Time to be thankful. Time to be glad.: seanan

Time to be thankful. Time to be glad.

This morning, when I made my emergency run to the store for leeks, an extra roasting pan, and a Diet Dr Pepper the size of my head -- the necessities of life, and also, God bless 7-11 -- I got asked the obligatory Thanksgiving morning question by the nice man who bagged my groceries: "What are you thankful for this year?"

My answer was immediate, and didn't even require thought: "Everything."

This last year has been an amazing roller coaster of good, bad, and stunning. Last November, I was still struggling to figure out what was wrong with my favorite manuscript. I was talking with a potential agent. I was fighting to finish Newsflesh, a book that seemed destined never to be finished. I was, in short, in a holding pattern.

A year later, I have a wonderful agent who loves me. I have a place at a publishing house I've admired all my life, working with an editor I respect and trust to treat me fairly. I have a mind-blowingly good cover artist committed to do the covers of my first three books...and I can say that now, I can say 'my first three books' without my more sensible friends saying 'maybe you shouldn't get your hopes up.' I found what was wrong with Rosemary and Rue and fixed it, turning the book into something beyond my wildest dreams, and now I'm working on book five in the series; the first three are all turned in. Newsflesh is done. Lycanthropy and Other Personal Issues is done. I've sold two short stories and syndicated a column.

I am thankful for all these things. I am thankful for the daily reassurance and stability provided by my friends, the wonderful people that I've been lucky and privileged enough to have in my life. I am thankful for the health of my family, for the well-being of my loved ones, and for the fact that we're all still here. I am thankful for Lilly, even though I sometimes want to microwave her. And I am thankful to James Gunn for making a reality show about torturing wanna-be horror movie stars. He so needs to call me.

Finally, I'm truly thankful to everyone reading this journal. Sappy, yes, schmoopy, yes, but it's true. I'm starting on a big, strange, scary journey, and knowing that there are people interested in coming along makes it easier.

Thank you.

gracemyheart

November 27 2008, 16:54:07 UTC 8 years ago

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Thank you for making this journal so I can read it!!! :)

seanan_mcguire

November 27 2008, 17:06:55 UTC 8 years ago

You're totally welcome!

apocalypticbob

November 27 2008, 17:05:49 UTC 8 years ago

I'm thankful for my Seanan on a daily basis. May 2009 be even better than 2008 in your world!

Love ya.

November 27 2008, 17:07:48 UTC 8 years ago

I'm using the Veronica Mars bag you gave me as my primary 'carry stuff to work' bag, and it makes me think of you on a regular basis. I'm so thankful that you're here; love you, too.

May 2009 be made of win for all of us.

kyrielle

November 27 2008, 18:01:22 UTC 8 years ago

I'm thankful for you. And for Toby making it to print. And for so many many other things.

November 27 2008, 18:13:47 UTC 8 years ago

And I'm thankful for you. You make my life a better place.

mayir

November 27 2008, 20:34:39 UTC 8 years ago

I'm thankful for my dose of blonde horror chick writer on my friends list every day.

December 5 2008, 18:51:06 UTC 8 years ago

That makes me glad. I'm thankful to know you.

sheistheweather

November 27 2008, 21:15:08 UTC 8 years ago

You're welcome, and thank *you*.

December 5 2008, 18:51:16 UTC 8 years ago

Thus does everybody win!

December 6 2008, 03:55:31 UTC 8 years ago

Indeed! Circles within circles within circles of win!

vixyish

November 27 2008, 21:19:17 UTC 8 years ago

*looooooove*

I am thankful for the you.

December 5 2008, 18:51:35 UTC 8 years ago

I cannot imagine a world without you in it.

Life is good.

scholarinexile

November 28 2008, 02:44:11 UTC 8 years ago Edited: November 28 2008, 02:44:32 UTC

Honestly, Seanan, I'm thankful to have been a part of your circle of friends and to witness your rise to success. You've worked so hard to get where you are, and I'm truly proud of you. You inspire me to believe that I might actually have a chance of finishing my own works one day, and I'm thankful to have you as part of my world, even if only through LJ.