The Ego Shelf Grows

Sometimes I just need to stare at it. It doesn’t feel real, you know?

But it is.

Look at it. That’s my ego shelf.

I didn’t come up with that title. I don’t remember where I first saw it, so don’t give me any credit. I’m not taking it! An ego shelf is the place where a writer can put all his or her published fiction. And that’s mine. Nearly all those books are anthologies. I’ve got at least one story in each of those. The last two little books are novels that my wife edited, so they belong on our family ego shelf. (Also, check out H. K. Devonshire’s work if you’re into westerns or good science fiction!)

And that last big, thick book… that’s The Keeper of Tales.

It comes out Monday, available for order in physical copies, as well as for download onto your Kindle. You should check it out. It’s a story about stories. Tales are alive. They will be told. There’s a great review right here.

But here’s the funny thing:

I’m not content.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I look at that shelf and I marvel. A few years ago, I had so few credits to my name. And now look. An entire shelf. And who knows? In a few years, I might need a second shelf. That would be rad!

That’s right. Rad. Wanna make something of it?

But that said… I’m still typing furiously away. I’m working on a novel right now, bending my will to it. I’m also working on a collection of short stories with a friend. I’ve got numerous short stories out at various publishers for consideration. Oh, and several short stories that have already been purchased, just waiting for publication.

I’ve not arrived. I’m not going to sit here, gaze upon my works, and tremble. Rather, I am thankful that others have considered my work good enough not only to purchase, but readers have considered it good enough to read.

And I want to add to that. Instead of making me say, “Look what I did!” it makes me say, “Time to get back to work.”

So yeah. This is nice. Seriously.

But I’ve got more to do.

Time to get back to writing!