Several of my writer friends will be appearing in the Clockwork Phoenix anthology, forthcoming from Norilana Books. The Table of Contents has been released, and it includes a story by rising short fiction superstar Cat Rambo, who I had beers with at a workshop last summer. It also includes pieces by my Homeless Moon cohorts Mike DeLuca and Erin Hoffman. Well done, all!  I will definitely be snagging a copy when it comes out this summer.

I found a nice review of my story “Excision”, which appeared in Weird Tales #347. It’s by Jeremy Tolbert, a neo-pro SF/F writer whose work I had not heard of, but whose name I recognize as a former editor of Fortran Bureau. I’m glad that he was intriuged by the healing magic and that he wants to read more in this setting. I am currently outlining a new story that fits perfectly into this setting, so hopefully I can make it work.

My personal favorite in WT #347 so far is Amanda Downum’s story “Catch.” It’s not the sort of setting or tale I usually enjoy, but the characters’ emotions just dripped off the page. Very well done.

My pal in writing and often also drinking, Justin Howe, has a prose poem now online in the current issue of Abyss and Apex. He has a unique blend of the fantastic and the bizarre, always worth checking out.

My copies of Weird Tales #347, featuring my story “Excision,” arrived a few days ago. The severed head in the jar looks even cooler in person! It was odd for me to read the teaser sentences; about my story but not written by me. The artwork for my story is awesome, especially the tiny picture in the margin of a cute little bunny with wicked cat’s claws. I haven’t yet read any of the stories, one by fellow Odyssey alum Clayton Kroh, or Mike DeLuca‘s non-fiction column, but so far it’s pretty damn cool.