Phew! It has been a whirlwind of a summer. I’ve got multiple conventions coming up. GenCon: Indy. WorldCon in Chicago. Geek*Kon here in town. A trade show in September, and more after that. Convention planning is a lot of work. So much, in fact, that that particular phrase has been stuck in my mind. I even mentioned it in a recent interview with Jennisodes.

I prefer podcasting to written interviews sometimes because I can nerd it up. I understand why people have things like personas and images they hide behind online, but I’ve never been a very good liar. I yam who I yam who I yam. (Yes, that was a Popeye quote. And yes, the randomness is also completely me.)

Being genuine has its advantages and disadvantages like anything else. While I have to be “on” at a show, there are places where I can relax. That place this year was CONvergence, for sure.

I think the hardest thing to express is how much I love what I do. All I have are my words, and sometimes those fail me. I’m taking creative risks this year and we’ll see how those pan out. It’s a weird place to be for any author I suppose. You’re writing like mad, you don’t know who else cares about your work (besides yourself) unless they speak up, and you’re shooting for some way to crack a proverbial ceiling you don’t *think* is there but everyone else seems to believe exists. (It doesn’t, by the way. Luck and timing are nothing without the Work (or the ability to create the Work) itself. You always need that to stand on first, in my opinion, because this is where confidence comes from.)

I know that many of you have told me in person how much you appreciate me “sharing the ride” so to speak. I hope, regardless of what happens, I’ll always be able to do that. I think it’s important to know that every author rises and falls regardless of where they are.

I’m not afraid to talk about the rollercoaster. Can’t always be up. And won’t, definitely, be down all the time, either. But that, for me, is not what being an author is all about. To be able to live and love and write and make all kinds of art is a dream unto itself. To make a career out of this (even part-time) is wonderful, sure, but even that is not my rock. The ability to do what I do and feel such joy every time I’m in that zone? That’s what grounds me.

I suppose, before I get too philosophical and teary-eyed, I’ll leave you now. I’m in love with my Work. How ’bout you?

Mood: Creative
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: I had this thing called “green coffee.” Not sure how I feel about that.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: Some, but the heat is making me crappy.
In My Ears: Nuts and Honey
Game Last Played: Star Wars Battlefront
Movie Last Viewed: Sherlock Holmes a Game of Shadows
Latest Artistic Project: A grey and aqua bracelet
Latest Release: “Don’t Ignore Your Dead” included in Don’t Read This Book for the Don’t Rest Your Head RPG