Today, the mail brought me my contributor's copies of Lovecraft Unbound, in which matociquala and I appear in the excellent company of Caitlín R. Kiernan, Michael Chabon, Joyce Carol Oates, Laird Barron, Amanda Downum, and many other excellent persons, all under the aegis of Ellen Datlow. Our story, "Mongoose," is set in the same universe as "Boojum" (because that universe is seriously the Best Toy Ever) although it is not a sequel or otherwise related.

Also, I love the book design and its cunning use of fonts.

The finalists for the 2009 Locus Awards have been announced, including, in the short story category, "Boojum" by matociquala and me.

(That thing about the honor being in the nomination? We're in there with Peter Beagle. PETER! BEAGLE! ELEVENTY-ONE!!!)

Congratulations to all the other nominees!

Also, congratulations to the Nebula and Tiptree winners!

matociquala has posted the map of the Iskryne we figured out a couple years back.

And, for those of you who, like me, think the Edda of Burdens is the shiniest thing since chrome, she's also posted her map of Eiledon.

I need to brag share good news.

I got the first royalty statement for The Bone Key today. In its first year out in the big wide world, it sold out its advance approximately six times over. It is totally the Little Book That Could.

And so that this entry is not entirely me me me me me, if you have not already, I highly recommend you read Elizabeth Bear's short story, "Sonny Liston Takes the Fall."

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elisem is having a big sale to fund the purchase of correctly-fitting bras. This may sound trivial or foolish, but it isn't. Trust me.

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matociquala has a wonderful post on why you shouldn't let Them tell you what your process ought to be.

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ETA and a third thing: rhienelleth is having a jewelry sale to benefit the ACLU's opposition of Prop 8. Which is a very worthy cause to buy pretty things for.

The Lone Star Stories Reader will be out soon. (Features my story, "A Night in Electric Squidland.")

So will Fast Ships, Black Sails. (Features the story I co-wrote with the fabulous and talented Elizabeth Bear, "Boojum." Think Lovecraft as written by Tiptree.)

The September-October issue of The Willows features a new Kyle Murchison Booth story, "The Replacement."

Speaking of Booth, here's a story by story review of The Bone Key. I think Ryan Harvey thinks I think a little too well of myself (didja follow that?), which is totally his prerogative. I would like to confess, however, that I have never read Algernon Blackwood--aside from failing to get through "The Willows" (oh the cruel irony! the shame! I weep!)--so the presence of Blackwood that Harvey detects "echo[ing] as strongly" as Lovecraft and James through The Bone Key is illusory. I'm really sorry.

And speaking of Bear, two reviews of A Companion to Wolves, here and here.

truepenny: I covet your cover artist.
matociquala: *shares*
truepenny: You are the best Bear.
matociquala: Well, I don't mangle bird feeders. Which makes me better than many bears.
truepenny: And your liver isn't toxic!
truepenny: ... that came out all wrong.

Avast, ye scurvy dogs! 'Tis International Talk Like A Pirate Day, and the cutthroat crew of Wired.Com has rare and wond'rous treasure to dangle before you. Behold, GeekDad reviews Fast Ships, Black Sails and provides a free download of "Boojum", a story about the love between a pirate and her ship, by those swashbuckling sisters of the seven seas, Elizabeth Bear and Sarah Monette.

Only a cross-eyed landlubber would pass up this chance for gold and glory!

More often than not, this is the kind of thing matociquala and I talk about.