Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: grateful
  • Music: Talis Kimberley, "Ten Years."

The end of September: four years of publishing.

Today is the last day of September, 2013.

The first October Daye book—Rosemary and Rue—was published in September, 2009. It was not my first publication, thanks to a few anthologies that managed to speed through the publishing process (Ravens in the Library and Grant's Pass), but it was my first real sale, and it was the book that opened the door that led to those anthologies. Without Toby, I don't know that I'd be in either book, even though both were edited by friends of mine, because no one really thought of me that way. Not yet.

Since September 2009, I have published fifteen books, ranging from Toby to Velveteen. I have appeared in enough anthologies that I honestly can't tell you how many; not without counting them. I have experienced the soul-crushing terror of the Hugo Awards as viewed from the front row (which is a flavor of fear that I never truly appreciated until it was wrapping its arms around me and squeezing me tight). I have written more than a million words of fiction. Possibly more than two million words. And while I have been stressed and strained and stretched too thin, I have never lost sight of how incredibly lucky I am. I get to tell these stories. I get to see my name in bookstores, which is an honor and joy beyond compare. It's never not exciting. I hope it never will be.

Thank you. Thank you so much, for reading, for talking, for reviewing, for helping, by your very presence, because without people, there would be no publication. A book that is unread is a book that falls into obscurity, and has no sequels, and has no future.

I am very tired, but I am very grateful. The last four years have been amazing. I wouldn't trade them for the world.

Now let's go steal me four more.
Tags: contemplation, gratitude, so the marilyn
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  • 159 comments

lollardfish

September 30 2013, 15:55:35 UTC 3 years ago

You know how at gigs, sometimes, hecklers (even loving ones) say, "Don't quit your day job?" Ok, well, that happens to me, and it's true. I shouldn't quit my day job.

One of my hopes for you, on the other hand, is that you can quit your day job. :) Congrats on 4 years.

qnofhrt

September 30 2013, 16:04:04 UTC 3 years ago

I'll second that! It's been a great ride and we're all looking forward to the next new world.

seanan_mcguire

September 30 2013, 18:47:56 UTC 3 years ago

I am working on it!

shandralyn

September 30 2013, 20:37:38 UTC 3 years ago

Given the number of books you've written while working, I have trouble imagining how many you'd come up with if you were able to write full time! But I bet it would be glorious!! Thanks for sharing your talent and imagination with all of us. :)

maladaptive

September 30 2013, 20:53:17 UTC 3 years ago

Man your output is incredible for a fulltime writer... I had no idea you also had a day job! Daaaaaang.

wendyzski

October 2 2013, 15:02:23 UTC 3 years ago

Part of my fondness for the new health care legislation is that it will make it possible for people like you to get and maintain decent health coverage