Six Years Ago Today...

6/1/2019

What were you doing six years ago today?

I was uploading my first novel to be torn apart by what ended up being tens of thousands of strangers.

Now it's my career.

It feels weird to say "six years." On the one hand, it absolutely does not feel that long. On the other hand, I feel like I've been a writer forever. It's like I've never had any other job.

And then I remember my other jobs, and I'm even more grateful for you all and your willingness to read my elaborate lies.

How about you? What has the last six years brought you?

-Will

54 Comments

Ravi

6/1/2019 03:36:22 pm

Happy Publishversary!

6 years ago I was doing boring things, nothing as cool as that!

Anthem

6/1/2019 03:37:39 pm

Just finished my first year of university 6 years ago

Reality Spasm

6/1/2019 03:44:50 pm

I was in the middle of a training hold before I moved from south Carolina to new York

Phillip

6/3/2019 10:18:26 am

Nuke?

Hutch

6/4/2019 11:23:31 am

I had just gotten to NY

Fallen Rock

6/9/2019 07:12:31 pm

New York was way more fun than South Carolina. Nuke Power!

Walter

6/1/2019 03:59:27 pm

Six years ago I'd only been waiting two years for something about stone doors, but I can't remember what it was.

Adam

6/1/2019 07:19:51 pm

Ooof. I'm only on like 3-4 years myself

a person

10/16/2021 09:06:10 pm

dang....

Adrian Firmin

6/1/2019 07:48:32 pm

Oh right. That was a book that was going to happen at some point.

Patrick

6/1/2019 04:01:29 pm

6 years ago (13-sep-2013) i was buying Crimson Vault, after reading house of blades on a friends kindle.
Travelers gate is till my favorite and most recommended book to date.
I was an early adopter! yay!

Patrick Foster

6/1/2019 04:17:22 pm

Six years ago I was helping a friend’s son start a new business.

Peter

6/1/2019 04:40:46 pm

6 years ago I was picking up the trash and chairs after commencement at Harvard University.

Now I’m the manager of that crew and starting my junior year at Harvard next semester.

I can’t wait to see what the next 6 years brings!

Congrats Will! And thank you for all of your hard work and amazing words you bring to us.

Peter

6/1/2019 04:47:45 pm

*worlds. Not words. Your words are awesome. But I meant worlds.

The Last Reader

6/2/2019 02:16:04 pm

Works both ways tbh

Finn

6/1/2019 04:52:03 pm

Six years ago, I was but a humble squire in the service of a layabout knight, Sir Squibbleton. Following his untimely death, I’ve acquired a level of moral... flexibility, a party of (generally) steadfast friends, a couple of deadly curses, and a peculiar acorn. Ah, but it has been a fine few years indeed.

Me too!

6/1/2019 05:14:04 pm

Six years ago I was an equity research analyst. Sounds fun, right?! Now, I have my own thriving dog training company. I echo all your sentiments. Here's to six more years of exceptional storytelling!

Rohan Hublikar

6/1/2019 06:19:22 pm

Six years ago I was in middle school, and picked up traveler's gate on kindle (first self-published book I ever read). I believe in the same year I left my very first comment on a blog (guess which one?) Under the name "Rohanist." I was 13, sorry about that.

Don't remember exactly the contents of the message, but I remember comparing you to Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss--now I compare other new authors to you.

I was shocked and amazed to recieve a reply, which included a suggestion that I write a book.

Working on it!

Jeremiah

6/1/2019 06:31:23 pm

Lots of good books and no OKAK. :)

I had never read Sanderson 6 years ago. I had barely read any fantasy except for Tolkien and now half of what I read is fantasy. April bludgeoned me into reading house of blades sometime in October of 13 and I loved it. Even the first version! The changes you made were excellent btw, but i still loved the original. I also changed jobs, churches, homes, put 150k miles on my truck, and made new friends. I got diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease (which I was fairly certain I was going to have seeing as mom, grandma, and great grandpa all had it). Remodeled the kitchen... that was... trying but turned out well. I've waited patiently for new books (and not so patiently) and watched a bunch of movies. It's been an interesting six years. I've never met you but I would like to think we'd be friends. I hope I get a chance to say thanks in person soon! Here's to another six interesting years!

Aurelius

6/1/2019 06:56:57 pm

Six years ago I met my wife. :)

[REDACTED]

6/1/2019 07:05:10 pm

Six years ago today I finally decided it was time to put an end to my cocaine addiction. Now that troubled time is just a memory.

The Last Reader

6/2/2019 02:17:37 pm

Good on you! awesome that you're moving forward, and beating that addiction

cdave10m

6/1/2019 08:25:30 pm

6 years ago today I had another birthday and started enjoying your imagination, writing, and ideas. Keep up the awesome work and I hope you continue to find joy in your efforts like I have in mine.

Rogue 9

6/1/2019 09:21:27 pm

6 years ago today I was recovering from gallbladder surgery, which I went to the emergency room thinking I was having a heart attack. I signed up for Kindle Unlimited in the hospital which eventually lead me to the Travelers Gate Trilogy. Thanks for the entertainment Will.

Lyrian_Rastler

6/1/2019 10:28:56 pm

6 years ago, I was in 6th grade and.... Well, not much I could've really done back then, tbh xD

Cheesemaster

6/2/2019 06:50:13 pm

I was in 5th

a person

10/16/2021 09:08:18 pm

heyyy.. I'm grade lower than you back then :)

Enukins

6/1/2019 10:59:12 pm

Got a masters degree, got a job in alaska, moved to alaska, got married, and am now having a kid.... so not much happened.

Stephen

6/2/2019 12:00:07 am

After searching for the email I sent Will after enjoying his house of blades trilogy for the second time, I started sometime around 2016, maybe 2015. Reading his books caused me to look for other talent that I hadn't heard of. One of those books was I, Minion, which after looking it up just now, Will really liked... I guess that's how I found it. Anyways, it's only 54 pages and it's really good and it only has 29 reviews. Show it some love.

Oh, I got married, got two step kids and moved 154 miles down the road between then and now. Also I have a pomeranian that I probably dote on way too much. You'd understand it if you met him

Nitin

6/2/2019 12:10:35 am

When is Uncrowned coming?

6 years ago? Well I picked a random book while browsing through kindle "ocean"..About some guy named Simon..

Who knew..Here we are...

Lashan

6/2/2019 10:38:25 am

I looked up my first order of Will's word - July 9 2013. So June was less eventful month!
Gratz on the anniversary Will - got all your books ( but Elder empire) since.

that one dude who wants OKAK to come out

6/2/2019 02:19:27 pm

6 yrs ago huh for starters I was reading a lot more books then I am now damn you internet.

Potato

6/2/2019 04:50:38 pm

Will, did you notice that the title for Cradle:Foundation is under the description for Of Darkness & Dawn?

Extesian

6/2/2019 05:11:37 pm

Moving to Prague, moving back to Australia with a lady, getting married to said lady and most importantly discovering you and Brandon.
Wait. Wedding first. Then you and Brandon.
(Good save Extesian)

Ahmed

6/2/2019 08:52:07 pm

Six years ago I was moving from the Middle East to North America to start high school haha, now I'm working for the summer during college. Glad you've come this far Will, hope we get a lot more out of you still!

Aaron

6/3/2019 04:02:54 am

6 years ago I had been working at a new place for 1 year and loving it. 3 years later, an investment company bought them out and everything went to hell. 2 years after that purchase, I was part of the third Reduction in Force (RIF). 4 months after that, the only job I could find was my old one that I had left 6 years prior and have now been back there for the past year.

Madeline

6/3/2019 05:59:00 am

Six years ago I had just graduated from a college that was, in retrospect, a lot more horrible at preparing students for a career than its reputation would indicate (as a result, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, all I knew was I didn't want to follow what my advisors said was the one career path I should follow).
Now I'm happily employed in a job that, wonder of wonders, uses my degree but isn't the one job they told me I should aspire to with my degree. And given that the type of job they were encouraging me to take is a use the new employees up and throw them away type job, I think I am a lot happier and stress free than I would have been if I had done what I was told to do.

Cool Person

6/3/2019 09:35:19 am

6 years ago... I have no memory of what I was doing 6 years ago, which means that I acquired yet anther memory curse, or I was doing nothing interesting whaatsoever. probably the latter.

Rogue 9

6/3/2019 10:07:48 am

Ah memory curse, so that's what the younglings are calling it today

Gilderoy Lockhart

6/6/2019 04:01:11 pm

Obliviate! *wink* *charming smile*

Freudian Slip

6/3/2019 02:32:44 pm

Six years ago I picked up Traveler's Gate as a means to keep me sane and get me through the many sleepless nights resulting from writing my thesis in clinical psychology. I had six months left before graduating as a clinical psychologist from university, and fantasy books were vital to keeping my brain (largely) intact throughout that final semester.

Today, I'm still an avid consumer of fantasy books. I also survived my thesis, got my license to practice as a clinical psychologist, and now work in brain damage rehabilitation. I'm also working towards becoming getting my specialization in neuropsychology (which takes five years of additional training after six years at uni, whoop!). Oh, and I've somehow manage to travel the world, buy an apartment with my boyfriend, AND acquire a new furry boss (aka our kitten).

So yeah. Those six years sure as hell contained a lot.

Wesperado

6/4/2019 11:36:21 am

Six years ago I was lost in the bottom of a bottle. Met my wife, and I'm sure she saved my life. We've had 3 wonderful little mini-humans in that time, I've built us a house, and seen an explosive growth in my career. Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

The Nag

6/6/2019 03:58:54 pm

*whisper* I’m still waiting for that Endgame review….

Jerry S Wieder

6/8/2019 03:56:25 am

I remember reading House Of Blades on my honeymoon.

It passed the long ass bus ride to Chichen itza while my wife slept
Time has flown

Ben

6/9/2019 03:34:37 pm

The last six years brought some of the most amazing stories out there. You have a lot to say and it's worth reading. Happy sixth anniversary!

Whit

6/10/2019 03:03:50 pm

Six years ago I downloaded House of Blades over crappy internet in Afghanistan to pass the time...after I made it through the first three chapters(sorry Will but they were rough) I fell in love with the book and couldn't wait for the next one to come out. Since then I have bought every Book that came out of Wills on the first day they were published. Thanks for doing what you do man

Bear

6/12/2019 12:49:22 am

Six years ago on that day I was a junior in high school and had no idea that I was about to pull an all nighter because of your book. Thanks for all the binge reads man. House of Bades has been my go to book to download for years for a taste of nostalgia and a good read.

Cookies! (NOT RAISIN)

6/13/2019 05:19:17 pm

6 years ago. I feel old now. I sad

Sophia

6/14/2019 11:48:04 am

Six years ago I had a revelation that I need to make more of an effort to make my life happier. It was because I was passed up for a promotion at work for someone underqualified who had only been at the company for 6 months, and I learned that hard work and loyalty isn't valued. I decided to make my happiness a priority instead of work. I thought of all the things I gave up doing to work overtime at my job, and also stuff I gave up doing while I was attending college that I just never got back around to. I started applying for other jobs and planning on getting out of enough debt to pick up flute playing again. I also began to spend more time playing video games and reading fantasy books.

I would have to say it worked out. I'm happier now than if I would've gotten that promotion. The job I have now pays more than the promotion would have. I got out of debt now, too, and I'm starting to contemplate going on vacations and having more nights out. I no longer work overtime at all, and so I have plenty of time at home to read books and do other stuff (like the monumental task of catching up on watching One Piece).

Rogue 9

6/14/2019 12:20:10 pm

Catching up on One Piece is no joke. Wish the wouldn't put so much recap in each episode.

Sophia

6/14/2019 01:44:41 pm

My friend said he gave up trying to catch up on One Piece. He has too many console RPGs to beat.

John_Anon

6/27/2019 02:10:15 am

Six years ago I was a Navy vet clawing through an engineering degree. I wasn't a good student and never had been, however, I felt a STEM degree would grant me a higher quality of life. That's why I went that route. I was able to afford a kindle reader, a basic internet connection, and amazon prime to satisfy my entertainment desires.

I quickly went through the works of the highly acclaimed and/or popular authors of the genres I prefer to read, and wasted many 'a $1.99 on unedited crap from scammers pretending to publish legitimate novels.

While surfing through amazon to see if Anthony Ryan had put out anything new, I was robo-recommended to a novel called "House of Blades". I loved the book, and to my delight the author produced sequential novels at an industry disruptive pace. I've read and enjoyed all of his novels since that time. Now I'm a rocket propulsion test engineer, and I still enjoy the writings of that author.

Keep it up Will, but take time to enjoy your life.

p.s. From a central Floridian: UCF grads are punks (no matter how well you write).

Kat

9/11/2019 12:03:26 pm

6 years ago I was in my last year of College where I hooked up with a guy. Who later became my boyfriend. Who after a few years got me addicted to some books by a specific author, who shall remain unnamed. And now I'm stuck with the rest of the addicts waiting for the next installments to be released. Side note is that we've both pre-ordered the next book; sweet release will come soon.

Rogue 9

9/12/2019 01:04:27 am

At least that certain author doesn't take eight years to release each book

In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.