close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and honorable mentions

I have not yet achieved my ambition of getting a story into a year's best anthology, but "Nine Sketches, in Charcoal and Blood" received an Honorable Mention in the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror. It also got a nod in one of the introductions, during the discussion of On Spec. I had my fingers crossed for this one, I must admit; I love all my children equally, blah blah blah, but "Nine Sketches" is one of my favorites.

(It's actually my second HM, though. "Shadows' Bride" got one a couple of years ago -- and I can't remember if I mentioned this, but Pseudopod has picked up audio rights for it, so you'll get a chance to hear it some day.)

Thanks to jimhines for letting me know I could search the HM list through Amazon, rather than having to get off my duff and go to the bookstore already. Yes, the post-novel ennui+cold continues, and I am a lazy slug.

And congrats to everyone else who got a nod! Share your good news here.

I guess I won't throw this one back in

Anyone desiring a reason to say "awwww, squish" should be aware that today is my first wedding anniversary. One year in, and kniedzw and I have not had cause to kill, divorce, or run away from each other. We're off to a good start.

. . . seriously, he's just as wonderful a person as he was before I married him. Which is all I think I can really ask for.