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I got news this morning that "Houses Under the Sea" has been selected for The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror #18. This pleases me. "Houses Under the Sea" is, I think, one of my very best short stories. Considering that "Pony" was chosen for the 2007 edition of Horror: The Best of the Year, and that "Bainbridge" made the very short recommended reading list in Best American Fantasy, I didn't do so bad for myself last year, short fiction-wise.
According to the May 2007 issue of Locus, Meisha Merlin Publishing is no more. I was briefly concerned about the legal status of Tales of Pain and Wonder, but then was relieved to read my contract and discover that my agreement with MMP expired in January and all rights have reverted to me. I see that used copies are going for truly exorbitant prices on Amazon. I am talking with Merrilee about the collection's future, looking at options, one of which is still the e-text I've been planning.
I spent four hours yesterday sitting here staring at the iMac's screen, trying to find the start of a vignette. I have a tire, "Wide, Carnivorous Sky," but that's all. Maybe it will come today. No news from HarperCollins, and I suspect there will not be until at least Monday, so I still am unable to get back to the revisions. I've half a mind to fuck off and spend the day at Oakgrove Cemetery. The weather is cool, and it would be better than sitting here. Yesterday was the first day all month to earn an L.
Last night, we watched the Bros. Quay's The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes (2005), followed by Sion Sono's Kimyô na sâkasu (also 2005).
Okay. Time to wrap this up. The platypus is not a happy camper. But hesheit says that the 18th of May, should it happen to fall on a Friday two nights past the new moon, is the absolute perfect time to subscribe to Sirenia Digest.