Wickeds, any big goals for the year? Any big happenings? Any “maybe this is the year” dreams?
Edith: Nope. As far as I know there are no family weddings coming up (although possibly stay tuned for news on that front…), no dream vacation scheduled, no grandbabies due. I have three books releasing this spring, and I do look forward to the year’s conferences: Malice in April, Bouchercon in October, Crime Bake in November. My only personal big happening is going under the knife for a new knee eight days from today. I think that’s enough!
Liz: My biggest happening is selling my house and moving. Although I’m staying in Connecticut for now, I’m looking forward to living in a more urban area. Mostly looking forward to NOT being a homeowner…
Barb: I have no idea what is going on this year. I have no book contract after March. I’m not co-editing the Level Best Books series anymore. There are a number of things brewing in my personal life that could lead to big changes, not all of them good. When I managed a lot of people, I generally found that planners are not good reactors, and reactors are not good planners. The people in our support organization thrived on coming into work without having an inkling of what the day would bring. The programmers hated a change made to the schedule six months down the road. I am a planner, so I keep telling myself the uncertainty is good for me. Roll with it, I tell myself. So far, myself doesn’t seem convinced.
Julie: I’m really trying to get into a yoga practice. So far I’ve started a Beachbody 21 day yoga retreat twice. Best of intentions, but it isn’t working out too well so far. Healthier is a definite goal over all. Two books to write, so that includes trying a standing desk.
Sherry: Barb, I love your planner/reactor thought. I’m a reactor. That said, I’m looking forward to A Good Day To Buy coming out in April, a couple of visits to Boston with the Wickeds, Malice, and Bouchercon in Toronto — I’ve only been to Canada once and that was in 5th grade. And I’m going to write a Hallmark movie and sell it — right?! If I say it enough times maybe it will happen.
Jessie: Like Barb, I’m a planner. At the beginning of every year I sit down and write out a few goals. This year mine include at least one international trip, mastering the art of dictating my writing and taking on a more active role in a volunteer organization. I also have two books set to release in the fall.
Readers, same questions for you. Any big goals for the year? Any big happenings?Any “maybe this is the year” dreams?
Sherry, in the alternate fact universe not only will you write and sell a Hallmark movie, it will be their all-time highest rated one!
Hey, that could turn out to be a real fact!
That is a lovely thought! I’m adding that to my dream, Elaine!
I’m with Sherry on the intention method.
Liz, I love not being a homeowner. Enjoy. Julie, yoga is a joy, hope you find a practice that works for you. Yes, Hallmark movies for all of you :-). –kate
I go to yoga once a week and love it (gentle senior yoga – because I’m a senior and I need gentle!).
Thanks Kate. Hoping that muscle memory kicks in at some point. Downward dog is killing me right now. That used to be easy!
Nothing big planned for me, although I’d like to expand my blog to include more content besides just book reviews since I have a decent number of followers now.
May I send you a review copy of Murder Go Round?
Carol J. Perry
Hi Carol. I sent you a response via email. ( :
Hi. Didn’t get the email. Try contact on my website. http://caroljperry.com
Hm…wonder what happened. Okay.
I am looking for contact info on your web site, Laurie. Could you write to me at edith@edithmaxwell.com, please? Thanks!
Good luck on the content search. It is a lot of work keeping up with a blog. Thanks for supporting us writers!
I’ve always wanted to attend Crime Bake. I’ve added that to my vision board along with Hallmark movie. Why not? Two books to produce this year, about 1/3 through book #6 and plotting book #7 in the Witch City books. Don’t know of any weddings or babies this year, but it could happen. Bouchercon 2018 will be in St. Pete Beach so I hope to see the Wickeds here then!
Yes, have been thinking hard about the St. Pete Bouchercon. Would love to go!
St. Pete is on my “gonna try” list!
I made my Big Change last year when I bought my Irish cottage, after fantasizing about it for years. This year I have not one but two new publishers, though with the second I won’t see a book until 2018. Time to slow down a bit and focus on writing–although I’ll be at Malice, Bouchercon and Crime Bake. That’s about the writing too, isn’t it?
That was a BIG change, Sheila!
You are blazing a trail for all of us! Conferences make the writing more fun, at least less solitary.
I’m sitting on my couch with my remote waiting for Sherry’s Hallmark movie to air. Can someone bring me some popcorn, please? 😀
LOL! Thank you, Aimee!!!
I think the adventures of Sherry would make a fabulous series, don’t you?
My biggest goal is putting together a 2-week writers retreat this summer. Also, being a vocal advocate for the arts. Writing every morning with my sprint peeps. Developing a test group for my online classes. And, trying one new recipe a week. That’s it.
Wow. That sounds like a lot. I read “online classes” as “online lashes” and thought, “Ramona’s selling false eyelashes online?”
Snort, Barb!
Advocacy for the arts–you know I’m with you on that. Writing retreat sounds wonderful. One new recipe a month–ambitious. I am trying to cook more. Baby steps.
My goal is to finish implementing Sherry’s excellent editorial suggestions in my next manuscript before I lose my mind (thank you Sherry–the delay is my own making).
Oh, thank you John! I hope you get the book finished — such great characters and story line need to be out there in the world
Yay John! Best of luck with that–keep us posted!
Fun to hear these updates from all of you. Wishing each of you well! Sherry — I watched a Hallmark movie for the first time (at least that I remember) the other night and immediately tweeted about it. It reminded me of reading a light, relaxing book. Writing one sounds really fun. Submitting requires an agent. Good thing I started querying agents yesterday for a new project!
Hallmark movies are the cotton candy of the movie world. I’m so glad you are looking for an agent for your new project! Cheering you on!
Thanks, Sherry! 🙂
I am even more specific–Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. A girl can dream…
Best of luck on the agent hunt!
Thank you! Looking forward to seeing movies from you and Sherry! 🙂
I’m going to my first Malice Domestic this spring for the anthology signing. I’d love to go to Bouchercon in the fall, but I’m not sure that’s going to happen. Sent out a couple more short stories for anthologies and will continue to do that. Along with Malice, there’s the launch of the Guppy anthology.
Biggest thing, I need to make a move with my Laurel Highlands series. This year. Probably by the end of summer. We’ll see.
And I might have another idea. Maybe. Possibly. Again, we’ll see.
Fantastic, Liz. We’ll see you at Malice.
You’ll love Malice. This will be my second year attending in person. I’ll keep an eye out for you! 🙂
Glad we’ll see you again!
See you at Malice!
2017 is a year of big change for me. One of the biggest changes is that the book I’m writing now is the first one I’m writing for a contract. Oh, boy! There are other things I want to do but I need to focus on this book. I’m going to a mini-conference here in CT in April but I don’t have any plans to attend other conferences this year. Love the idea of a vision board. I should do one.
Congratulations on the contract, Debra!
Thank you. The manuscript doesn’t have to be turned in until November. So I do have breathing room. 🙂
Congratulations!!
Last week, but boss was let go as part of a management restructuring, and I got a promotion (not to his job. Unrelated.)
I’m a planner, not a reactor. That’s enough change for me this year. 🙂
Congrats on the promotion, Mark. That IS big!
Congratulations, Mark! I hope the new job leaves you plenty of time to read!
Congratulations!
Congratulations! But only three weeks into this new year–no more change? Well…
In the “maybe” dreams category, maybe this year I’ll finally finish that mystery novel I’ve been trying to write for the last 3 years. Otherwise, no special goals, unless you consider finding an affordable, reliable used car a special goal.
You can do it, book wise! And good luck with the car. I found my Prius C used, and it’s very reliable – and basically doesn’t use gas!