Susan Forest

And, the day after I got home from the motorcycle trip to Washington, I hopped a plane for Chicago. Chicon was wonderful. I got my “Analog Mafia” pin, and was there to congratulate Stan on his retirement and Trevor on his new position. Got to meet the author I work with as an editor for Edge, in person. Sat on two panels (moderated one) and had a reading and a workshop–some good stories, there. Met new people and explored a bit of downtown Chicago, the edge of Lake Michigan and the Chicago Institute of Art with old friends. Good times!

Yay! I was nominated for an Aurora Award in the short fiction category! My story, “Turning it Off” in Analog last December was eligible, and now I am on the short list! Thanks to everyone who nominated me, and congratulations to all my worthy opponents–some awesome names on that list!

I also got a second, side-ways nomination: the novel I edited, Technicolor Ultramall, by Ryan Oakley, was the first novel I edited for Edge. Also very exciting!

One more check over for nits, and then I send it in to Edge!

I am really enjoying the work I do for Edge. This novel, in particular, has been a real delight to work on. Two more chapters, a quick re-read of the whole thing, and I think it will be ready to go.

Got the story edited for OnSPEC and the chapter for Edge–have a new chapter to edit for them now! Took a couple of days to hike with my sister and saw some spectacular scenery. Perfect weather. Did a little over 50 k in 4 days, with a total of about 5000 ft elevation gain and loss. Some sore muscles, but good food and a good visit with my sister. AND I thought of another short story idea! Wow, and I still don’t have my last short story (that was workshopped) edited…

And, got my hotel room for World Fantasy, coming up in a little over a month!

I can’t believe I haven’t posted in a month! So much has happened–at When Words Collide, I was approached by a small press editor and asked to consider doing a collection, at Renovation, Stan Schmidt gave me a lovely compliment and asked for a story–AND Liz Gorinsky requested the full manuscript of my novel for Tor, and when I got home, I got an email from Drabblecast asking if I’d like to sell them reprint rights for a podcast for “Orange!” Busy month! Now I am busy digging out, trying to get life under control again–editing for Edge, editing my own story for OnSPEC and sending out short stories. Got to get back to writing!!

Yes, two weeks of holiday–a motorcycle trip with stunning views of the Rockies was fodder for not only writing ideas (have to think when you spend 8 hours out of communication with EVERYTHING on a motorcycle) but about 15 sketches–and a great trip to visit relatives down east. In spite of that, I did finish the first draft of a 9,200 word novelette that I am quite pleased with. Edits, then submit!

Final proof edits for Technicolor Ultra Mall were approved by the author and sent in to Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing yesterday, and they will finish the layout this weekend. Launch in the fall. Very exciting! Also, I finally bought paint, canvases and brushes and have completed two paintings, and am half way through the third. Plus, I have an idea for another short story–will likely get to that tomorrow when it rains.

Got my short story revised and sent out to the workshop for this summer. Next up: copy edits for my last Edge novel and communicating with my next Edge author! Then, got to get some short fiction out on the market.

Four solid days of nothing to do but write–it will be fantastic! I’ll finish my novel edits for Edge Press today, so my plate is clear. Then: revise Chapter 10 and write Chapter 11 of “Magiers,” which is where my excitement is really boiling right now. BUT I also got an excellent rejection from IMGS that I want to follow up and I had a super critique on Tuesday for a new short story that I want to follow up on…and then there is another novel to revise for a May submission…Four days might be a little short.