Good morning everyone,
I've been silent for some time, reworking old books to put up on Kindle, getting ready for Christmas, celebrating the holidays with my family, etc. I do hope everyone has had a wonderful season of joy and are now eager to get back to work. I have started a new book, my third story in my Candy Bar series, a sequel to Replacing Barnie and Where Wishes Come True. I hope to have it done and up on Kindle by late March or early April. I have another book coming out in April as well. A Catered Affair will be released from TWRP on the 4th, I believe. Then I intend to start another returning war hero book, the third in the sequel. So, you can see I'm a busy girl, and have my priorities in order.
However, I have another priority this year - to make sure that I enjoy every day and maximize each special moment, each sunrise, every full moon, and all the beauty that the world holds.
I fear the worst, and I'm so concerned about our planet and our well being. I have three beautiful grand-daughters, and between my husband and myself we have 8 grand-children. I so want them all to grow up and live and see what a truly amazing place Earth is.
I have a bucket list of things to do this year. I'm going on a Danube riverboat cruise from Budapest to Vienna in May with a couple of dear friends. I'm going to buy a new car (or close to new) as I'm driving around in a 1998. (Can't take it with me - right?)
What are your plans for 2012? Share with me your hopes, your fears, your dreams.
Hi, Patrice! It sounds like you're going to have a wonderful year! Congrats on all your publication! 2011 was a tough year for me --my last year of running the Launching A Star contest, which is a ton of work, a fast draft session in the fall and some disappointments in writing. However, we welcomed our third grandson in two years and that is a blessing, even though they all live out west. So the number one thing I'm working on is to get back the joy in writing that I'd lost and then finish a couple of projects I'd started, including a middle-grade mystery! (The kids stuff is what I really like, along with my WF writing.)
Judy, congratulations on your third grandson. How wonderful is that! Love the idea of your YA mysteries - perhaps that's just what you need to sink your teeth into. Good luck.
I have you have as much luck with the new stories as you have had on Kindle!
People like you Patrice, make the world special no matter what goes on around us!
Hi, Patrice! We all admire your spirit and tenacity in getting all this writing done--and your success on Kindle!
I hope my "Vacation from Love" now on Kindle will sell even a fraction as well as yours have. The few people who have read it said it is very funny.
My hopes for 2012 are for more monetary success...and for sustained friendships, and success for all of us. We're doing great--may it continue!
Thanks Joan,
I agree that our writers group are doing so well - you have really taken off big this year. Hope 2012 will be a great year for all of us.
Patrice, congratulations on your success and on setting practical goals. I took that same Danube cruise last year and loved it.
Oh, Mona,
I'm glad you told me that. Which cruise - Viking or Avalon?
Great post, Patrice! My goal this year is to get back to writing. Last year was full of personal turmoil, but all has settled and left me blessedly happy and healthy. My husband and I are off to a week long vacation in Rome this March. We're going to celebrate "la dolce vita" and I just know Italy will inspire me!
Good bucket list beginner Patrice! Congratulations on your success with Replacing Barnie and hope that everything else goes as well in 2012.
My hope this year is to buy an Aston Martin (kidding!!) I'd REALLY like for Berkley to buy I, Lucifer! And go to England to visit my grandchildren.
Happy New Year!
Suzanne - your trip to Italy sounds wonderfully inspiring. It is one of my favorite places on earth. (The Almafi coastline takes my breath away.) Get writing, my dear friend, so you can sell it on the cruise.
Linda,
Time in England with your grandchildren sound like much more fun than running around in an Aston Martin! (I think!) Anyway, I too hope Berkley buys I, Lucifer. What is wrong with these people? Why do they hesitate to buy our great books!!!!!!!
Patrice, it was Avalon. Super service. And the view was incredible along the Danube. I fell in love with Bucharest, the Black Sea, the small villages of Bulgaria. Budapest was amazing and the Locks on the Danube so interesting. Vienna disappointed me. I've been there fifteen years ago. It's not as clean and nice as it used to be, although the cuise put us in a 5* hotel. You may want to consider continuing to Amsterdam. We regretted not doing that.
Patrice, you have been busy. Glad to see your back with the fuzzies. I would love to take one of those cruises. Vienna is a lovely city. I made it almost to the top of the winding stairs at St. Stefan's. The view from there is incredible. I know you will enjoy your trip. Congrats on the three new grandbabies! Just hearing all you've done in the last year makes me tired. I am hoping to get back into the swing of things this year. I actually cleaned my office today. It was stacked with boxes and junk so high you couldn't get into the room. Now, to find the time to use it!
Hi Scarlett,
Yes, I've been silent too long. Forgive me everyone. So glad you enjoyed Vienna, it sounds like such a beautiful place. I really look forward to this trip. We didn't go anywhere last year because we moved and that took up a good half of the year with all the packing and unpacking, etc. Hope you get your room cleaned out and get back to writing!~
Hello Patrice, sorry to be late to your excellent post. Congrats on all of your publications and your success and upcoming works. I am cherishing my dear people and each day too. Not because I fear the world will end but because we all have a limited number of days in this beautiful world.
Blessings on you
Hi Patrice,
My New Year's resolutions are to make my life easier and simpler. Although not easy to do with a 17 year old in the house!
Anyway, I've hired a cleaning service to come in every other week to give myself more writing time.
Thank you Beth, for your lovely comments, and I applaud your positive attitude to simply love and cherish those that are near and dear, including this beautiful world we live in.
Josie,
So glad you made the choice to have a cleaning lady and do what you do best - write! Good luck to you this year.
Patrice! Hey! I always enjoy your blogs.
Hi Patrice and Happy new Year. Congratulations on your success and I'm sending you lots of good wishes for 2012. I'm taking baby steps with my resolutions this year. I've broken my big goals down into manageable steps. Hopefully, this will help me stay focused.