Some post-vacation items of interest

I’m back from 4 days in Newport, Rhode Island, where Kelly and I watched our friends Sarah and Jay get married. Wonderful wedding, great setting, and it even turned sunny so that they ceremony could be held outside. I was only intermittently online during those four days and so here is a consolidated post of some various items of interest that have my queue overflowing.

1. My mailbox had the January/February 2012 Analog which contains part 1 of Robert J. Sawyer‘s new novel, Triggers. It also contains a new story by Jack McDevitt, “Listen Up, Nitwits.” And it has the index of all stories for 2011, including my own story, “Take One For the Road”–although my last name was misspelled in the index (Ruben instead of Rubin). I’m can’t really complain, however. I just think it’s really cool that my name appears in the same issue as Rob and Jack. It looks like a really great issue and I can’t wait to get started reading it.
2. Speaking of Jack McDevitt, sometime shortly after midnight tonight, his new Alex Benedict novel, Firebird, should download to my iPad. I can’t wait to read it. I’ve grown to really enjoy those book and especially the characters. They are like old friends.
3. Tonight before bed I’ll start my Golden Age reading for this cycle with the September 1941 Astounding. The lead story is Isaac Asimov’s “Nightfall.” I love the story and can’t wait to read it again.
4. I have decided that I am not doing NaNoWriMo this year. I’m taking the year off from the competition to focus on getting a few short stories finished instead. But good luck to everyone who is doing it this year. Don’t forget to donate to the Office of Lights and Letters. And here are my tips for a successful event.
5. My next Wayward Time Traveler column should be out sometime tomorrow and it is part 2 of the 4-part series I’ve started: “A Correspondent to the Past.” If you haven’t read part 1, now is a good time to do so.
6. I’ll be posting my (now monthly) list of short fiction that I’ve read for October a little later this evening. Didn’t think I’d hit 31 stories in 31 days, but I did! Stay tuned for the list and the recommendations.
7. About to take the Little Man and Little Miss trick-or-treating. Happy Halloween, everyone!