Space Opera With a Twist

A Time to Give Thanks

I pulled Howling Stars (Decker’s War Book 4) out of the fermentation chamber yesterday, after deciding that I had completed the first act of A Splash of Blood and could safely put it aside while I revised the latest Zack Decker adventure. It’ll take me a week or two to slice, dice, chop and sand it down to the point where I can safely present the manuscript to my editor for criticism and suggestions.

Yesterday was also the second anniversary of my first novel’s publication, when I unleashed Zack Decker on an unsuspecting military sci-fi fandom in Death Comes But Once. With two more adventures published and a fourth coming out before the end of the year, I’m a pretty happy author. Not only that, in less than two weeks, I’ll be celebrating No Honor in Death’s second anniversary of publication, having added two more adventures to Siobhan Dunmoore’s saga since then. Even now, both series are finding new readers every day, which is both gratifying and humbling.

It’s now been six months since I retired from my day job in the bowels of the demented bureaucracy and I still think I’m the luckiest guy in the world, especially when I read all the newspaper articles about the follies, foibles and failures occurring in my former sphere of professional activity. I dodged a few bullets by getting out last spring and have no regrets, though it’s still a bit strange, when I go out and about every day, to be rubbing elbows with fellow retirees who are somewhat older than me. On the other hand, being able to live according to my whims and finally pursue my dreams at a relatively young age is priceless.

The only downside is my constant struggle with procrastination. In fact, some days I feel like the king of the Procrasti Nation, but it still beats the piles of administrative trivia I struggled with for years, often under the pressure of unrealistic, if not downright idiotic deadlines, dulling my imagination and sapping my will to live. Therefore, on this Thanksgiving weekend, I can, for the first time in years, be truly thankful for everything and that is a most precious feeling. It is especially so as I think back to the dark place I inhabited twelve months ago when I made the decision to prematurely end what had been a successful career in IT and become my own boss as a full-time author so I could find some joy in life again. Mission accomplished. Now, the universe is the limit.

To my Canadian readers, I hope you have fun with family and friends on this weekend. Happy Thanksgiving.

2 Comments

  1. Anonymous

    Hi Eric – having shared space with you in the “bowels of the demented bureaucracy” I could not agree with you more about the gift of retirement. As you note, particularly given news reports over the last few months. We certainly got out before the storm. Just wanted you to know my husband and I are still enjoying the books. Having the freedom to procrastinate (if you can call it that) often means giving up a day or so to reading our latest purchase from start to finish in one go. Cheers – Michelle

    • Eric Thomson

      Hi Michelle
      It’s great to hear from you. We certainly dodged the worst of it. I have no regrets whatsoever. I’m glad you’re continuing to enjoy my scribblings. There will be more in the coming months and years, now that my new career is hitting its stride. Funny how life works out sometimes, eh?
      Cheers

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