February 5, 2003

Stars In My Eyes

February 5

So, um, wow. It's almost time for the final Nebula Awards ballot to be released -- probably sometime next week. So the Nebula jury is making its decisions. You know about the Nebula jury? They look for stories that they think deserve special attention, which didn't receive enough nominations, and they have the power to put stories directly on the final ballot. The jury released their shortlist of choices recently (I saw it, with a nudge from Jon Hansen, at the Black Gate newsgroup). Here's what they're considering for the short story category:

SHORT STORY

"A Book, By Its Cover," in SHELF LIFE, Greg Ketter, Dreamhaven Books, date 2002 P.D. Cacek

"Men in the Rain," Asimov's, Jan, 2002 Esther Friesner

"A Taste of Summer," Black Gate, Winter 2002 Ellen Klages

"Identity is a Construct," Strange Horizons, January 2002 Douglas Lain

"Little Gods," Strange Horizons, February 2002 Tim Pratt

"Droplet," F&SF, July 2002 Benjamin Rosenbaum

The jury can add one story to the category (though they're not obligated to add any). Ben Rosenbaum's and Doug Lain's are two of my favorite stories from last year, too -- I wouldn't be upset if either of them snagged the nomination. Though I wouldn't complain if it happened to me, either. I'm rather bouncy, and simultaneously girding myself for disappointment... I should know soon, quite possibly on Monday.

This really is a case of it being wonderful just to be nominated...

***

So. I began the February dare well, finishing "Living with the Harpy" and a draft of the Train story with Mike (he sent back the last section yesterday, and it rocks!). Not a bad beginning, though I did start both of those before the Dare began...

***

My friend Katherine wrote to me today! She stumbled upon my journal. I looove Katherine, but we completely lost touch after college (I saw her once, at a party, after graduation, but that was it). She's been doing well, it seems, and best of all, she still sounds like her, like all the things I still loved about her personality remain! I'm looking forward to corresponding with her. It's a shame she lives so far away...

***

Tomorrow is kest's last day at A Certain Magazine. It's a shame; it was nice working with her. We never hung out much, which I regret now, but that's pretty standard, regretting things when it's too late to do anything about it. But I'll keep reading her journal, and since her orbit will be synching with Nick's (who got fan mail from China Miéville!), I'm sure I'll keep hearing from/about her. I wish her well on her cross-continental voyage of and so forth.