Hi.

It's been a bad year in the Twin Cities for "Ford". The local Ford assembly plant will be closing in the next few years, as will a few others in the nation.

And recently, a science fiction author, not well known, died. John Milo "Mike" Ford was apparently a writer's writer. Last week 100 authors visited Minneapolis for a memorial service -- http://www.twincities.com/mld/pionee...l/15868982.htm (may require registration).

The Wikipedia has an article on him at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._Ford .

I may have rubbed shoulders with him at one of the Minicons, but I don't recall ever reading anything by him.

One of the authors that attended was "Wisconsinite Neil Gaiman" (and I didn't know he was from / lives in Wisconsin). Also mentioned was Robert Jordon (James Rigney), whom I have tried to read several times , but so far have failed to finish anything by him.

In addition to the articles cited, Google for ""john m ford" science fiction minneapolis" will produce several thousand hits.

The local article notes that Minneapolis has an enclave of SF writers. I hope we can continue to attract them ... cheers, drl