[100 days of 100 words] 79/100: Nebula Awards report in 100 words

Shyness somehow blossomed into schmoozing. Delia Sherman, n ex-Diesel-denizen, is doing an anthology – yes, please? Nancy Kress introduced me to Connie Willis. She’s terrible at pool – but I got to play pool with Nancy Kress!

Michael Moorcock, ftw. Joe Lansdale is a very funny Texan. Bad steak, good cake. Cash bar only? These are writers!! More than two hours of schmooze exhausts me.

I ran out of business cards.

The local beer’s not bad! Michael Chabon is adorable, and even after a Pulitzer and a National Book Award, his hand shook when he accepted the Nebula.

I met a girl.

[100 days of 100 words] 80/100 Obnoxious coffeeshop type

“See, when people ask me what I do, and I say, ‘I play chess,’ they immediately want to know what I do for a living. Because that’s where everyone’s mind is.”

“Well, sure.”

“This culture – I mean in case you hadn’t noticed – it’s a work camp.”

“Well, I –“

“But the best thing about the top one percent? They’re vastly outnumbered. That’s why they all live in gated communities. Checkmate.”

“Dammit, Guy, how’d you do that?”

“I play this game a lot.”

“And you don’t let a person think while you do it.”

“Where would the fun be in that?”

[100 days of 100 words] 81/100 hot sensei

My perspective on the room shifts from vertical to spinning, then horizontal, in the space of a second. My face is to the floor, again, and he’s twisting my arm behind me. I tap out, roll up to face him.

His eyes are less weapons than tools of disarmament. The cool blue is friendly and inviting as an August swimming pool. But that diving board’s higher than you think.

“Go again.”

He’s always faster, and always smiling – that infuriating smile! – and I’m down, breathing hard, for more than one reason.

It would be worth it to beat him just once.