Yes, Lenore died. Not unexpected (she was diagnosed with third stage ovarian cancer three years ago), but still a real downer. I'd rate her as one of those people who'd have been a close friend if we didn't live eight time zones apart and see each other once every three or four years.

Oh, right after I posted this blog piece I got some serious headfuck news from Tor by way of my agent. Mixed bad and good, but I think on balance mostly very good indeed -- only before I could talk to my editor directly he ended up in hospital. And as it impacts what I write in my next novel, I think downing tools for a month is probably not merely a good idea for my health, but a necessity for other reasons as well. Sigh.