Red Room Where the Writers Are

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2008, the Year of the Short Story Sales
This year has been my year for getting short stories published. And not just online.

Two stories made it onto Every Day Fiction's website:  "The Heist" and "Your Smiling Face". "The Heist" also made it to their The Best of Every Day Fiction 2008 anthology (http://www.everydayfiction.com/anthology-now-available-for-ordering). "Jolaneering" appeared at Nanobison.com.

I also managed to get a couple things published that aren't science fiction or fantasy. My short memoir about finding my sister was published in September in the new Vintage Voices:  Four Part Harmony anthology. My story, "Bullheaded", about a bull rider with issues who dooms his new relationship before the first date can be found in This Ain't No Rodeo (http://www.amazon.com/This-Aint-Rodeo-Carol-Hightshoe/dp/0615255779/ref=...). Seventy-five percent of the proceeds from This Ain't No Rodeo go towards the Resistol Relief Fund for injured riders and their families.

If you have any short story fans on your gift giving list. Or perhaps, you would like to read some, by all means, support some starving writers.

I sold a story to Beyond Centauri, a sf/f (and ewww gross) magazine for 9-18 year olds. This is my first sale to a print magazine and first sale to this age group.

I'm working on a school tour as part of my book tour. If you know a school that would like to hear from a SF author about writing, getting published or following your dream, let me know. I love talking to teens. I'll be putting a more speaking specific page up on my site soon with more particulars.

Awesome Lavratt is getting promoted in January!
I have a limited supply of advance release copies on hand that I can autograph for you and throw in free shipping (within the US). They sell for $12.99. In January, the trade edition will be available at Amazon and book stores for the same price. But you'll have to track me down if you want an autograph and will have to pay the shipping if you by it online.

I'm scheduling a book tour to start off with a book launch in Santa Rosa (Borders on Santa Rosa Ave., date TBA), followed by signings all over the bay area.

Conventions
This year I participated as a guest at BayCon in Santa Clara, CA, SpoCon in Spokane, WA and OryCon in Portland. BayCon continues to be my favorite. I'm going to Radcon in Pasco, WA in February and back to BayCon in May. I had the privilege of interviewing Irene Radford at OryCon this year. That interview will be published in Broad Universe's Broad Sheet available late winter/early spring.

Reviews
Don't forget to read my book reviews at Mostly Fiction (http://mostlyfiction.com/reviewer/wilkes.htm). The editor will be posting our favorite books of 2008 soon.

On a personal note...
I landed a FT writing job. I'm a staff writer for the trade journal, The Green Sheet. Best of all, I can walk to work. Now that's a green job!

I also became a grandmother again. A real when as opposed to just a step-grandma this time. My daughter had a son in late October. They live just an hour and fifteen minutes away. If you feel so inclined, there are pictures on my main blog (http://sciencefictionmusings.blogspot.com).