Today is Thanksgiving, but as I write this it is still October. It is through the marvels of modern blog scheduling I can write this post weeks ahead of time, then Charles can set up the time and date for my little article to run.
Why would I write this post so early, especially considering this is a holiday for many? The truth is, I have a whole bunch of blog posts to write. This month, November, I am on a blog tour to promote my newest epic fantasy e-book, Ghosts of the Asylum, which was just released earlier this week. I am appearing on 30 different blogs, one each day of the month, which means I have 30 posts to write. And then there are posts to my own blog I need to write, plus as a fiction writer I’ve always got another novel or short story to be working on.
But just because it’s October here where I sit in the past, while November 24 there where you sit, does not mean I can’t reflect upon the holiday that is Thanksgiving for those of us in and from the United States.
The truth is, I have a lot for which to be thankful. Yes, there are wars in the world and modern politics and media consistently grate at the nerves, but I am one of the fortunate few who gets to write fiction for a living.
Yes, I can get up early or sleep in. I can stay up all night if I want. I can work whenever, or not. I don’t have any bosses to answer to, nor boring meetings to attend. All because of my chosen profession.
I don’t mean to rub it in for those not so fortunate as myself. Believe me, fiction writing for a living has plenty of its own downsides.
But I want to be thankful today.
I want to thank Charles for hosting me here on Thanksgiving. I want to thank all the other bloggers who are hosting me this month. I thank my wife for putting up with my nonsense, and I even thank my beagle for being such a good girl ... most of the time. I thank my mother and father, who usually don’t understand my writing but who support me anyway.
And, perhaps most importantly, I want to thank my readers. Without you, the readers, I would not have the life I currently enjoy. I hope my writing gives back at least a little, hopefully a lot.
It’s Thanksgiving. And I’m thankful for being a fiction writer.
Got to go. It’s time for lunch, which today is a bologna sandwich. Wish I was there with you on Thanksgiving so I could enjoy some turkey and dressing!
-----
-----
Charles, thanks for posting me today. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteWatch out for the chupacabras or whatever.
And i want to thank Charles and all the visitors ofthis blog for not kicking my ass ;)
ReplyDeleteBtw: Ty, chupacabras is a pussy. Better watch out for the Beast of Exmoor ;)
thx ty and charles... happy t'day to you and yours! :)
ReplyDeleteTy, no prob dude.
ReplyDeleteDeka, lol.
Laughingwolf, and to you, man.
Lucky for Ty Johnston that he can both fictionalize and "journalize."...And it looks like Ghosts in the Asylum is a kind of synthesis of his earlier trilogy.
ReplyDeleteAh, the ways we find to break into print, or a least, copy.
I used to disguise my short stories as newspaper columns until they caught up to me. "With Ivan, it's never let the facts get in the way of a good story."
So I used what was left of my clout to finally publish my Black Icon in a provincial magazine here in Ontario...Then they canned me as a journalist. :)
I do admire real fiction writers who can use plot and charactr so well.
Happy Thanksgiving to both Charles and Ty and your families.
ReplyDeleteIvan, I would guess that about you, man. :)
ReplyDeleteKeith, thanks! And to you and yours.
A-ah, the writer's life, nice article. Y'all have a great Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! :)
ReplyDeleteOscar, indeed.
ReplyDeleteGolden eagle, thanks for visiting.
Happy Thanksgiving Charles and Ty. There's so much to be thankful for, we can't wait to say thanks. And I thank you Charles, for being here.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your book. No turkey and dressing here either, but I too am thankful for so many things, especially having a job -- and people who understand my work.
ReplyDeleteI think being thankful is a better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than eating ourselves silly.
oceangirl, I appreciate your kind words.
ReplyDeleteMary Witzl, what is wrong with both? :)
Ty, what a beautiful cover. Good luck with the book!
ReplyDeleteDanette, thankee for visiting.
ReplyDeleteThis is great ~ a split in time makes nine ~ happy October-Octogon-Thanksgiving to Ty Johnston, Charles and the gang ~ Huzzah ~
ReplyDeleteErik, thanks for visiting, man.
ReplyDeleteEveryone, thanks for dropping!
ReplyDelete