*insert the inevitable writerly post about the end of the year*
2014 has been a challenging year. A series of financial bumps meant I concentrated mostly on keeping our family afloat. Unfortunately this meant I didn’t get to finish many projects, but mostly felt as though I was running from pillar to post, trying to keep the boat sailing.
I started three novels and finished none of them. However, they are all half done, so I know I can quickly finish all three in the New Year. So rather than concentrate on the failures, going to look at the successes, because there were some.
The family stayed right side up, which is somewhat of an achievement considering the challenges of keeping health insurance and a roof over our head. Tee Morris was my partner in this success, and it’s important to recognise we both achieved something pretty awesome. I’m a lucky person to have him at my side, and be able to write with him
So it wasn’t all bad. I (well we since I am co-writer) did finish one project. The Diamond Conspiracy, the fourth of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences was finished and edited. It’ll be out in March of 2015.
I spent a blissful week of writing with a band of fellow authors at the Smoky Writers retreat in February. I honestly feel like that kept me together through the year, and I am looking forward to it in the new year.
I released Weather Child, and hopefully in the mid-year will begin work on the next book in the series.
One-Stop Writer Shop launched, and Tee and I signed a contract to produce a social media book for authors with Writers Digest. Look for that in the Fall of 2015. I laid out books for clients, and created ebooks. I also worked on my first non-fiction layout job.
I taught my first class in social media, with Tee standing by to catch me if I wobbled.
We went to all sorts of places in our convention travels, and we got to meet up with friends old and new.
Unfortunately in August we lost our friend and colleague PG Holyfield. It still doesn’t feel real, and I keep expecting to see his face at events, hear that laugh of his, and wrangle him to lend me his voice for a project. In response, I was lucky enough to contribute a story to Tales of a Tesla Ranger, the anthology that celebrates his life and gives him adventures he should have had.
I don’t believe in resolutions, they are too easy to break, but I do believe there are points where we can realign ourselves. 2014 was a year of survival, hanging onto each other through bumpy waters. It laid foundations, so 2015 will be about building on it.
Thanks to all my readers and listeners for continuing to support me, I wouldn’t have managed 2014 without you. Hopefully you’ll enjoy what I have to put out in 2015.
