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Well, not that kind of stock, but it looks inviting,  doesn’t it?

We’re in the last collective gasp of 2018, and while the house is semi-quiet, and outside it’s cold and dreary, it seemed like an opportune time to put my feet up next to the lit tree while I’m semi-lit from a couple of sips of Grunch (don’t ask), and ruminate on what I did these past twelve months.

Positive: I kept to my diet pretty much, but then, I always watch what I eat…except when it comes to Nutella, croissants, brownies, cookies, coffee cake, ice cream, apple pie, ice cream sodas, and Blizzards. Do you notice a pattern here. 

Negative: I didn’t lose any weight, but then again, I didn’t expect to.  See positive. 

Positive: I resolved to make 2018 the year of novel writing. I was determined to finish my long aborning passion project come hell or high water. And I did, and now it’s out in the world trying to find a good home, and I hope one day that it will be available for all to read.

Negative: I’m still on the hunt for an agent.

Positive: I persevere. Hope is like Santa’s endless bag of presents. Just when you think you’ve reached the end of your rope, someone throws you a lifeline. 

Negative: I need more rope. Lots of it.

Positive: I signed contracts for two picture books to small presses. Completely unexpected, not on my radar, and a great confidence booster. 

Negative:  I’m still looking for a home for my passion project. Patience, grasshopper.

Positive: After fits and starts and delays, my personal website is up and running. I had a lot of help, you know who you are, and I can’t thank you enough.

Negative: I have not mastered Scrivener, and I doubt I ever will.

Positive: I started writing two brand new books, one a contemporary MG set in a seaside village with a unique tourist attraction, the other a magical YA fantasy re-imagining of  The Prince and the Pauper.

Negative: I have more ideas than I know what to do with. Ideas are like seeds, the more you sow, the more your back aches from all that bending down.

Positive: I’ve made many new, supportive, writing friends. They’ve picked me up when I’ve been on the mat, and I’ve celebrated their successes.

Negative: I haven’t won Powerball or Megamillions.

Positive: The Blue Wave is real and very much alive.

Negative: Trump is still President, but hopefully, not for much longer. 

Positive: I’m still in relatively good health, aside from my sinus, allergies, weak stomach, and bum knee. 

Negative: Hard lesson learned, don’t screw around when it comes your health. My husband was loathe to get a routine colonoscopy; finally, around Halloween, he got it done after a ton of nagging, and to our shock and surprise, the results turned out to be anything but routine. Flash forward a few scant, whirlwind weeks later, he had major surgery and thankfully is now on the mend, but it wasn’t  without a lot of upset, fear, and worry.  I’ve earned every gray hair this year, trust me.

As for 2019, my goals remain the same: write, write, write, get an agent, sell more books, keep my family happy and healthy, and ice cream.