Pirate issue contributor Justine Graykin (a/k/a Mel Graykin) has a write up of the World Fantasy Convention for her local paper. Shimmer and pirates are mentioned several times, and includes mention of zombies, which is always a plus.

My other gig was the biggie, the long-awaited Shimmer magazine Pirate Party to celebrate the release of their Pirate Issue. The guest editor for the issue was none other than John Joseph Adams of Fantasy and Science Fiction (shown here with a pirate wench). Mary Kowl, the Art Director for Shimmer, served up a hearty pirate grog, which had in it rum of course, and orange juice to prevent scurvy. Beth Wodzinski, editor-in-chief, sported an elegant pirate hat and hoisted the Jolly Roger over the buffet table. There were five of us there to read excerpts of our work as featured in the magazine: Rajan Khanna, whose story “Furies” is a brilliant blow to the male cannon (ahem); J. Kathleen Cheney , with a chilling tale of heartless piracy, Marissa K. Lingen, who gave us an 8-year-old’s perspective on pirates, and Jill Snider Lum, who reveals to us the true and most appropriate fate of Edward Teach, the notorious Blackbeard. And of course, yours truly, with my tale of the “Perfect Hook”. (The Deerfield Public Library has a copy available to be checked out—you can read all these marvelous stories and more. Or better yet, go to Shimmer and subscribe, and be assured of a steady supply of extraordinary tales.)