It’s been a quiet two days as everyone ramps up for the weekend. For me, I only just made the weekend today. I hope to spend it busily tapping out stuff on my keyboard in hope it will make sentences appear. And then paragraphs. Who knows where it will go from there?

Angry Robot has posted some awesome new cover art pieces on their website, and pointed out the hardship associated with putting lettering over such magnificent pieces such as this piece by Greg Bridges. Also, there’s been a lot of talk over the lack of the lack of racial diversity in covers, and Angry Robot were keen to point out they’re not guilty of that one. This topic has been buzzing away quite a bit of late, I’ve noticed. It’s a fair call when the subject within the book is non-caucasian, yet the book persists in representing the character inaccurately. It happens more often than you’d think, and in this day and age it should happen a great deal less.

Nicole Cushing wrote 500 new words, and discovered a very fun and new character in them. It’s always amazing what flood to the surface when you’re feeling all creative.

Douglas Clegg announced that today he’ll be “buried in writing, but I am loving it. I’ve devoted my entire life to writing fiction — from the age of 8 onward — and it saves me everytime.” I find it amazing how often a writer writes for that very reason.

Marjorie Liu had a dream. She dreamt “that writer’s retreat with agent Lucienne Diver & her lady authors was held in (hot) men’s locker room. VeryGoodDream.” Is that scene going into her latest book?

Colin Bateman wanted us all to know that “if any of you fancy 17 minutes of fun, my short film ‘Jumpers’ has popped up on ITunes. I wrote the script, Jimmy Nesbitt stars, and it was made back in the days when we were all a lot younger. Even predates the movie of ‘Divorcing Jack’. You can get it for £1.49. God knows who the money’s going to, certainly isn’t me!” The university of Ulster is also giving him “the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature for ‘services to literature’.” Considering he always loses his first name, the obvious question must be asked – Doctor Who?

Stephen Deas ” is dealing with stress by burning stuff. Really, powers-that-be, it would be nice if we could have a week this year where I could deal with stress by, y’know, maybe not having any in the first place?” Amen.

Nora Jemisin announced that “most action film sex scenes put me to sleep. Why is “The Bourne Identity”‘s so hot?” I can’t explain that one, myself.

Joe Schreiber today removed a dead rabbit he had under the porch. I won’t ask why he had the rabbit there. Or what else he’s keeping under the porch…

Kim Falconer has some astrological advice for the weekend: “The Full Moon is ON! This one is tetchy with Mars HEATING things up–it can be fabulous hotness like HOT dates, HOT nights and HOT off the press ideas. If you get the other heat…hot items, hotheads or hotspots, don’t sweat! Get perspective and MOVE on!” I’d better let my wife know.

D. Harlan Wilson wanted to share some logic he found in the film Finding Forrester: “If you punch the keys, your writing will be gooder.” I think there’s something there for everyone.

Oddball writer, Jordan Krall would “love to make a movie combining Halloween 3, Karate Kid 3, and Gleaming the Cube.” I’d watch that!

My favourite writer, Eric Dando has been writing stories about stories, and this has made him go a bit bouncy. He seems to be boinging all over the place.

Kate Forsyth has written a roundup of the Aurealis Awards. It sure makes you wish you were there!