I think I may hang it up.
I’ve been in the writing and publishing business for twenty years. I’ve had some great opportunities, including working with James Patterson, and wonderful recognition from my peers in the Crime Writers’ Association. I also, and this is very important to me, earned praise from David Morrell, the man without whom I would not be a novelist. And I have fans! Can’t beat that.
But I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I want to spend what will probably be the last 10-20 years of my life. Do I really want to spend it scrambling for publishing contracts? Or do I just want to be read? Increasingly, I’ve begun to think it’s the latter.
I’ve been nobody, and I’ve been a front-list author. Scant few people can say the same. I was nominated for CWA Daggers four times. How many folks never get one? And I’ve slowly come to realize that I don’t have anything to prove. I did it. The dream I had as a kid of becoming a professional writer someday came true. And to be honest, I just want to connect with readers now.
I don’t need the money, and I certainly don’t need the hassle of dealing with the publishing industry, from agents to editors to marketers. I want to be read, hear from readers… you know, actually enjoy writing again.
Starting relatively soon, I’ll explain what shape that kind of reinvention takes. I look forward to it.