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Ah, Aaron...this is hard to read, but I'm sure you're doing a great job by those boys. Many murals to paint and many more to admire, if those kids follow in their old man's footsteps!

I've always liked your "The World in Rubber..." story too. And I hadn't thought about it's being a metaphor for death either, but boy is it perfect.

I can't imagine having to explain to kids that Mommy won't be coming back. Wow. I admire your strength, seriously.

Thanks, Daniel. We're doing the best we can.

K.C. - Thanks. I'm glad it looks like strength. Feels a little like trying to glue together a giant vase which keeps crumbling... Funny how stories do what they need to do when we need them.

The parable was really neat, I think the boys will like it. You are an amazing dad. The boys will always miss Aimee and they will always remember the amazing love, guidance, and support you give them everyday. You have so much Aimee in you, and the boys will always see that. World's greatest dad takes on new meaning when you look at the job you are doing.

How about making a "Mommy book" with each boy over the summer? Each book could contain pictures of that child and Aimee, along with drawings (yours and/or theirs) and stories (yours and/or theirs) and whatever else you want to put in there. It's a way to start conversation, a way for them to express what they are feeling without having to articulate, and something they can keep forever to remind themselves how much she loved them.

Awww, Sara. I'm just doing what I can. Thanks.

Lane - Great idea. I'm going to chew on this one a bit...

Oh man, that post tugged at my heartstrings.

And you know I've always loved that short story - I shall reread it again today with new eyes.

That's still one of my favorite short stories. And I don't mean of yours, but I mean in general, ever. Like Cate, next time I read it, it'll be with new eyes. (And I do re-read it periodically.)

Thank you for sharing these things with us, as well as your stories about Aimee.

Praying and thinking of you all often. Lisa O

I didn't read the same material in H.S. that I do now. All we can hope is that this generation grows up and starts to learn the difference between quality and muck and is drawn to the quality. The art of the story won't die, it may just take a slightly different form-- I hope.

Congratulations on your story being in the anthology.

I don't know if I would agree or not. I read, my mom reads, my sisters read, my kids read, and you know what, no one reads the same things or has the same interpretation of what they read.

Fiction may be cheap and easy, but not always. How long did you spend on your story? Hours? Days? Weeks? Those whose taste run to speculative fiction will appreciate all of your work. If they did not like it, they would not buy it. You know what your work is worth.

Something are always worth working for, even if you don't see monetary rewards immediately. That is why we keep writing. Or at least I do.

This seems to be a common theme around the internet these past few weeks. It's terrifying, in a way. Not just for the primary reasons either...it's scary because it makes me appreciate Twilight in an odd way...anything to keep kids reading, I suppose.

I blame corporatism. As soon as you have to make a return every quarter regardless of the business environment, you lose the option of cultivating talent or markets over a long-term, and you lose the ability to inject really cool artistic works into the world. That's the core ideal behind the Bruckheimer-ization of literature, and why none of us can sell stories outside of the small presses.

But, you're absolutely right: I'd rather my kids read Vampirates Book IX than never read or listen to music, full stop.

Also: congrats, and double rainbows \oo/

Congratulations-- it looks beautiful and is definitely on my list for the next spree.

I have a knee-jerk reaction to alarmist pronouncements, and that is always: "Bullshit." They get people talking, they sell newspapers, they get people to watch the news. But they're so rarely the truth.

Yeah, fiction is cheaper and easier to find, and it's easier to find crap than ever. But there has always been crap fiction that gained undue popularity, and always will be. And there have always been dark horses that pull out in front or niche fiction that finds its place and shines there. Just because it gets there in a way slightly different from the past 500 years doesn't mean it won't happen.

More information cannot be a bad thing. Hell, at this rate, we might even figure out democracy some day.

Woot on "End of the Rainbow" : )

Boo, on mediocre fiction. I try not to look too hard at the YA section when I go to the bookstore. Some of it scares me.

Also, congrats on your published story!

It's a matter of supply and demand. I think that's why POD is doing so well. No more books returned for non-sale. If we can just get people reading again . . . people demanding quality lit and genre.

I'm soooooo jealous that you already have your copy. Oh and I'm sure I'll tear up when I read your story again. It's my all time favourite (I may have said that before).

Jamie - Hope is the thing with wings, right?

Shadow - It's not about being paid, it's about the lack of mountain tops from which to shout. I'm sure that made no sense at all.

Barry - The times they are a'changing. To quote another musician, "these changes aren't permanant...but change is"

Jeremy - Our eyes are too focused on turning profit now instead of building a temple for the future.

Katey - I knew you'd talk me out of whatever gloom and/or doom I was feeling. Sometimes I'm too much in the panic of "now".

Natalie - The stuffed literary characters with fuzzy hair scare me.

Bobbie - And I think POD is the secret weapon of the small press. Now to conquer marketing. (easier said than done)

Cate - I'm pretty sure it's on my list of favorites, too. (and it's a semi-biographical piece, in a way...more than usual at least)

Congrats on the publication!

I certainly hope fiction writing isn't dying. I'm not ready to let go! In all seriousness, it'll be folks like us who keep it alive.

Nice. When my pockets produce spare cash, I know where it's going...

I'm quite eager for my contributor copy...have to see where the colors have gone.

So cool to be ToC-mates with you, Cate. And I look forward to discovering "The Meaning of Yellow."

:-)

Joshua, In the future, pockets will automatically manufacture spare cash. Fact. I hope.

Aaron, and I'll finally have an actual print copy of 'The World in Rubber...' Well, I do have a print out already but... In a real book.

Ditto, Marshall :D

The Ministry for the Abolition of Bright Things sounds like a tough lot! That beginning really grabs the curiosity...

this one sounds awesome! I can't wait to read it all.

They're very tough, Alan. And they have axes.

Thanks, Jamie.

Very cool. Well done.

Congratulations! Both of you are in some most excellent company I see.

Congrats! A must buy? Hell yeah. :-)

Congratulations, Cate. I shall be snaffling up a copy when my next paycheque comes through... Woot! And a very, very small squee.

Wow! Very nice TOC!

Congrats Cate! I'll keep it in my "must read" mind folder!!!

Awesome! Congrats! =)

I had such a great image in my head for this one, but could not find the story in time. Oh well.

Congratulations-- this is going to be a particularly gorgeous one.

Thanks Daniell & Katey.