My Three Auction Wins Have Arrived!

During the recent Brenda Novak Online Auction to Benefit Diabetes Research, I jumped at the opportunity to bid on signed copies of Rowena Cherry's SFR "chess" series, FORCED MATE, INSUFFICIENT MATING MATERIAL, and KNIGHT'S FORK. I had the extreme fortune to be the high bidder on this lot. *insert big silly smile here*

Ms. Cherry contacted me promptly about shipping and I soon received the three very welcome (not to mention gorgeous) new additions to my Leaning Tower of TBR (R). They, of course, went to the top of the stack, and I've already started reading FORCED MATE. (Do I sound just a wee bit giddy?)

Special thanks to Rowena Cherry for putting her fine books up for auction and to Brenda Novak for another outstanding auction. (If you haven't checked out this auction yet, you really should be sure to catch it next year.)

I hope to post book reviews in the near future.

Parallel Universe Blasts Off at The Galaxy Express

Beginning today, The Galaxy Express is hosting "Parallel Universe" an event featuring and promoting Science Fiction Romance in conjunction with the RWA Nationals in Washington DC that will begin July 15th. TGE will be hosting a number of posts with a SFR focus in the two weeks to come. Be sure to join the fun.

If you're on Twitter, search the related hashtag "#rwasfr" for current tweets and live updates from RWA Nationals next week.

The Toasted Scimitar Signs Off

Some of the readers of Spacefreighters may know of my other joint blog The Toasted Scimitar, our themed Fantasy Pub. T/S kicked off in June 2007 as a joint blog co-hosted by myself and three--later four--Fantasy/SF writers, my co-bloggers Abby Rustad (published author of an impressive list of Fantasy and SF shorts), published author Ardyth De Bruyn (CHOSEN SISTER), and the talented writers known as "Skipperz" and "Spartezda."

We recently made the joint and unanimous decision to retire Toasted Scimitar from blogdom. ("RIP Toasted Scimitar") We'll leave the blog inactive for the next year before deleting it, as some of the former articles are still getting hits and comments. I will always fondly remember T/S as my tutor and on-the-job instuctor into the universe of blogdom.

Long live Toasted Scimitar.

Independence Day

As I contemplate the freedoms this country offers
and the wealth I enjoy that goes far beyond the monetary
As I celebrate our liberty
and revere our heroes and our fallen
I remember with pride those who came before--
Those who sacrificed so our country could be born
Those who died defending democracy
Those who taught me the meaning of heroism and courage
Those who inspired me through words and music
to look in the mirror and become a better citizen of this great planet.

To them I am forever indebted.

Happy Fourth of July
Long may that Star-Spangled Banner Yet Wave