Work, and All That That Entails

Chapter the Second: What I do for a living, hobbies, entertainments, and other activities.

Professionally, I started out as a computer programmer, but I decided after 5 years that being a writer was much more fun. After 4 years of straight technical writing, I got into writing computer books, which is reasonably fun, pays bills, and I always like to say that it beats making an honest living.

I've been writing for a living for about 18 years now. It pays well, it's easy work in many ways, and, like the old joke says, "It feels so good when I stop." As of January 2002, I've written, co-authored, or contributed to 23 books. (See my bibliography for a complete list.)

(You know, at this point, I've written over 6 million words, which proves something. Well, I'm a really fast typist, if nothing else. I also won my first international award in 1996 and my 20th 21st writing awards in January 2001. Writing awards are a lot of fun. :)

I'm doing more public speaking and professional appearances in the last few years. I was the keynote speaker at the American Society of Indexers annual conference in May 1998, go to a fair number of regional and international STC conferences, and doing a few other things that have smaller, more local audiences (such as flying over to the Tri-Cities area of Washington a couple of times to speak on aspects of getting published).

Hobbies, Entertainments, and Other Activities

I like writing both as a profession and as an entertainment. I've been writing a number of magazine articles and short non-fiction pieces lately (uh, yes, I do have a life, thank you!).

When I'm not banging the keys at 130wpm, working out, or spending time with the Babe, I do things like play the banjo and the guitar, something I've been doing since 1971. I didn't do much playing in the first half of the 90s, but I'm doing more playing now. I like reading lots of things (much SF, some non-fiction, children's books, the occasional mystery). I also love cooking Indian, Thai, and Chinese food. For additional companionship and occasional irritation (as in "Get off the keyboard, darnit!"), I have two cats (a mother and son) who are sweet but stupid. (And clumsy. Definitely clumsy.)

In January 2000, I joined a singing group called The Washingtonians, a large chorus that does light music. It's my kinda group! I sing bass. Be sure to show up--show times are listed on the Washingtonians' web site.

Find out more about me:

• Chapter the First: How I got here, my health, and opinions on how my universe works.
• Chapter the Third: I win tickets from British Air.
• Chapter the Fourth: I write more books, go to Ireland, and get fooled by everybody.
• Chapter the Fifth: I join the Washingtonians and write too many books at once.
• Chapter the Sixth: Up in smoke, down in flames (a tale of hotel fires and born-again bachelorhood).
• Chapter the Seventh: In which I meet the Babe.
• Chapter the Eighth: I fly everywhere and talk about everything.
• Chapter the Ninth: Still singing, still dancing, still ducking!
• Chapter the Tenth: Visions of wedding bells and moving vans.
• Chapter the Eleventh: Buying houses and wedding gowns.

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