Don’t ask me how it’s September already, because I truly have no clue whatsoever – but it means several very good things, including the very first issue of The Red Penny Papers going live! It includes my pulp-y short story “The John”, which I’ve mentioned on the blog here and there, as well as the following lovely stories by friends of mine:

“Pluvial” by NK Kingston
“Shaper of Dreams” by John Cash
“Postcard Wings above Blackpool Sands” by Cate Gardner
“Black Medicine Thunder and the Sons of Chaos” Episode 1 by Aaron Polson

Many thanks to the fabulous K.V. Taylor for putting it all together. I’m so happy to be a part of this!

Also, how truly bad-ass is that cover by C. Bernard? (This happens to be the same artist who did that drawing of Lillian on Always Read the Fae Print‘s page for me. Awesome!)

September also means that it’s only a few short days before I leave for vacation: specifically, my plane departs for Singapore on Saturday evening. On Tuesday, I’ll hop onto another plane headed for Sydney, where I’ll stay until the end of the month.

In other words: don’t expect much blogging from me during that time, though I might try to schedule some to keep this place from becoming a desert land.

As far as my progress on Heirs goes – it is WIP Wednesday, after all – I’m afraid it’s gotten stalled. Apparently doing 56k in less than three weeks takes its toll on the brain. Given all the preparations needed for my epic vacation, I figured it was best to put it on hold for now.

Come October, though, that book is going down. Mark my words!