An Anniversary

 8 years ago today (it was a Sunday at the time), Delia Sherman & I got legally married in our backyard in Somerville, Massachusetts. We'd had a huge illegal wedding 8 years before that, with flowers and food and music and poems and 250 guests . . . but this was the one that allowed us to call the doctor and the electric company and every single infrastructure of married life, and simply say, "I'm calling for my wife" without having to pretend to be each other or do some fancy dancin'.

It was weird when we moved to NYC in 2006:  Suddenly, we were "living in sin" - we'd gleefully shriek each time we crossed state lines!  But then not only NY state but CONNECTICUT legally recognized our union - and suddenly we could drive all the way from NY to Boston without having to worry if anything happened. (I still carry a copy of our Marriage License in my computer case - though I no longer worry about having the Health Proxies directly to hand in those states.)

Our Boston accountant, a wonderful gay guy, still made us promise that we wouldn't insist that he try to file Federal taxes as a married couple, as it is not legal, and his profound activism doesn't extend to professional ruin.  So:

Thank you, Massachusetts! And every state that's followed suit. We appreciate it - and so will everyone, when it's in all 50 states of the Union! May the day be soon.

The icon is a photo of my wedding band:  oak & ivy intertwined, hand-carved for us (from actual leaves we sent him - the Oak is from near Terri Windling's home in Devon) - by the great Tom Herman of 7 Fingers Jewelry . . . but that's another story for another day.

TPOTS Audiobook: Create Your Own Cover Contest

 Lace! Leather! Silk and steel!

And, of course, Girls with Swords.

 

    

 

Thomas Canty's original painting for the new TPOTS audiobook represents only the latest design in a series of gorgeous covers for The Privilege of the Sword around the world since it was first published in 2006. 

Whether it's high fantasy grace, gypsy punk cool, or stylized manga, all of the TPOTS covers convey the vibrant, complex spirit of Riverside and its denizens in their own distinct, creative way.

Now it's your chance to show us your vision of Katherine, the Mad Duke, and the world they inhabit - as it would appear on the cover of the next edition of the book!

 

That's right....

 

We want to see your art and design for a The Privilege of the Sword cover!

 

Visit Ellen's website to see the existing TPOTS covers, including covers from the Dutch, German, and Spanish editions, then create one of your own, that you think is perfect for your own private or dream edition of The Privilege of the Sword.

Post your cover on Facebook, LiveJournal, DeviantArt, Tumblr or anywhere else we (and your friends!) can see them.

Then post a link to your entry in the comments below by 11:59 p.m. EST (U.S.A. Eastern Time) on Sunday, September 16.

Ellen will judge all entries herself.  The winning entry (and runners-up) will be posted here and on the Covers webpage for all to ogle and enjoy.

 

THE GRAND PRIZE:

An elegant limited edition trade-cloth hardcover of The Privilege of the Sword, published by Small Beer Press!

So start drawing, painting, or otherwise creating, and spread the word to any artistically-inclined friends you know are just waiting for the chance to design a brilliant, beautiful sword fighting-inspired book cover. Thanks in advance for your entries—we can't wait to see your new TPOTS cover designs!

—Katharine Duckett
Assistant to EK