Later this summer I’m going to start with my official SFWA duties and I need to simplify my schedule before then. Step one: Ask someone to help with layout duties for Shimmer.

Job Description: Layout stories to conform to an existing template. Adjust for widows and orphans. Confer with art director on art placement.

Time Requirement: 10-20 hours per issue, quarterly.

Benefits: Exactly what I get. Bio and credit in magazine. Two copies of magazine per issue. Opportunity to hob-nob with talented writers during our conventions parties. Licensed copy of CorelDraw X3 graphic suite. ¹

Skills Required: Some experience with layout preferred, but will train the right person.

Drop me a line or pass this along if you know someone who might be interested.

1. If you make a strong case for moving to a different platform and are willing to do the work to make it happen, then we can talk about another program [↩]

I just got the final art for Charles Stross’s book, Toast, coming out from Wyrm. I’d already done a preliminary layout using the rough draft of the art, so it was easy to drop the final art in place, make a few tweaks and send it over to Neil.

The art is by the talented and very easy to work with Steve Montiglio. I have no understanding of how he works as fast as he does with as much intricate detail. He just delivered the final art weeks before his due date. It makes a girl very happy.

Besides– Giant octopus ships in space! What more could you ask for?

I got a bunch of layout done today, which made my eyes cross. I recovered by a too-brief stint in the yard and then trotted off to have dinner with Christina Crooks, followed by talking too late and chocolate.

I went into the WRW recording studio today to get caught up on some of the audio work that I owe folks. I didn’t get it all finished, so Rob and I are hoping to head back down tomorrow at some point. (Thanks, Sam!) It felt good to get back in there, and I loved the material I was working with.

The rest of the day passed in doing sketches for book cover. I’m not providing the art, I’m just doing the layout, but I still call my rough layouts sketches as I dink around in the sandbox to see what I like.

As you might be able to tell, both of these projects are ones which are still in the hush-hush phases. I’ll pass the details on when I can. And now, I’m going to turn in for bed.

Besides running errands for my next project, I also went to a meeting for the Historic Irvington Home Tour. I’ve done the layout for the program book for the past several years. Last night I took the poster and tabletents (those little information cards that stand on the tables in restaurants) in for approval. They liked them.

Afterwards, Eve and I went to McMennamin’s on Broadway for a frosty adult beverage and conversation. This was much nicer than the meeting.

Besides running errands for my next project, I also went to a meeting for the Historic Irvington Home Tour. I’ve done the layout for the program book for the past several years. Last night I took the poster and tabletents (those little information cards that stand on the tables in restaurants) in for approval. They liked them.