Still Not Enough Rice Pudding

This is more of a thought-piece than a proper essay … (my excuse for vagueness).

I heard from an old friend last weekend, who’d chanced across a review of one of my stories and sent congratulations, which was very thoughtful of him. I haven’t seen said review, but there is an online blog referring to it, as it was in Black Static. What I was particularly intrigued by is this teaser statement from the tta blog:

Interestingly, out of the all the anthologies that I reviewed in Black Static #19, these were the only ones that had more female than male contributors, suggesting either that vampire fiction is a subgenre that appeals particularly to women writers or that women writers appeal more to these particular editors (as far as I can tell Evolve was open to submissions, but there was an element of 'by invitation' to The Bitten Word). I'll leave wiser eyes than mine to read the signs.

(  Signs! Omens! )

Long time no update – but that’s because I’m so busy I’ve barely got time to breathe.

I’m trying not to feel too down concerning Frodo the cat. She made an appearance in the house early last Thursday, had been enjoying lying on the washing basket while we were out (meaning a lot of re-washing, but never mind), and happily took treats from us and a saucer of cat-milk as well as eating a bit of food in the kitchen. Then she came and had a bit of a fuss from me. Wherever she had been though, she had picked up some little friends, so I gave her some Frontline. She did not like it and has not been back while we are in the house since. A tell-tale couple of hairs were found one day, a sneeze was heard coming from the kitchen another. I think someone may be sheltering her, probably knowing full well she belongs to us. I am very upset about it, and wonder why she isn’t coming home.

So it’s difficult to feel joyful about very much, though I’m told The Bitten Word is now available for pre-orderright here. I’m looking forward to Horrorcon, and the launch, which doesn’t seem too far away now. My radio submission endeavours didn’t get very far, but the writing bug still dominates in our house, as do our remaining cats.