2024, What a Hell of a Year

2024, what a hell of a year. This is one of the toughest yet most satisfying years of my life. The defeats came with the wins, but there were so many more of the latter. I had my first horror project, Behind the Shadows, become a reality with a strong opening sales campaign and I will be pushing it like a madman in the upcoming year. I’m already committed to two signing events for the book and I look forward to reading the forthcoming reviews from the sites and magazines who offered me press.

I had a handful of short stories accepted for publication, but nothing hit me with a tidal wave of gratitude more than being selected as a runner-up finalist for Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine’s “Mysterious Photograph” contest. To have my name appear in such a prestigious journal gives me tremendous verve and hope for the future. I can’t forget having my first assignment with Rue Morgue magazine, giving me a taste of my old music and film journalism days, which I miss, but have my targets set even higher. Likewise, I have enjoyed writing musician press releases for my new friend in L.A. for her boutique PR firm and I value the extra work.

Cons were a pivotal part of my year, opening ties and blossoming friendships at this year’s Shore Leave with some of the sci-fi fiction industry’s major leaguers and others who made an impact upon my life and writing this year. I won’t ever forget sitting in a court of kings at the Shore Leave hotel bar shooting the breeze about writing, movies and life. All of which lead to my invitation to Philcon and my first time speaking on panels, much less moderating two of them. What a rush. For those I moderated, I was surrounded by rock stars who made those panels wildly entertaining. I came out of Philcon with new friends I already know are bond.

I had a handful of book signing events this year, a couple offering me stellar sales of my prior two books, Coming of Rage and Revolution Calling. More friends made, friends who made special trips to come see me and get their copies of my books signed. Truly special. Almost as special as getting to sign with my wife, a dream I’ve always had and have enjoyed our teamwork as a unified front to get our work out there together. We both released new books this year. How wonderfully insane is that? DREAM TEAM.

I competed in my final two Spartan events, finishing at Fenway Park in a memorable road trip where I found both my spirit and my limitations at age 54. Six events including DEKA, I’m done trying to prove to myself. I’m still sore from the events and all the training, but I did it and I’m content with achievement.

I won’t get into any negative things that occurred this year. They need no energy given. I’m grateful for the ability to carve out a living from my generous bosses, no matter how exhausting and frustrating the work is. In this economy, you dig harder than ever if you want to do more than simply get by. It helps having a smart, savvy and toughened spouse who gets the deal and works in full partnership on all that’s become our new lives. This is the life I’ve wanted. This is the love I’ve wanted. I’m f-ing grateful.

Horror movies were simply faboo this year, Oddity, Late Night With the Devil, Alien: Romulus, Terrifier 3 and Smile 2 ranking amongst my favorites.

The key theme of 2024 is friendships. As I mentioned in my livestream interview given by Metal Asylum’s Jack Mangan about a month ago, it’s been all about friendships, new and old. You can’t have enough friends, nor can you have enough family. Corralling those who care about you and love you are what you should aspire to more than anything in life. This year, I made so many new friends in writing especially. Networking and simply being in the right place at the right time with the right intros. It’s how I did it in the music industry to rise to the level I enjoyed. Right now, all the new friends who have already helped me, talked to me, been representative of that word, “friend,” that’s what made this year incredible.

For all my other friends, 2025 needs to be about getting together and hanging out, as much as it means I need to propel myself as an author. I look forward to the laughs and love from you all. For those who gave me testimonials for Behind the Shadows, for those who bought it and my other books. For those who’ve impacted my life in such beautiful measures, I love you. Thanks for reading this far and as his lordship of metal, Ronnie James Dio, used to shout, “WE ROCK!”