BUT!

With my 2017 goal, I’m taking chances and spreading my wings. I want to write a little more fearlessly this year. I’ve been learning craft, reading books, listening/attending workshops, and think my story development has improved. I want to get back to the fun of writing, to telling a story that keeps me wondering what comes next, and to stop feeling so hemmed in by rules (of course I still follow, but rules are best applied in the edit round).

I’m continuing to edit and refine the series I submitted to Carina Press. I love those books and want to deliver for you, dear readers. I’ve been working on that series for a few months and need a break for perspective.

Last year, Carina’s call for jewel heist stories inspired me to get out of my small town comfort zone. After I submitted my series for consideration, I read a note about an upcoming call for novellas with a royal theme. I’ve never tried to write royalty before but I’m taking this call the same way I did the last one…and I’m having a blast.

I’ve been outlining, plotting, and dreaming up my fake kingdom and the royals that populate it. Of course, my imagination is never content to devote so much energy to only one story. I’m working on two royal novellas following the family in my kingdom and can’t wait to see where this new world takes me. (Of course…stay tuned! I’ll post when I’m finished, when I submit, etc.)

How about you? What are you up to? Are you letting 2017 challenge you? I’d love to hear.

I’m (hopeful) that I’ll be able to attend the RWA national conference this summer. Again, hopeful, because you never know what can come up between now and July (and I don’t want to put anything out that can come back and bite me in the you know where).

Last year’s conference was wonderful. A truly encouraging, engaging, eye-opening experience (love that alliteration!). I’m forever grateful that I had the opportunity and if I get the chance to go again, I’ll definitely do everything to get there.

I came home with a journal full of craft notes, ideas for new series/stories, and a ton of books. I’ll hang my head here and admit that when I’m writing, I focus on my own words and don’t make time to read. Also, anyone who reads here knows I’m a huge tv binge watcher.

But now that I’ve submitted a series (cross your fingers, send good vibes, whatever you do that’s positive–I’ll take it please!) and have the outline for two short novellas (again, a departure from my traditional small-town books) and the rough idea for another two books I’d like to try to sell, I’m getting back to reading. I actually read a ton for a contest in January. And essentially I read ridiculously fast, like a thirsty woman back from the desert.

My goal is to read through all the books I received back at RWA16 and the Harlequin Heartwarming books I’ve downloaded onto my Kindle before this upcoming conference. If you want to follow along with my progress, I’m on Goodreads, click here.

I’ve mentioned on twitter (and if you’re not following me there, come on over, it’s fun!) that this year I’m not making resolutions. I’m over the all or nothing. I don’t have time for that. I’m for sticking with what works and setting goals to keep myself moving forward.

One of my goals for the year is to connect more on social media and to work at being more real. Especially here, on this blog, I have a tendency to focus on marketing. But I’d like to expand a bit more and share. Don’t expect any overshares about my family, I still prefer to keep that side of my life private, but I’d like to share more of my writer life. I’d like to share my struggles and successes.

That paragraph reads like some ominious warning, promise it’s not. Maybe it’s the side effect from yoga, the constant search for balance.

I’ve been hard at work on the new series and am thrilled to announce that I’ve submitted to Carina publishers. I don’t have an agent, nor was this requested, so my proposal is currently in the “slush” pile. Meaning it will be months before I hear anything. But I will update you as soon as I can.

Have you noticed my logo? I’ve always been drawn to anchors and added a heart (of course). I only recently learned that the anchor is a symbol for hope. I think I’m even more drawn to it now. My sons (with a little help) bought me a silver ring decorated with anchors for Christmas. I’ve been wearing it every day, it’s a nice reminder while I wait on news…