The rose featured in the photo is a miniature “rescue rose” currently flowering on the east side of our library shed despite the fact that we’ve had numerous nights below freezing.  Once again, plants amaze me.

Not long ago, a friend asked me how I met David Weber.  In case you didn’t know, David Weber is the author with whom I’ve collaborated on several novels set in his Honorverse.  Ours are prequels to the “main line,” and let me have fun writing about two of my favorite things: non-humans and exploration.

So, for Grace, and for those of you who might wonder, here’s how I met David Weber.  Short versions: We both attended Magnus Opus Con in Greenville, South Carolina in 1991.  At that point, I had one short story published, and he had something like one and a half novels.  (Even early in Weber’s career, he enjoyed collaborations.)  The first autograph I signed for someone other than family was for Sharon Rice, the woman Weber would later marry.

Anyhow, we hit it off and stayed in touch thereafter.  A while later—I’m not sure when, but it was before I moved from Virginia, so before 1994— as Weber was driving to a con, his car broke down, right on the outskirts of the town where I then lived.  He ended up staying at my place for something like a week while a new part was located (he always claims it had to be made) and that long visit cemented the friendship.

Weber came out to New Mexico to visit me and Roger Zelazny, then not long enough later, after Roger had died, he returned for the memorial.  He’s on the very short list of people who kept me going after Roger’s death, calling me every day back in those days of yore when long distance cost a lot.  Later, he kept me from running scared when I began to suspect I was falling for Jim, and I returned the favor by listening to him as he worked his way into realizing just how deeply he felt about Sharon.

So, that’s how I met David Weber and a little of the backstory of a long friendship.

This time of year, it’s always hard for me to come up with things to Wander on about, so if you have any questions, please mention them in the Comments.   If I can, I’ll answer.  I’m happy to talk about writing, work habits, gaming, anime, whatever…  (If I could think of all the things, I’d not run short of topics.)

Last but not least, tomorrow is U.S. Thanksgiving.  I’m hoping that you and all you care about can find something to feel thankful for—even if it’s just remembering that if you’re reading this, you can see, if you’re listening to this you can hear.   Happy Thanksgiving!