I thought District 9 was a brilliant movie. Innovative, politically charged, and very thought provoking. I had one of the most stimulating and exciting conversations I’d ever had with anyone about a movie with my ex after watching District 9. It lit intellectual and emotional sparks. 9, on the other hand, mystified me. I just didn’t get it. The animation was fine, but the palette of browns made it exceedingly dreary. 9 just didn’t grab me. They aren’t trying to be the same movie so other than the cute similarity of their titles I suppose it’s unfair to compare them, but it’s Friday night and I’m here in my apartment and that’s where my mind wandered.

Many thanks to those of you waiting patiently for the audio edition. Just in time for Christmas…2010, the audio is here 🙂 And, if you’d like to hear a sample of narrator Michael Kramer reading the news sheet at the front of the book, check here:

http://www.audible.com/adbl/site/products/ProductDetail.jsp?productID=BK_TANT_001217&BV_SessionID=@@@@1471021948.1263526281@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccckadejgielimdcefecekjdffidfkh.0

Just click on the right side of the little green sample button.

“Canada’s second-oldest magazine, The Beaver, is changing its name because its unintended sexual connotation has caused the history journal to become snagged in Internet filters and has turned off potential readers.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE60B3ZH20100112

I’d comment, but I’m too emotional at the moment to fully articulate my feelings, yeah, that’s it.

After surviving a particularly brutal bout of food poisoning earlier this week where I lost 3 and a 1/2 pounds in 12 hours (mercy) I was in need of something to lift my spirits. A late night email from my editor at Pocket did the trick nicely. A Darkness Forged In Fire and The Light of Burning Shadows have been licensed for translation by the Czech publishing house Fantom Print.

In other news, I need to stock up on ginger ale, chicken soup, crackers, and ice cream.

Update – I’m back from the grocery store where I picked up some fresh fruit, almonds, raisins, and chicken soup. I feel healthier already.

The Best of 2009 lists are proliferating at the moment and I’d like to thank the bloggers/readers and websites that named my works. It’s a very nice feeling. Sort of warm and fuzzy with a touch of silk and a hint of hard liquor, er, better stop there.

Soooo, my tux is back from the cleaners, when will the limo be picking me up?

Big thanks to the following for making my day:

http://www.fantasyliterature.com/awards/fanlit-favorites-2009/

http://books-forlife.blogspot.com/2009/12/2009-year-in-review.html

http://carolsnotebook.wordpress.com/2009/12/31/favorites-of-2009/

http://lydiasharp.blogspot.com/2009/12/best-of-2009.html