I'm gonna take a second here and thank some things. I mean, here it is the holiday season, and shit, right? I might as well count my blessings.

In a writing sort of way.

I am thankful that I get to work with some kickass people! Vince Sneed over at Die Monster Die! Books always makes me smile. Even when he's asking for a new story and I feel like I've let him down or we're just not meshing.

Even then, folks, he is a good and true friend. Seriously.

DJ Kirkbride, and not for the 'note. No, for the fact he is letting me work with him to co-write a little comic idea. It might never see print, we're not sure what's going on just yet, but still -- I get to work out some script with The Kirk and laugh a lot along the way. That kicks ass too.

Kirkbride and Grovemiller, of course, for letting me play in their sandbox and write shit for their site. I question their judgment, mind you, mostly when they agree to letting me do things.

Laszlo Xalieri, for being one of my best friends and collaborators. It's funny, but I don't think we've ever shared a byline, and we might never (though to be fair we have a project in mind we just both need time), and yet almost every story I've written has touched his doorstep.

When I get frustrated and stuck, he is the first person I call most days. Can you imagine having someone so willing to help? I do the same for him, of course. Which is kickass, because he's a great writer, and I love watching him work.

Not literally, because watching someone else write is really boring. It really is. There are times, and I'll be honest here, I have had people over for writing crunch periods. The first thing that happens is the fight about music.

I write to all sorts of things. I have a thirteen day play list, and most times that is what's on. Everything from the Beastie Boys to Tom Waits, AC/DC to Nick Cave to Morphine, the Doors, Eagles, Lady Sovereign, etc. fucking etc.

A lot of people don't work that way. And then there are stories with specific play lists. But anyway!

So yeah, that can get messy. And then there's the fact you have two people sitting and typing, and one of them wants a twelve second break to discuss something, but the other is trapped in a moment and can't break free, and you have to hope and pray those moments line up, and you can both spare the time to talk. Otherwise you'll kill each other inside of an hour.

Yeah.

So thanks to everyone, and I left off like... half of everyone, I get to work with. The person I work with on the project I can't discuss, my editors across the board, Travis, everyone. You all help make this the best job in the universe.

Except when it sucks. Then I take all the blame.