Facebook’s got some cute new app that gives you a nice graphical overview of your 2014. Everyone’s using it. I tried it for my year…and hated what it spat out. So I decided to create my own. Here’s my 2014 review:
First off: 2012 was the worst year of my life. 2014 (despite the events of December) was the best. Here are ten reasons why:
1) January – Netherworld was finally released. The first novel I ever wrote. Reviews were great. My publisher (JournalStone) did a fine job with promotion. The book got nationwide release through Barnes and Noble. It’s the first in a trilogy. Seeing Netherworld finally released was a longtime dream.
2) March – Malediction received a Bram Stoker Award nomination in the Novel category. I was tremendously honored to have the book chosen by the Novel Jury, which read kajillions of novels released in 2013 and decided Malediction was one of the five best. To have my book chosen alongside works by Stephen King, Joe Hill, Christopher Rice, and F. Paul Wilson and Sarah Pinborough was a real honor. Of course Malediction lost to King’s Doctor Sleep, but who cares – that nomination was just killah.
3) May – Trip to Portland for the World Horror Convention. Okay, truthfully, the convention was too much hard work for me…but a trip to Powell’s in the rain with Rocky Wood was worth it. I also debuted my new silver hair here, and got my first (and only) tattoo: My Halloween logo, designed by my pal Greg Chapman.
4) July – The release of Zombie Apocalypse!: Washington Deceased. I was very proud of this one, my fourth novel, and very grateful to my editor and friend Steve Jones.
5) July-December – My mom’s health continued to improve by leaps and bounds, and it’s been a real joy watching her come back.
6) September – I took the trip of a lifetime to Great Britain, where I toured magnificent York, fell in love with London (thanks in no small part to a two-day walking tour courtesy of Steve Jones), and saw Kate Bush live in concert, an experience I can only echo another reviewer in describing as “an incomparably joyous experience.”
7) September – The novella I worked on with John R. Little for five years, By Insanity of Reason, was finally released. I wasn’t sure we’d ever finish this thing. I’m really pleased with the final product. Thanks, John!
8) October – The Stanley Hotel Writers Retreat was my second best trip of the year. Loved hanging with friends like Rena Mason, Chris Marrs and R. J. Cavender, loved the magnificent hotel, loved the kindness of the local library, loved the fantastic photos and info I garnered for my non-fiction ghost book while there…heck, even loved the incredible oolong tea I picked up in the Estes Park tea shop. This trip also marked another reason for me to celebrate: I took five trips on planes in 2014 and didn’t get sick once. I seem to have finally learned how to fly (Neosporin, you are my friend).
9) December – Even though an event I’ve been dreading for years finally occurred – effing ALS claimed my friend Rocky Wood – the outpouring of affection and gratitude for Rocky was really wonderful to witness, and as tragic as his passing was, I consider myself very, very fortunate to have been able to call him a good friend. Knowing Rocky was one of those things that you just intuitively know you will carry with you for the rest of your life.
10) December – After interviewing Chuck Palahniuk for Nightmare Magazine on my birthday, he surprised me with quite possibly the most extraordinary gift I’ve ever received: A handcrafted necklace, made from semi-precious stones acquired on his travels and bits of his mother’s jewelry. The gift is really gorgeous and I genuinely cherish it.
I’m excited about the possibilities of 2015 – there are already books in the works, some of which I’ve already announced (Ghosts: A Cultural History for Reaktion) and some of which I haven’t. Next week I’ll do a 2015 teaser. While it’s highly doubtful that I’ll be seeing Kate Bush live again, 2015 promises a lot of wonderful stuff, so stay tuned!