I’m 57 years old. What the fuck? How did that happen? Not that I mind. I feel all right. I feel much better than I have any right to, all things considered.
It’s been a good year in Lake Woebegon. Did more work with Skyler on The Incrementalists, which, really, is almost more fun than I can stand. And we’re going to be doing yet more. If I weren’t a Dignified Man of Letters, I’d be bouncing. And I actually sold a short story! To Tor.com! See previous remark about Dignified Man &c. Work on Hawk continues and so far I’m pleased with it.
I’m getting more comfortable and settled in at home. Not seen grandchildren as much as I’d like, but I’ve enjoyed the time with them, and am feeling good about the way family stuff is working out.
I’m actually seeing someone now, a delightful and charming lady who, alas, lives on the East Coast. But it’s good, and it really does make the world brighter. On a similar note, there are a number of close friends I actually managed to spend time with, but not so much time that it started messing up work.
Particular high points have to include: teaching at Viable Paradise. Visiting Gettysburg. Spending time with my people in Texas. A weekend in Vegas. Cards Against Humanity. Getting medical coverage, with the consequent hope of keeping the gears turning a bit longer. SELLING A MOTHERFUCKING SHORT STORY! (Yeah, I know, I already mentioned that, but it’s worth mentioning twice.) Some really outstanding convention experiences (Milehicon, Convolution, and Fourth Street). And, yeah, I’m going to include the response I got for the song, “John Scalzi’s Blog” as a high point, even though I know I lose Cool Points for caring that much. I’ll edit this paragraph as I think of more. But that’s enough to establish a trend.
56 has been a good year for me. We’ll see how 57 turns out.
Happy birthday from a long-time reader and fan.
Happy birthday. LDRs can be a pain, but if their worth it, then it’s all worth it.
So when and where can we read this wonderous short story which I heard you sold?
Cheers, as always, good sir.
Happy Birthday! Good health, new stories and worthy friends for new year.
P.S. From Russia with love. :-)
Sounds like a wonderful year and sending wishes that 57 is as or more wonderful. As previously noted LDRs can be hard but delightful/ intelligent companionship isn’t always easy to find so I suspect it’s worth it ( J and I were in an LDR for over 3 years, we didn’t move in together or live in the same state until a few months after we adopted our daughter, we’d been married half a year at that point!)
I’m especially grateful you had the healthcare stuff resolved. Your voice is needed and I’m glad it will be around!
Glad to hear that 56 was so wonderful. Hope 57 is even better and 58 (when it comes) even better than that.
Also, hoping that latent cyborg enhancements emerge, allowing you to shoot lasers from your eyes and cool shit like that.
Logan: It’ll be out from Tor.com and something like 9 or 10 months. Thanks for asking.
If you write it in roman numerals it looks like you have progressed to level 2 (LVII)
It’s also the atomic number of Lanthanum, first of the rare earth metals.
2^5 + 5^2 = 57
If we’re going that direction, I prefer to observe that I’m 39. In hex.
Piling in on the Happy Birthdays… Many happy returns.
OMG – 57!!! That is pretty fucking old. Hell I won’t be 56 until next May. Congrats on the story and many more happy birthdays.
Happy Birthday, Steve!
It was great to see you at MileHiCon. Hopefully we’ll see you back again soon.
Happy Belated Birthday to my favourite writer. Like you said…keep those gears a ticking and the great adventures happening and you’ll live forever.
Been a while, but happy birthday. No matter how old you get, there are some who are always a bit older. Ahem. But who’s counting?
Many Happy Returns!
Belated Happy Steven day!
Is it that much harder to sell a short story than a novel (since you’ve sold ~two dozen novels)? And, if so, why?
Many Happy Returns!
It’s harder for me to write one good enough to sell, just because I’m not comfortable with the form.
Happy birthday! Congradulations on the short story. I’d write some sort of Hungarian blessing, but I’m not Hungarian, and I don’t really know one. I could look one up on the internet, but that would seem insincere. So, I’ll just say: Live long and may the force be with you.
Happy Birthday! 57 years, eh? How many words old are you?
Happy birthday, not-so-old-man.
I expect 57 will be lovely for you, with many squees. You make the world brighter too, you know.
Congratulations! Many happy returns!
Glad things are going well for you :)
Happy belated!!
57 is the new 39, Happy Birthday.
smiling……