Tue 2 Sep 2008
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but most of the recent posts, going back over the past month now, have not been newly written by me. Looking back through what appeared here in August, there were 34 posts, and only about a third of them consisted of new stuff from me. (Some of the reviews came from my “archives,” of course, and for the reviews written by others I’ve continued to add cover images, bibliographic data and so on, so it wasn’t as though I wasn’t doing anything.)
I watched and reported on six movies, which isn’t bad, but what’s really frustrating is that I read only five books all month. You can go back, read the reviews and count them for yourself.
This is an abysmal record. Even on a slow day I can go to Borders and buy twice that many without half trying. And I go maybe three times a week. (Not to mention books I order online from ABE, Amazon and Biblio.com.)
What’s even worse, and so far I still haven’t been able to do anything about it, is the stack of unanswered email that stacking up on my computer. My apologies to everyone who’s still waiting patiently for a reply to something that you’ve sent me this month — a question, a piece of information, a comment about a blog post — if I answer immediately, you hear from me. Otherwise maybe you haven’t.
But believe me, it’s just as frustrating on this end as I assume it is on yours.
After I returned from Pulpcon at the beginning of August, my new endocrinologist started me on a new regime of medications, and to put it frankly, it just isn’t working. Worse, it’s hard to put any confidence in doctors who look at the blood tests and suggest doing new things without first asking how you’re feeling, even when they’re meeting you for the first time.
It’s all trial and error, and so far, it’s mostly error.
I hope I don’t have cut back on my own participation on this blog any further, but just in case, as I hope you have noticed, I have a lot of friends and other sources to help cover for me.
And if you are waiting to hear back from me about something, I hope you can be patient a while longer. (I mentioned sharp pointed objects a while ago, in case I could use a nudge. They’re not needed yet, but maybe you should keep them handy, just in case.)
September 2nd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Don’t even think about responding to this, but I’ll be thinking about you and hoping for good things for you every day.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:44 am
Steve,
Please get well soon!
You are really needed by all your friends in the mystery world.
Mike
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Steve,
I second Mike’s ‘Please get well soon!’
The rhythm of required reading just won’t be the same without your valuable input.
Tise
September 3rd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Thanks to all, including those who’ve emailed me directly. It’s very much appreciated.
Right now all I’m planning to do is slow down, not shut down.
It is frustrating to not to be able to do more, but there’s no shortage of my old reviews I can post, even if they are old — but never musty! — or material from others that doesn’t need much in the way of editing and turnover time.
Case in point: Mike Nevins just sent me his latest column, and it’s online already
All the best
— Steve
September 7th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Hi! Steve,
Steve, after reading your “personal comment” I too truly wish that you get well!..real soon!
Btw, I recently discovered your website through another link. (This is my first~time posting on your website.)Therefore, I too hope to become a “regular” reader of the articles on your very interesting website.
Thanks! Take care!