That was 2007
by Scott Stein
Posted on Monday December 31, 2007 at 3:22pm.
The new year is almost here, a time for taking stock and all that. So here's my version of that indulgent personal year-in-review letter that some people mail out to everyone at Christmas time. Forgive me if I get sentimental.
I had some publishing success in 2007:
First, and by far biggest, my second novel Mean Martin Manning was published in February. Click on the book's title for ordering information and links to reviews. Thanks to my editor Olga at ENC Press.
I also published two essays in Liberty: "Losing My Religion Over 'Handy Manny'" and "The Failed Playwright of Virginia Tech." And Liberty selected Mean Martin Manning as a summer book pick. I am grateful to have worked with such a diligent and enthusiastic editor as Stephen Cox.
Plus, I published my first book review in the Philadelphia Inquirer, of The Age of Abundance. Thanks to Frank Wilson for letting me review for him. Reading his blog Books, Inq. was like visiting with a friend every day. Thanks as well for all the links.
Mean Martin Manning led to all sorts of fun developments.
We had a blast at a publishing party at Drexel University in March. Thanks to all who came.
My novel was reviewed in the Philadelphia City Paper, which connected me to Ed Pettit (the writer who reviewed it), who then interviewed me. I'm glad to have met him.
The blogs I created to promote my novel were the subject of a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer (story no longer online) and got some attention from literary and libertarian blogs. Thanks to all the bloggers who wrote about the blogs and the book. Off the top of my head, that includes Wulf at Atlas Blogged and Brad at The Unrepentant Individual, who were especially enthusiastic.
I was also interviewed about my novel in Reason magazine by Jacob Sullum. My brief flirtation with libertarian fame. Thanks to Jacob as well for linking to a couple of my blog posts from Reason's blog, Hit and Run.
Since I'm thanking people, lots of friends, colleagues, readers, and students have said nice things about Mean Martin Manning and been supportive, so thanks to you all.
In November, I spoke to a local book club. Its 11 members—if I'm right, all Jewish women between the ages of 50 and 70 (not exactly the demographic my publisher thought the book would most appeal to)—loved Mean Martin Manning and we had an excellent two-hour conversation about the novel and writing. I really enjoyed it. I'd like to visit more book clubs, so if you're in one in the Philly area...
On the teaching front:
I became acting director of the Certificate Program in Writing and Publishing at Drexel University. Otherwise, it was a typical year. I had some very good students who were a pleasure to have in class, as well as some mediocre students and, unfortunately but not surprisingly, some bad ones who desperately resisted learning and work. Like I said, a typical year. I taught mostly freshman writing but also writing fiction and writing humor and comedy. I read and graded a lot of freshman papers and some student fiction and humor writing. All in all, as the year ends and I have a few days more before the new term starts up, I'm thankful that I have a pretty good job and some friendly colleagues. One highlight this year was the second-annual Week of Writing (WoW), which I run.
On the personal side:
I read some books this year. Not as many as I wanted to read, but then I never do.
We went to one very cool concert—Brian Vander Ark's Lawn Chairs and Living Rooms Tour '07. We're lucky enough to have friends as cool as Robin and Ron, who hosted the concert in their backyard. Lots of fun. So when's the next backyard concert, guys? I wasn't a fan of Brian's, only knew that one song that was popular (The Freshman) years ago and didn't particularly like it at the time, for some reason. But he put on a fantastic show and I've been won over—his live rendition of Thunder Road kicked ass, and I now enjoy listening to a bunch of his own songs. Seems like a nice guy, too.
I'm sure we also did plenty of other fun stuff in 2007, of one kind or another, with family and friends. Like everyone else does.
Oh, and I shouldn't forget that we got our first high definition LCD television this year. Watching football or tropical fish on it is proof enough for me that it's a great time to be alive. Also, last week I bowled a 220 on Christmas day in Queens. That felt good.
What else? It's been a year since my deviated septum surgery (December 2006). Thanks to it and especially to four or so years of allergy shots, my 2007 was antibiotic-free, a first in several years for me. So, hooray for medical technology and modern science.
My son turned five and is learning to read and write. He's also learning to swim. He played soccer this year—very entertaining to watch, since part of the time, instead of paying attention to where the ball was, it looked like he was pretending that he was wearing a cape and flying around the field in search of super-villains. His world revolves around superheroes—coloring, action figures, cartoons. He's just like me. I continue to be amazed at fatherhood. I recommend it highly.
We went to Disney World this past summer. It was my first visit since 1976. We stayed in the Wilderness Lodge and had a great time.
Lastly, January 3rd, a few days from now, will be ten years to the day that I met my wife, Andee. She wasn't my wife at the time. She was just a cute girl at Lansky's Lounge in lower Manhattan. I was younger then. But I'm happier now.
Happy New Year.
First, and by far biggest, my second novel Mean Martin Manning was published in February. Click on the book's title for ordering information and links to reviews. Thanks to my editor Olga at ENC Press.
I also published two essays in Liberty: "Losing My Religion Over 'Handy Manny'" and "The Failed Playwright of Virginia Tech." And Liberty selected Mean Martin Manning as a summer book pick. I am grateful to have worked with such a diligent and enthusiastic editor as Stephen Cox.
Plus, I published my first book review in the Philadelphia Inquirer, of The Age of Abundance. Thanks to Frank Wilson for letting me review for him. Reading his blog Books, Inq. was like visiting with a friend every day. Thanks as well for all the links.
Mean Martin Manning led to all sorts of fun developments.
We had a blast at a publishing party at Drexel University in March. Thanks to all who came.
My novel was reviewed in the Philadelphia City Paper, which connected me to Ed Pettit (the writer who reviewed it), who then interviewed me. I'm glad to have met him.
The blogs I created to promote my novel were the subject of a story in the Philadelphia Inquirer (story no longer online) and got some attention from literary and libertarian blogs. Thanks to all the bloggers who wrote about the blogs and the book. Off the top of my head, that includes Wulf at Atlas Blogged and Brad at The Unrepentant Individual, who were especially enthusiastic.
I was also interviewed about my novel in Reason magazine by Jacob Sullum. My brief flirtation with libertarian fame. Thanks to Jacob as well for linking to a couple of my blog posts from Reason's blog, Hit and Run.
Since I'm thanking people, lots of friends, colleagues, readers, and students have said nice things about Mean Martin Manning and been supportive, so thanks to you all.
In November, I spoke to a local book club. Its 11 members—if I'm right, all Jewish women between the ages of 50 and 70 (not exactly the demographic my publisher thought the book would most appeal to)—loved Mean Martin Manning and we had an excellent two-hour conversation about the novel and writing. I really enjoyed it. I'd like to visit more book clubs, so if you're in one in the Philly area...
On the teaching front:
I became acting director of the Certificate Program in Writing and Publishing at Drexel University. Otherwise, it was a typical year. I had some very good students who were a pleasure to have in class, as well as some mediocre students and, unfortunately but not surprisingly, some bad ones who desperately resisted learning and work. Like I said, a typical year. I taught mostly freshman writing but also writing fiction and writing humor and comedy. I read and graded a lot of freshman papers and some student fiction and humor writing. All in all, as the year ends and I have a few days more before the new term starts up, I'm thankful that I have a pretty good job and some friendly colleagues. One highlight this year was the second-annual Week of Writing (WoW), which I run.
On the personal side:
I read some books this year. Not as many as I wanted to read, but then I never do.
We went to one very cool concert—Brian Vander Ark's Lawn Chairs and Living Rooms Tour '07. We're lucky enough to have friends as cool as Robin and Ron, who hosted the concert in their backyard. Lots of fun. So when's the next backyard concert, guys? I wasn't a fan of Brian's, only knew that one song that was popular (The Freshman) years ago and didn't particularly like it at the time, for some reason. But he put on a fantastic show and I've been won over—his live rendition of Thunder Road kicked ass, and I now enjoy listening to a bunch of his own songs. Seems like a nice guy, too.
I'm sure we also did plenty of other fun stuff in 2007, of one kind or another, with family and friends. Like everyone else does.
Oh, and I shouldn't forget that we got our first high definition LCD television this year. Watching football or tropical fish on it is proof enough for me that it's a great time to be alive. Also, last week I bowled a 220 on Christmas day in Queens. That felt good.
What else? It's been a year since my deviated septum surgery (December 2006). Thanks to it and especially to four or so years of allergy shots, my 2007 was antibiotic-free, a first in several years for me. So, hooray for medical technology and modern science.
My son turned five and is learning to read and write. He's also learning to swim. He played soccer this year—very entertaining to watch, since part of the time, instead of paying attention to where the ball was, it looked like he was pretending that he was wearing a cape and flying around the field in search of super-villains. His world revolves around superheroes—coloring, action figures, cartoons. He's just like me. I continue to be amazed at fatherhood. I recommend it highly.
We went to Disney World this past summer. It was my first visit since 1976. We stayed in the Wilderness Lodge and had a great time.
Lastly, January 3rd, a few days from now, will be ten years to the day that I met my wife, Andee. She wasn't my wife at the time. She was just a cute girl at Lansky's Lounge in lower Manhattan. I was younger then. But I'm happier now.
Happy New Year.
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