I am a big freak.

Murder Ballads is with my wonderful beta readers. Of course, I am freaking out. This feels like a cross between Caitlin's first day of school and a final exam.

I realize that none of them are going to call me a talentless fraud. There will be things they like and things that they think I can make better. I know this. It's not like I wrote The Eye of Argon. And still, I am freaking and second-guessing myself about certain scenes, characters, etc.

At least this whole writing thing gets easier, right? ;)

With the novel out of my life for a month, I'm going to wrestle with a short story idea.

Destination Wonder

Destination Wonder, DeKalb Public Library's awesome SF discussion group, starts again on Wednesday. torresroman put together an amazing reading list for this year. If you live in the area, please join us. If you don't, feel free to read along at home.

January 7
Kalpa Imperial by Angelica Gorodischer

February 4
The Orphan's Tales, Vol 1: In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente

March 4
The Black Company by Glen Cook

April 9
Choice of the Cat by E.E. Knight
This includes an opportunity to meet the author and eat free pizza in an event co-sponsored by The Friends of the NIU Libraries.

May 6
War for the Oaks by Emma Bull

June 3
Dreams Underfoot by Charles de Lint

Conventions!

It looks like we're going to three SF Cons in the next six months: Capricon, Odyssey Con, and WisCon. This will be my first Capricon. I just signed up for some panels. It should be fun. I hope that some of my peeps will be there.

Capricon 29
February 19-22
Westin Chicago North Shore
601 North Milwaukee Avenue, Wheeling, IL 60090
(847)777-6500
Author Guest of Honor
Sharon Shinn - Crawford Award Winner, Two-Time Campbell Award Nominee
Artist Guest of Honor
Gary Lippincott - Chesley Award Winner
Fan Guest of Honor
Christian McGuire - Chairman, LACon IV - The 2006 Worldcon
Special Filk Guests
Sally & Barry Childs-Helton
Special NASA Guest
Bryan Palaszewski