59. The Singing Sands, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
58. The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co., OR, A Voyage to the Moon, By the Author of “Narbonic” et. al. S. Garrity (re-read. sort of.)
57. Good Omens, Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first time for him)
56. Diamond Fire, Ilona Andrews (e)
55. The Reactorside Reader, Shaenon K. Garrity
54. Kings and Wizards, The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, Book Four, Kaja and Phil Foglio
53. Travels with Myself and Another, Martha Gellhorn
52. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (read aloud with Steve re-re-re-re-re-re-&c-read)
51. Bayou, Volume One, Jeremy Love (library book)
50. Bone: Out from Boneville, Jeff Smith (library book)
49. Saga, Volume One, Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples (library book)
48. This Rough Magic, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
47. Elizabeth and Her German Garden, Elizabeth von Arnim (read aloud with Steve)
46. Why Kill the Innocent, C.S. Harris
45. To Love and Be Wise, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
44. A Study in Scarlet Women, Sherry Thomas (e)
43. Shards of Hope, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
42. The Tightrope Walker, Dorothy Gilman
41. The Wisdom of the Beguines, Laura Swan
40. Miss Pym Disposes, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
39. Cinnamon Blade: A Knife in Shining Armor, Shira Glassman (e)
38. Hunter of Worlds, C.J. Cherryh (re-read; read aloud with Steve)
37. The Black Wolves of Boston, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
36. The Man in the Queue, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
35. Shield of Winter, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
34. Waiting on a Bright Moon, Jy Yang (e)
33. The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax, Dorothy Gilman (e)
32. The Daughter of Time, Josephine Tey (re-read for me; read aloud w/Steve)
31. Eight Million Gods, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
30. These Old Shades, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
29. The Prince and the Dressmaker, Jen Wang
28. The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
27. The Moon-spinners, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
26. The Cat Who Went Underground, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. Winterglass, Benjanun Sriduangkaew (e)
24. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
23. The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard (e)
22. The Persian Boy, Mary Renault
21. Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
20. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey
19. Woman Without a Past, Phyllis A. Whitney (e)
18. The Mermaid’s Sister, Carrie Anne Noble (e)
17. All Systems Red, Martha Wells (e)
16. Burn Bright, Patricia Briggs (e)
15. The Ivy Tree, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
14. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
13. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (e)
12. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik (e)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
10. The Faded Sun: Kutath, CJ Cherryh (e)
9. Emergence, CJ Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
8. The Faded Sun: Shon’jir, CJ Cherryh (re-read) (e)
7. The Faded Sun: Kesrith, CJ Cherryh (e)
6. My Brother Michael, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
5. The River Bank, Kij Johnson (read aloud with Steve)
4. Still Life, Louise Penny
3. Thick as Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
2. The Furthest Station, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
1. Romancing the Werewolf, Gail Carriger (e)
Blog Without A Name
The Friday after the Thursday before
Today, we work. Tonight, we journey into Downtown Waterville, to see Hot Tuna in concert. Steve bought these tickets, what? a year ago? So this is our Official Gift to Ourselves for the 38th Anniversary of Having Done the Legal.
Tonight’s event will be enlivened, if that’s the word I want, by the Parade of Lights, which will close off Main Street at 5 pm. The parade starts (it says here) at 6 pm. The doors to the Opera House (on Main Street) open at 7pm, and the show starts at 8 pm.
I have a feeling that Timing Will Be, if not Everything, Than Verrrry Close Indeed.
I see here that one is not allowed to bring bags of any sort into the Opera House; we are advised to bring wallets only. I therefore advise the paparazzi that my fashion choice this evening is cargo pants (and a bulky sweater with another sweater under it, on account it’s gonna be COLD tonight).
What’re you doing today that’s fun?
If it’s Thursday, it must be turkey
So, here in the US, it’s Thanksgiving Day, which is a civilian festival where family and friends gather together, feast, and try not to have political arguments at table.
We here at the Cat Farm and Confusion Factory will be working for the first part of the day, then celebrating, simply. Steve had the foresight to cook the turkey breast and mashed potatoes last night, so we’ll need to zap a few things in the microwaves, bake some rolls, open a bottle of wine, and we’re good to go on the feasting side of things.
While it’s good practice to take a moment to be thankful every day, it’s traditional to be thankful on this day. We’ve had a lot of things go right for us this year, but for today, I’m thankful for the sun streaming into my office. I’m thankful for the cats, lounging in windows and sun puddles. I’m thankful for Steve and a partnership that’s spanned more than half my life.
Hoping everyone has a good day, whether it’s a celebration or Just Plain Thursday. Be grateful for something. Tell somebody you love them. Call your mom.
I’ll see you on the flip-side.
Books read in 2018
58. The Astonishing Excursions of Helen Narbon & Co., OR, A Voyage to the Moon, By the Author of “Narbonic” et. al. S. Garrity (re-read. sort of.)
57. Good Omens, Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first time for him)
56. Diamond Fire, Ilona Andrews (e)
55. The Reactorside Reader, Shaenon K. Garrity
54. Kings and Wizards, The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, Book Four, Kaja and Phil Foglio
53. Travels with Myself and Another, Martha Gellhorn
52. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (read aloud with Steve re-re-re-re-re-re-&c-read)
51. Bayou, Volume One, Jeremy Love (library book)
50. Bone: Out from Boneville, Jeff Smith (library book)
49. Saga, Volume One, Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples (library book)
48. This Rough Magic, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
47. Elizabeth and Her German Garden, Elizabeth von Arnim (read aloud with Steve)
46. Why Kill the Innocent, C.S. Harris
45. To Love and Be Wise, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
44. A Study in Scarlet Women, Sherry Thomas (e)
43. Shards of Hope, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
42. The Tightrope Walker, Dorothy Gilman
41. The Wisdom of the Beguines, Laura Swan
40. Miss Pym Disposes, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
39. Cinnamon Blade: A Knife in Shining Armor, Shira Glassman (e)
38. Hunter of Worlds, C.J. Cherryh (re-read; read aloud with Steve)
37. The Black Wolves of Boston, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
36. The Man in the Queue, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
35. Shield of Winter, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
34. Waiting on a Bright Moon, Jy Yang (e)
33. The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax, Dorothy Gilman (e)
32. The Daughter of Time, Josephine Tey (re-read for me; read aloud w/Steve)
31. Eight Million Gods, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
30. These Old Shades, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
29. The Prince and the Dressmaker, Jen Wang
28. The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
27. The Moon-spinners, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
26. The Cat Who Went Underground, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. Winterglass, Benjanun Sriduangkaew (e)
24. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
23. The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard (e)
22. The Persian Boy, Mary Renault
21. Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
20. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey
19. Woman Without a Past, Phyllis A. Whitney (e)
18. The Mermaid’s Sister, Carrie Anne Noble (e)
17. All Systems Red, Martha Wells (e)
16. Burn Bright, Patricia Briggs (e)
15. The Ivy Tree, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
14. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
13. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (e)
12. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik (e)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
10. The Faded Sun: Kutath, CJ Cherryh (e)
9. Emergence, CJ Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
8. The Faded Sun: Shon’jir, CJ Cherryh (re-read) (e)
7. The Faded Sun: Kesrith, CJ Cherryh (e)
6. My Brother Michael, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
5. The River Bank, Kij Johnson (read aloud with Steve)
4. Still Life, Louise Penny
3. Thick as Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
2. The Furthest Station, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
1. Romancing the Werewolf, Gail Carriger (e)
Books read in 2018
57. Good Omens, Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (read aloud with Steve; re-read for me; first time for him)
56. Diamond Fire, Ilona Andrews (e)
55. The Reactorside Reader, Shaenon K. Garrity
54. Kings and Wizards, The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, Book Four, Kaja and Phil Foglio
53. Travels with Myself and Another, Martha Gellhorn
52. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (read aloud with Steve re-re-re-re-re-re-&c-read)
51. Bayou, Volume One, Jeremy Love (library book)
50. Bone: Out from Boneville, Jeff Smith (library book)
49. Saga, Volume One, Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples (library book)
48. This Rough Magic, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
47. Elizabeth and Her German Garden, Elizabeth von Arnim (read aloud with Steve)
46. Why Kill the Innocent, C.S. Harris
45. To Love and Be Wise, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
44. A Study in Scarlet Women, Sherry Thomas (e)
43. Shards of Hope, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
42. The Tightrope Walker, Dorothy Gilman
41. The Wisdom of the Beguines, Laura Swan
40. Miss Pym Disposes, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
39. Cinnamon Blade: A Knife in Shining Armor, Shira Glassman (e)
38. Hunter of Worlds, C.J. Cherryh (re-read; read aloud with Steve)
37. The Black Wolves of Boston, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
36. The Man in the Queue, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
35. Shield of Winter, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
34. Waiting on a Bright Moon, Jy Yang (e)
33. The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax, Dorothy Gilman (e)
32. The Daughter of Time, Josephine Tey (re-read for me; read aloud w/Steve)
31. Eight Million Gods, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
30. These Old Shades, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
29. The Prince and the Dressmaker, Jen Wang
28. The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
27. The Moon-spinners, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
26. The Cat Who Went Underground, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. Winterglass, Benjanun Sriduangkaew (e)
24. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
23. The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard (e)
22. The Persian Boy, Mary Renault
21. Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
20. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey
19. Woman Without a Past, Phyllis A. Whitney (e)
18. The Mermaid’s Sister, Carrie Anne Noble (e)
17. All Systems Red, Martha Wells (e)
16. Burn Bright, Patricia Briggs (e)
15. The Ivy Tree, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
14. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
13. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (e)
12. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik (e)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
10. The Faded Sun: Kutath, CJ Cherryh (e)
9. Emergence, CJ Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
8. The Faded Sun: Shon’jir, CJ Cherryh (re-read) (e)
7. The Faded Sun: Kesrith, CJ Cherryh (e)
6. My Brother Michael, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
5. The River Bank, Kij Johnson (read aloud with Steve)
4. Still Life, Louise Penny
3. Thick as Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
2. The Furthest Station, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
1. Romancing the Werewolf, Gail Carriger (e)
Winter is upon us
It’s snowing today, as it did on Friday. Apparently, we’re going to have an early and persistent winter. Well. Our very first winter in Maine, when we were living in Skowhegan, it snowed every night — sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, every day — and I just figured that it always snowed in the winter, in Maine. In the years between, we’ve had some winters where we got very little snow, but a lot of cold, a couple of warm winters, a recent winter that dropped ten feet of snow over the course of the season, averaging a few inches every couple days, and a biggish fall once a week. Very seasonal. Sigh.
Here at the new house, we can hide the car in the garage, and we have engaged a guy to plow the driveway on a temporary basis, to see if we’re both satisfied with the arrangement. The front steps are gong to have to be solved. I may need the War Engineer to come by and see if he can put a peak over the steps, so that we can at least open the front door from inside, during heavy snowfalls.
And! This Just In from the Maine Weather Service: Maine Expected to Get Another Snowstorm Before Thanksgiving.
Winter has also illuminated an unanticipated problem with city living. We are in a hybrid situation with regard to mail delivery. Which is to say, we do not have what I think of as a City Mailbox, that hangs on the house near the front door, nor do we have a mail slot in the front door.
What we have instead, is curb-side delivery, like we had out in the country. Which is fine, the curb’s not that far away, after all, except. . .
Mail is routinely delivered between 4 and 5 pm. It gets dark in the winter-time at 4:30ish. We live on a busy road, and while there is a streetlight across the street from our drive, there’s no sidewalk. Therefore, in order to approach the mailbox, in the winter, when there will be a pile of snow between our driveway and mailbox, we will have to walk out into the road, in the dark.
This seems. . .suboptimal.
So, we’re thinking about moving all of our mail delivery to the post office box, and switching the Informed Delivery Service to that address, so we know when we have to drive out.
I will say that I never considered mail delivery when I was thinking about the potential challenges of returning to city life after a quarter-century in the country.
In another aspect of City Living, I’m actually enjoying going to the gym. It changes your outlook, when the gym’s a five minute drive, instead of half-an-hour.
So that.
From the writing edge of life, Accepting the Lance is moving along; it’s going to be a long book, I fear, so y’all need to prepare yourselves for that.
I think that’s everything, except for this — a video that Steve and I made for you — yes, you! — to thank you for everything you do.
Books read in 2018
56. Diamond Fire, Ilona Andrews (e)
55. The Reactorside Reader, Shaenon K. Garrity
54. Kings and Wizards, The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, Book Four, Kaja and Phil Foglio
53. Travels with Myself and Another, Martha Gellhorn
52. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (read aloud with Steve re-re-re-re-re-re-&c-read)
51. Bayou, Volume One, Jeremy Love (library book)
50. Bone: Out from Boneville, Jeff Smith (library book)
49. Saga, Volume One, Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples (library book)
48. This Rough Magic, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
47. Elizabeth and Her German Garden, Elizabeth von Arnim (read aloud with Steve)
46. Why Kill the Innocent, C.S. Harris
45. To Love and Be Wise, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
44. A Study in Scarlet Women, Sherry Thomas (e)
43. Shards of Hope, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
42. The Tightrope Walker, Dorothy Gilman
41. The Wisdom of the Beguines, Laura Swan
40. Miss Pym Disposes, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
39. Cinnamon Blade: A Knife in Shining Armor, Shira Glassman (e)
38. Hunter of Worlds, C.J. Cherryh (re-read; read aloud with Steve)
37. The Black Wolves of Boston, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
36. The Man in the Queue, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
35. Shield of Winter, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
34. Waiting on a Bright Moon, Jy Yang (e)
33. The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax, Dorothy Gilman (e)
32. The Daughter of Time, Josephine Tey (re-read for me; read aloud w/Steve)
31. Eight Million Gods, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
30. These Old Shades, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
29. The Prince and the Dressmaker, Jen Wang
28. The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
27. The Moon-spinners, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
26. The Cat Who Went Underground, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. Winterglass, Benjanun Sriduangkaew (e)
24. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
23. The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard (e)
22. The Persian Boy, Mary Renault
21. Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
20. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey
19. Woman Without a Past, Phyllis A. Whitney (e)
18. The Mermaid’s Sister, Carrie Anne Noble (e)
17. All Systems Red, Martha Wells (e)
16. Burn Bright, Patricia Briggs (e)
15. The Ivy Tree, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
14. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
13. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (e)
12. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik (e)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
10. The Faded Sun: Kutath, CJ Cherryh (e)
9. Emergence, CJ Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
8. The Faded Sun: Shon’jir, CJ Cherryh (re-read) (e)
7. The Faded Sun: Kesrith, CJ Cherryh (e)
6. My Brother Michael, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
5. The River Bank, Kij Johnson (read aloud with Steve)
4. Still Life, Louise Penny
3. Thick as Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
2. The Furthest Station, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
1. Romancing the Werewolf, Gail Carriger (e)
Books read in 2018
55. The Reactorside Reader, Shaenon K. Garrity
54. Kings and Wizards, The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, Book Four, Kaja and Phil Foglio
53. Travels with Myself and Another, Martha Gellhorn
52. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (read aloud with Steve re-re-re-re-re-re-&c-read)
51. Bayou, Volume One, Jeremy Love (library book)
50. Bone: Out from Boneville, Jeff Smith (library book)
49. Saga, Volume One, Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples (library book)
48. This Rough Magic, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
47. Elizabeth and Her German Garden, Elizabeth von Arnim (read aloud with Steve)
46. Why Kill the Innocent, C.S. Harris
45. To Love and Be Wise, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
44. A Study in Scarlet Women, Sherry Thomas (e)
43. Shards of Hope, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
42. The Tightrope Walker, Dorothy Gilman
41. The Wisdom of the Beguines, Laura Swan
40. Miss Pym Disposes, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
39. Cinnamon Blade: A Knife in Shining Armor, Shira Glassman (e)
38. Hunter of Worlds, C.J. Cherryh (re-read; read aloud with Steve)
37. The Black Wolves of Boston, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
36. The Man in the Queue, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
35. Shield of Winter, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
34. Waiting on a Bright Moon, Jy Yang (e)
33. The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax, Dorothy Gilman (e)
32. The Daughter of Time, Josephine Tey (re-read for me; read aloud w/Steve)
31. Eight Million Gods, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
30. These Old Shades, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
29. The Prince and the Dressmaker, Jen Wang
28. The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
27. The Moon-spinners, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
26. The Cat Who Went Underground, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. Winterglass, Benjanun Sriduangkaew (e)
24. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
23. The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard (e)
22. The Persian Boy, Mary Renault
21. Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
20. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey
19. Woman Without a Past, Phyllis A. Whitney (e)
18. The Mermaid’s Sister, Carrie Anne Noble (e)
17. All Systems Red, Martha Wells (e)
16. Burn Bright, Patricia Briggs (e)
15. The Ivy Tree, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
14. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
13. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (e)
12. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik (e)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
10. The Faded Sun: Kutath, CJ Cherryh (e)
9. Emergence, CJ Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
8. The Faded Sun: Shon’jir, CJ Cherryh (re-read) (e)
7. The Faded Sun: Kesrith, CJ Cherryh (e)
6. My Brother Michael, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
5. The River Bank, Kij Johnson (read aloud with Steve)
4. Still Life, Louise Penny
3. Thick as Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
2. The Furthest Station, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
1. Romancing the Werewolf, Gail Carriger (e)
Observations on the retreating horizon of Success
So, a couple weeks ago, I read an article addressing the ever-fascinating topic of how to rise above the crowd of voices in SF/F, how to become A Success, defined for the purposes of the article as an internationally recognized winner of awards and rich beyond your wildest dreams of avarice.
Followed a list of five-ish Things To Do, at least three of which we — by which I mean Steve Miller and Sharon Lee — had, so far as we know, invented. At the very least, we were very early adopters.
I showed the article to Steve, and he nodded and said, “Yep, yeah; do all that.”
“I know we do all that,” I said. “What I want to know is why we’re not A Success.”
And Steve lifted his index finger and pointed at the ceiling.
“Roof,” he said. “Over head.”
Which, yanno, is fair enough, and a Good Reminder that Success is a moving target; it’s always ahead of you, and — pro tip! — you will never catch it.
Back when I was a baby writer, I thought success was selling a short story and seeing it published in a professional magazine. And, in 1980, I hit Success dead-center. I sold and saw published “A Matter of Ceremony,” to Amazing Stories.
Only. . .to really be A Success, I had to sell two more short stories to professional venues, so that I’d qualify for membership in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and be recognized as A Pro.
Well, I hit that Success, too, and then, it turned out that, to be a Solid Success and a Real Pro, one needed — absolutely needed — to write and sell a novel. Anyone can write short stories, after all.
. . .And we did that. Then, we wrote and sold more novels, because anybody can write one novel, and to be A Success one needed a Body of Work.
And, then of course, to be A Real Success, instead of a tawdry wannabe success, one had to win awards!
. . .and. . .one had to teach!
. . .and. . .be important in the media!
. . .and. . .be Guests of Honor at science fiction conventions! No, wait — at WorldCon!
. . .and. . .there’s Success, always ahead, dancing and laughing, and taunting.
So, the point of this — I really do have a point — is that Success — by which I mean Third-Party Success, envisioned by Someone Out There, and built according to their rules — is a mug’s game. Worse, trying to catch Success opens you to the corrosive effects of envy, and self-dissatisfaction, which will leach happiness from your life, and joy from your relationships.
You’re better off — oh, so very much better off — setting your own goals, and celebrating each one that you achieve, without reference to what Other People are achieving, or what you “ought” to be achieving in order to be a “Real Success.”
This world is full of ways to make you unhappy and desperate (Once upon a time, an acquaintance said to me at a party, “So, I hear you have a new book out!” “Yes,” I said excitedly. “Have you read it?” “No offense,” he answered, sipping his wine, “but I don’t have time to read good books.”). Your job is to visualize your own happiness and success — and work toward those goals, joyously.
It’s not easy — nothing in this life is easy — but it’s worth the effort, in ways that chasing Success will never be.
. . .and now?
I need to clean the cat fountain — I keep cats because I enjoy the company of cats, and they make my life better, and they really prefer to have running water — and then I need to get to work.
See you on the flipside.
Books read in 2018
54. Kings and Wizards, The Second Journey of Agatha Heterodyne, Book Four, Kaja and Phil Foglio
53. Travels with Myself and Another, Martha Gellhorn
52. A Night in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny (read aloud with Steve re-re-re-re-re-re-&c-read)
51. Bayou, Volume One, Jeremy Love (library book)
50. Bone: Out from Boneville, Jeff Smith (library book)
49. Saga, Volume One, Brian K. Vaughan, Fiona Staples (library book)
48. This Rough Magic, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
47. Elizabeth and Her German Garden, Elizabeth von Arnim (read aloud with Steve)
46. Why Kill the Innocent, C.S. Harris
45. To Love and Be Wise, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
44. A Study in Scarlet Women, Sherry Thomas (e)
43. Shards of Hope, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
42. The Tightrope Walker, Dorothy Gilman
41. The Wisdom of the Beguines, Laura Swan
40. Miss Pym Disposes, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
39. Cinnamon Blade: A Knife in Shining Armor, Shira Glassman (e)
38. Hunter of Worlds, C.J. Cherryh (re-read; read aloud with Steve)
37. The Black Wolves of Boston, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
36. The Man in the Queue, Josephine Tey (read aloud with Steve)
35. Shield of Winter, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
34. Waiting on a Bright Moon, Jy Yang (e)
33. The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax, Dorothy Gilman (e)
32. The Daughter of Time, Josephine Tey (re-read for me; read aloud w/Steve)
31. Eight Million Gods, Wen Spencer (re-read) (e)
30. These Old Shades, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
29. The Prince and the Dressmaker, Jen Wang
28. The Talisman Ring, Georgette Heyer (re-re-re-read; read aloud with Steve)
27. The Moon-spinners, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
26. The Cat Who Went Underground, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
25. Winterglass, Benjanun Sriduangkaew (e)
24. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
23. The Tea Master and the Detective, Aliette de Bodard (e)
22. The Persian Boy, Mary Renault
21. Heart of Obsidian, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
20. Brat Farrar, Josephine Tey
19. Woman Without a Past, Phyllis A. Whitney (e)
18. The Mermaid’s Sister, Carrie Anne Noble (e)
17. All Systems Red, Martha Wells (e)
16. Burn Bright, Patricia Briggs (e)
15. The Ivy Tree, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
14. Kiss of Snow, Nalini Singh (read aloud with Steve)
13. Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik (e)
12. His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik (e)
11. The Cat Who Played Post Office, Lilian Jackson Braun (read aloud with Steve)
10. The Faded Sun: Kutath, CJ Cherryh (e)
9. Emergence, CJ Cherryh (read aloud with Steve)
8. The Faded Sun: Shon’jir, CJ Cherryh (re-read) (e)
7. The Faded Sun: Kesrith, CJ Cherryh (e)
6. My Brother Michael, Mary Stewart (re-read) (e)
5. The River Bank, Kij Johnson (read aloud with Steve)
4. Still Life, Louise Penny
3. Thick as Thieves, Megan Whalen Turner
2. The Furthest Station, Ben Aaronovitch (e)
1. Romancing the Werewolf, Gail Carriger (e)