Mark’s new book, Lowfield, is forthcoming from Now or Never Publishing, and I heartily invite you to attend the Toronto launch, which will be Sunday April 27, 1-3pm, at Little Ghosts bookstore in the west end, hosted by fellow horror author and cool/nice person Daniel Perry. I think I will bake something, or just beam lovingly. I think it will be a nice event, if scary.

I am excited for Lowfield itself, as a novel about pain, regret, and to a certain degree about loneliness, and maleness. Also a little bit about PEI-ness. I am also excited for Mark’s hard work to pay off. And I am excited for someone in our household to publish a book, as it lets me off the hook for a little bit, and the cats don’t seem to write much. It is very nice to have another book for the Sampsenblums, and I didn’t even have to write it.

I was well into the marriage when I realized that Mark’s birthday is just as good as my own. I can eat the cake and whatever fancy meal, go on the trip or to the show or party or restaurant, he’ll share all his presents with me if they are shareable, as indeed most grownup gifts are—I can borrow the books and use the fancy olive oil and listen to the bluetooth speaker. Only Mark can wear the new shirts but I can admire him in them, and enjoy using the stained ones for rags. Two birthdays is an unadvertised perk of marriage but it is very real.

And so is a more storied publishing career. I have only published four books (plus a chapbook) but the Sampsenblums have published ELEVEN books (plus two chapbooks). Sometimes we summarize ourselves in that way and don’t bother to distinguish who did what.

To be honest, I don’t feel great about not having published a novel in 8 years but far from feeling envious of Mark, I feel like he is covering for me, making up for my deficiencies, and grateful for that. Hooray for Lowfield, the 11th Sampsenblum publication. I take no credit, but enjoy the reflected glory nonetheless.

PS: I said the Sunday/Monday posts would all be literary but please let me have this silly little postscript:

/