The administrators of the 2007 Aurealis Awards have announced the nominees for this year’s awards. I’d like to offer my congratulations to Garth Nix and Terry Dowling. Garth’s story from Eclipse One, “Bad Luck, Trouble, Death and Vampire Sex” has been nominated in the Best Young Adult Short Story category, while Terry’s Eclipse One story, “Toother”, has been nominated for Best Horror Short Story. It was a delight and privilege to have the stories in my anthology, and I’m thrilled they’re both up for this national award. Congrats also to all of the other nominees!

Today Sophie and Jessica watched Star Wars for the first time.  I’m not really sure what they made of it.  It took a LOT of explaining, as we went along.  This wasn’t a case of geek instistence on my part, either.  I’d mentioned the movie to Sophie a while ago, because it had a princess in it.  She picked it as a video rental, then insisted on watching it.  I had to sit and explain, as the film went on.  I think they kind of liked it, even though Sophie said it was maybe for older kids and they might wait to see the sequels.  For me – I was surprised how watchable it was. I saw it when I was 13, and have a special place for it in my heart, but it’s seemed awfully dated the last few times I’ve seen it.  Oh,  by happenstance Return of the Jedi was oin free-to-air TV last night and I saw ten minutes of it. IT looked awful.  Strange how time changes so many things.

I feel for writers, I do.   You work hard, you put all of yourself into your work, and do your very best.  Your work gets published, and then the messages you get back from readers is weird beyond measure.  Yesterday I read a review of an anthology I edited.  In it the reviewer, who I respect, called one of the stories in the book ‘terrible’.  I don’t think it is, and was a little non-plussed. Then this morning I received an email from someone else who I respect a great deal, and by purest chance they mentioned the same story and called it close to perfect. I find that fascinating.  And no, I won’t name the story because the author doesn’t need thje grief. But, very interesting.

I’m waiting for an email from Lawrence Person.  I figure I know what it’s going to say.  It’ll be something like ‘H’ard sez if you want to send him a email, print it, put a stamp on it, and mail it on over’.  For those in the know, Lawrence, who seems like a lovely guy, is friends with Howard Waldrop. Howard doesn’t do email, but Howard does have an email address. You’re just not supposed to use it.  I know this. But…. I was sending out the first standard follow-up email for Eclipse Two, writing to everyone to say hi, tell them that I just bought the first story for the book, and to quietly remind them that there’s this deadline thing going to happen next year some time, so maybe thinking about stories could be cool, and wishing everyone happy holidays and so on.  Anyway, Lawrence keeps an eye on Howard’s email address for him, and added it to the mailing group last night without thinking.  So, I’ll get the email, which is fine.  I’ve just got to remember to print it out and mail it tonight, so Howard gets it too.

I’ve also got to get some post-World Fantasy proposals out the front door and get a batch of columns edited.  Busy days.  In the meantime, you did read David Moles’ “Finisterra” from F&SF, didn’t you? If not, go get the December issue and check it out. Moles doesn’t write enough, but when he does write something it’s always worth reading.

Dear blog,

What an interesting two days it’s been since last I posted.   I did try writing yesterday, but the bandwidth I was stealing on someone’s unsecured network near the coffee shop where I was writing died partway through, and all of my witticisms were lost.   Alas.

Yesterday Jessica, who is seven and was home sick with some minor bug or other, killed my Rotel cd player.  She was trying to work something out about changing dvds, but got confused and forced the cd player’s drawer.  The drawer had been overextended by a child once before (about two years ago), and this was the last straw.  I’ve been assured it’s not repairable – they had to hand make a replacement part last time – so I now need to confront replacing the machine, or not.  This is something of a dilemma.  When you’re either single or wealthy you can justify buying redundant pieces of equipment. I bought the cd player, and it’s accompanying amplifiers and speakers, about eleven years ago.  I was single, and spending thousands of dollars didn’t phase me much.  Now, I have two kids, a mortgage, and I can play cds on my computer, and on the dvd player if I have to. It’s just that I can hear the difference.  sigh.  I already have a recommendation for a replacement from the indefatigable Gordon, but I’ll think on it a while, I guess.

Other than that, Christmas is coming up fast now.  This Friday we have an end of year school Christmas thing to go to, then Saturday night is Marianne’s band’s end of year, and then on Sunday Marianne and the girls have an all-day rehearsal for the kids big show.  That’s followed by a Wednesday night dress rehearsal, then two big performances on Friday and Saturday.  The show last three hours, but doesn’t seem quite that short.  The girls will be sweet, though.

The reading is coming along slowly. I seem more reluctant than I’d expected to climb back on the wagon, but it’ll come.  I’m even thinking about getting a reader to help me a bit with the year’s best reading.  I know others do it, and there’s so much stuff to cover that it might well make sense.  Not sure, though. I’m also still waiting on Iain Banks’s MATTER.  I’d hoped to read it before Christmas, but who knows now.  I’ve also got to chase up some e-copies of novels.  Hmmm.

There is one nice thing that’s happened, though.  I’ve found these mornings. Normally my mum and I have coffee every morning before I go to work.  It’s great, and I really enjoy the time with her. I’d expected to really miss it during the six weeks she’s unable to drive, but instead have found a quiet half hour when I can sit down, write or read, and have a coffee.  It’s a small grace that I’ll happily surrender when she’s back on board, but it’s been nice.

Yrs, as ever,

J