2017 in Review

​Wow! What a year it has been, filled with its fair shares of ups and downs. That’s life, right? Things I hadn’t considered or prepared myself for in life was hearing of all the trouble my son was having and having to learn how to cope so he could cope. What an eye changer that was for me, a good one in my opinion. There’s so much I’ve learned because of my son. Funny how the parent thinks they are the one to teach the child, and then we don’t even consider what the child teaches the parent. There were the downs of having to see him struggle, but the ups of working through them together.
This insight helped open my eyes to my writing and how I run my life. I spent a lot of time stacking wood onto the pile, but I wasn’t stroking the fire. I wasn’t allowing myself to grow because I was blind to how I was also hindering myself. The revelation didn’t strike until a month ago, but what a difference this last month has been. Now, I have a solid plan, a schedule, ideas mapped out so they compliment one another. It’s not a jumbled mess like they’ve been in the past. Now that I understand, I can focus. This had been one of my son’s problems. He didn’t know how to focus because of his issues. Now, after stepping back and accessing it, he knows how to approach it.
 
Even through the jumbled mess, however, there were plenty of perks.

1. Buried in the Bayou released
2. The Shadow World Trilogy Boxed Set released
3. I made it to Penned Con and got to see all my amazing author friends and chatted with readers
4. The Deep in the Hollow audiobook released
5. My eyes were open!

See, it was an amazing year through all the tangles and hurdles. Forward progress is forward progress. Yay! And I’m still learning.
In order to have a breakthrough year, you will need to take giant leaps and big risks. Bounce on the devil and put the pedal to the floor. You have to smash through that goal.
Where did such fine advice come from? One of the top resources I’ve been researching, studying, and implying to my life the past few months. Lisa Jacob’s Your Best Year 2018. Lisa Jacob’s is one of the best gems I have discovered this year. I have learned a lot from Lisa about doing for doing’s sake versus doing to further your goals. I highly recommend her book if you feel like you’re in a rut and need some direction. Whether your goals are personal or business, her advice is solid. I am so thankful for the relief I now feel with some direction, versus the zig-zag path I’ve had the past six years.
What’s to come in 2018 book-wise? Lots!

• Production of the Shadow World Trilogy audiobook will begin.
• Whispers on the Lake (Chindi Series, 3) will release in the Spring.
• The complete Spiritual Discord Series Boxed Set will release this summer, with the final novella and bonus material.
• A Halloween Short Story will release in September.
• And if all goes according to the schedule plan, a standalone and the 4th book of the Chindi series. This isn’t concrete, but I’m hopeful.

Thanks to everyone for making 2017 a fantastic year! I’d like to say a very heartfelt thank you to absolutely everyone who has connected with me, my characters, shared a book with a friend, or just reached out to say you enjoyed the book. Word cannot express how much I genuinely appreciate you!
Happy New Year to you all. May 2018 be your best year yet!