I Have Arrived

Two weeks left before the year ends. Time to settle accounts, to be with the family and friends for the holidays, and to wrap up a great year. Indeed, this year has been kind to me. I began to seriously publish my stories in August 2009, and in the fifteen months since, I have published fifteen stories.

I have just received my largest payment for a story, MYR910.40, to be exact, from COSMOS Magazine, which paid me AUD300 for "Act of Faith", out this month. Unfortunately, I've checked all major bookstores here, and none of them sell the magazine. Good news is I'm traveling to Singapore next weekend, and will buy a few copies of COSMOS there.

With my dayjob, I've submitted my application to pursue a Master's Degree in Neurosurgery, and am currently agitated about the interview. I just finished my General Surgery rotation, and after these two weeks of holiday, I'll be reporting for duty back at Neurosurgery HKL. My bosses are expecting diligence and dedication from me, since I'm applying to become a Neurosurgeon myself. [Deep breaths.]

2010 has been an eventful year for me, but it's near the end of the year when my writing career seems to take a leap. My most anticipated project, Aether Age: Helios, is out, and I'm expecting my contributor's copies anytime soon. "Equatorial Snow" came out at Crossed Genres for its Characters of Color issue, and yesterday it received a full review. I've linked the page, but here's what the reviewer, Scooter Carlyle, had to say about my story:

In “Equatorial Snow” by Fadzlishah Johanabas, a very misguided attempt to counteract global warming goes terribly awry making it snow for months on end in equatorial Kuala Lampur.  Amri and Zarina face worldwide famine, disease, and death as they wait for their unborn child, who decides to come a little earlier than planned.

It was the relationship between the man and his wife and the choices they were forced to make as the world crumbled around them that drew me in.  The voice was engaging, and the setting rich. I loved it.

Heady stuff. Tomorrow I will be reading one of my stories in public for the first time. I am still unknown among our local English writing community, and getting an invitation to read at Seksan is a great honor, one that I hope I won't blunder through.

More important, though, a reader from somewhere across the world gave me a personal message on Facebook regarding "Act of Faith". I had never expected for this to happen. Whenever I read a book that move me, I write a thank you email to the author. Sometimes they write back. Someone I don't know had written me something to that effect.

I have always loved writing for the sake of it. I publish my works because I want to touch people's hearts, to move them, to make an impact. I may not be able to do anything about it locally, and I may end up an unknown writer unless I make a splash overseas or something, but I don't think it matters anymore.

I have touched at least one person's life. I have made an impact.

Getting accepted for publication at professional- and semi-pro-paying venues speaks volumes about my stories. Getting a review, an invitation for a reading, and a thank you note from a reader, all in the same month, somehow solidify my place in the world as a writer of fiction.

For better or for worse, I have arrived. My only prayer is that I won't disappoint in years to come.

Comments

[Breanna]

I could be a snot and say, "what have I been telling you?" but I'm too happy for you, so I'll say "you deserve it" instead. ;)

[Fadzlishah Johanabas]

Thanks, Raven! I have to write new stories, though. My rejection/acceptance pool is drying up for lack of new stories.

[John Ling]

Fantastic. I'm glad 2010 turned out to be such a great year for you. Next year will be better, I'm sure.

[Fadzlishah Johanabas]

Heyya, John!

Haven't heard from you for the longest time. Thanks for the encouragement. I hope 2010 has been good to you, and may 2011 be an excellent year for your writing and journalism.