It's been a long time since my last drink, and on November 6th it'll be 15 years. It's a nice round number. I celebrated ten on screen during Covid, but once I started back with live meetings they were all days like any other day. 

The thing with days is they have ups and downs and highs and lows, and as they say, you get to feel your feelings.  But, I've always felt my feelings, and when I drank and used, it wasn't to hide them. Feeling are life-things, and all I can say is that life is better, and continues to get better as I understand myself, and the things around me. 

The past year went very well. I started to submit again and had poems (12), flash fictions (7), and a novel get out in the world.  I'm rather happy with Shadows of the Seen, as it deals with an important issue that nobody seems to do much about except give thoughts and prayers. 

I finished a poetry manuscript These New Orbs, projected out in 2026, and I'm working on the first draft of a new novel,  The Murder Gene, based on a true story which involved my grandmother's first cousin, Angelo Lamarca, his son Vincent, and Vincent's son Joey. Read all about it from the archives of Esquire Magazine.  

I also started a podcast, (The 2 Deans, and now named Dean and Dawes) and worked with two wonderful co-hosts. The podcast covers disaster dates, and as my therapist put it, "it allows me to use my not always appropriate sense of humor in a way that is appropriate. 

The writing group which I facilitate continues to go strong, and the folks the show writer every day.

I made 16 featured appearances for my books, and I played my first solo gig ever as The Timothy Gager Uno, preforming some old and new original songs. 

The Dire Literary Series Franchise  reached 400 total events. Number 400 will be the night of the anniversary of my last drink, November 6th, 2010. (see totals below) 

On the challenging side, I had injuries to both legs, (torn meniscus, and ruptured hamstring), and a surgery on one of them. I've been in PT for 4 months at ATI in Dedham where the people there are great, and it's a lot of fun "hanging out" there while they miraculously helped me recover. They also allow me my sense of humor, but I am able to keep it non-podcast level. Tom Tipton from the Out of the Blue Art Gallery passed, as did my poetry friend Jennifer Martelli. 

All of these milestones wouldn't have been possible, and might have turned out differently if I hadn't been sober. I have incredible gratitude that I am one of the lucky ones. So, thank you for supporting my sobriety and keeping me sober. Thank you, for listening to my podcast. Thank you, for buying my books. Thank you, for attending my events. 

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TOTAL OF RUN DIRE LITERARY SERIES EVENTSLIVE

February–March 2001 — First Tuesday reading at Cantab Underground
2

June 2001–Aug 2002 — First Friday, Out of the Blue Art Gallery
168 Brookline St., Cambridge
15

Sept 2002–Oct 2011 — First Friday, Out of the Blue Art Gallery
106 Prospect St., Cambridge
110

Nov 4, 2011 — First Friday, Yarrow
106 Prospect St., Cambridge
1

Dec 2011–Sept 2014 — First Friday, Out of the Blue Art Gallery
106 Prospect St., Cambridge
34

Oct 2014–Nov 2017 — First Friday, Out of the Blue Too
541 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
38

Dec 2017–June 2018 — First Saturday Afternoon, The Middle East Café
480 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
7

July 2018 — First Saturday Afternoon, Zuzu
480 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge
1

Aug 2018–Oct 2018 — First Saturday Night / First Friday Too
Center for Arts at the Armory
191 Highland Ave., Somerville
3

VIRTUAL 

March 2020 — Virtual Fridays Dire Literary Series on Zoom
119

January 5, 2023 — Virtual Thursdays Dire Literary Series on Zoom
through November 6th, 2025
71

Grand Total: 400