Neil Gaiman Has Done Something Wonderful

Which is really nothing new, but, you know.

It all started with Twitter and Blackberry. On February 4, Gaiman tweeted twelve questions, one per hour, to his followers, themed around the months of the year. Out of the many, many responses he got for each month, he chose a prompt for a quick short story, around 1000 words. Then, over the next three days, and with a camera crew hanging over his shoulder, he wrote the stories. 'Nuff said on that account.

The stories are now available as a PDF download here. They're all quite wonderful, in that way Gaiman has. I've said for years that he's one of our best magical realists, and these stories prove it. They're all fantastic, but very grounded, very human, reminding me of what it's like, trying to get through this life. Some are sad, some are funny, some are scary, some are varying combinations of all three. I don't think I'll ever look at a calendar the same way again.

Oh, and it's not over yet. They're looking for illustrations of the stories for an eventual digital showcase and print edition. Obviously, I won't be participating in that part, but there's no reason why you couldn't. At worst, you've lost a bit of time, and gained the experience of having read some really good stories.

I am toying with the idea of doing something with my own answers. Maybe just an entry regarding where they came from. I don't know. Some of it might be a bit more personal than I'm willing to get into in my old age. (I really do look back at some of my old entries on this blog and cringe.) Or maybe I'll turn them into stories. One of them, January, was about something I've considered in story terms for quite a while now.

But that's all for later. Right now, you should go download those stories. Then, get a cup of your favorite beverage, sit in your favorite chair, and do some reading. It's good for you.

What Day Is It? Oh, Yeah

I know from feedback that some of you are big fans of my yearly tongue-in-cheek posts about being lonely and bitter on Valentine's Day. Well, I'm sorry to report there won't be one of those this year.

I've been seeing a wonderful girl since last June, it's going smashingly, and tonight we're doing fine Italian dining and champagne & snuggles at home. So not so much with the lonely, and as for bitter, I'm taking the day off from that.

Hopefully, you've got something nice to do tonight as well, whether alone or with someone. And if not, well, there's always next year. Or even tomorrow.

How To Help Peter David

As reported below, Peter David's going through a bit of a rough patch right now. He's about to have a very expensive year, and his wife has suggested that those who want to help their family out buy some of his books:

The most direct way is to buy his books from Crazy 8 Press (via ComicMix) or from Amazon or Barnes and Noble websites. These are books that he gets the money from directly and the most per book.

Of the Crazy 8 releases, I can personally vouch for the Hidden Earth series and The Camelot Papers. And they're all available in print and ebook formats.

Once again, best wishes to Peter and his family.

Best Wishes To Peter David

The acclaimed and awesome writer of, among other things, X-Factor, suffered a stroke two days ago. All my best wishes for a speedy recovery.

My Favorite Comics of 2012

It's that time again, nerds. As always, this is a list of my favorites out of the comics I read this year, which is nowhere near the number of comics that were released. So don't take this as a comprehensive list of the best comics of the year. All the big comics websites are doing that anyway; Comic Book Resources' Top 100 list in particular has given me some food for thought for next year's reading.

But enough of that, let's get to the important bit: Where I rave about Hawkeye.

I Aten't Dead

Just a couple quick things before I start my holiday shenanigans.

I wrote a post over on the Sequential Salon blog about my reference shelf. There may be more posts there from me in the coming year.

Favorite Comics of 2012 will be up sometime next week. Although it might just be me saying "Hawkeye Hawkeye Hawkeye" a couple thousand times.

Finally, a quick "Happy Birthday" to Tony Isabella, one of the coolest and nicest guys in the comics industry (and the guy who pretty much invented comics blogging, back before "blogging" was a word).

And So It Begins

Township is finished, and has been submitted under its new title of Greensparrow.

On to the next thing.

Never Forget

Unintended consequences. They're a bitch.

To My Nephew, Nearly Ten Hours Old

Hello, little one. I suspect you're rather confused right now, wondering what all of this is. It's called "the world". There's quite a lot to know about it, but don't worry, nobody expects you to learn it all at once. Your mom and dad will be there to help with a lot of the practical stuff: what to do when you're hungry or tired, where the important phone numbers are, what that big fuzzy yellow thing that lives in the house is, things like that. As for the rest, well, we're all sort of trying to figure that out ourselves. I'll be sure to let you know if I come up with any answers, though.

I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself. I'm your Uncle Mike. I live some ways away, but I'll be dropping in to visit now and then. I'll always have a book for you when I do, I can promise you that. You won't get much use out of them right away, but I hope that, when you're able, you'll enjoy them very much. I did when I was young. Still do, really.

Aside from that, I don't really have much in the way of official duties. I'll teach you some stupid jokes, give you great big hugs, and possibly pass along a little bit of wisdom. There might also be some cousins for you down the road, although I make no promises.

For now, though I'm going to crib from one of my favorite writers, Kurt Vonnegut, whose books I will give you when you are much, much older. His advice to newborns was, in part, "You've got to be kind." (Again, you'll read the full quote when you're older.) I find it's good advice, even at what I'm sure to you is the ripe old age of thirty. Keep it close to your heart, and you'll do just fine.

Hello, little one. We haven't met yet, but I love you. Welcome to the world.

An Open Letter To Google

I am never going to give you my phone number. Stop asking for it.

RIP Ray Bradbury

Enjoy your endless summer.

And That Took About Exactly As Long As I Expected

The first Township revision is done. The new draft is 23 chapters, 95063 words, 265 pages. A bit longer than I expected it to be, actually, but the right length for now.

Up next is the beta process. The road goes ever on and on...

Against My Better Judgment

I now have a Twitter account. Blame Brian Cronin and The Line It Must Be Drawn.

Interested parties who know my email address can request my name.

An Open Letter To Dan Slott

SPIDER-MAN DOES NOT FUCKING TORTURE PEOPLE.

Well, That Took Longer Than Expected

The first draft of Township is done. Twenty-five chapters, 101,163 words, 281 manuscript pages. This is the largest and longest anything I've ever done. Part of me is still surprised that I was able to do it.

I started writing this novel two years, two months, and twenty-three days ago. It shouldn't have taken this long. Why it did is a long, boring story that's been going on for thirty years or so. Suffice it to say that this wasn't just about learning how to develop characters and themes, pace scenes, and flesh out a plot; it was also about learning how to get out of my own way.

There's plenty more work to be done. There's heavy revision to be done on the first half or so, and no doubt plenty in the second as well. Then I've got to round up some beta readers. There'll be three drafts in all, although I'll probably keep only one on my computer when it's all over. And there's the whole process of getting it published, which will be an adventure in itself.

I also need to come up with a new title. My mother doesn't like this one, and while I don't often let her make these sorts of decisions, she's happens to be right this time.

All that can wait, though. I'm going to take Stephen King's advice and let it sit for a bit before I start the revisions. Not long, but enough to let my head clear. I've got another writing project to work on in the meantime (yes, Jeff and Alex, that one).

Right now, though, I'm going to bask in the new and heady sense of accomplishment. I rather enjoy the feeling so far.

Ding, Dong, The Witch Is Dead

Which old witch? The personification-of-the-parts-of-my-personality-I-don't-like witch!

Kelly Thompson, I Take Issue With Your Review of Wonder Woman #7

You left out "slavers."

Thing #476 That Bugs Me About Geoff Johns's Rainbow Lantern "Mythos"

The "Greed Lantern" is depicted as a comic figure.

The "Compassion Lanterns" are depicted as sinister.

The Problem With Earth-2

Over the last week or so, DC has been releasing various teases regarding its upcoming series, Earth 2. I think it’s safe to say that it’s not what anybody expected. Thinking about that fact got me thinking about the concept of Earth-2, where it came from, what it’s for, and what the brand (because, it seems, everything is a brand now) means to the audience. All that thinking, combined with the teaser material, has led me to a conclusion:

This book’s gonna be a tough sell.

Congratulations, Jeff and Jillian

One of my bestest pals in the world, Jeff, and his lovely wife Jillian are now the proud parents of a baby boy, Grayson Robert.

The happy family have all my congratulations and well wishes. As for some advice for the little guy, I'll leave that to Kurt Vonnegut:

Hello, baby. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, baby, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, baby—God damn it, you've got to be kind.