please to be donating now!

As you all may or may not know, I am on the development team at (http://www.strangehorizons.com/index.shtml) Strange Horizons, a fantastic (and free!) webzine for speculative fiction.  The term "speculative fiction" refers to what is more commonly known as "sci-fi," but which properly embraces science fiction, fantasy, magic realism, slipstream, and a host of sub-genres. The magazine was founded in September 2000, and we have been going strong for eight years thus far.

To that end, we are having our annual fund drive!  This time around, we are hoping to raise $6,000, which is about a third of our annual budget.  All of the staff at Strange Horizons works for free, so this money will go to operating costs and our contributors. 

Of course, to tantalize you, we have an awesome (http://www.strangehorizons.com/fund_drives/200806/prizes.shtml) list of prizes (including, I must add, a knitted hat from yours truly and two pictures from Kiriko Moth (http://www.kiriko-moth.com)).  Everyone who donates will be entered in a prize drawing at the end of the fund drive.  If you feel the need to donate $25.00 and up, you can become a (http://www.strangehorizons.com/fund_drives/200806/member.shtml) member, and get some pretty cool swag.

So please, think about donating, and be sure to check out our (http://www.strangehorizons.com/blog/) blog for fund drive updates and special prize drawings.

How to spell my name.

Okay, hi everyone.  This is a public service announcement.

JAMBERY IS NOT A BERRY BECAUSE SHE HAS ONLY ONE 'R'

I know this may be a difficult concept, but bear with me, okay?  I don't mean to be a pain in the ass, but if you spell my name wrong, it makes me a sad panda.  You don't want me to be a sad panda, do you?  I will be crying sad panda tears, and that would be sad.

When I came up with the handle (more than 10 years ago, I must point out), I did not mean for it to be confused with a berry one uses for jam.  Though it is pronounced the same, a jam berry and a jambery are not the same thing.  Like any other homophone, we are two separate concepts.  Please do not try to make jam out of me.  It will not be tasty, what with the sad panda tears and all.

If you tried to gambol in a casino, they would kick you out.  Gambling through the hills doesn't make much financial sense, either.  You wouldn't try to dig a burro or ride a burrow.  If you tried to wade in the serf, I would be very concerned.  One who has won is very lucky, but who has won one?  Neither the reign nor rein in Spain stays mainly in the plain.  If you were a criminal, you would most definitely not go on the lamb.  A toad that toed the line will not get towed.  Or something.

In conclusion: jambery is not, nor will she ever be, a berry or a jam.  Because she is spelled differently.  Thank you.