If anyone’s looking for stories to nominate for the Hugo, I’ve got my 2008 publications listed on my bibliography. Some are available online, and I’m happy to send the others to anyone who’s doing some reading right now. Just let me know.

From csinman.

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me!

My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

* I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
* What I create will be with you in mind.
* It’ll be done sometime this year (2009).
* You have no clue what it’s going to be. It may be something written, some physical thing made, could be anything at all, but I will make it myself. It’s entirely my choice what it is. No quibbles, no refunds.
* I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch?

Oh, the catch is that you put this in your journal as well. If you don’t, you don’t get anything.

I’m not very comfortable with Internet controversy. I’d much rather talk about things in person, where we have access to body language and so on. Or at least more privately than Internet forums.

Cultural appropriation is complicated, messy, and problematic. I’m a member of a privileged class and I know it. I want to be aware of this issue and understand it.

I feel that I’m responsible to educate myself, and I’ve tried. But I do have a specific question that I’m currently confused about, and would very much like to talk about this with someone(s) privately by email.

Anyone interested? I’d especially like to talk to a writer of color if possible–someone with fiction writing experience–but I’m open. I’m asking for volunteer(s); I know it’s uncomfortable to always feel like you have to educate people, but I’m hoping someone will want to talk.

Thanks. Email address on my primary blog as always. Or use whatever you have for me–that’s fine too.

Not a lot of news lately. I finished the draft of a novel, which felt great, but there’s still a ton of work needed. This could take a while. Already know what I’ll do next, but not talking about it much yet. Totally overwhelmed with writing projects right now, and I need to prioritize.

It’s earnings season, so my mind is busy with financial crap and monetizing the synergies to incentivize the right-sized suppliers at the end of the day. Er, excuse me. It’s like a bad cough that just comes out sometimes.

I did something really cool the other day, or at least I thought it was cool. I have a friend who’s got bad financial troubles. I figured I could spare a little to help her. So I hired her to do some research for me. I paid her to put together a report on Puritan Massachusetts. All the things writers need to know–what the Puritans wore, how they worked, and the everyday things. We both win–she gets some money, and I get the research I need. (I probably would have just given her the money, but it felt more professional for both of us this way.)

I tell you, it was completely cool to go used-car-shopping for six hours… and come home to a complete email with everything I’d been meaning to look up and hadn’t had time. Woo hoo!

Shannon and I negotiated a sweet deal on a used car. It’s a black Saturn Ion ’06 with low mileage and it’s very shiny. We got 16 years of life out of our last Saturn, and we’re hoping for a similar achievement here.

We did all our research and knew what price we wanted going in there. The car dealerships are desperate, as evidenced by how well we did. We had the car checked out of course, and all systems look good.

Given that we were driving a ’93, the new updates on this car are completely awesome. The radio has text naming the song! Daytime running lights! Awesome gas mileage!

I’m easily pleased. And now, I don’t want to shop for a car again for another 10-16 years.

Star Wars retold by someone who never saw Star Wars.

Work-safe and totally funny. Even if you hate Star Wars.

Shannon and I were driving with the radio on. We heard a DJ play a comedy sketch about ex-Presidents going out to lunch and sticking Obama with the check. The sketch itself was okay, but I had a horrible realization:

You know how each new President spawns a series of stupid jokes about him five minutes after he takes office? Well, we’re about to be inundated with racist jokes about Obama.

I was pissed as I thought about this. Then I had a second realization. This offers the opportunity for allies to speak up when they hear those jokes and say, “That’s not acceptable.” Especially in cases where (as is common) the joke-teller looks around the room first to see who’s there before they speak.

I plan to practice my confrontational skills. Gently but firmly.

From nihilistic_kid, the Haiku Generator.  I like what it gave me.

Haiku for vylar_kaftan

freak myself out by
putting on my hat i look
just like i did this

I’m up at Podcastle with a flash fiction piece. Through the Cooking Glass, originally published at Raven Electrick. It’s about 7 minutes long and contains the gingerbread apocalypse.

Merry CrispMoose.

Anyone local with a sewing machine who wants to be paid for a small project?

Shannon had a white elephant gift exchange at work and got a fleece blanket craft project.  It’s two pieces of fleece, and you’re supposed to make fringe and knot the edges together.  However, because of my allergies, blankets in this house take heavy abuse in the washing machine and I’m worried the fringe won’t survive.

So I was thinking it might be smarter to sew it together.  It’s two big squares of fleece and the project would take 15 minutes to complete.  Should be easy.  But I don’t have a sewing machine.

Anyone interested?  I can pay whatever is reasonable.  Let me know, thanks.

P.S. it’s SHARK FLEECE.  Now you know why I must have this. 🙂