On the occasion of my 29th birthday (and the final year before I’m quantifiably REALLY OLD) I have much to be proud of and thankful for looking back on the last year.

28 was very good to me.

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?
It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear
And I need a job, so I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.

My good fortune started two weeks early, in fact, as it was on Oct. 31, 2006 that Joni from the Writers of the Future contest called to inform me that not only was I a winner in the WOTF but that I’d placed first in my quarter, which meant a nice cheque up front (with which I bought two turntables and a microphone), and left me in the running for the Grand Prize the following summer…

February saw my first publication, in the DAW anthology Under Cover of Darkness, and my first reviews (most of which were very nice, as you can see here, here, and here).

There was also my first book signing (at the Merrill Collection) and book launch (at Ad Astra), as well as my first-ever participation on panels at a con (also at Ad Astra)

It’s a thousand pages, give or take a few,
I’ll be writing more in a week or two.
I can make it longer if you like the style,
I can change it round and I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.

At Easter came a nice surprise when I received word that Tesseracts Eleven was buying my story “Citius, Altius, Fortius” and that the anthology would be out by year’s end.

But, of course, the real highlight of the year has to be the Writers of the Future workshop in Pasadena in August, and winning the Grand Prize. I met some fantastic people, learned a tremendous amount about writing, and there have been press releases, podcasts, tv interviews, reviews, book signings… A more amazing experience I could not have asked for.

If you really like it you can have the rights,
It could make a million for you overnight.
If you must return it, you can send it here
But I need a break and I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.

So here’s hoping that 2008–and my 29th year–hold more good things in store.

– S.