44 years ago today, I made my first sale as a professional fiction writer. I've done a post to mark that anniversary every year since 2004, when I started this blog. The first and most detailed of those posts can be found here. Back on December 27, 1976, I had no way of knowing how my career was going to turn out, of course. That one sale might have been one-and-done. That happens to a lot of people less fortunate than I've been. Yeah, I have a certain amount of talent for the writing game and I've worked pretty hard at it at times, but luck has also followed me every step of the way and don't think I don't know it. The biggest stroke of luck I ever had, in more ways than one, was marrying Livia four months before I made that first sale. One thing definitely has a lot to do with the other. So here's a big thanks to her, to our daughters, to all the editors who've had faith in me, to all the friends I've made, and to all of you reading this post.
13 comments:
44 years, a gazillion words, and a bazillion remarkable books! Congratulations, James!
Luck is always a factor in anyone's life, but how it comes about, and what you do with it, says more about talent, work, and perseverance than blind fortune. I think Plato said that, and if he didn't, he should have. Congrats on your remarkable achievements!
A "storied" career as they say!
A big congratulations, James. You've carved a remarkable career and represent a great role model for other writers, no matter the genre.
Congratulations, James!
Congratulations, James!
Luck brought you to that crossroads but you took the path and kept walking. Congratulations, James, on a wonderful career.
Eventually I hope you will do an autobiography covering your writing career and also a chapter on Sam Merwin at MSMM. Also an appendix listing the various novels and the different bylines that you used instead of your real name.
I know you are busy earning a living but I believe this is an important project since you were such a prolific genre writer.
Never tire of reading that story. And the appliance store brought you and Bill Crider together. Keep up the good work!
On top of being a fine writer your willingness to share your vast knowledge of books, pulps, and writing on your blog or on social media are greatly appreciated by so many. Congratulations and Happy New Year.
I appreciate the kind words, everyone. Walker, a book about my career is something I always have in the back of my mind, but whether or not I'll ever get around to it is a good question. It's something I'd like to do, though, since the publishing business was such a different world back in the Seventies and Eighties, and while a lot of us from that era are still around, our numbers definitely are dwindling.
James, here's hoping you get around to writing a book about your career. It would be fascinating to learn the details.
I'm behind on keeping up with blogs and so late to this party, but congratulations, James.
And I second the idea of the autobiography.
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