"Servant of the Manthycore"

I finally got the sequel to "The Voice of the Spoiler" written and sent off to the appropriate parties. "Voice" finished 6th in the Preditors and Editors Poll, so finishing the second story got bumped in priority.
I am fairly pleased. It said what I wanted it to say, and the narrative is linear instead of the circular structure that made some people frustrated with "Voice"--- still, a lot of folks mentioned that as part of what they liked, so we will see.
I have gotten several e-mails from readers who have urged me to write another Joe Denfar story, as well. I am fond of Joe, but he has a mind of his own. I have a couple of ideas cooking, but the novel needs more attention, and I now have two stories that editors have asked me to re-write and re-submit, so it may be a couple of months before the next close encounter of the Denfar kind.
Crit group is next week, and we are auditioning a new member, a writer who has some pretty good kung-fu, so I am stoked. I'll report on that as soon as I know more.