O Yeah!

Many readers of this blog know that I am a writer. Yesterday I sold my first piece to a multi-million circulation magazine. This is cause for celebration -- not simply because many more people will encounter my work (which of course makes me very happy), but also because it gives me a tremendous boost after a long period of feeling like I'm treading water.

It is also a very well-paying venue and that's a new experience for me. The most I've ever gotten for a short piece (story, essay) is around 50 bucks and a dollop of prestige. My Dickens book, which was published by one of the top two or three university presses in the world, probably earned me about $500 in royalties over the past 14 years. This one, short essay will earn me more than six times that. That's a credit card paid off. Or two semesters of conservatory tuition for Saskia.

Woo hoo!

The piece will be published in O, The Oprah Magazine. I don't yet know when, but I'm hoping pretty soon. I'll let you know (this may require blowing my cover -- I am still trying to make a decision on that one).

It's called "Falsies." I'll leave the rest to your imagination.