‹ Back

January 1, 2020

 

Happy New Year! *throws confetti* I can hardly believe we're entering into a new decade already. It seems like just yesterday we were all in a whirl of excitement over the start of a new century, and here we are twenty years in now. It feels a bit surreal.

 

2019 was a year of changes for me. I moved into a new, much bigger house with a nice big yard, in a beautiful neighborhood that I'm still adjusting to realizing is my new home. I love it here. This past week I hosted our annual family overnight get-together on Christmas Eve, which I've never been able to do before. There were pull-out couches and daybeds and air mattresses everywhere, and there was still room to spare for everyone. It was chaotic and stressful and absolutely wonderful, and I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to experience it. It takes a long while for a new house to start feeling like a home, but building these kinds of memories is definitely taking steps in the right direction.

 

This was also a year of changes for me in the writing world. I switched publishers and went through a lengthy transition period where I re-rereleased all of my old books with new covers and edits. It felt like a monumental task, but I actually got it done. Whew! I only released one new novel, The Magician's Apprentice. I had plans to release the books in the Dragon Mage Chronicles as well, but time got away from me what with work and some annoyingly persistent health problems getting in the way.

 

But that brings me to my next topic, which is looking ahead to my plans for 2020. I intend to release the Dragon Mage Chronicles very early this year, as well as the fourth and final book in the Sacred Guardian Series. I also have new writing in progress, including a new novel titled The Demon Thief that I am extremely excited about. Now that I'm settling into my new home and my life seems to be calming down into a semi-predictable pattern once again, I'm thinking I should be able to focus more on my writing and getting all of these vivid ideas and worlds that live in my head out there to share with all of you. It's so hard to focus on creativity when life is in a period of upheaval, whether it's good or bad.

 

So once again, I hope you have a happy, happy New Year. I wish all of you the very best of everything this year: the best books to read, the best friends to share your time with, the best memories to build and keep with you forever. Over this past year and a half of chaos in my life, I've learned that it's important to focus on the small things that bring you joy even if the larger picture begins to feel a bit overwhelming. Just taking a moment to enjoy the sight of a sunset, or the smell of rain, a kind word from a stranger at the grocery store, or the way my cat purrs when she sits curled up next to me on the couch in the evening. Little moments of happiness can add up to a whole lot of joy, if you don't allow them to pass by unappreciated.

 

Wishing all of you a safe and amazing 2020!!! :)