March 22, 2026 – I’m still pleased that my story “Speaking Bear Leader’s Quest” was included in Amazing Stories’s collection of the Best of 2025. But I’m less excited now that I’ve found there are 49 stories and 13 poems in the book. Since Amazing Stories publishes four stories each month on its website, I guess they were all “the best,” and an extra one appeared too. At least I’m apparently in good company!