Shveta goes to sea

. . . to borrow a headline from my dear friend C.S.E. Cooney, who wrote this gorgeous, magical, witty, incredibly wonderfully written collection of short stories that’s out in July, and you should preorder it now! (Print version and e-book.) I copyedited it, so I know of what I speak. (It’s already gotten a starred review from Publishers Weekly!)

Oh, right, back to the reason I mentioned this in the first place. I am indeed going to sea! I am so proud to announce that I won the Carl Brandon Writing Excuses scholarship, so I will be on this amazing retreat with teachers like Nalo Hopkinson, Ellen Kushner, Delia Sherman, and Mary Robinette Kowal, among others–all on a cruise ship!

I am still a little in shock. I applied for the scholarship because I truly believe you should never self-reject, and if there’s something you want, you should try for it–but did I believe I would actually win? I hoped it, certainly . . . and here we are. So always apply! Always ask! Especially if you’re from one or more marginalized groups. The worst they can say is no, and who knows–maybe they’ll say yes.

Anyway, this is going to be so amazing! I can’t stop bouncing with joy.