Hi there! :) I just wanted to say write that I wouldn’t be doing any of this, if not for the truly awesome people I’ve met along the way. To be completely honest, you’ve all been awesome.

However, I’d like to make a special mention of one or two particularly noteworthy people, who’ve moved me deeply.

Maybe more than that, actually. :)

First, I’d like to thank The Bloggess for everything! You may have saved my life.

It’s because of The Bloggess that I realized that I was an idiot. And all I had to do was choose to be happy. And become a happy fool.

Now, seriously, if this awesome blogger/author could hit the New York Times bestseller list with a memoir based on a blog, despite having two gimpy hands and anxiety disorder. Not to mention king-hell depression issues. :(

And I’ve read the book and it is awesome!

Well … is that not in itself awesome?

And was I not right to call her the best marketer on the Internet? Or words to that effect.

I still think a fake zombie apocalypse would have been awesome! Ha ha ha …

Hopefully, I wouldn’t have been caught in the cross-fire. Hehehe …

The Bloggess and me (in terrible lighting)

Actually, the universe can be just and sometimes my hair looks decent. :)

That’s much better!

But wait! I’m not done. I said the awesome ones, right? So … more awesome people to come.

I’d like to thank Scott Clevenger and Mary Clevenger of World O’ Crap, and all their friends, including engineer Chris Vosburg, whose awesome tolerance for my blatant self-promotion led to this post. :)

Because your blog really is a blog of note that’s helped me laugh at the world’s madness.

And what better way to do that than through reading this book?

Because laughter has kept me from going nutters giving up. Ha ha ha …

I’d also like to thank the awesome Simon Wood. He gave me a blurb for my first novel. That helped me believe in myself. This was after we actually met at Bouchercon in, uh, Indianapolis, I think. The loud bar? Where I think I stepped on Lee Child’s foot. Accidentally, of course. Ha ha ha … I wonder what Robert Crais would say about that. :)

The dancing Calvin and Hobbes is for Simon Wood, not for Robert Crais. Just to be agonizingly clear on that point.

Oh, hell, let’s make it for ALL the awesome people. They’re awesome, right?

Me (with shit-eating grin), Sasscer Hill and Simon Wood

And here’s a photo of three of us: Sasscer Hill who as I have mentioned has achieved the awesome!

Sasscer is a member of my local chapter of Sisters in Crime and a member of my writers group. I will miss her when she moves.

Well, there’s always Twitter and Facebook, right? And Google+! :)

Oh, and email, yeah. Ha ha ha … and phones! :)

Remember when phones were used to call people? Ha ha ha … I still do that. Now and then. As in almost never. Ha ha ha …

But wait! I can’t overlook the truly awesome and cutting edge Christa Faust! :)

Christa is doing the real indie thing with her Kickstarter project. I remember when I met Christa way back at Bouchercon in … what … Baltimore, maybe? I could tell this woman was a true kindred rebel spirit. She and I both shared the same ideas about female protagonists. And it was so awesome! :D

Here’s what I found on YouTube about Butch Fatale, Dyke Dick.

Go, Christa, go! Keep rocking that series! :D

Thanks Lawrence Block! You are awesome. This is the author of many, many books, including the awesome Matthew Scudder series, not to mention TELLING LIES FOR FUN & PROFIT.

Because even Johnny Rotten needs to eat likes butter! :)

And, of course, I can’t forget Stephen Leather and Simon Swift. Stephen, I think I really have reached 10,000 hours now! :)

And thank you so much Simon for your support on Facebook, while I was freaking out quietly while anxiously waiting for the file before the book launch for this novel! Ha ha ha …

And you can still get Simon’s book KISS HIM GOODBYE for absolutely free on Amazon today, just like I blogged here.

Yes, thank you, Hitler Amazon for helping me get the awesome words, okay?

Now are we square?

And guess what? I finally found the picture of Simon Swift signing books at Waterstones.

Simon Swift signs books!

Awesome!

And, of course, the awesome Paul Downie, who I am privileged to have as a friend in England, along with the awesome Trevor.

Almost all of us at Cafe Nero!

And thank you, Tim Berners-Lee, for making this possible! :D

And please … just ignore the goofy blonde. Ha ha ha …

PS: Congrats to Roger Ebert! The film rights to LIFE ITSELF have been sold to the team of Steve Zaillian, Martin Scorsese and director Steve James, by Joel Gotler at Intellectual Property Group, according to Publishers Lunch Weekly.

The awesome Roger Ebert

PPS: I’ve decided to go to the Austin Film Festival. I have no idea where I’m staying, but I’ll figure it out. Soon!

And I won’t die or become a paraplegic. I hope. Ha ha ha …

This one’s for you, J.T. Cummins!

And for my dad. You asshole! Ha ha ha …

You guys both know I was bitten by the bug.

Time to set the bar higher.

PPPS: Here’s a great quote from Nik Nak’s Old Peculiar.

“I would have fired my ass too. Well, maybe not like they did.” — Charlie Sheen (born 3rd September, 1965) on being fired from 2½ Men

Yeah, anyone who can make an ass of themselves and laugh about it is awesome! :)

Hurray, Charlie Sheen!

And here’s a song that will hopefully soothe everyone’s soul. :)