Well, some small discussion of LiveJournal this afternoon led me to remember that I haven't really posted here for a while.  I thought I should probably touch base.  It's actually been a busy period of time, although I'm not sure how much of that business is of interest to many others.

I've finished a story called "The Price of Beauty" for an anthology, and I'm rather pleased with it.  It takes a lot of shots at the cosmetics industry, at the emphasis placed on beauty and good looks in our culture, and with the entire concept of "self-image."  In my opinion, mind, it's funny, sharp-witted, and pretty solid.  And it plays around a bit with elements of MaCBETH, which was a plus for me, personally.  

I've made additional progress on a new novel.  I've kept a bit quiet about this, but I'll mention that it's a mystery.  Not an sf mystery.  Just a mystery.  I'm more convinced than ever of the importance of diversifying my writing in the current market climate.  I've done some of that with short fiction lately.  "The Return of Don Ramon," for TALES OF ZORRO, is, at its heart, a straight-forward western.  And "Touch of Moonlight," for LACE AND BLADE, is, for all its fantasy elements, a classic if condensed romance story.  Both stories have led me to seriously consider branching out into those genres as well.  They were surprising fun to write, and I've never quaked in my boots about using pseudonyms.  I already have half a dozen of thosse in the porn markets.

I've also returned to the gym with a passion.  All my injuries seem to have healed.  So have Ron's.  So about six weeks ago, we plunged back into the weight-lifting.  I achieved a personal best record on the bench press yesterday at 220 lbs.  This is not, I hasten to add, a single-rep maximum, but a full set of ten presses. Incline bench press is at 165.   And my leg presses are up to 700 lbs.  Once again, I have another national professional body-builder for my personal trainer, although not the same one I had at the time of the last Los Angeles worldcon.  I'm not quite as big as I was at Los Angeles, although I hope to be by the time the Nebulas in Austin roll around.  Interestingly, I seem to be stronger.  Which is an acceptable trade-off.  Being careful not to incur any new injuries, sprains, or muscle tears, I'm very curious to see just how far I can take this.  

The aforementioned Nebulas Weekend is coming up in a few weeks.  I've made all my arrangements to attend.  I'm spending a couple of nights at the hotel, but also a couple of nights with Brad Denton.  Steve Gould will also be staying at Brad's, and I'm really looking forward to spending time with both of them.  I only wish there was time to put together a too-much-delayed issue of THE SFWA QUORUM!   (GRIN)  Next year, for sure.  Now that I'm no longer SFWA president, there's no longer any reason why I should worry about diplomacy and decorum.  Or even decency.  

Oh wait.  Nobody's supposed to know who produces THE SWFWA QUORUM.  Gaze deeply into this pixel.  You will forget.  You will forget...