(Above: Portrait of the Artist as a Young(er) Man — me about 20 years ago.)

Today, August 5, 2025, is the twentieth anniversary of the day my agent, Kathleen Anderson, called me from Japan, where she was vacationing, to tell me that Houghton-Mifflin had won the auction for my first novel…and also wanted my next one.

Which I hadn’t written yet.

Still. I was over the moon to have sold one book, let alone two. I knew at the very least I would have two books to my name, which was two more than I’d had the day before.

Twenty years. I’ve published 27 books in that time, and I recently sold my thirtieth. So I will be sticking around at least a little bit longer.

I want to thank everyone who’s been there from the beginning…and everyone who has come on board since. I would write even if no one was reading, but I gotta be honest — it’s a lot more fun with you guys at the other end of the book!

P.S. If you’re feeling celebratory, go ahead and buy one of my books!