? The prolific Jan Steckel has been a busy bee this fall. She writes: "First, the most exciting news: Zeitgest Press will publish The Underwater Hospital [Jan's chapbook] in the spring." She'll be reading and signing copies at the following dates/venues in the Bay area:

Tues Mar 7: Works in Progress at the Montclair Women's Center (an all-women reading with open mic)

Thurs Apr 6: First Thursdays at the Albany Library (with open mic)

Sat Jun 17: 2-4p at the Lakeview Branch Library in Oakland

Upcoming: "Alex the Dragon," a very short story by Steckel, will appear in the Winter Issue of Lodestar Quarterly on December 21. Her work, "On a Lesbian Wedding in the Woods," will be coming out in March in Linda Zeiser's What I Want from You: Voices of East Bay Lesbians (Raw Art Press). Her poems, "Black Leather" and "Home Run" are forthcoming in Harrington Lesbian Literary Review. Also, her poem, "The Maiden Aunts," will be reprinted next year online in Awakened Woman and in 2007 for the second edition of Blood to Remember: American Poets on the Holocaust (Time Being Books) (edited by Charles Fishman). Fishman will also include Steckel's poem, "Diamonds and Rubies," in the Apr-Jun 06 issue of New Works Review.

Steckel also announces this contest:

Mother Poetry Contest for the online literary salon, Woman-Stirred. No entry fee, and the winner gets their poem published on Woman-Stirred and wins several other prizes, including a copy of The Underwater Hospital.

? Christopher Kritwise Doyle's story, "The Missing Scroll," which we nominated in 2005 for the Pushcart Prize, Best American NonRequired Reading and The Year's Best Fantasy, was selected for reprint in the forthcoming anthology, Peculiar Pilgrims: Stories from The Left Hand of God, which will be released in Summer 2006.

? We always love to hear from our French Martinican contributor, Zyskandar A. Jaimot. He reports that his beautifully handprinted book, From Asano Condivi's Life of Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni [The Lost Chapter], has been released by publisher Bull Thistle Press and is available for purchase. His first book of poetry, Take Me Home to Pringus, will be released in early 2006 by M Books of Canada. Jaimot recommends Kazuo Ishigura's latest book, Let Me Go, which he describes as "well-written, although kind of depressing—nonetheless a good read." He also reports that he still refuses "to follow any of Martha Stewart's recipes or stock tips!"

Especially good news: Jaimot's now stabilized from a recent setback in his physical condition, with surgery to follow in a week or so. Speedy Recovery To You, And Get Well Soon, ZAJ!

? Thad Rutkowski, who interviewed Janice Eidus for Margin a few years ago, continues to be busy with writing, performances, publishing and teaching.

Rigoberto Gonzalez gave Rutkowski's book, Tetched, the thumbs up in Laila Lalami's blog, Moorish Girl [see Nov 8 05 entry]. Tetched was also reviewed by George Held for Book/Mark and in the Midwest Book Review.

Rutkowski will be teaching "Generating Fiction" on Mon Jan 9 at The Writer's Voice of the West Side YMCA. The workshop focuses on producing new writing (stories, chapters, prose pieces) and is open to all. For more info

Upcoming readings for Rutkowski:

Dec 3, 2-4p, Bowery Poetry Club, with Tom Savage, Jeffrey Wright, James Hoff, others. Hosted by Steve Dalachinsy and Yuko Otomo

Dec 5, 8p, Smut series at the Galapagos Arts Space, Brooklyn. Hosted by Desiree Burch and Regie Cabico. Info: (718) 782-5188.

Dec 6, 7p, Fiction slam with Fiction magazine contributors at the Loft in Manhattan. Info

Dec 9, 8p, The North Water Street Gallery in Kent, OH. Hosted by Maj Ragain.

Dec 10, 7p, Mac's Backs Books on Coventry in Cleveland Heights, OH. Info

Jan 1, 2p-midnight. Alternative New Year's Day extravaganza. Bowery Poetry Club Hosted by Bruce Weber, others. [Rutkowski reads between 2-4p]

Jan 8, 6p, Quetzal Quill reading at Cornelia Street in Manhattan. With Paolo Javier, Sarah Gambito. Hosted by Rigoberto Gonzalez. $6, includes drink. Info: (212) 989-9319.

Feb 12, 5p, East Side Oral, The Living Room in Manhattan. Hosted by Elise Miller. Donation. Venue and Host Info.

Feb 21, 7p, Poets for Oxfam at Oxfam Books & Music in London W1, England. Hosted by Todd Swift.

Feb 23, 8:30p, Shortfuse series at The Camden Head Pub in London N1, England. Hosted by Nathan Penlington.

Mar 15, 7:30p, World's End in Beacon, NY. $3. Plus open reading.