The Summer YA Extravaganza Issue of the Journal of Mythic Arts is now live. I’m honored (and slightly panicked) have something I wrote appear alongside the work of such a marvelous bunch of writers — I can’t wait to read every word.

From Terri’s editor’s note:

Welcome to our Summer 2007 issue, where we’re focused on mythic fiction for Young Adult readers. What’s special about this issue is that it contains thirteen short stories, rather than our usual two or three, along with our regular mix of nonfiction, art, and poetry. Some of our contributing authors are well known for YA fiction, others are better known for adult work, and two of them are talented new writers who are still in their teens themselves.

We have new stories for you by Celia Bell, Steve Berman, Holly Black, Gwenda Bond, Elizabeth Genco, O.R. Melling, Will Shetterly, and Catherynne M. Valente, along with a lovely fairy tale by Jessie Suk Roy that we’ve held over from the last issue. We’ve also included two reprint stories by Christopher Barzak and Ellen Steiber — both of which originally appeared in adult venues, but which deserve attention here as excellent examples of mythic fiction with Young Adult themes. And finally, there are two small tales contributed by Midori and me.

Like I said: marvelous.

Very quickly, since today is our big day of 10th anniversary lectures and partying and stuff, with Anita Silvey, Tobin Anderson, David Levithan, and Martine Leavitt, which should be loads of fun. Next semester, I’m working with the amazing Uma Krishnaswami (who will henceforth be known only as Uma, like Madonna or Cher but much, much smarter), and am thrilled about it.

However, Janni Simner has a handle on more important things, and has put together a poll about which is worse: posting spoilers for Harry Potter or causing the heat death of the universe, killing kittens, etcetera. It made me very happy.

• Have I mentioned yet how nervous I am about getting a new advisor? Just turned in the form. Keep your fingers crossed. Early workshop this morning, in which my brain barely functioned properly. And I really have to get around to talking about Jo Knowles‘ wonderful debut novel Lessons From a Dead Girl, my airplane reading. It’s no small thing to keep someone riveted who got up at 4 a.m. for a 6:45 flight. I read the entire book on the first flight. (And no, I haven’t answered e-mail yet; the internet is kind of spotty here, so I just haven’t had the motivation to keep hitting the send button a million times for anything but absolutely necessary e-mails.)
• And so Michiko sticks it to Scholastic with a day-early review of Harry and gives the final installment the nod. And, more interestingly, Maureen McHugh talks about them as post-9/11 comfort reading, and actually convinces me that I may have to read these at some point, now that they’re all out. Maybe not right away, but at some point. Meanwhile, Scholastic attemps to conquer modern technology; good luck with that, guys. (Via Literaticat.)
• Tess Gerritsen considers how many copies equals a bestseller. The answer might surprise you.
• A fictional dissertation? (Or a real dissertation on a fictional village?) (Via Maud.)
• Eek has links to The Flight of the Conchords latest episode up on Youtube (and now I feel no regret whatsoever for ditching our premium channels recently).
• Sci-Fi Wire interviews Ellen Datlow about The Coyote Road anthology.
• Austin Kleon on awesome female cartoonists.

Or perhaps a close paraphrase from Susan Cooper‘s talk this evening:

"Any ordinary object can be fantastic in your imagination."

Here! And at the B&B, which is definitely far nicer. Also? Up since four a.m. and I’m completely ex-damn-tired already, so that is all. Off to sleep.