Well, another year has come and gone. Leaving aside the long-running horror show that is COVID and some personal and career setbacks, 2021 was a good year for me on balance.
Highlights are listed below.
My husband, Sandy, and I celebrated our 25th anniversary in September. We were vacationing in Santa Barbara at the time and Sandy took me to the restaurant at San Ysidro Ranch, the nicest in the area, and possibly the most romantic I’ve ever dined at. We enjoyed a fabulous meal at one of the outdoor tables on the patio as the sun was setting, where we raised our glasses in a toast and reflected on our decades together. I am blessed to have found my soul mate in my forties. I’ve heard the odds of that happening are akin to getting struck by lightning or kidnapped by terrorists. Maybe that’s true, but finding and marrying the love of my life is far nicer than either of the above scenarios! I’m married to a man who understands the meaning of equality and compromise. He’s also a romantic who never lets a day pass without saying “I love you” and gives me, not one, but two cards on every special occasion because, as he explained, he can’t fit everything he wishes to express in one card. Soon I’ll need a steamer trunk in which to store all my saved cards from Sandy. I couldn’t bear to throw any of them out. Each one contains a heartfelt message that is a treasure.
I wrote a book in 2021! I may have mentioned this is in an earlier post, but I experienced a career setback in 2020 when a novel I’d worked on for a couple of years failed to find a home due to the changing of the times. The word from Editor Land was that editors were loath to acquire any books with cop protagonists, and any set in the Midwest in particular, due to the tragic events in Minneapolis of 2020 that sparked the #blacklivesmatter movement. So, there I was with my orphaned novel set in the Midwest with a cop protagonist.
Well, them’s the breaks. You win some, you lose some. And I can hardly complain after witnessing the far greater losses and suffering brought by COVID world-wide. I got off easy, the way I see it.
Anyway, flash forward…a year later I have a finished draft of a whole new novel, the first in my planned Gold Creek series set in California’s gold country. I’m excited about it and hope you will be too. I will let you know as soon as I have a pub date scheduled.
Nobody died. No one in my circle of friends and family, anyway. For that, I am profoundly grateful, while at the same time mindful of the losses suffered by others. I am in good health, leaving aside the usual age-related aches and pains. I won’t go into the crooked middle finger on my left hand, a recent development. Too frightening. But as long as it doesn’t prevent me from typing, I’m good. And my crooked middle finger might come in handy if I ever flip someone the bird. Give them something to remember! Here’s a tip for any of you experiencing symptoms of arthritis: arnica gel. Works wonders.
Looking forward to the blessings 2022 will bring. There are usually more plusses than minuses in any given year, I’ve found if you do “creative math.” It’s the only kind I know. I sucked at math in school.
Wishing you all a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2022!
Sorry about your setback with novel but don’t let it get you down–Awaiting your new novel but I still have some of your books that I haven’t gotten to yet. I can still relax and read those. Wishing you and Sandy a Happy New Year May it be all that you hope for
Thanks, Judith! 2022 will be a good year for me, I have a feeling.
Love all your books. Looking forward to the new one. So sorry this world has gone crazy and your book couldn’t be published.
Happy Anniversary.
We had our 55 th anniversary in July. Wanted to rake a big trip but passed because of covid.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I ended up going in another direction, but it turned out to be serendipitous. I’m delighted with where I am now with my new book.
Really sorry about your novel. I am sure it would have been good, but glad you did not dwell in self pity and came back creating a new one. Can’t wait. Wishes for the best for you and Sandy. The years will start rolling faster so enjoy each other.
I’m lucky in that I tend not to dwell in the “mire,” but rather choose to move forward. I’m very my new project and haven’t given up on my project that’s on the back burner for now.
Hi Eileen , I rarely comment but I have to add my voice to all the other people who have suggested you self-publish your book. Even though you didn’t say I’m sure that everyone you know has said it and you’re probably sick of hearing it.
If you do decide to self-publish please share in this newsletter so we can get it.
You, and my other newsletter subscribers, will be the first to know when my new novel is coming out. I’m keeping all my options open at this point.
Happy Anniversary! To many, many more! I keep all of my cards from hubby too!
Love is a beautiful thing.
Beautiful photo! Thank you for posting it. So good to see you and Sandy again. Sorry about the career setback. Must be disheartening after so much work. I look forward to your next book because I have read all your others and we actually met during one of your book tours in NJ. A highlight for me. No worries about crooked fingers. We all get them. I have three! Sure hope 2022 is better. 🇺🇸
Thank you for your kind words (and for reassuring me about my crooked finger)!
Well you did what the old saying does – Picked yourself up, dusted yourself off and started all over again. As one of your loyal readers and a friend I can’t wait for your next book! We are on the move this year, downsizing and moving not too far from where we are so changes everywhere. Happy new year from Australia 🇦🇺
Nothing keeps me down for long. I roll with the changes in my life. Good luck with your move!
You and Sandy are such a BEAUTIFUL couple! The love the two of you have for each other shows…… xx
Thank you! Love keeps us young and shiny, don’t you think?
Happy Anniversary and Happy New Year! May 2022 bring you happiness, joy and good health. I think we’re all looking forward to that! Ready for that next book so write, write, write.
Thank you! I’m writing as fast as I can!