The Journal of Michael Merriam

careswen made a post here, and I just want to add it on my blog as well:

mmerriam and I have agreed that all we want for Christmas is (1) less anxiety and (2) more quality time with our friends.

The tradition of gift-giving at the holidays can be a lovely thing, but it also can be stressful. So in lieu of buying each other gifts, let's buy each other a nice dinner and share the gift of friendship for an evening.

We wanted to let folks know early enough (Black Friday Eve?), but what if you already have that perfect gift picked out? We don't want to spoil your thoughtful plans, so we'll love it even more as a birthday gift in a few months. Likewise, we have a few early-bird items we're saving for some of you. We know that some folks enjoy gift-shopping, so we sincerely hope that our wish doesn't offend or detract for anyone.

If you would like to celebrate the holidays with us, please email me about setting up a dinner date in the coming months. We are honored by your kind understanding, and we look forward to sharing together the holiday fun.
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I've started working on what conventions I'm going to next year. So far we have picked three: Con of the North, Minicon, and CONvergence.

I'm still thinking about going to 4th Street Fantasy, but haven't made up my mind yet. There were good things about the convention last year, but there were also things that angered, annoyed, and bothered me, more so than at any convention I've ever attended, so I'm on the fence about it.

I'm also thinking about picking up Diversicon, because it seems to me that a guy who is a disabled SF/F/H writer who sometimes writes about disable people and their issues really should go to a convention focused on diversity in SF/F/H.

I'm not going to World Fantasy Convention in 2009, but plan to attend the 2010 WFC in Columbus, OH.
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I'm still making progress on the Rija novel. I think if I get through this next section--which is dead in the middle of the novel--then I should be at a turning point and it should start going quicker. I'm starting to actually develop a plot, here at the halfway point, and Rija is starting to grow as a character. I'm enjoying writing it, but it is slow going.

Rija's Tale