Things I Have and You Don't . . .

. . . a preliminary cover sketch for With Fate Conspire.

I'm all the more chuffed because the design in question is one I suggested. Authors are only sometimes asked for such input, and far more rarely heeded, because let's face it: we're authors, not art directors or cover designers or marketing wonks, and we generally know very little about what sells and what doesn't. But for once I had a winning idea, and I can't wait to see (and share) a finalized version.

more (sort of) Onyx Court to tide you over

I screwed up my neck and shoulder on Sunday, so I've mostly been staying away from the computer. But I'll have another fight post soon -- possibly tomorrow* -- and in the meantime, you can entertain yourselves with "Two Pretenders," my latest offering over at Beneath Ceaseless Skies.

This is, by the way, the product of one of my charity auctions, where the winner was allowed to choose one event or person in English history and I would tell them what the fae of the Onyx Court had to do with it. In the case of "Two Pretenders," because the event chosen actually predates the Court itself, the link is more tenuous; but the short story grew out of the summary I gave the winner. So if I do another such auction in the future, remember, you may get an entire short story out of it. :-)

And remember, after you've read the story, you're always welcome to leave a comment on the forums.




*By which I mean Friday for everybody who isn't in Asia. I'm actually posting this before midnight my time, but in social terms I don't believe it's the next day until the sun has risen or I've slept, so even if it were three a.m. Friday morning for me right now (and six a.m. or later for some of you), "tomorrow" would still mean Friday. Confused yet? :-)