Shannon Phillips

Last night I dreamed that I was on the run from some sort of unexplained danger, shepherding the kids through an abandoned industrial center—like a waste-treatment plant or something. Lots of big vats and steel grating and catwalks and stuff.

Somewhere along the way, I lost track of Robin. I hunted and called for him frantically, and finally I caught a glimpse of him cowering in a crawlspace. In the space of minutes his hair had grown long and shaggy and covered his face. He cringed and snapped at me when I reached for him. And I remembered, then, something that in the dream I had always known: when boys grow up, they become savage, hairy, feral beasts. The dream-logic presented it as just a fact of nature, unavoidable, inalterable.

And I just started crying, “no, not my sweet Robin, not yet, it’s too soon! He still has baby teeth!” And then I woke up.

I think my subconscious is anticipating some issues with the teenage years.

To Pops and Pappy and Markie and Grandpa Wayne, but most of all to Sam, who carries this family with strength, generosity and good humor.

A couple weekends ago we flew to Dallas to celebrate my grandmother’s 90th birthday. It was a really nice celebration of her many achievements and a chance for our whole far-flung family to gather. Here’s nearly the whole clan on my mother’s side (thanks to my cousin Jessie for the photo):

And a couple of moments between second cousins (these both snapped by my cousin Pei):

Flying with three small children is not quite the ninth circle of hell, but easily the third or fourth. Still, I’m glad we had the chance to be part of such a special event. Many thanks to my mom and aunts for organizing the reunion, and to my grandmother for creating such a splendid family and living a life that inspires celebration.

Happy birthday to me
We live by the sea
Sometimes we’re stinky
But we blame the doggie!

Thank you to everyone for the cards and phone calls and nice birthday wishes! I am having a chill, relaxed, very enjoyable birthday snuggling with the baby and looking forward to a macaroni feast tonight (Sam’s cooking, and he’s really good at macaroni and cheese). Everyone is in fine fettle. Another year of this, please!

I’m very pleased to announce that The Millennial Sword has been named the winner of the 2014 IndieReader Discovery Award in the Fantasy category. IndieReader also posted a nice review of my book and named it a “top book pick” on their site. And they’re sending me some shiny gold award stickers that I can put on the books at the store, so, you know, that’s pretty fun!