Hey awesome,

Time continues to confound me, and now it's June. Despite my inability to comprehend the passage of time, there are two very exciting things coming up this month - one: it's my birthday in a few weeks!

This is extra fun for me this year as it's my Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy birthday. Now that I'm the answer to the meaning of life, the universe, and everything, I'm sure I'll be able to spend this year figuring out the question.

Two: even before my birthday - tomorrow, in fact! - I have a new story in a new anthology going out into the world.

Jamie Ibson, who both an excellent writer and a deeply insightful editor, has masterminded a set of anthologies called We Dare, each organized around a theme. The first was human augmentation, the second tales of recovery post-apocalypse, and the third is badass ladies doing their badass things.

We Dare: No Man's Land is chock full of incredible stories by fantastic authors, and I'm thrilled to be hanging out with them. My story "Starfall" introduces Vern, doing her best to live the rest of her life under the radar. But when her past comes calling, what can she do?

Quite a bit, it turns out. I hope you enjoy meeting her - the depth of stories in this anthology is so, so good you can't go wrong checking it out. Available tomorrow, or you might be able to pick up a pre-release at the Boss's site here.

In other story news, last week I got back from FantaSci, and I might still be riding the endorphin rush of spending time with so many wonderful people (spoiler: I totally, totally am). There were so many high points, many of which I shared on my blog. But there were a couple of things I saved just for this group.

The first is pictured above. An amazing fan (and newly published writer - Paul Sparks, check him out!) showed off his incredible tattoo. That's a Hunter pawprint, a quote from Kacey Ezell's and my book, Hunter, and a Peacemaker badge from Kevin Ikenberry's books.

This is a highlight among highlights. Someone loving something we created so much they put it permanently on their body...It's an incredible honor, and I'm still geeking out about it.

Also a fabulous honor was receiving some deeply thoughtful/delightful/amazing gifts from thoughtful, delightful, and amazing people. I can't get over how lucky I am to know so many wonderful people. Some of the gifts were more personal, and some are so perfectly apropos they have to be shared. Like this absolutely perfect murder kitten.

Isn't he the best? Kacey and I have officially started Ally, book three of our three-book Hunter arc, so this guy is hanging out right above my keyboard. Catassassin for the win!

The 4HU Dining Out at FantaSci also brought a gift for all attendees - no, not the grog, but these very cool challenge coins. Did I abuse my position as Madam Vice and snag the 007 coin?

The evidence confirms that I, in fact, did. Beyond reveling in my new treasures, this week I plotted out my aggressive but doable-if-I-stay-focused writing calendar for the next three months. It's going to be good (and very bananas) times. Stay tuned - there's a lot on the way.

Til next time,

Marisa