Happy New Year!

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Resolutions.

Every year I make them. Mostly, because if you have no goals, how do you know if you've done what you wanted to do?

I try to make them reasonable. I try to choose those that make me stretch a bit, but aren't so impossible that I give up.

I make more "business" goals than "personal" ones.

This year? I have to recognize how busy I am with everything, and keep things just within reach of my fingertips.

Some things are out of my control, so I won't say, "I will get published with XXX house this year."

My resolutions?

Personal:

1. Raise a happy, friendly, obedient dog.
2. Raise a happy, intelligent, interesting daughter.
3. Eat right, exercise more (note: I'm more interested in being healthy than being thin).
4. Learn how to make more meals my husband likes to eat.

Business:

1. Find a home for "Kitchen Matches".
2. Finish "Camilla" and submit to a particular print press.
3. Write the two vintage short stories (set in 1933 and 1942).
4. Finish the fantasy I began during NaNo, and find a home for it.
5. Figure out promotions for "Liv" and apply toward all future releases.
6. Build LASR to be "the" reviews site on the web.
7. Learn better how to write in HTML/CSS.
8. Find a way to afford (and justify)going to RWA in San Francisco in July.
9. Practice writing articles and find homes for them.
10. Write something every day.

That's it. It should all be attainable. We'll see how it goes.

What about you? Do you set goals for yourself? Do you find that goals energize you or stress you out? I love to have goals set -- it's like a map to help me find my way. I think it's one of the reasons I enjoy doing NaNoWriMo so much: I have my eye on the goal.

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Your Daily Dakota -- her new favorite pastime:



And, as a bonus shot, I give you the reason Santa should never, ever bring Sweetart candy canes:



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And OH MY HEAVENS HOW DID I FORGET???

My next story, "Don't Fence Me In" releases TOMORROW!!! You remember, the one with the lovely cover?



If it's any incentive to buy... Judy tells me it makes her cry every time (yes, she's read it...right now she is my one and only crit partner!).

You can read a blurb and an excerpt (both at my website).

I should probably think of a promotion of some sort... Crikey. Where does the time go? Anyone have any thoughts for a great promotion I can set up in less than a day??

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You Are An Intro-Extrovert!

Sometimes you're social - sometimes you're shy You've got a bit of an Introvert / Extrovert split going on You enjoy all sorts of situations. Parties, small groups, and alone time. Too much of one, and you'll long for the other. You need variety! Chances are, you've got both serious and fun friends - and they don't get along.

Are You An Extroverted or Introverted Girl?