Sitting on the border of a new year.: seanan

Sitting on the border of a new year.

So it's about six hours to midnight where I am, and I just woke up from a necessary and restorative nap; I think about half the last week has been spent in similar circumstances. I'm starting to take shorter naps, however, and I'm actually beginning to feel halfway rested, which is of deep importance to me.

2013. Well, that happened. In 2013, I made the New York Times List twice, and didn't make it once; I wrote more books than I really care to think about; I wrote more words than I can possibly count. I became the first person to ever receive five Hugo nominations in the same year, and learned how much hate mail that achievement generates (a lot), but didn't so much care when I got my five little silver rocket pins and my one big brass one. I won my second Hugo.

I nearly lost the ability to walk. I'm still getting it back a tiny bit at a time, and the whole process has been painful and upsetting in the extreme. For those of you who have never spent time with me in person, I love to walk. It's my primary exercise, and it's something that I usually do when I need to focus. Having it taken away from me has been horrible and upsetting. Here's hoping 2014 sees me finishing my recovery.

There were no major medical crises in either my family or my home. The cats are doing well, and apart from my foot and one bout of flu in January, this year has been one of my physically healthiest in a long time. I guess that's balanced by mental health; I spent much of 2013 incredibly depressed, and around six months actively wanting to die. Please don't respond to this post with "I'm so sorry" or "oh honey," because I know; there's a reason I didn't talk about it while it was going on. I'm doing better now, for the most part. So, you know. Yay recovery.

In 2013 I released four books: Midnight Blue-Light Special, Chimes at Midnight, Parasite, and Velveteen vs. The Multiverse. I released nineteen short stories, some through anthologies, others via my website. I got self-published fiction onto the Hugo ballot. I started writing poetry again. I didn't write enough fanfic.

I went to Disneyland. I went to Disney World. I hugged my cats. A lot.

So that was the year; it was productive but hard, and I'm ready to be done with it. Roll on 2014, if you would be so kind. I hope you all have the sort of night you dream of, and please, if you do anything, remember to be kind.

We're all we've got.

markbernstein

January 1 2014, 15:38:33 UTC 3 years ago

New comment

*hug*

seanan_mcguire

January 7 2014, 19:01:00 UTC 3 years ago

exapno

January 1 2014, 16:06:20 UTC 3 years ago

*huggs&love* here's to a kind 2014

January 7 2014, 19:03:01 UTC 3 years ago

Yes!

Deleted comment

January 7 2014, 19:03:10 UTC 3 years ago

Thank you.

gorgeousgary

January 1 2014, 17:01:40 UTC 3 years ago

Yay naps! Yay books! Yay cats! Yay recoveries!

Looking forward to your triumphant return to Boskone. (And this time, I don't have to get up at stupid-o'clock on Sunday to sneak off for a business trip.)

January 7 2014, 19:03:19 UTC 3 years ago

Awesome.

calico_reaction

January 1 2014, 17:53:28 UTC 3 years ago

I'm glad you're here, and I'm glad you're writing. I hope that 2014 kicks 2013's ass. :)

January 7 2014, 19:03:27 UTC 3 years ago

I hope the same.

$Stef: girl\\cat hair$

morningapproach

January 1 2014, 19:41:58 UTC 3 years ago

I'm glad you're doing better! I am excited to see what 2014 brings for you <3 much love!

January 7 2014, 19:03:35 UTC 3 years ago

Love!

phoenix_singing

January 1 2014, 19:51:34 UTC 3 years ago

Here's to recoveries and a healthy, happy 2014! *raises glass* :)

January 7 2014, 19:03:54 UTC 3 years ago

Yay drinking!

vettecat

January 1 2014, 20:10:15 UTC 3 years ago

Glad things are improving, and hoping for more good news in the year to come!

January 7 2014, 19:04:04 UTC 3 years ago

Thank you!

filceolaire

January 1 2014, 20:51:30 UTC 3 years ago

Happy new year and I hope that 2014 brings you all the good things you deserve.

Hope we see you on 2014. If we do it will be a high point of the year for me.

Love and best wishes

January 7 2014, 19:04:16 UTC 3 years ago

I believe you will!

batyatoon

January 1 2014, 21:47:11 UTC 3 years ago

I may have slightly terrified somebody at last night's New Year's Eve party by mentioning you in connection with Disney World. The only thing of yours he's read yet are the Newsflesh books. He made the best face.

*hugs* All love and luck to you in 2014, my very dear.

January 7 2014, 19:04:31 UTC 3 years ago

I will see you SO SOON.

3 years ago

yellowblackhaze

January 1 2014, 22:08:57 UTC 3 years ago

Have a great 2014, Seanan! You deserve it!

January 7 2014, 19:04:39 UTC 3 years ago

mysterysquid

January 1 2014, 22:08:58 UTC 3 years ago

Happy new year. ;)

January 7 2014, 19:04:49 UTC 3 years ago

Happy new year!

deire

January 1 2014, 23:30:50 UTC 3 years ago

At the risk of sounding irrevocably twee, I believe that kindness is the highest and best form of wisdom. Not of knowledge nor intelligence, because those are separate entities. Often, knowledge is needed to act on our wisdom, admittedly. But I believe that when we do our best to act with kindness to ourselves and others, true kindness rather than pity or condescension, the rest will come. If we can be kind and loving, all of wisdom will come of its own accord. I am imperfect at the execution of this idea, but I am still trying.

January 7 2014, 19:36:42 UTC 3 years ago

I tend to agree.

arcaneblades

January 1 2014, 23:39:00 UTC 3 years ago

Happy calendar New Year! I wish nothing but good things and pleasant surprises to you and yours. I hope you get many trips to Disney this year, as I was recently reminded how valuable that is by being gifted with at least half the cost of a trip there I thought I was going to have to forego. It was a goodness. You, and your writing, have also been a goodness to me, even when times are rough.

Good things, and pleasant thoughts.

January 7 2014, 19:36:59 UTC 3 years ago

wendyzski

January 2 2014, 03:17:02 UTC 3 years ago

Glad to hear you are recovering. Wishing you the best. Please don't die.

January 7 2014, 19:37:12 UTC 3 years ago

I'll do my best.

gothrockrulz

January 2 2014, 03:29:03 UTC 3 years ago

Happy New Year!

Here's hoping 2014 will be just as successful, but a much smoother ride for you. :)

January 7 2014, 19:37:24 UTC 3 years ago

Good wish. :)

ladymurmur

January 2 2014, 06:22:14 UTC 3 years ago

Wishing you a wonderful 2014!

January 7 2014, 19:37:37 UTC 3 years ago

Same!

libris_leonis

January 2 2014, 16:22:45 UTC 3 years ago

Yay for recovery - congratulations on that. BIGGER congratulations, of course, on the Hugo-related awesome! Now let's watch you break your own record in 2014, shall we? ;-)

January 7 2014, 19:37:47 UTC 3 years ago

Kitty Hugs

merciful_soul

January 2 2014, 19:05:15 UTC 3 years ago

Obviously the most important part of the year.
Best. Therapy. Ever.

January 7 2014, 19:38:01 UTC 3 years ago

Agreed.

erinwrites

January 2 2014, 22:03:07 UTC 3 years ago

I love you. Here's to good things in 2014... <3

January 7 2014, 19:38:13 UTC 3 years ago

I love you too.

imogen_blue

January 3 2014, 00:21:48 UTC 3 years ago

It never occurred to me that you'd get hate mail. I thought only bad people got hate mail. The world is a messed up place. Hurry up asteroid!!!

ironed_orchid

January 3 2014, 03:08:50 UTC 3 years ago

From what I've seen, only bad people SEND hate mail. The recipients vary, but it skews heavily toward women, and even more heavily toward women who are successful in their jobs, public figures, and who write on the internet.