Tiara. In AUSTRALIA. Or: The 2010 Campbell Ballot is live!

I am delighted (and still sort of staggered and awed) to announce that I have been nominated for the 2010 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. You can view the full ballot for this year's awards by following this link to the Aussiecon 4 website.

I. Uh.

Oh my sweet Great Pumpkin and pie, you guys, I made the ballot.

I literally started screaming when I got the email—like, high-pitched, sonic screaming—followed by crying hysterically for a good half an hour. Because I made the ballot. I'm an urban fantasist! Urban fantasists don't make the Campbell ballot! (I checked the last several years, because I am insane like that.) Urban fantasists don't get to buy pretty dresses and go to Australia and maybe win a tiara!

But this one does.

Wow.

I've updated my website to reflect recent changes, I've done the Internet equivalent of making the house look nice for all the new guests that are likely to come over and check me out, and I've managed, mostly, to stop crying. I'm on the 2010 Campbell ballot. I just...

There are no words. Just wow.

Happy Alice-versary.

One year ago today, I flew home from Seattle with a tiny, traumatized, rather pissed-off bundle of fuzzy blue and white puff stuffed into a bright pink soft-sided cat carrier.

One year ago today, I released the piece of puff into my bedroom, where it looked around, jumped onto the bed, curled itself into a comfortable ball of puffiness, and essentially said "This will do, monkey."

One year ago today, Alice Price-Healy Little Liddel Abernathy McGuire officially joined my family. And it seems like she's been with us forever, and it seems like she's been with us for five minutes, tops. I remember when her name was longer than she was! Now she's the length of Amy's leg, and making great strides toward being the length of my leg. She's like one of those magical grow-critters—the ones that swell to a hundred times their original size when submerged in water (and maybe this explains her passionate love for hanging out in the bathtub, water bowl, and toilet). She's immensely puffy, and sweet, and cuddly, and funny, and wonderful.

She's just wonderful.

I remain so grateful to Betsy for letting me have her, because she is one of the best cats I have ever owned. She and Lilly are a joy both together and apart, and Alice is a constant ball of playful, prim, perfect delight.

The Maine Coon. Because sometimes, you just need more to love.

New story: "Dying With Her Cheer Pants On."

Do you like cheerleaders? Do you like aliens? Do you like urban legends? Well, then you're just gonna love my latest published short story, "Dying With Her Cheer Pants On," in which the Fighting Pumpkins Cheer Squad goes up against an alien invasion in a battle to the death, with the very fate of mankind hanging in the balance.

"Dying With Her Cheer Pants On" is available now, in the April 2010 issue of Apex Magazine.

Some of you may have heard me perform this story live, since it's a favorite reading piece of mine (and how could it not be? I mean, really). For those of you who haven't, there's an audio version of the same story in this month's issue. Totally awesome.

Go, read, enjoy, and remember...

GO PUMPKINS!