December 31, 2009 is when I turn 42.  That’s a significant age for us second-wave nerds (kids these days… would you believe I encountered recently a kid who called himself a "nerd" but who had no idea what the significant of 42 is?).

<Jigsaw voice>There will be festivities…</Jigsaw voice>

Anyway, I wanted a big blow out for my 40th, but I realized it’s probably too late to master the ballroom dancing I wanted to master, and to get everyone geared up in just 2.5 months.  So consider this your 2.25 year warning.

Support Me in the 2007 NaNoWriMo Write-A-Thon

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I’ve been sitting on this for awhile.  A couple of people have seen it, but most of the world has not.

This is the illustration that will accompany my short story, "A Most Heinous Man", in the December issue of Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine.  Today I got permission from the editor and the illustrator to post this artwork to my website before the issue goes to print.  Click on the thumbnail for a larger picture:

The illustrator is the impressive Lewis P. Morley.  Not only did Mr. Morley do much of the concept art for the Matrix films (and no matter how awful you might think the second two films were, you have to admit the art and design were awesome), but I’ve learned that he’s also worked on Superman Returns, and has just signed on to work on Justice League.  I feel very fortunate to have his artwork grace my goofy little story.

Some of you may notice the three extra names in the credits:  Jennifer Crawford, my wife; my friend Keith Phemister who has been a strong influence on my creative and personal life; and the misspelled Kristin Andrews, who just happens to be my mom… because for all my faults, I still love my mom.  I contacted the editor as soon as I noticed the misspelling, but unfortunately there was nothing to be done about it (the editor admits to the fault here — normally I wouldn’t say that, but I wanted to make it clear that I do know how to spell my own mother’s name).

In other news, if all goes well, then escrow on our house in Dixon will close by Thursday this week, and we will have sold that house.  And actually made a profit, which apparently is quite a feat in a day where one out of five houses for sale are actually foreclosures (in our area, at least).

Support Me in the 2007 NaNoWriMo Write-A-Thon

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What if Richard III had access to the Internet?  What would he blog (or vlog) about?

One of the reasons why Shakespeare will always be popular is that his characters are essentially timeless.  Romeo and Juliet succeeds not just because it’s a great story, full of drama and romance and what-not, but also because every teenager in love has thought that they, like Romeo and Juliet, were the very first ones ever to feel as they do.  And Richard III succeeds because he, like a million others, is a freakin’ drama queen, and their type will always be with us, as the portrayal below demonstrates:

As portrayed by my very funny and talented friend Ed Gyles Jr.  Who, by the way, deserves congratulations and accolades for having been selected to be one of the founding members of the ComedySportz improv troupe in Sacramento.

Support Me in the 2007 NaNoWriMo Write-A-Thon

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