The year in review
2013 is almost done and dusted … and at this time of the year it’s great to look back at the past year and reflect on acheivements and also those things that could we could have done better…
Firstly what I could have done better …
For a little while I have been asking blog readers to sign up for my regular newsletters… but there’s only been one problem…trying to create a newsletter using Mailchimp. Creating a newsletter sounds so good, but it has provided me with yet another steep learning curve…
Last week I decided to recitfy this omission and created my first newsletter to send out to all those regular readers of my blog who have signed up to receive it. The newsletter wasn’t perfect … to my chargrin I found two typos… but now that I’ve worked out the basics … next time it won’t seem such a daunting prospect.
This year I have written and published two books and am halfway through a third.
In April The Farmer Takes A Wife, the third book in the trilogy The Mulleins of Katherine Bay was published and is now available on all sales platforms.
Kayla’s Christmas, a fun flirty romance set in Akaroa was published just in time for Christmas and the holidays. It is available on Amazon and the iBookstore
Plans for 2014
First DH and I are planning a summer holiday … and then I aim to finish Logan Sinclair’s story by the Southern autumn…. Logan is Keir Donovan’s step-brother in Lovers’ Lies… provisionally titled “The Return of The Prodigal” … Logan returns to Darkhaven with a load of baggage and has to face the people he hurt and an unimaginable grief …
And the plan is to revisit Katherine Bay and one of my favourite characters Cassie Piper, the witchy woman with the gift of “the sight”.
Wishing all my loyal readers and fans a joyful and productive New Year… and regular newsletters.
Tags: featured, Kayla's Christmas, Logan Sinclair from Lovers' Lies, Newsletter, The Farmer Takes A Wife
Published on Sunday, December 29th, 2013, under Latest News
Happy New Year Shirley. Sounds like it has been a productive year for you. Really getting into the flow. 2013 was a good energy year for writing. i also achieved more actual writing than ever before. So here’s hoping for more of the same and better in 2014.
Cheers
Jen
Thanks for stopping by Jen. It has been a great year with it’s fair amount of challenges, but I’m really looking forward to 2014.
Your year has certainly been productive, Shirley. All credit to you for the hard work behind you and the line-up you have ahead! All the very best wishes for 2014.
Leigh thanks for stopping by. It’s been a great year, with the usual quota of challenges and I’m really looking forward to 2014, a good holiday and some productive writing time.
Good luck in 2014! I’m hoping to have a better year. Get health issues resolved and more writing done!
Patricia
Thank you so much for stopping by. I’m all eager to embrace the New Year, and for the first time in a long time I have set myself clear goals. I am wary about discussing plans as I always remember my dear ol dad saying, “Man plans and God smiles.” I guess time will tell.
All the best for 2014 Shirley. Wow - two and a half books in one year. When do you sleep? I’m in Auckland at present, ‘researching’. Should be home, writing.
Check out my Young Adult ‘A Taste of Gold’, on my website under the heading ‘Deryn’s Books’. Julie and I have released my children’s illustrated poem ‘The Menagerie Keeper’. Also my latest post is up.
I’m not sure what the next year holds but one thing for sure, I’ll be writing something. Might see you in Hamilton. Cheers
Deryn
Thank you so much for stopping by. I sometimes think I don’t do much writing, but it is suprising how once you get in the habit of writing every day, the word count builds up.
You’re a legend Shirley. Looks like 2014 is going to be another great year for you. All the very best with smiles from Jaci 🙂
Jaci
Thanks for stopping by. It’s great to have the friendship and support. For the first time in ages I’m really looking forward to the coming year-writing wise. It’s taken me a little while, but now I’m in the habit of writing every single day it actually amazes me how the word count builds.
Well done Shirley! Yes, I don’t find the newsletters easy either. I left my name off the last one…
I’ve just started blogging and have no idea what result it will bring.
Kris
Thanks for stopping by. Newsletters have had me beat for a while, I’d go into Mailchimp and then decide it was in the too-hard basket, but as you well know self-publishing is a huge learning curve…but I find the challenge half the fun. It’s rewarding to stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone. I well remember my old dad saying that “unless you learn something every day, you’re not living.” And strangely, as I now recall his wise, homespun wisdom, I realise that life had taught him a thing or three.
Nice review Shirley, and great to see you have some creative projects in the works for 2014 🙂
Nick
thanks for stopping by. I always have creative works in the mind…trouble is I’ve only got one set of fingers to get them all down with!