Sic Semper Tyrannus

March 3

I sold a story! "The Tyrant in Love" to s1ngularity, Gabe Chouinard's new 'zine (which has its official opening on the 15th of March; there's some content there now, though). Nice response time, too -- just a week. Details about publication date to come...

This story... whoo. I wrote it in January of 1999, and the only thing I noted about it my journal back then was "On Thursday I wrote 'The Tyrant in Love' (I think it's awfully good)." Wish I'd elaborated more -- the origins of the story, what caused me to write something so very dark and quiet and tragic and mournful, are lost to me. I first sent it out on January 30th of that year, and it subsequently went out many more times (s1ngularity was the 23rd place I sent it -- I mention this to give hope to the most-oft-rejected of you!), and it always got positive comments, but no one wanted to publish it (much like my experience with "Annabelle's Alphabet", actually). I persisted in thinking it was one of the best things I'd ever done, though, and it's a favorite of Heather's, too. It's about a tyrant. Who falls in love. And I'm very, very, very happy that everyone will finally have an opportunity to read it. When I think about the really important stories I've written, the ones that stretched me and took me in new directions -- this is one of those, along with "Annabelle's" and "Little Gods" and a few others. Mmm. A joyful night.

And, in other joys, go read Jenn's amazing story, "Winged". It's a great piece -- it's been one of my favorites since I first read it in an early incarnations, with a different title, at Clarion. I'm so happy it's found a good home at Strange Horizons. Read it, and if you like it, tell your friends, nominate it for awards, and all suchlike.

I'm not sure there's anything else of note to report -- I wasn't going to write a journal entry tonight at all, then I made the sale... So, random little things: Thanks to everyone who offered ear-remedies. This afternoon my ear spontaneously cleared, and it's been fine ever since. It's nice to hear in stereo again. Tonight fair Heather and I made some pasta, and couch-snuggled, and watched more 24. I read a bit more of Conjuncitons 39 -- I'm down to the novel excerpts, which don't interest me much (as a rule I dislike excerpts) and Liz Hand's novella. We got our copy of Polyphony in the mail today, and Heather's reading that. The first issue of Other Magazine is now available, with a pretty good line-up, including Daphne Gottlieb and Annalee Newitz. And that's it, for now...

Words written since February 1, 2003: 9,600

Words written since last entry:
0.

Go buy mine and Erin Donahoe's new chapbook, Love!

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