As readers of this intermittent journal will know, I’ve just returned from Conflux in Canberra, where I was guest of honour, and had quite a lovely time. Canberra’s a very nice town, and getting to spend time with so many friends is always a delight. Highlights included dinner with Jack, Janeen & Stephanie, catching up with Graham, seeing Ally for the first time in far too long, Nick’s birthday party, and helping launch Terry’s Rynemonn. Definitely a good time. Check out the cover below, and order a copy! It’s an important, and terrific, book.
Still, I’ve come home and I’m tired, stressed and definitely beginning to weird out. I have two projects to complete before I board Qantas Flight 574 for Sydney on Wednesday, 24 October. Thanks to Terry’s sterling efforts, The Jack Vance Reader is well progressed. The main introduction is nearing final draft, and we have two of the three book intros in hand. We still need to arrange the third intro, but that shouldn’t be a huge task. I’m a little more daunted by The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year. I have a final table of contents for the book, and thanks to the good offices of John Helfers at Tekno (the unacknowledged hero of these books) the contracts are all being arranged. I just need to write the intro and notes. If I can get time on Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday, I should have a near final ms. by Tuesday, 9 October. If I can do that, then I can spend time cleaning it up, going over it and such, before sending it in to Night Shade in the first week of November. Until I have the draft complete, though, I’m going to be on edge about it.
On top of that, it’s my little Sophie’s sixth birthday on Sunday, 14 October. We’re having a small party for her on the day, and a big one on Sunday, 21 October (for 20+ of her closest friends). Both days should be very special, though the preparation is almost entirely falling on Marianne’s shoulders, which isn’t fair, but…
What else? Oh, I have to pack and stuff. I’m awful at this. I’m going to be away for two and a half weeks, with odd stops here and there, so I need to work it out. Blech. I’m also giving myself till Monday to decide whether I’m going to reschedule my trip and reduce the time away. It seems like a good idea, right now. I also need to organise clothes for the big Consulate thing, and be on deck for the WFC party. Busy, busy, business.
And, you ask, is he having fun? A year ago this would have been fun. Two years ago this would have tickled me pink. After seven years without a real break of any kind, and doing six books a year for three years (roughly), I am kinda looking forward to some quiet time at home with the family and without deadlines. sigh.
Oh, and as reward for reading through this meandering self-indulgence, you can read a brand new Kelly Link story, “Light”, in its entirety over at Tin House.
