It's that time of year again

The Christmas tree's dropping its needles in the family room. Waistlines expanded from too many goodies, thoughts of resolutions are dancing in our heads.

And... the annual Preditors and Editors poll is up!

This year, you can support several Susquehanna Writers with one vote - for A Community of Writers, nominated in the Best Anthology category: http://critters.org/predpoll/antho.shtml

Please note: You must validate your vote by clicking the link sent to the email address you provide, so it's a two-step process.

I'd also love your votes for Cate Masters titles in these categories:

Dancing With the Devil  http://critters.org/predpoll/novelerot.shtml

A Hard Day’s Knight   http://critters.org/predpoll/shortstoryr.shtml

Dead to Rights  http://critters.org/predpoll/novelsf.shtml

Death Is A Bitch http://critters.org/predpoll/novelr.shtml

Cate Masters http://critters.org/predpoll/author.shtml

And for my literary family saga, written under the pen name of C.A. Masterson:

Orion Rising  http://critters.org/predpoll/novel.shtml

I worked very hard and was proud of the way my book cover turned out for In the Midnight Hour. It's listed under Book Cover: In the Midnight Hour  http://critters.org/predpoll/bookart.shtml

Authors work very hard all year long. It's wonderful to receive feedback anytime, but gratifying to receive votes from readers who've enjoyed our work.

I hope you'll consider voting! And thanks for your support. 

"A Uniquely Colorful Approach to Time Management"

My article appeared online today. I got the news in an email newsletter I subscribe to - I had actually forgotten that it was going live today.

I had also forgotten the little thrill that comes with seeing your work in print. For the last several years, I've been concentrating on longer works and article writing has fallen by the wayside. Now that I'm retired, I've set my sights on the freelance market again, certain that I can (eventually) structure my time so that I can write long works and short works, garnering the benefits of both.

Long works (novels, in my case) are fun in their own right. Watching the story develop. Following characters along winding roads and down blind alleys (which get cut in revisions) and getting to know them as one gets to know a friend - a friend who lives in your house with you for an extended period of time, yet never gets in your way or messes up the bathroom.

But short pieces give immediate satisfaction. They take less time to write. They can be sold in less than half the time it takes to find someone to read even the manuscript of your book. And the checks and sample copies (usually) show up quickly.

Which brings me back to that little thrill. As a reader, I'm sure you won't have quite the same reaction I did upon seeing the link and the editor's description ("a uniquely colorful apporoach to time management") but still, I hope you'll check the article out at www.institutechildrenslit.com/rx/ws02/color.shtml.

Story the Swept the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards

This story, "Paper Menagerie," by Ken Liu swept all three major fantasy/science fiction awards: the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards. It's simple and well-written, but filled with heart. Although it brought tears to my eyes,  it's also getting some harsh criticism. Interesting how different people reading the same story will have totally different reactions. What do you think?