True Fact: Funerals

They are sad.

True Fact: Fisting

I'll say it again: for an act to be officially recognized as "Fisting" a fist needs to be present and participating.

Clarion West 2011

There is no way to download 6 weeks of learning, studying, networking, socializing, writing, critiquing, arguing, pontificating, strategizing, thinking, and game playing in any other way than experiencing 6 weeks of game playing, thinking, strategizing, pontificating, arguing, critiquing, writing, socializing, networking, studying, and learning. If you are thinking you want to write, then I couldn't encourage you enough to try Clarion West. It was the hardest most intense exhaustive thing I've ever done, and I loved every minute of it. It was amazing to be around 17 other students, 6 professionals, 2 supporters/organizers/professionals (Les and Neile rocked my world!), and countless supporters all PASSIONATE and devoted to not just Science Fiction or Fantasy, but to writing, to the lifestyle, to the community. Thank you so much: Leslie Howle and Neile Graham, Paul Park, Nancy Kress (my hero!), Margo Lanagan (you taught me more than you know), L. Timmel Duchamp, Minster Faust, Charles Stross, Greg and Astrid Bear, Erik Bear, Nisi Shawl, Mary Robinette Kowal, Eileen Gunn, Ellen Datlow, Marci, Mark Teppo, Vonda McIntyre, Brenda Cooper, Nicola Griffith, Kelly Eskridge, and all my fellow writers this year:

Alisa Alering

Alex Bear

John Coyne

Corinne Duyvis

Erik David Even

Sarah Hirsch

Catherine Krahe

Jei D. Marcade

Jennifer Moody

Jack Nicholls

David Rees-Thomas

Maria Romasco-Moore

Jeremy Sim

Anne Toole

Nicholas Tramdack

Steve Wilson

Alberto Yáñez

Keep and eye on those names. You'll be seeing a lot of them soon.

All I know, is that I'm hungry. I want this life, I'm ready for the challenges, and I'm going for it.