Best of the Decade: Personal

Looking back, the first half of the '00s were uneventful and eventful, but not life changing. I mean, I graduated college, got a job, got my masters, won a Derringer Award, got a better paying and more steady job, but the ball really didn't get rolling until 2005 (in fact, if you look at the dates, my masters wasn't given out until 2005 and I didn't start the job until 2005... so bam... the first 5 years were boring.)

But the next five... WHOA... Let's go through them rapid fire:

2005: Aforementioned job and master's degree. Started meeting writers at book signings. Went to my first Bouchercon via solo road trip to Chicago. Got agent. Fun times.

2006: MOVED OUT. Take that Judy Bobalik! Got first book deal. Got excited about said book deal.

2007: Book came out. Life was exciting.

2008: Met a fantastic girl. Second book came out.

2009: Turned 30. Got engaged. Worked hard on a book that I hope to finish in the next decade... or 2010.

So, let's boil that down. If I had sat down and made a 5 year plan at the very beginning of 2005 and all of it came true, it'd look like this: Complete my masters, get a good stable job, move out, finish a book, get an agent, get a book deal, sell books, meet a girl, get engaged, put out a second book.

I'd say that's a pretty successful five years. I'd say it's a pretty successful decade. Let's hope I keep pushing forward.

Here's to the '10s! Happy New Year!