Good morning!

I realized I never set any sort of public goal for myself. If you follow me on Twitter and Instagram, you may have caught my 2019 word of the year: Focus.

My goal for 2019 is to focus on the projects and people I love.

Sounds easy enough, right?

I’m currently working with my editor on a new project I’m calling: #projecthijinxensue

I’ve entered another novel (#projectshowbiz) into the Soon-To-Be-Famous Illinois Manuscript competition

For #amediting, I have the following first drafts to edit and submit:

• #projectfaux
• #projectmagicchicken
• Sequel to #projectshowbiz
• Sequel to A Perfect Picture of Us

In the #amwriting category:

• I will write the third novel in the A Perfect Picture of Us world
• I will edit and update my former Kindle World novella and self-publish Royal Collection
• I will write and edit the companion novella to Royal Collection and self-publish

And, somewhere along the way, I’ll start chasing another plot bunny and write another first draft (or several) to keep myself busy next year too.

I’ll be tracking my daily word counts again. I’m blown away by the authors writing 400,000 words a year and up. I was over 200,000 for 2018 and with so much to edit this year, not sure how much over that I’ll climb. But it’s fun to see the progress every day.

Psst!  I’m excited to announce the complete Golden Shores trilogy is now available in one boxed set. Available as an ebook or paperback, this is exclusive to Amazon.com and Kindle Unlimited subscribers can read for free. Click here for more information. 

 

A Perfect Picture of Us is set in my adopted hometown, Chicago. Most people expect a sweet romance story to take place in a small town. I love big cities and building a tight-knit community of supporting characters can happen no matter the locale.

A few of my favorite places were featured in the book and I thought I’d link to them here so you can visit virtually.

Millennium Park  Recognizable for the Cloud Gate sculpture, known as the Bean.  In the winter, an ice rink is erected and in the summer it’s a beautiful spot to listen to concerts in the pavilion.

The Mag Mile  It’s the number one tourist destination, but that’s part of the charm. During the holiday season, the trees are strung with lights and the windows of the stores are beautifully decorated. The ballroom scene was inspired by one of the elegant hotels off Michigan Avenue. The entire area is gorgeous and definitely worth a visit.

State Street  And one department store in particular. Jess and Leo meet for breakfast in the Walnut Room. The restaurant is a real treat at Christmas and Easter. It’s a lovely spot for a special occasion meal.