This Christmas, I've taken some time to reflect on 2016. Wow, what a year it has been. You know, until you take time to look back and think about where you've been and all you've done, it sometimes slips right past you. No wonder I'm ready for a break, a few days of peace and quiet. I've been busy!
In the past year, I've published two new books and a short story. I had Ladies in Waiting produced in audio. I've also edited and republished five of my previously published books. There's more to republishing than changing the cover and putting the book back up there. It requires a bit of rewriting and updating each book.
I also branched out into offering copy editing and proofreading services as Linda Edits 4 U. I've copy edited three books this year for seemingly happy customers. I enjoy this departure from my own writing. I learn from other writers. I learn from giving more attention to the details in their work. I get to read some fantastic stories before the rest of you see them. And I get to provide a service to other writers, an objective pair of eyes for cleaning up and tightening up their writing.
I have three new books in various stages of development and aimed for publication in 2017 so, as you can see, I anticipate another busy year. I don't make New Year's resolutions because I rarely keep them. I do set goals that I try to meet, though. Of course, one goal is to complete and publish those three books that in process. Another goal is to give something more back to new writers, to pay forward what was given to me when I first started out. So I'm looking at starting up a writer's group with a fellow author to meet monthly at a local library. it will be a place for both new and seasoned writers to come together, share our wisdom and our fears or doubts, and generally encourage one another in this daunting world of writing. It can be a scary place at times, but mostly it's a wonderful world to live in--the world of imagination.
My other goal for 2017 is to take a fall cruise up the New England coast to Canada where I hope to meet a fellow author I've known for several years in cyberspace only. Oh, the stories that will come from that cruise, I'm sure.
My wishes for all of you this Christmas and for the coming year is this: I wish you love and joy. I wish that the dreams of your heart come true. I wish you the courage to stand in your convictions in the face of any conflict. I wish you peace and hope.
Linda
