The Year We Make Contact

First post of 2010! I've got some pretty heavy-duty shenanigans planned for this decade, so you're going to want to pay attention.

For the time being, a couple of quick reminders:

1.) Life in the Harem is on its way from Tin House

2.) I'm only marginally sane.

3.) The San Francisco Panorama is still available. Also, McSweeneys.net will be running excerpts from the Panorama all this week.

4.) "Be excellent to each other." -Abraham Lincoln

The Jew of New York

Getting ready to read Ben Katchor's graphic novel The Jew of New York on the advice of a friend. Very excited to reignite my long lost love for comic b- ... graphic novels.

Holy Macaroni!

Time Magazine just did a nice write-up about McSweeney's 33. The article doesn't mention my story specifically, but if you read it carefully I'm sure you'll find (as I did) that a great deal of praise for my story is implied.

The Novella Excerpt Event of the Decade

In a testament to my own boredom, I've started to make trailers for work that has already appeared in literary journals. So, in essence, this is a preview of the past. Did that blow your mind? If not, this might:

A.V. Club's 10 Best Short Story Collections of the 00's

Short story collections and lists by the A.V. Club are two of my favorite things. So imagine my excitement when I learned that today those two things have, however briefly, commingled. I'm pretty disappointed that Dangerous Laughter didn't get a nod, but the whole fun of best and worst lists is choosing the degree to which you agree/disagree/don't care. Anyway, it's hard to feel anything but love for a list that features George Saunders and Kelly Link. Be sure to check it out!