So this happened

My short story collection Bitter Waters has been shortlisted for a Lambda Award.

It's in the category of LGBT SF/F/H, which seems fair enough. The Lammies have a lot of categories. Tho' not one for short story collections, so it's up against novels, largely. Not sure if that's a disadvantage or otherwise.

Huge congratulations to my fellow nominees, obviously, and may they all come second...

Results announced June 1st. There is no excitement here, none.

[EtA: In case you missed it, here's Lambda's own review of Bitter Waters. The reviewer completely misses the point of the repeated names - of course they're the same people, dammit! - but quibbles aside, it says most of what I'd want a review to say.]

Half price on the Lethe list

Lethe Press has put all seven of its Lambda-shortlisted titles (including mine, yes yes) into a half-price e-book sale. Click on this teeny-tiny link - http://conta.cc/17QMpD8 - and you can buy Bitter Waters for a mere $4.50. Which is a bargain. Also other books, some for even less. None above a fiver. Bargain is totally the word.

Kitchen prep

If there is a duller task in the kitchen than picking parsley leaves off their stems, I am not sure that I've encountered it.

On the other hand, once that's done, chopping them fine is the best fun. And I was struck with brilliance, and am now seething the stems - along with a green garlic stem and some peppercorns and a little nutmeg - in the milk that will make the bechamel that will be the foundation of the parsley-and-mushroom sauce that I propose to serve with the ham, which is currently simmering slowly on the back of the stove.

That should be done in half an hour or so. Meanwhile, two of our dinner guests are asleep on the sofa, while one more is deep in her internets. The potatoes are baking and ready to be mashed; the almonds are toasted; there is, um, not that much for me to do right now. I could chop the Savoy cabbage, I guess...