He doesn't know how close he comes each time he shuts his eyes. Her fingers float over fluttering pulse and dance on warm exhale.

She totals his day...the snapping, the smiling, the hurting and the healing. She totals hers...the stresses and releases, all her frustrations and accomplishments.

Her hand closes just a little on his neck, and in his trust he doesn't stir. The power is electric in her spine, tingling through her limbs.

He laughs in sleep and mumbles her name.

"Mmmph." Her grunt propels her onto her side, shutting him out with her back. Tomorrow is another day.

Can't think of a title. Anyway, unlike the one about executing soldiers, this one actually applies to me. And is 101 words. ---

I am walking down the street. An SUV, black with black windows, the back one on the driver's side lowered for the quivering nose of a golden retriever. It nods forward, head and shoulders out into the breeze. The car is traveling quickly past me.

Coming opposite, another SUV, also black. They seem too close. Every time, I see the cars swooping past each other, the dog heedless, tongue waggling -- and that sickening crush.

The cars move on, each in its own direction. I keep walking, head down. The dog has never yet been killed. I see it every time.

(short break away from everyone's amazing drabbles to crow)

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I have galleys! A dozen bound galleys of "Famous Flower"! They've got Marina Drukman's original idea for the cover (since modified) and "Jacket in Progress" in a banner across the front, but I. have. achieved. galleys!

(bounce)

For some reason, it always nails me at this point. I feel like Victor Frankenstein, only with my new book: "It's ALIIIIIIVE!"

(sorry. needed to bounce. as you were.)

Life, as a rule, provides us with so few genuine opportunities to bounce. So please, bounce all you like, and give us a chance to bask in your reflected joy.

(Bouncing with Deb)

Squuuuueeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

I can't wait for this one to come out. I'll be pimping it to everybody. It's such a great read.

Bev, juliana and Betsy are actually mentioned in full in the acknowledgments for this one; Matty's acknowledgments list is likely to be waaaaaaaaay longer.

Astarte, you know what? I'm asking anyone who's planning on buying it to ask at least one chain bookstore near them to order it. Make that barnes and Noble or Borders or Dalton get off its ass and stock me up, damnit.

What do we want? BEST SELLER!

When do want it? BY CHRISTMAS!

Why do we want it? BUFFISTA TUSCAN COMPOUND!

I can do that.

BookPeople B&N Borders all in easy reach. Hmm.

I've pre-ordered mine on Amazon already.

Woot, deb!! That is so very cool!

And, here's my very first drabble (been lurking for awhile):

His lips felt soft on her neck. Did he know what that did to her? How her heart thumped and her legs went limp? He pushed her up against the refrigerator with gentle force, pinning her wrists to the door up near her shoulders. Oh dear god.

She could feel his teeth nibbling the skin over her collar bone and his tongue lapping the base of her throat. Her head spun as her breathing grew shallow and her vision blurred. Heat emanated from her chest and radiated outward to the rest of her body.

She tried to say, “Oh my god. Yes. Please,” but speech failed her completely and the only sounds she could make were low guttural syllables. Finally, her knees buckled as she tightened in orgasm. Did he even know what he had done to her? Just by kissing her neck?

Lalala, let's clue in the bookstores.

Because the bookstores is where people browse. And they can't browse and buy what isn't there. And if they're asked, they'll generally order a few copies.

(grabs pompoms)

"Gimme a BEST! (best!) Gimme a SELLER! (seller!) What's that spell?

Place in the Tuscan hills to run away from the NeoCons!

Heh. ChiKat, we both went for the most enjoyable definition of "near death experience"...