It's been a year.
It's been a long 24 months, actually.
In the last couple of weeks, I had to move the blog's home on the turn of a dime, and with my lack of tech-ish skills, that was a huge stressor. I've still not settled in or "unpacked" everything for bapaul.com's new home, but it's getting there.
So those happy-on-purpose, giddy-little-jump-and-squeal moments are to be cherished to the utmost.
Unless…
Unless…
Your long-awaited author copies arrive in your mailbox, and that mailbox is across a busy road. A really busy road.
In that case, curb your enthusiasm until, well, you at least reach the curb.
And to avoid a fender-bending pile-up of gawking commuters, perhaps curb that jump-and-squeal dance move until you're behind closed doors — especially if you have the grace and coordination of this particular curvy girl.
I'm sure more than one passerby thought about calling for help when they saw me pull out my Ellery Queen package. I'm glad they didn't, though. I wouldn't know how to explain the sheer joy of author copies to our community's finest EMTs.
But author copies are the best.
Author copies remind me I actually did something in 2021 — other than just survive.
So, without further ado, here's my bit of shameless self-promotion:
Ellery Queen, Baby!
Second sale to this wonderful publication, and no less exciting than the first one.
My story, "Stone Still," is in the January/February 2022 issue. Check it out!
Short and sweet. Giddy-little-happy-on-purpose blog.
May your Christmas be merry and bright, and may all your dance moves bring smiles and joy to you and yours — and may they not summon the EMTs!
