I don’t know about the rest of the world, but 2008 was-and-wasn’t really that great for me. The best of the year was a two week cruise in Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, where I met a good “mate” for life. Coincidentally, meeting my pal, Matt Laing, was the catalyst for me becoming a columnist for Las Vegas Woman Magazine. Matt and I found ourselves in a “text frenzy” that left us both broke (yah, it’s VERY expensive to text from Pole to Pole), but, also gave me the inspiration to pitch editor, Ginger Tafoya, on a op/ed piece about texting and its consequences. Ginger liked the piece so much she offered me a regular column in the magazine. I in turn, acquired a new, witty and fun friend. Ginger introduced me to Barbara Nosek and Debbie Hall (www.celebritychefconnection.com ) and many more intelligent and constructive women. Thanks, editor!
2008 also saw my son, Matt, and I mourning the loss of Noelle, our utterly gorgeous, elegant, and perpetually joyful, ten-year-old standard poodle. Just thinking about her brings the first tears of 2009 to my eyes. Noelle fought a valiant year-long battle with fibrocarsoma. We fought it, too, with European herbs, holistic foods, and FDA **UNAPPROVED** protocols. We amazed vets and specialists by prolonging Noelle’s life for almost a year–and it was a year of quality living and lots of loving. We’re now the proud co-owners of a frisky, total mob magnet; a white Labradoodle named Trixie. She’ll soon be a star in her own right- once I finish the children’s story book I’m writing with Trixie as the narrator. I’ll be publishing a calendar of her, too. She’s become Sultan’s (my German Shepherd) scourge and constant companion.
Oh, yes. 2008 was an interesting blend of success and failure. Joy and pain, laughter and tears–lots of tears. I’m no psychic so I can’t predict what’s in store for 2009, nor would I want to. Upon deep reflection, I’ve decided that for me personally, I’m going to make this next year one of faith and hope. Faith, that despite some setbacks (a crashed computer and oh lions, and tigers, and bears!—the stock market– I won’t/can’t even go there), I am doing what I was destined to do–write sexy, thrilling fiction novels. I’ll be wrapping up The Winds of Whyalla soon. Four novels in four years ain’t bad for someone who had never written a fiction anything before. I’d also never written a short crime fiction story, either (Bits and Pieces, Las Vegas Noir). Most critics have been more than kind, which tells me something–ha, ha.
Hope enters the stage this year with the advent of a whole new marketing plan, and the soon to be released The Devil’s Valet. This unpublished suspense fiction novel has already received a major rave review (Kirkus Discoveries). Three literary agents have it under consideration on a non-exclusive basis. My hope is not only that my dreams come to fruition this year, but that the dreams of my dear friends and family come true as well. Many of us have suffered through one of the most cataclysmic financial disasters in American history. All of us suffered somewhat psychologically through an unbelievably contentious election. It’s not change that I’m counting on in 2009–that bit of rhetoric has faded substantially anyway. I’m counting on faith, hope and vision. I’m counting on that years of hard work, sacrifice, and devotion to the craft will pay off–and I’m not talking just money here. Although, golly gee, now that I think about it…that wouldn’t be so bad, either! >:-)
May your light, your life, shine in 2009! Best wishes to all.
