My muse didn't keep her promise...

... or rather, she forgot I have two tests. Here I am, studying for my very last exam, my Master's exam, the one I need to pass for my degree and to graduate from San Francisco State University, and my muse is whispering in my ear, "What do you want to publish next?"

"Stop it. Go away."

"What book will you publish first?"

"I said stop it."

"Do you really plan to try publishing fiction for a change?"

"Can't you see I'm trying to study?"

"That could be very interesting. And challenging..."

"I'm not listening."

"I like a good challenge. Y.A.? Adult fantasy? Not children's books, surely."

"I said I'm not listening."

"Yes... Y.A. Now there's an interesting market. But what will you publish to crack it?"

"Will you please...!" I shout.

"I'm interested in that manuscript your friend has been shopping around. It sounds like it has potential. You should call her."

Impossible! I turn back to my text book. "Cortical Visual Impairment is the leading cause of vision impairment in children..."

"And I wonder if that writer who's story is in the punk anthology is really working on a memoir. What a fascinating read that would be."

"... followed by Retinopathy of Prematurity, Optic Nerve Hypoplasia, Albinism, Optic Atrophy and refractive errors"

"Do you think Tama will ever have the time to finish her book? I hope so. I'd love to work with her. She's so funny."

"In adults, the leading causes of blindness are Macular Degeneration, Diabetic Retinopathy, and Cataract."

"We are going to have so much fun when you finish school."

I slam down my book. "Then maybe you should let me finish school by studying for this frickin exam!"

She is silent for a moment, staring at me, her snakes slowly winding themselves behind and away from her freezing gaze. Then she shrugs. "Of course. I'm simply reminding you how wonderful it will be when you are done."

"Thanks," I growl.

"And when you have a job, you'll finally have money to invest in Medusa's Muse."

I slowly pick up my text book and force myself to keep reading.

She smiles. "Yes, a little money invested in Medusa's Muse is just what you need. It's time to take it up a notch, really market those books of yours. Maybe even buy some t-shirts and other shwag to sell at events. People really love the logo, as they should."

"The macula has the highest concentration of cones. Cones allow us to see color and fine detail..."

"It's going to be a great year for Medusa's Muse. I can feel it in my bones!" She keeps talking as I try desperately to concentrate on eye diseases.

But I'd rather be talking to her about future projects and expansion and revising the budget and calling a creative team meeting to get those artistic ideas flowing and....

Damn it! She sucked me in!