Busy, Busy

Greetings,

A quick note to apologize for how quiet this blog has been of late. I've been swamped with reading entries for the Western Heritage Award, the Spur Award, and finishing up my tour of duty on the Nebula Novel Jury. Plus writing. Plus editing. Plus life. Some days, I even squeeze in a little time for sleep. :-)

I also wanted to post here about the recent tragedy suffered by my friend and fellow western writer, James Reasoner. On January 29th, Jim and his family lost everything but the clothes on their back to a fire. His studio, books, house, etc.

The good news is that YOU can help. I'm copying this message from another list, but it bears repeating:
* * * * *
The WWA has set up an emergency fund for the Reasoners. Here are the
details, as described by WWA VP Johnny Boggs:

Longtime Western writer and WWA member James Reasoner and wife Livia
lost their house and studio, and all their belongings, in a fire
earlier this week. They're OK, as are their dogs and children, but got
out with only their clothes they were wearing. Books, pulps, comics,
everything else, gone. "This is totally overwhelming," James says.

To help the family, Western Writers of America and Kensington Books
have agreed to make sizable contributions and ask anyone who would
also like to contribute to send cash donations to the WWA Executive
Director's office in Albuquerque, N.M.
Make the check out to Western Writers of America and put in the memo
that the money is for the James Reasoner Emergency Fund.

Checks should be mailed to:

WWA
MSC06 37701
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

Since James and Livia also lost their sizable library, donations are
also being sought to help restock their bookcases whenever they have a
new home. Kim Lionetti, Livia's agent at BookEnds, has generously
agreed to accept any BOOK donations and keep them until the Reasoners
have a place to put them. Books should be sent to:

Kim Lionetti
BookEnds Inc.
136 Long Hill Road
Gillette, NJ 07933

Our thoughts and prayers are with James, Livia and family during this
trying time. Thanks for your help.

Johnny D. Boggs
WWA Vice President

* * * * *

I'll be shipping off a sizable book contribution in the very near future, and I hope everyone reading this blog takes the time to help Jim and Livia and his family out.

Hopefully, my schedule for reviewing and talking about westerns will return to something like normal in the relatively near future. Thanks for your patience.

Regards,
Russell Davis