Thanksgiving 2017

This year, I have so much to be thankful for that it’s hard to keep count. The Lord has blessed me in the past eleven months more than I can remember, and certainly more than I deserve. In addition to His constant and ever-present love, mercy, guidance, and forgiveness, He has heaped success and happiness on me throughout this year. I am humbled and grateful.

I am thankful for my loving and wonderful wife, Dr. Kimberly McCuiston, who has made it possible for me to make writing my full-time career. And for so many other things besides, including our little four-legged babies, Grendel and Winkie.

I am thankful for the fact that just as January came to a close, Mark Gottlieb of Trident Media Group called me, willing to take a chance on my first “completed” novel. Whether he knows it or not, that phone call gave me the confidence to go on a writing spree that has seen two short stories published this year, three more novels finished, two of which are out for consideration, and two more manuscripts in the works.

I am thankful for G.L. Cromarty and Marcus Henson for sharing their brilliant work with me and for their excellent insights into my own work, and for all their kind words and help throughout this year, including G letting me take over her blog for a day. I am thankful for Frank Oreto, Doug Gwilym, Vonnie Winslow Crist, and Kelly A. Harmon for taking a chance on my two stories and seeing them included in two fantastic tomes containing some of the best fiction I’ve ever read. I’m thankful for Steven R. Southard and Gregory L. Norris for selflessly promoting me on their blogs. Above all, I’m thankful for the newfound friendships I have with all of these fine folks. We may not get together for game nights once a week or help each other move, but we have come to share in each other’s triumphs and successes. And we do help each other with our writing, whether that be a little bit of social-media promotion, an occasional critique, or just a well-earned “huzzah” or the much-needed “better luck next time.”

I am thankful for NaNoWriMo for not only lighting a fire under my backside this month, but mostly for introducing me to all the wonderful people of the Pee Dee Writers. Now, I have people I can talk to face-to-face about things only writers understand without getting glazed eyeballs staring back at me. Most of you reading this will know what I’m talking about.

Finally, I am thankful for the network of friends and family who, though separated by miles and state lines, are always there to support me when I need it, and vice versa. I am thankful that the Lord has kept them all alive and (for the most part) healthy in 2017, and I pray that He continues to do so in the upcoming year as well.

So, on this day when families get together and eat way too much food, catch up on all the year’s gossip and grumbles, comedies and tragedies, successes and failures, I’d like to invite you to take a little time to yourself and consider what you are truly thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends and loved ones!