In Which I Hope This Helps @Melzer and @Jennybeanses

Two friends of mine are really in a fix.
American, Canadian, in love
And hoping soon to marry, but the licks
We all have taken now have taken of
Their hopeful plans a dreadful and harsh bite:
They're writers, both, and working really hard,
But hard work's not enough for such a plight
As theirs is; their employer's slight regard
Was not enough to keep them on, and so
E'en as they try to save that he may come
And legally live with her (which we know
Costs lots of money) -- this is dumb
They're back to where they started. If you can,
Chip in and help our Jenny get her man.

(Sonneteer's note: I'm a huge fan of this pair -- Jennifer "Jennybeanses" Hudock and James Melzer. They're both podcast novelists who have given away their major works for free via Podiobooks.com. James' first book, ESCAPE: A Zombie Chronicles novel, comes out in print next March from Permuted Press/Pocket Books but that's a long way off. My point is, they're busting tail to entertain and make a living and be together, and if anyone deserves a little support, it's these two. Thanks!)

Sonnet Duet: An Interview With The Magnificent, The Mighty, Mur Lafferty

O Mighty Mur, how go things with the War?

Quite well, Kate, it's a book worth fighting for.

Playing for Keeps was great; when is there more?

There is more story there; I'll open that door.

Parenting, fiction-fu, how big's that plate?

I'm never bored; my life is really great.

What's your best tool to keep all of this straight?

I'm old school with paper and pen with weight.

Infinite time is yours - what do you do?

I don't have time to consider - no clue!

And is there word on Heaven's print debut?

Not yet. The edits now I'm working through.

Mur Lafferty, what is the pow'r of PANTS?

Work from home, be productive, erase can'ts.

Gutenberg Did Not Invent Printing, Either

Today we woke somewhat surprised to find
That Little, Brown invented a new style
Of publishing: the podcast novel. Mind,
We all had thought this happened quite a while
Ago. But Sarah Shrubb insisted they were first,
Which makes us ponder what it is that we
Were hearing at Podiobooks. The worst,
Of half-assed Google searches, sure, would be
Enough to prove this wrong. I'll bet Bi Sheng
Would be just as surprised to learn that Herr
Johannes Gutenberg had baldly wrung
A claim to type invention; ah, but there
I stray into rank silliness. We know
'Twas Morris, Sigler, Jeffrey made it go.

In Which I Consider A Bout of Furniture Shopping

The office in my house is where I'm at:

It's full of desks, typewriters, books and stuff,

Including my computer (fancy that!).

These days I'm finding, though, it's not enough.

I've recently come late to a new game:

Of pod'iobooks - recordings of new works

By authors who tweet with me, know my name,

And sometimes read my sonnets. Only jerks

Accept attention but don't give it. Shame!

To rectify this I there dipped my toe,

And Rossi, Sigler, Lafferty and more

Grabbed onto it and pulled me down below,

And carried me far from the peaceful shore.

I'm happy there to swim, but now I find

My office chair is numbing my behind.