It’s always exciting to get author copies in the mail. I think, what is this box, I don’t remember ordering anything, and then I open it and my work is inside!

Flame Tree makes such lovely-looking anthologies, and it’s such a pleasure to be included in this one. Especially after a few previous attempts to get acceptances to Flame Tree anthologies. They have excellent calls for submission, and now I can confirm that they’re also excellent to work with and pay really well. Their Substack offers reliably great writing advice too.

I’m having way too much fun with the ocean theming here. I already owned the giant shell in this photo because I own a thousand sea shells. C’mon, I’m a Jersey Shore kid. I spent my childhood beachcombing and playing Skee-Ball.

I also participated in Flame Tree’s social media campaign for the book, which is a rare occasion to see my actual face on Instagram. Please do appreciate the painting behind me in that video, because my grandfather made it. He wasn’t a formally trained artist, couldn’t go to art school. But he loved painting boats and the ocean, and I think it’s a real privilege to have some of his work on my wall.

I technically have two author copies of the anthology, but my Greek-mythology-nerd kid has swiped the other one. I think he’s taking credit for inspiring my story in the first place. (Not entirely untrue. To be fair.)

Anyway, see you at the theaters for the Odyssey movie. My kid will be the one nitpicking every scene. I’ll be the one nodding politely and eating popcorn.

If you want to know more about the Odysseus anthology, check out Flame Tree’s site.

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It’s been a scary week to be Jewish, she says, as though that has not been true week after week after week. But incidents like this really bring things out in the open. And this. And this. And those are just the violent or potentially violent incidents over the past week. Not shown: all the other incidents.

May is Jewish American Heritage Month. If you’re feeling so inclined, read a book by a Jewish author. If you like it, tell them so. We’d appreciate a little solidarity these days. It goes a long way.

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One of my long-shot story submissions—the “lottery ticket” one—wasn’t accepted. I was sad about it for a day or so, but that’s the risk of playing the lottery. In the meantime, I kicked another story back out to a magazine and am continuing to work on the fantasy novel.

I’m also maybe doing something a little ridiculous and revisiting my first middle grade manuscript. I still like it. Is it publishable? *insert shrug emoji here* I might send it a few places just to see.

Make them tell you no, right?

The sun is out. Have a lovely week, be safe.