Just a few tidbits before the end of the year.  Most recently, Rich Horton lists my story, “The History Within Us,” as one of the “strong stories” from Clarkesworld Magazine this year.  The magazine is chock-full of amazing stories, so I’m honored that he thought mine was one of the best. Also, just released this month, The People of the Book, which contains a reprint of “The History Within Us.”  With stories from Neil Gaiman, Michael Chabon, Peter S. Beagle, Jane Yolen & more, this anthology looks fantastic.  It’s next on …

My father grew up in Pelham Parkway in the Bronx in a Jewish section of the neighborhood.  Nearly all of his friends, and his parents friends were Jewish.  He said he could tell the Jews from the gentiles (whom the Yids of the day called ‘goyim’) by the color of their shoes.  Jews always wore black shoes, the goyim, brown. But in the early seventies he moved to Massapequa, Long Island to work for a law firm .  And that’s where I grew up.  I’m not sure what the demographic is …

Last night I trekked up to the north end of Clinton Hill in Brooklyn for the Sybil’s Garage film shoot.  A start-up film production company offered to make a promo film for us as a way to build their resume.  We bounced ideas back and forth.  They sent me a script, I sent them my comments.  And before no time at all they were shooting. I arrived at the set, made to look like a graffitied parking garage, in their office studio: I know when working with creative people, it’s best not …

My friend Cesar Bustamante made this cool video of Catherynne M. Valente reading from her new Prester John-themed novel, The Habitation of the Blessed.* She recently read at Word Bookstore in Brooklyn as part of the Wold Newton Reading Extravaganza, with music by Brian Francis Slattery and the West Constantinople Squeezebox All-Stars, as well as dancing by Jezebel Wood, Mary Cyn, and Katie Lennon.  I’ll be reading there as part of the series with Rick Bowes in February.  I’m not sure if there will be belly dancing yet. * Website designed …

To celebrate the holiday season, Senses Five Press is offering a 50% discount on everything in our store, including the latest issue of Sybil’s Garage and the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology Paper Cities.  Just use coupon code HOLIDAZE2010 when checking out. Have you read Sybil’s Garage No. 7 yet?  Read what others are saying about the latest issue. “It’s been awhile since an anthology had this kind of emotional impact on me…this one is highly recommended.” – N.K. Jemisin, Hugo-nominated author of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. “One of my favorite magazines.” – John Klima, …