I am holding the proof copy of Scattered, Covered, Smothered in my hands. I flip through the pages, and immediately, inconceivably, the few little nitpicky things that escaped my proofreader's eye jump out at me. The slight amount of images used are just the bare amount this side of pixelated, fuzzy only if you look close, but a glaring error to my eye. The wiro binding is doing some funky things in the back of the book, but I'm assured it'll be fixed in the other copies. I have to put the book down and realize that these things will bother me, and maybe Janet, but most likely no one else. I look at it again, forgetting about the delays in ordering the binding and being able to see a proof, and marvel at the assemblage of pages, this thing I have helped to bring about.

My god, it's beautiful.

Sales of the book are going extremely well. We've sold around half our copies so far, which is astonishing to me, since it's not even out yet. If you want one (and you know you do), order today via the link above, and if I get your order before Friday, December 17, you're guaranteed to get it in time for Christmas. The printers have assured me that the copies will be done Thursday or Friday.

Think of it this way: you'll be getting a collection of fiction that can fit in your pocket (if you have big pockets). It costs less than most anthologies out there. Plus, unlike electronic or downloadable anthologies, you won't have to cart your laptop or your desktop to the park in order to read it. You could even read it in a tree, and not worry about it breaking if you accidentally drop it on the ground. You won't need a power source, except the sun or a light by which to read. All kinds of benefits.

Plus, it has been scientifically proven¹ that the reading of this anthology will increase your intelligence, clear up your skin problems, whip your fashion sense into shape, fix your eyesight, and generally make you a more social and respectable member of society. People will look at you and think, "Now that's someone I want to get to know better," or, "What an incredibly wonderful person that is."

Really, you owe it to yourself.

As a brief taste, an amuse-bouche, here is a little something for your palate: the cover letter submitted along with "The Strange Case of the Lovecraft Café" by M.F. Korn, Des Lewis,
and Jeff VanderMeer. (Requires Adobe Reader)

¹ But not really. Two Cranes Press takes no responsibility for your hygiene or social skills.

Now Reading:
The Whirligig no. 9

Stories Out to Publishers:
7

Books Read This Year:
64

Zines/Graphic Novels/Fiction Mags Read This Year:
32