Photo: A Covenant Transport truck stood across the county road from the post office where I pick up my mail. A flatbed was parked not far from the truck. Naturally, I had to cross the county road and set up this shot.

That's a lot of books. :-)

This past week (for the most part) has seen:

One story acceptance
Two contracts received
Cover art published
Poem published
Cover photo solicited (this actually happened about two weeks ago)
Radio spot arranged

-----1. Helix: A Speculative Fiction Quarterly ( www.helixsf.com/index.htm )

My story "Prometheus Rebound" has been accepted to Helix. I'll post the story URL when it's live.

Seven stories published by Helix received honorable mentions in the 2006 Year's Best Science Fiction collection and four of its poems were nominated for the Rhysling Award (for the best speculative poetry of the year), of which one received third place. Five stories made the "Notable Short Stories of 2006" list put out by storySouth, and Helix received an honorable mention in storySouth's Million Writers Award for best new online magazine of 2006. (Among other accomplishments, storySouth is listed as a "Contributing Small Press" for the Pushcart Prize, the most honored literary project in America.) To read more about accomplishments at Helix, go to www.helixsf.com/news_announcements.htm .

As of this date, "Prometheus Rebound" joins three other stories I have forthcoming. "Identity Theft" will appear in The Drabbler #10 (from Sam's Dot Publishing, samsdotpublishing.com/contents.htm ), "Hermit Crabs" will appear in Electric Velocipede #14 ( www.electricvelocipede.com/ ), and "Arachne" will appear in Riffing on Strings: Creative Writing Inspired by String Theory (Scriblerus Press, www.banyancollege.org/scrible...ndex.php ). "Arachne" originally appeared in the November/December 1988 issue of Aboriginal Science Fiction.

-----2. Contracts received from Helix and from Aisling Press ( www.aislingpress.com )

And on the same day, no less! Deviations: Appetite, the second volume in my series, is now forthcoming from Aisling. Stay tuned for updates.

-----3. and 4. Star*Line ( www.sfpoetry.com )

Star*Line 30(6) contains my cover art and my cinquain sequence, "Evolution."

-----5. Poets' Forum Magazine

PFM has solicited a shot I took at the Homosassa Public Library's grand opening to appear on the cover of a future issue. You can see the photo at www.flickr.com/photos/302...2094705782/ .

-----6. The Jordan Rich Show ( www.wbz.com/pages/6202.php )

I was a guest on Jordan's show in October 2002, and we spent a great hour talking about science fiction with each other and with listeners who called in. Afterwards, he invited me back when I had a book published. The show broadcasts nationwide out of WBZ Newsradio 1030 Boston and is also accessible on the Web.

Jordan's show on Saturday, February 2, 2008, will focus on fiction authors. The show runs from midnight to 5 AM Eastern time. We plan to do an interview by phone around 12:30, and will firm up details as we get closer to the air date.

May you all have a wonderful Solstice!