I have to admit, the past year has been a good one. I’m loving NYC, I’ve got great friends and my family’s well, the book deal was a lifelong dream come true, and now here I am living another dream: I’m a full-time writer! There are, of course, the usual snafus that come with these kinds of major lifestyle changes. Had one yesterday that I’m too embarassed to relate in public, but I’m past the freakout stage now. It helps to remember that these things are minor in the grand scheme of life.
There are a few more things I want for myself in the future, and I’m going to work hard to try and get them. But for the most part, I hope year 36 turns out as good as year 35 did.
Anyway, back to srs bzns. I’m not doing anything exciting or partyesque for my birthday tonight because tomorrow morning at 5 a.m., my writing group Altered Fluid will be on WBAI’s Hour of the Wolf. Being on the air at 5 a.m. means getting there at 4 a.m., which means leaving the house at 3 a.m., which means going to bed early tonight. (In fact, I think I’ll take a nap this afternoon, too.) We’re critiquing fellow group member Alaya Dawn Johnson’s short story, so if you’d like to hear how a kickass SF writing group functions, tune in! (Or if you don’t want to get up that early, download it later.) Better yet, if you like the show, call in; WBAI is a public radio station, and it’s pledge season. The host, Jim Freund, has hosted us before, and we’d love to repay the favor by earning his show some money.
And in 100K news, I’m working on a couple of possible appendices for the end of the book, since that may be the best way to clarify some of the worldbuilding. Thus far I’ve finished a kind of profile of the four most magical characters and their abilities/limitations; am thinking about adding an “historical” account of a pivotal event in the world’s history, and a glossary. Actually, I’m definitely going to add the glossary; it’ll be helpful for starting a wiki later, which I think I might need in order to keep track of all the historical tidbits, language oddities, events, etc., that will exist through the three books.
Just call me N. K. (K.?) Tolkien. Kidding!! (Seriously, though, no song lyrics. I draw the line at those.)
Wishing you much success in your thirty-sixth year!
Many thanks!
Hello my collegiate friend. I am truly glad to see you doing well. Down in Philly, we should get together sometime. Wishing all the best.
Wah!!! Keith! How’s life? Yes, we really should get together, if you’re just down by Philly way — that’s a straight shot on the Acela. I’d love to come down there some time and catch up. Or are you ever up in NYC?