gratefulThe 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.
September 30 2013, 23:45:55 UTC 3 years ago
Now, I vaguely recognized the name Seanan McGuire, but I could not remember where from. I heard before I got there that she was a filker...You had me at hello! I had a reading queue the length of Highway 5, so I thought that I might "pay for my supper" by purchasing a cd of Seanan's. I was disappointed to learn that none of her CDs were there, but I was getting a free concert. I went next door to buy the book. Well, that release, "A Local Habitation" was a sequel. I decided that I'd buy R&R...but Alec, Betsy, and Sooj are great people. They love this woman. This woman brought me more of them. I bought both books. There was a raffle that night. I got a ticket from buying those books. That ticket won ALL THREE of Seanan's CDs for me!!! Karma, thank you!
In fiction and in filk, on the blog (which, thanks to my move to Scotland, I'm months behind on) and in person, I enjoy the world SOOO much better with you in it Seanan. Thank you!
October 2 2013, 17:31:38 UTC 3 years ago
All hail coincidence.