Happy New Year! We can still say that since we are not even a week beyond the beginning of a shiny new 2025 (not even a week old). I’ve recovered from the whirlwind of young houseguests (family), thrilled they were here but amazed at how quickly the time passed.
Now it’s time to reflect on 2024. I prefer remembering and writing about positive things that happened, although naturally many issues occurred that caused concerns. It’s been an exciting year for me. After years of rejections, I signed a contract with a publishing company, She Writes Press/Spark Press, publisher Brooke Warner. I worked with a wonderful book coach Kathleen Furin who guided me in strengthening the emotional side of my story and a sensitive copyeditor Candace Allen who helped me polish my work. Thank you for your insights and revisions that improved my novel.
In the last few months, my daughter helped me launch my author website and link my blog to it. My patient husband and I topped off the year with a long-awaited trip to Portugal where we met some wonderful, smart people who graciously showed interest in my novel. The trip inspired me to write about the Age of Exploration—a blog entry soon to come. My husband and I worked with Karen Eaton, organizer of my writing group, to publish Nature and Human Nature, an anthology of short stories, memoirs, and poems from our group of authors, Whidbey Writers by the Sea.
I like to exchange book recommendations with friends at weekly tea gatherings and book club meetings. I’d like to share with you some favorites I read last year.
Trust by Hernan Diaz (a Pulitzer Prize winner)
The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni
The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin
Caleb’s Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Here’s to looking forward to an eventful 2025, beginning with working on a cover design with my book designer. Cheers!
Wishing you happiness and health!