Stupidity or audacity? As you know, the neighborhood I live in is called "Territory" because I've marked it as my territory--you see six-inch gashes on a building, you know it and its inhabitants, patrons and customers, are protected by dragon. Sure I can't be everywhere at once, but I tend to take invasions on my turf very seriously. I will hunt you down. Back in the day, I would eat you, too, but that's frowned upon here, so if I think the police have a strong case, I drop (and I do mean drop) you off at the police station and let Santry assign someone the paperwork. If I don't think there's enough evidence to convict... Let's just say if you're gong to be stupid enough to break into one of "my" places, you'd better be stupid enough to get your mug on 17 security cameras.

My publisher has nominated Rob's and my book, Leaps of Faith in the P&E polls for best anthology, and I'd really like to see us place if not win.

Leaps was our first anthology, one of Christian sci-fi. It was a finalist as an electronic book and has taken many years of searching to find its print home. However, it got me started in my career, and has a special place in my heart as a result. Plus, it's a terrific book, with some excellent reviews.

It only takes a couple of moments to vote:
1st: click the link to vote: http://www.critters.org/predpoll/antho.shtml
2nd: you'll receive an email in your inbox almost instantaneously with another link to confirm your vote. If you don't confirm, your vote isn't counted.

Thanks and God bless,
Karina L. Fabian

A Dragon's Eye View comes out bi-monthly and includes a short article from me, a rant from Vern, Faerie Facts and special offers. It's available to DragonEye, PI members, so register on the website today.

In the inaugural issue:

* How Karina came up with the idea for DragonEye, PI
* Vern rants about human misconceptions regarding dragons
* Vern's explanation of the Faerie World (from Magic, Mensa and Mayhem, coming March 2009 from Swimming Kangaroo)
* Special offers and events

Sneak Peak:

* I am not a fire hazard. I can control my fire better than you can control your bowels, thank you very much. Also, it took me over 800 years of service to earn my fire back--I am not going to lose it because you annoyed me, forgot the title of my book, called me a dinosaur, whatever. I can deal with you in other ways.

Breaking character for a moment to make this announcement:

Just a reminder that the second annual Catholic Writers’ Conference Online will be held February 2-9, 2009. The online conference is free of charge and open to writers of all levels who register by January 15.

This year's conference boasts 60 presentations with over 40 editors and writing professionals from all over the country presenting. Editors on this year’s faculty include Brian Saint-Paul (InsideCatholic.com), Ami McConnell (Thomas Nelson Publishers), Susan Brinkman (Canticle Magazine), diocesan newspaper editor Kyle Eller, and Sister Maria Grace (Pauline Books & Media). Lea Schizas, Terri Main, Frank Creed, Karina Fabian, Devon Ellington, Mark Shea, Melanie Rigney, Michelle Buckman, and Tom Grace will also be presenting in their areas of expertise.

Workshops include: writing humor, worldbuilding, characterization, idea generation, writing devotions, writing and canon law, the business of writing, editing your manuscripts, crossing genres, virtual book tours, selling yourself and your works, and more.

In addition, at least five publishers will be holding pitch sessions, including Loyola, Pauline, Twenty-Third Publications and Our Sunday Visitor. (Pitch sessions require separate registration and authors must ensure their work meets the requirements of the publisher.)

This is open to all writers, but we ask that you respect our faith. Anyone using this conference as an opportunity to troll, argue or "evangelize" will be removed. Or Vern may eat you.

Registration closes January 15. Although the conference is offered free of charge, donations are accepted; proceeds will go toward future conferences. To register or for more information, go to http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.

Blessings,
Karina Fabian
www.fabianspace.com
www.dragoneyepi.net

Dragons aren't into making New Year's resolutions or setting goals. After all, it's not like we have a (literal) deadline to get things done. Advantage to being eternal.

Not that I don't get a lot accomplished, mind you. I'd die of boredom otherwise. Well, not die. Guess I'd go comatose. Been known to happen among my kind.

Anyway, dragons don't make goals, but apparently, writers about dragons do. Karina has blogged about hers. Check it out.

There's just no end to this! Freudian slip, or sheer stupidity? You decide.

Wishing all of you a blessed and merry Christmas. May your hearts be full of peace and joy.

Vern and Grace

Grace thought I was being too negative just putting up criminals being stupid. So here are criminals who stupidly picked victims who actually fight back:

And the girl in the plaid skirt? Trouble!

Here's Santa getting into the action:

Guess who's off the "nice" list?

One thing the Faerie and Mundane humans have in common is we each had a St. Francis who created the idea of a nativity scene for Christmas. Our St. Francis wanted people to more fully experience the joy of Christmas, so he built a small lean-to in the hills near Assisi, brought in some farm animals and asked a young family with a newborn to pose as the Holy Family. Then he brought others up to see the beautiful sight, and they celebrated Mass. Yours did something similar, though in a church in Greccio. Neither was technically very accurate of course. (No, I wasn't there, but I know the area.) However, it is one of the lovelier and most appropriate symbol for the season.

So naturally, some idiots have to go ruin it.

Apparently, kidnapping Baby Jesus is popular enough in the Mundane world, that owners of large, outdoor nativities are taking precautions by installing GPS trackers into the statues. Read about how one crook got caught here.

I know you Mundanes like to talk about having a "personal savior," but isn't that taking things a little too far?

Baby Jesus. Microchipped. Guess I shouldn't feel so bad about getting chipped after all.

(Vern gets a subcutaneous tracker in Live and Let Fly, coming late 2009 for Swimming Kangaroo.)

Karina Fabian has joined Twitter. She'll be using it to post some entertaining things and updates on her writing. She promises not to bore anyone with her trips to the store, lunch menus, etc.

She wanted me to join, but dragons don't "tweet." I am, however, allowing her to post some of my better one-liners.

You can follow her at http://twitter.com/KarinaFabian