So I just got back home after an amazing week in Toronto. Sorry I’ve been away for so long. More on that coming.

Apparently, while I’ve been out of town, the Hugo nominations list released. I’m absolutely thrilled to be one of the five nominees in the Best Professional Artist category. Wow! What an honor. And as thrilled as I am about that, I couldn’t be happier that COVER STORY: THE ART OF JOHN PICACIO has been nominated for the Best Related Book Hugo as well. Wow, wow! Better yet, COVER STORY’s nomination is the first Hugo nod for MonkeyBrain Books and the husband-wife braintrust of Chris Roberson and Allison Baker. The book was a team effort, and it’s all the sweeter to share this nom with them.

The thing that makes this even more dreamlike is I was first officially notified of the two(!) Hugo nominations the same day I got married (March 17). Out of respect to the Hugo process, I kept this bit of news a secret until the news broke, which it did days ago. So there you have it — as if March 17, 2007 wasn’t already my Best Day Ever, the double-Hugo nod made it absolutely surreal. Wow. It still feels like a dream…..thanks to all for their consideration, and I really couldn’t be more honored to be a part of this amazing list of Hugo finalists.