Baby Rats - I can explain...

You see, there was this petshop and these aquariums inside containing baby rats...and the person next to me, whom I had asked to please control me, I only wanted to see if this place had decent cages, said, "Go on, do it!"

I wasn't that hard to convince, since I knew it's not good to keep a rat on his own and Luka did miss Zach, so I picked out two little guys and they came home with us to meet Luka! It is way, way easier to introduce babies to an adult rat than if the newcomer is older. No blood, very little yelling, only a baby rat flipped on to his back and held down to show him who is in charge. One of the babies went right into the cage on his own and the other soon followed. Luka seemed fine with this, only wanting to resume his nap while the little guys checked out their new hotel with great excitement. A few hours later, they're tucked into the Snuggle Sack behind Luka - or else he ate them, I can't actually tell right now!

Writerly Report

Things are moving a little in re my short fiction. I Can Run Faster is due to be published in Aurealis - not certain whether or not it is the next issue - and The Sky Chief's Tale will appear in Canterbury 2100. I understand that anthology is to be launched at Swancon in 2009. [edit - correction below!]

Dynamics of New Ceres will appear in New Ceres The Anthology, featuring the return of Professor Moriarty and Mary Bennet, third and least-regarded of the five Bennet sisters.

I have also had one story, Stranger and Sojourner which appeared in Orb 7, chosen for Honourable Mention in the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror 2008, so all in all, not too bad, especially since my output has been so low and I think that may have been my only eligible story for that period.