there, but they can be very, very hard to find. I think it took me 15-20 minutes to find Analog once.
Did you go to the Barnes & Noble up on Northpoint? The spec-fic mags are there, but they can be very, very hard to find. I think it took me 15-20 minutes to find Analog once.
I was in my local B&N yesterday and they had all of the above spec fic mags plus Book of Dark Wisdom.
I was in my local B&N yesterday and they had all of the above spec fic mags plus Book of Dark Wisdom.
Have you ever read “The Very Secret Diaries of Lord of the Rings” and also “The Naked Quiddich Match”?
Have you ever read “The Very Secret Diaries of Lord of the Rings” and also “The Naked Quiddich Match”?
You rawk too, girl. I’m consistently impressed with your success at pubs. I can’t motivate myself to even look at my old short stories. I tell myself it’s because I want to stay focused on getting my NiP ship-shape for submission, but really, I’m fed up with endless rejections.
Forgive my ignorance, but what happened with 12 Babes of Xmas?
Doug
You rawk too, girl. I’m consistently impressed with your success at pubs. I can’t motivate myself to even look at my old short stories. I tell myself it’s because I want to stay focused on getting my NiP ship-shape for submission, but really, I’m fed up with endless rejections.
Forgive my ignorance, but what happened with 12 Babes of Xmas?
Doug
Very cool you’re in the comic – and explained by doggy-style!
Sadly, it looks like I won’t be going to any cons this year.
Re: conventions this year
I just sent you an email about Frolicon. Perhaps could you attend if you didn’t have to get a hotel room?
Re: conventions this year
Lol, I think I’d be foolish to trust my looks would earn me some fellah’s bed.
Re: conventions this year
Um, I was thinking you could crash at our place, but if you’d prefer to get picked up by some cute lad at Frolicon, that works too.
Re: conventions this year
Um, I was thinking you could crash at our place, but if you’d prefer to get picked up by some cute lad at Frolicon, that works too.
Re: conventions this year
Lol, I think I’d be foolish to trust my looks would earn me some fellah’s bed.
Re: conventions this year
I just sent you an email about Frolicon. Perhaps could you attend if you didn’t have to get a hotel room?
Very cool you’re in the comic – and explained by doggy-style!
Sadly, it looks like I won’t be going to any cons this year.
Re: Jason
It’s a small world after all. After lunching with Jason yesterday, I ran into Crowe T. Robot, aka Christopher V. Rowe, at our local library. Then I came home and looked at my flist. Zeros and ones flew across cyberspace.
Re: B&N F/SF selection
I think each B&N is independently run. I know that one of the buyers for the Louisville branch is a big mystery buff, so their mystery section is the best in Kentucky. The Lexington B&N must have at least a respectable F/SF buyer, because we always have Asimov’s, F&SF, Realms of Fantasy and Apex, not to mention sometimes Cemetery Dance, Book of Dark Wisdom, and several other irregularly published ‘zines.
Re: Holding one’s temper
Behold, the power of drugs. If it had been me instead of you, that clerk’s intestines would be staining the floor.
speaking as a previous B&N employee:
It would not shock me in the slightest if the buying was locally controlled (sort of–not by store but by some sort of region=less trouble for corporate), but I would tend to think that is not why they weren’t on the shelves. I’d guess they’re either sold out, or Eugie happened by after the old issue had been taken off the shelf but the new one hadn’t been stocked yet. It’s near the end of the month–funny stuff like that happens.
And of course the B&N computers can do subject searches–as Eugie found out. They’re just such a pain, usually returning 5 millions replies, that getting an employee to actually do one requires the gift of gab. In 9 months there, what I learned best was the location of the bestsellers.
speaking as a previous B&N employee:
It would not shock me in the slightest if the buying was locally controlled (sort of–not by store but by some sort of region=less trouble for corporate), but I would tend to think that is not why they weren’t on the shelves. I’d guess they’re either sold out, or Eugie happened by after the old issue had been taken off the shelf but the new one hadn’t been stocked yet. It’s near the end of the month–funny stuff like that happens.
And of course the B&N computers can do subject searches–as Eugie found out. They’re just such a pain, usually returning 5 millions replies, that getting an employee to actually do one requires the gift of gab. In 9 months there, what I learned best was the location of the bestsellers.
Re: Jason
It’s a small world after all. After lunching with Jason yesterday, I ran into Crowe T. Robot, aka Christopher V. Rowe, at our local library. Then I came home and looked at my flist. Zeros and ones flew across cyberspace.
Re: B&N F/SF selection
I think each B&N is independently run. I know that one of the buyers for the Louisville branch is a big mystery buff, so their mystery section is the best in Kentucky. The Lexington B&N must have at least a respectable F/SF buyer, because we always have Asimov’s, F&SF, Realms of Fantasy and Apex, not to mention sometimes Cemetery Dance, Book of Dark Wisdom, and several other irregularly published ‘zines.
Re: Holding one’s temper
Behold, the power of drugs. If it had been me instead of you, that clerk’s intestines would be staining the floor.
Does being immortalized in a comic strip make you immortal now? Inquiring, but very dull, minds would like to know.
Does being immortalized in a comic strip make you immortal now? Inquiring, but very dull, minds would like to know.
Neato cheetos on the toonage, although, short of the doggie-style reference, it zoomed over my head like an F-16.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Pat Kirby
Neato cheetos on the toonage, although, short of the doggie-style reference, it zoomed over my head like an F-16.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Pat Kirby