So how has life changed since becoming a professional author? Mostly how other people view me. Basically, I see myself as the same insecure person that I was before my stories saw publication. I still write, send stuff out, and get rejected. However, other people see me differently. I am now a real writer, as opposed to the fake writer I had been before.

Friends and co-workers who never showed the slightest interest in my "writing hobby" prior to this point are now introducing me to others as a published author. I've even been asked by a few teachers if I would be willing to talk to their classrooms about my experience. It's nice to be suddenly taken seriously, but it is also a little strange as well.

The Thrill of Publication

I knew it was coming. Really I did. I just didn't know that it was coming so bloody soon. The good people of Realms of Fantasy had been fairly vague about telling me which issue would feature my story, "Run of the Fiery Horse." So, when I received my contributor's copies of the June issue of Realms of Fantasy at the tail end of March, it was unexpected.

I opened the envelope up, noticing two things about the magazine. First, the outrageous babe cover art featuring a woman in rather improbable armor. Second, I noticed that my story was mentioned on the cover.

I had made the cover of a national magazine on my first story sale! I was bouncing. I was jumping. I was on a high for a week, which got continued when Eric Heideman handed me my contributor's copies for Tales of the Unanticipated. Yes, I had two short stories come out the exact same weekend.

Both publishers claim to be the first to discover me.

Fan Mail

I always thought that fan mail was reserved for best-selling authors of blockbuster novels. Then I received three fan e-mails in the same day from complete strangers. For a first time fiction author, this was a total and complete thrill.

When my friends or writing group compliment my work, it's nice but somehow always suspect. After all, how unbiased can they be? So my first pieces of true fan mail were a revelation, a marker that my writing had touched others.

I'm up to twelve pieces of fan mail now. I'm not tired of it yet. If you like my stuff, let me know. Please? I do respond to all my fan mail, and I'd love to hear from you.

Reviews

Another thrill was receiving my first reviews. Favorable ones, too. Here is the very first review I received, from Bluejack.com. And here is the author bio that Bluejack wrote for me. I am not responsible for that picture (it was found on my husband's website), but at least it gave my friends a lot of amusement.

Reading

On May 21st, I gave a reading in a bookstore, and many things about it were cool.

• Dreamhaven books put me out front, where the real authors read.

• I filled the place. There were four vacant chairs, but only because three people chose to stand. Heh, heh. My invitations offered bribes of fresh baked bread, a prize drawing and me in a sexy outfit. I must remember that bribes work. Beautifully.

• Dreamhaven had already sold out of the June issue of Realms before I started, and then proceeded to sell out of TOTU number 23.

• Several people who came told me that it was their first reading, and that they were amazed that I held their attention for an hour and a half. Woo hoo!

Afterwards, most of the audience came along for a mass exodus to a local restaurant. Eric Heidemann commented on this: "You don't have the largest following I've seen, but you certainly have one of the most loyal."

I could not wish for a better accolade.

Conventions

I have always gone to science fiction conventions, but on July 5th I got the opportunity to attend one for the first time as a professional author. My husband and I have attended Convergence since its founding. Convergence is a nice fan convention with a high emphasis on media events -- it has not made much effort to attract the local science fiction writing community, so very few of the local pros attend. This year as I was packing to go to the convention, I suddenly remembered that I was a published author. This meant that I could pontificate on literary panels, give advice to young writers and start promoting myself and my writing.

Only one problem. The convention was about to start and all programming deadlines were way past. So I noted down a couple panels that interested me, found the moderators and said, "Hello, I'm Hilary Moon Murphy. I'm a professionally published SF and fantasy author. May I join your panel?"

It was completely brazen tactic, but it worked. The moderators were happy to get a professional writer volunteer to join them. I do not think I would have received such a warm welcome if I were an unpublished hopeful.

I must say that when I looked out at a room full of hopeful new writers, I felt a bit of very twisted deja vu. I have recent memories of being a hopeful new writer myself, scribbling down the advice of those who made it. To be the one now giving that advice -- it felt more than a little weird.

It also felt cool.

So many writers have given me encouragement that it felt good to encourage others. And maybe, a few years from now, I will be able to greet one of those young writers as a fellow professional.

Thank you for supporting me as both a writer and a friend.

Hugs,
Hmm
originally written 5/24/2002,
revised 7/6/2002