Sign up for giveaway of advanced reading copy of Fat Girl in a Strange Land

Crossed Genres Publications is offering three advanced reading copies of the anthology Fat Girl in a Strange Land, which has my story "La Gorda and the City of Silver" in it, to the winners of CGP's giveaway on Goodreads. But you have to be quick because the giveaway closes Jan. 14.

I've signed up for the giveaway, not so much because I'm cheap (though I have been known to exhibit those tendencies every so often) but because early reviews have excited my curiosity about many of other stories in the anthology. (For some idea of the range of stories take a peek at Lillian Cohen-Moore's review of the anthology, which you can read here. A much briefer Publishers Weekly review is here.)

If you are interested in the genesis of the anthology read Bart Leib's blog post about it here. (Along with Kay T. Holt, Leib is editor of the anthology and publisher of CGP). You can also chat with him tonight (Wed., Jan. 11) at the weekly Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Chat on twitter. Use the hashtag #sffwrtcht to participate.

If you are interested in how I came to be included in this anthology, check out my earlier blog post: Unabashed fat.

Archbishop Chaput's new column has resonances beyond Blue Ribbon Commission

In advance of the release of a highly anticipated report from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Catholic Education tomorrow, Archbishop Charles Chaput has written the first in what will be a weekly column with which the Archbishop engages Catholics to think about the challenges and opportunities facing the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in the next few months and years.

"One of my favorite stories about my early predecessor in Philadelphia, Bishop John Neumann," says the Archbishop in this first column, "is that he owned a single worn out pair of boots that he used for his entire adult life as a priest. He was famously frugal with himself, and famously generous in his love for others. That’s the spirit we need to recover."

Read the full column at the CatholicPhilly.com web site: Education, the Church and the legacy of John Neumann