Category Archives: LJ

Laying Aside a Huge Hamster, Stepping Down as Editor of The Fix

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So as I rather cryptically indicated in a Facebook status update last week, I’ve got an announcement.

The Georgia legislative session has been exhausting, but we’re coming up on the final week. During this chaotic and stressful time, I’ve been doing some reflection upon managing priorities and the proportion of time I dedicate to The Fix, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to devote more time to my writing than helming The Fix allows me. So it is with both regret and sadness that I am announcing that I am stepping down as its editor.

Effective immediately, Fix-related correspondences, review material, and other Fix business should be directed to:

Postal mail:

The Fix
TTA Press
5 Martins Lane
Witcham
Ely
Cambs CB6 2LB
UK

Email: http://ttapress.com/contact/

I’ll be staying on for a little while in an advisory capacity in order to ease the transition and to help disseminate the backlog of hard copy review material that I’ve received. So I’m not disappearing completely from The Fix‘s ranks.

Any review material I have received or will continue to receive while everyone updates their address books will be forwarded to reviewers; editors and publishers need not send additional review copies.

It has been an honor and a pleasure editing The Fix and having the opportunity to work with its many talented reviewers, writers, and columnists. I’m greatly looking forward to seeing The Fix continue to flourish and publish its insightful commentary, reviews, and articles well into the future.

1st Dragon*Con 2009 Staff Meeting: Looking for 1 Reporter/Editor

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The first Dragon*Con 2009 all-staff meeting was last weekend. I’m always sort of wide-eyed and sensory-overloaded at these meetings that happen during session. I’m very much an introvert, and I need to marshal energy in order to be sociable around a lot of people. And during session, all my reserves of energy are pretty much tapped out.

I do really enjoy hanging with Dragon*Con folks, but putting myself in the midst of a horde of people—composed of friends, acquaintances, and strangers—isn’t something that comes naturally for me, unlike fosteronfilm, who thrives in crowds and gets energized among throngs of people. So I hope I didn’t seem too weird.

Anyhoo, learned that I’m down one Daily Dragon staffer this year, so I have an opening for a reporter/editor. If anyone’s looking to volunteer at the convention who’s a solid writer and/or an adept copyeditor, drop me a line.

In addition to the other volunteer benefits, my staff get hours worked credit for attending (and reporting on) panels/events, opportunities to get up close and personal in one-on-one interviews with the celebs, and other perks, including press ribbons and all-access backstage passes.

Crossover Day 2009

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It’s crossover day at the capitol, legislative session Day 30, when a bill must pass in the chamber it was introduced in or die. It’s one of the busiest days of the session and so NOT a good day for sleep deprivation-induced brain fogginess.

Guess who wrestled with and lost to Mr. Insomnia last night? Sigh. I can hear the ominous susurrus of the Georgia legislature through the thin walls of my office. More coffee please.

Hobkin and Other Updates

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Taking advantage of a minor lull in bill editing at the capitol to post this.

It’s now been two weeks since Hobkin’s emergency vet visit, and he’s got one more day of amoxicillin to go. He seems to have fully recovered from his UTI (thank all the deities who watch over fuzzy beasties) and is in downright frisky spirits.

Skunks, or at least Hobkin, display a pretty radical personality shift between spring and winter. In winter he’s fat, lazy, and generally laid back. In spring, he becomes frolicsome and downright attitudinous. And apparently, it’s now spring.

On Sunday, I’m reaching down to pet the deceptively mild-mannered plush critter curled up beside me, and he decided it was an invitation to wrestle. He latched all four paws around my forearm, grabbed my index finger with his teeth, and rolled (think crocodile ambushing a deer).

Now, Hobkin knows better than to bite me, but he considers it fair play to grab my forefinger right between his two top canines (which, ’cause my hands are small, is a perfect fit) where there’s a little ridge of front teeth. Not sharp enough to cause damage or break the skin even if he presses down, but enough to make me go “Ow, no bite! Leggo, no bite!” while he drags me about by one finger and gleefully assures me that he’s not biting.

And, once again, 8 lb fuzzy animal wins over stupid human. Yes, I think it’s safe to say that Hobkin’s all better.

   


Writing Stuff

During the times when I wasn’t losing at wrestling matches against the fuzzwit, the weekend was spent editing and burning the limited edition audio MP3 CD of Returning My Sister’s Face and getting the first shipment of autographed books mail-ready (which book Amazon is offering at a juicy discounted price of $21.55 right now). I’ll be sending out email notices shortly to let folks know to expect them. I anticipate the second batch will be going out later this week. Thanks to everyone who ordered during the launch party!