Aaaaahhh! I heard your call but I was with someone so I couldn't answer it! I'm so excited for you! This is so awesome!! And the one article showed a cover! I don't blame you for grinning and grinning and grinning! You shouldn't stop - not for a second. I can't wait to actually be holding a book in my hands!

Oooh. "With someone"? Doesn't that sound intriguing.... :D

Haha, yes it does, doesn't it? Sadly, I didn't mean it that way since it wasn't that way. I was with Christie and we were just hanging out talking. Though, I guess we did have the open relationship on Facebook. ;) Yeah, I just feel rude if I answer the phone when I'm with people so I try and refrain if I can. I was totally up though. And still excited!

I completely understand. I'm the same way. I thought maybe you'd already gone to sleep for early-morning classes, or work, today. I was just calling anyone I thought would still be awake that late. Which was pretty much you and my parents. ;) Helps that y'all are an hour earlier....

That's F'Nign awesome!!!!!! Sooooo cooooll!!!!! SOOOOOOO HHAAAAPPPPYYYY. ALSO REMEMBER I AM GENERALLY UP AT STUPID HOURS. YOU SHOULD CALL ME TOO!!!

I don't have your number! In fact, I don't think I have your email, either. How did *that* happen...?

Congratulations!! I'm so happy for you!! We must celebrate!!

It's time for the happy dance!

How fortunate, then, that today is Thursday! (And you know what that means...uh-huh...it's business time....)

How in the heck did I miss that you write?? And, apparently, write well!? And for such a nifty cool anthology??! Argh! I must be well-nigh unto completely clueless...

I'm just immoderately modest. ;) No one really knows I write. Even though I try to bring it up in not-so-subtle, kinda-really-obvious ways whenever I get the chance:

While standing at the CSD: "Hmmm," Kim ponders aloud to her computer, "I wonder...." Eyeing bookseller standing beside her. Tapping keys. Loudly: "Awww. They don't have it up yet." Eyes bookseller beside her. At bookseller's questioning look: "My book. Well...not *my* book. But the book that's PUBLISHING MY SHORT STORY. It's not in the system yet. What short story, you ask...? Well...."

As for writing well...that remains to be seen. I like to imagine so, but there are always passages that make me cringe and wish I knew how to rewrite them. But I'm thrilled to get into S&S...I submitted a truly awful piece when I was 16 that, mercifully, wasn't accepted. But I've always wanted to get something into the anthology. And I'm so excited you know about it. My friends and I devoured every copy we could get our hands on when we were teenagers, but most people I've spoken with are unfamiliar with S&S.

No, I've read my fair share and then some of the S&S anthologies! Also, the Chicks in Chainmail books - besides fairy tales, I have a thing for people treating stereotypes with humour and/or completely turning them on their head!

Can we have a book signing with you? Should I suggest it to the one manager I really get along with (and who happens to be in charge of things like that?). :)

As long as y'all promise to come and chat with me when I'm sitting all by my lonesome with stacks of books in front of me, sure, I'm up for a signing. :) But I'm not sure if we'd be able to get the books in: they're pre-pay only, as far as I can guess. At least, all the other books we receive from the publisher are pre-pays, so I assume S&S will be too. Soooo...I dunno how that works. Bother.

Oh how cool! I want you to sign my copy! nd one of these days I will find a chicks in chainmail to read. ok, seriously. You may think it was retched when you were 16, but at 16 you got the attention of MZB to send you a non form letter from the slush pile. Stop being bashfull!!!!

Sorry. ::blushing bashfully:: But you're right: that story wasn't my best work, but I'm pretty damn proud it made it into the semi-finals. :D And I will *definitely* sign your copy! And keep an eye out for a copy of chicks in chainmail just for you....

See. You have every right to be proud, and to be out loud about it. And Chicks in Chainmail would be awesome. I also have a moderately large swath of S&S I am missing. I am happy to reimburse if folks find them. I need 3, 5-8,10. Wow, I don't own 6 of the 22. not as large a swath as I thought. Well, seven, it isn't November yet. Yet....

Guess what I bought at Dark Star today? (only the coolest used book shop in YS, OH.) S&S 5-8 & 10. I am need 3 and 22 for the complete set!!!! Soooooo excited!!!!!