Very late on the update. I know. I have been massively busy on all fronts. Work at Morgan Stanley, writing new stuff, editing old stuff. And most importantly, the FIRST PUBLICATION.

Now, I want to be civilized, and avoid spamming caps lock all over the page. Anyone who knows me well enough will have an idea of just how ecstatic I am. The story to bear the honor is "The Blood of Castalsara". It is, fittingly enough, fantasy.

Not only that, even "Reflections on a Recursive Faustus" has found its way into print!

Speechless.

I do have a little speech, actually. Like the Oscar speeches, I need to thank all the inspirations. I think they know who they are, and if they don't, well then eventually they'll figure it out (when I mention them in my novel's acknowledgements!).  A special mention to the Queen of Pino, to whom I promised, on her deathbed, eternal life through my prose. Well, here it is Micia.

It's been a long process of hard work. Editing and re-editing for "Castalsara" to fit it right for Future Fire (I'll post the link as soon as it's public). "Faustus" took far less effort, but then it is a shorter story. Editing has also gone into "Escapism" and "One of a Kind", both of which are flying to editors, or perhaps already in their hands. Fingers crossed for them.

"Candle Wax" is completed as well, and will be going to Strange Horizons as soon as it's proof read by a third party. This story was by far the most arduous to complete, since "Penelope's Dream". But PD was tough in terms of concept, cause I had to make things work when the weren't fitting. This one kept coming back at me as incomplete, both in terms of effort and simple prose. I think it's reached a good point now. The difficulty was given by the awkwardness of writing letters; inability to present description, or information generally obvious to a writer who isn't narrating his story, just recording thoughts on it.

Just started (today, literally) is "Clepsydra", a rather skewed fantasy inspired by my brother's words on Umberto Eco. The concept is very enticing, and I've got most of it outlined in my usual short story concept Word-file. What I'm still pondering and testing is the use of an italicized second narrator, one that interrupts continually. Makes for interesting style, but could grow too intrustive. We'll see.

That's it for this update. Long, but needed after the prolonged break. The next one coming soon, to parade "The Blood of Castalsara".

A hurray to my first publication!!!!