IvanEwert.com

I just got the phone call from across the pond. As of today, my mother is to be known as Dr. Mary Ewert – she’s received her PhD in Law, specializing in gender and sexuality issues!

She achieved this feat despite enduring a lengthy separation from her family and friends, the long illness and eventual death of her husband, the strain of filming and touring internationally in support of The Suicide Tourist, the long illness and eventual death of the woman who raised her, continual work stateside on behalf of women’s reproductive rights, and more than five changes of address in as many years.

I couldn’t be prouder of my family; and today, mom, I couldn’t be prouder of you. You’ve always been a star, and today, you shine more brightly than anything.

My former roommate, bandmate, and current mate (in the chummy Aussie sense of the word), Professor Adkins, puts forward an excellent re: Close Encounters of the Urban Kind.

“When it’s available … where will it be available? Does Apex work with the big box stores?”

These are the kinds of questions I really should be able to answer off the cuff. That said, I’m reasonably sure it will be available through the Apex Bookstore, just as the current anthology Grants Pass is now available through Morrigan Books.

I’ll definitely include a link when the book is published, so no fear on that count!

I have spent my lunch hour in suburban Chicago eating samosas with rice in my hair and watching Japanese animation of the Ramayana with three coworkers from Brazil, Nigeria and Hawaii; all in celebration of Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights.

Padma, if you see this, thank you for inviting us to your festival.

Volume 46 of the Edge of Propinquity is now published. Fall is a time of introspection and self examination as the body prepares for the cold of winter. This month, we have a fight with a deadly foe, the realization that an ally is not what he seems, the first steps of a new alliance and a betrayal of siblings.

Luminations – Desert by Rick Silva
Santa Maria – Connections by James M. Sullivan
Solstice – Autumn, Part One by Ivan Ewert
Danyael – Flight by Nick Bergeron
Guest Author – Inspirations by Seanan McGuire

Have you ever looked over the edge and seen something looking back at you?

Apex Books today released the table of contents for Close Encounters of the Urban Kind:

Alma Alexander – I Am Sorry for Talking So Rarely to Strangers
Erik Scott de Bie – Racing Lights
Richard Lee Byers – End of Life
Nate Crowder – Frames of Reference
Ivan Ewert – Waterheads
Robert Farnsworth – A Late Night Snack
Pete Kempshall – Dead Letter Drop
Carole Johnstone – The Invitation
Rosemary Jones – Two Out, Wendigo
Martin Livings – Lollo
Eric Lowther – It Came from the Backseat
Ramsey Lundock – Tea Cups & Saucers
Shannon Page – The Hippie Monster of Eel River
Joshua Palmatier – Mastihooba
Jennifer Pelland – Headlights
Rick Silva – Roadkill
Jeff Soesbe – Green Tears on Black Velvet
Eddy Webb – Gloomy Sunday

In addition, Apex Magazine will publish a companion Apex Digest issue featuring Mark Henry and Seanan McGuire when the anthology publishes in Spring 2010.

The title could really say it all, but I’m not about to let it do so.

For ten years, I’ve been married to a wonderful woman.

I’ve learned a lot from her about strength, integrity, determination and self-realization. She tells me she’s learned a lot from me about patience and compassion.

We’re still learning, too.

We spent the actual anniversary in our humble garden, in the cold and rain, bringing in the final fruits before the frost. We spent the next four hours in the kitchen stringing peppers, making herb butters and pestos, and calling friends and family to see if they could share in the bounty we had to offer. We spent the evening in our favorite restaurant, talking openly about where we are, where we want to be, and what we can do to bring ourselves even closer together.

We’ve had more ups than downs, more good days than bad days, and far more joy than sorrow in our time together.

This morning she’s at the farmer’s market, getting garlic and other goods we haven’t grown this year; getting ready for us to make a good harvest meal for the next two days. I’m in the studio, reflecting on the marriage, thinking about what she means to me and I to her, and I don’t have that much to say that hasn’t been said before for thousands of years between thousands of people:

I love you, L. Very much.

Great news! I’ve sold my next story to Apex Books for their upcoming anthology, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE URBAN KIND. Scheduled for release in late spring 2010, the collection “combines the dark allure of urban legends with the high stakes of alien encounters, promising some of the best short stories modern science fiction has to offer.”

My story – Waterheads – is based on the old covered bridge in Kennesaw, Georgia; not far from an annual vacation spot. Editor Jennifer Brozek always does a phenomenal job of selecting the best in fiction, and I couldn’t be more excited to be in such great company.

This reminds me that there’s some very old information on the site and its sidebars, and it’s past time to make changes a priority. Keep your eyes peeled for more news and posts as time goes on.