The career hasn't caught fire yet, but it appears to be smoldering.

I'm not going to go into boring details, but I had one book proposal that had been accepted... And then the economy tanked and the publisher backed off just before the contracts were signed, leaving me high, dry, and depressed.

Gini had given me six months to write before I had to find a job, and this happened in late September.... I lost all will to write. Knowing that I had given the publishing industry my best idea and it failed miserably, I sat at the computer playing videogames and just being generally morose.

God bless my wife.

She realized that I had essentially stopped writing altogether, took me aside, and hugged me. "Look," she said. "If you need more time to make this work, then make it work. You're a talented writer, and I know you can make a living at this. I love you.

"But more importantly, I believe in you."

Man if that wasn't a kick to the chest.

Shortly after that, just after New Year's, I got my first book contract - it was essentially work for hire, doing piecework on one of those monster "The Complete Internet" books, yet it was paying me enough to make it worth my while and get my foot in the door. While I was doing that, I churned out two other proposals and may or may not have work on two other books. I've also picked up some paid reviewing positions for beer money, which helps fill things out.

So it looks like I'm on my way. (Thanks to Margy Levine Young and Curtis Frye for the helpin' hand, folks.)

And apparently God really wants me to stay at home and churn out things, since just as Gini's about to head into Law School - thus halving her salary - the excellent Pete Hoefling, CEO and Commandant of Star City, just offered me position as webmaster. I know next to nothing about scripting and programming (aside from a lot of theoretical knowledge gained from Borders and Waldenbooks), but Pete has essentially given me an opportunity to go pro at this. The Web scripting knowledge I get from StarCity may be turnable into other books, so it's a win/win situation.

(Plus, I've got some ideas that are gonna knock StarCity readers on their ass... Well, once I learn how to do them, anyway.)

The first experiment of my web scripting abilities will be updating TheFerrett.com, which is long overdue for a haul. I'm going to be turning it into a database-driven web site, which means that it'll be easier for me to update everything - and I do have updates. Dave Philips, the owner of my host, willing, fans of my essay writing will soon be able to see such wonderful self-writing talents as "Bum For A Day," "WWFailure," and a couple of others I have stockpiled.

That'll come in a bit. I got time, baby.

In any case, things are okay. I'm set for awhile, and positioned admirably for a good future.

Now if only my agent can sell those two books...

So What Else Is Going On?
Not a whole lot, otherwise. Scrappy, my remaining ferret, is still alive and sniffin', although he does seem to be getting on in years. (He's nine years old - on average, ferrets live five to seven, and often less than that.) He has a growth on his face that looks extremely malignant, but the vets have no idea what it is and he's had it for almost a year now. After I spent $500 on vet appointments, I finally realized that it didn't seem to bother him and that he continued to eat just fine... So I've left it.

He's still a playful little guy. It's amazing. I just wish he didn't stink like, well... A ferret. I clean the cage once a day and air out the room on a regular basis, but it's never enough for Gini. I can't blame her.

As stated, Gini and I are sweet.

Life is sweet.

What the hell else do you need?

So here's my challenge: I've told you all about my life. Now you tell me about yours. Write me, lemme know whassup, and say "howdy." I miss ya all. And best of luck to ya.

Because man, I gotta tell you... I feel blessed.

Signing off,
The Ferrett
Editor, TheFerrett.com and StarCityGames.com
"Insert strange witticism or quote here"