Before 2006

Before 2006:

• I did not have a web page;


• I couldn't say "I am a published writer";


• I had never held a published book I wrote;


• I had never signed an autograph;


• I had never been recognized from a picture on a book;


• My friend Bob was still here, not gone in some crazy accident;


• I had never owned a moleskine (or even touched one);


• I hadn't met loads of new people including a lot of writers I admire;


• I had never received a grant from the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council to work on a novel;


• I had never read anything in public;


• I had never launched a book;


• I had never been interviewed for the radio;


• I wasn't on the board of directors of anything;


• I had never been on a panel;


• I had never been a guest columnist in a newspaper;


• My writing had never been reviewed ;


• I wasn't a freelancer in a tech company;


• I wasn't forty.

All in all, it was a fabulous year with some sadness along the way. I can only hope that 2007 will be as wonderful (without the sadness) for everyone out there reading this. I don't think I can follow up this year with anything much better than last year, but I hope it is healthy and happy and that maybe there are some other fun and exciting firsts for me.

Happy New Year everyone!