What a difference a year makes!

One year ago today. Has it only been a year? Time flies.
 
I’m at the same physician conference as this time last year. And, as I struggle to stay awake in the classes, I’m once again pushing each evening to get edits done for another book. (Because nothing says “rampant creativity” like Six Sigma industry safety data and leadership development skills, right?)
 
This time last year, I was:
 
10) About to quit the whole writing dream. I mean, come on now, 7+ years of working on this stuff and no one wanted my books. A gal can take a hint. Check, please. Then along came Crimson and lots of support and, yes, I’m still writing away, and feel more confident with each book. Timing and the right people and a little perseverance make all the difference.
 
9) Dealing with fear. What the heck was I doing, writing a book, much less editing it? How ridiculous. What if people hated it? (Thank goodness, it looks like most of them thought the series was a fun read!)
 
8) Keeping secrets. Still doing that. Patients, colleagues and families as yet are not in the loop. Until it becomes inevitable to spill, I’ll keep this writing gig as my little secret for right now.
 
7) Wondering about that work-life-writing balance. Um, yes, obviously still working the kinks out of that item as well.
 
6) Letting my imagination run wild. You bet! It’s amazing how many continuations and spin-offs will occur if you just relax the mind. Or take a shower, which is the other place where great thinking occurs. (Also, I win ALL ARGUMENTS in the shower. No one else is present, but that’s just semantics.)
 
5) Trying to explain to hubby why this writing thing was a good idea. He’s still not convinced and wonders why I’m not a bestseller like Dan Brown or Raymond Khoury (his favorites).
 
4) Trying to explain to hubby that I do not need his help coming up with titles (“Exploding Flame” “Sexual Flame”) or character names (“Dick Bentley” “Buck Naked”). Thanks, honey.
 
3) Entering books in stuff. Last year was a few contests. This year, sent stuff in for RITA. Because you just never know. And I’m in love with my heroes, so maybe someone else will swoon, too.
 
2) Planning vacations. Of course. Doesn't even matter if I go anywhere or not. I love to plan.
 
1) Writing, writing, writing. No NaNo last year -- life became consumed by heavy edits/revisions of Immortal Flame, followed by intensive work on Relentless Flame, followed by the realization that I needed to take that sloppy short draft of Flame Unleashed and do something with it pretty ASAP. Today, I’m finishing up the Hell to Pay prequel and setting up the next series. 

So excited to see where things stand next year at this time!