An interview with me appears in the inaugural issue of Valent Range, which publishes science and science fiction poetry. Editor Scott A. Kelly is giving these issues away for a limited time! More info here.



"Pele's Wandering Fire" appears in the June 2010 Of Poets And Poetry (Florida State Poets Association). Back in April, the poem received second prize in the FSPA's Spring Fling contest (theme: Hawaiian culture), free verse category.

Last month's activities at Oasis appear on the Science Fiction Poetry Association's news page. I'm third from the left in the top panel shot.

I'm giving two workshops at Ancient City Con next month -- one in character and plot development, one in speculative poetry.

Links to all 30 of my science poems for April appear in this entry listing submissions to the 2010 edition of Open Laboratory: an annual anthology of the best science blog posts, dated Dec. 1, 2009-Dec. 1, 2010. Science-themed posts from general blogs are eligible.



She Nailed A Stake Through His Head: Tales of Biblical Terror is now available for pre-order here. Official release is set for October. The "alternate timelines" and "wild-eyed, drug-crazed prophets" in Erin O'Riordan's blurb fit my story "Judgment at Naioth," which takes its cue from the book of 2 Samuel and the rape of Tamar.

What's appeared to me...



I had a terrific lunch with Kathy Nappier and Tracy A. Akers yesterday. Kathy spotted this Palamedes Swallowtail through the window behind me. So of course I had to whip out my camera, swing around, and take a shot at full zoom.

Papilio palamedes, Family Papilionidae. For a Palamedes, this individual was downright sedate. "Flutters wings constantly," says Bugguide, but I didn't see any of that here. My other shots of Palamedes (with dorsal views) date from April 2006 and September 2006.

The Palamedes Swallowtail has a wingspan of around 5 inches (11-13 cm). It ranges through the southeastern United States, extending into central Mexico. Its season spans from March through December in the northern part of that range (2 flights), with a third flight in the southern part of its US range.



I spotted this Southern House Spider in the bathroom the other night. Kukulcania hibernalis, Family Filistatidae (Crevice Weavers). Thanks to Eric Eaton and Jebus31 at Bugguide for the ID.

Says Bugguide, "Females are frequently mistaken for small tarantulas or trapdoor spiders. Males are often mistaken for recluse spiders (Loxosceles). This is a totally harmless species that builds 'messy' webs emanating from crevices, often on the outside of homes."

(I at first mistook this one for a wolf spider, then wondered if it was a wandering spider.)

According to the University of Florida, females range from 13-19mm in length (not including legs); I guessed this individual to be around 20mm, a body length of roughly 3/4 inch. Says UF, "Although the webs tend to accumulate debris and may be unsightly to some, this harmless spider is beneficial and captures many pest insects, including house flies, horse flies mud daubers, cockroaches, and May beetles." Females can live for up to eight years.

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